In Kronberg, the capital of a small kingdom in central Europe, Patricia (known as Kitty) Kerlly (G. Swanson), an orphan raised in a nunnery, is kidnapped and seduced by Prince Wolfram (W. Byron), the fiancé of the monarch Queen V (S. Owen), who, having discovered the two lovers, whips it with a whip. Kitty leaves for Africa, called by her aunt (S. Ashton) who is dying. However, before bequeathing her her brothel, her aunt forces her to marry a lecherous old invalid (T. Marschall), who dies immediately after the marriage.
The film – of which there are several copies in European and American film archives, each one different from the others – has a troubled production history, since production was interrupted due to the panic caused by the advent of the first sound films when von Stroheim had only finished shooting the European part. In the 1990s, this critical edition was prepared in which the African part is reconstructed with scene photos and intertitles.
– THE FILM REMAINED UNFINISHED BECAUSE THE PRODUCERS WERE FRIGHTENED BY THE ADVENT OF SOUND WHICH MADE AN EXPENSIVE FILM OBSOLETE. IT WAS ONLY RELEASED IN EUROPE WITH AN ENDING REQUESTED BY SWANSON. THIS IS THE EDITION SHOWN IN FRANCE IN 1985.
subject: Erich von Stroheim
script: Erich von Stroheim, Marion Ainslee
photography: Paul Ivano, Gordon Pollock, William H. Daniels (uncredited), Ben. F Raynold (uncredited), Gregg Toland (uncredited)
music by: Adolf Tandler (Adolph Tandler), Ugo Derouard - (restored version)
mounting: Viola Lawrence
scenography: Harold Miles
costumes: Max Rée
other titles: La Regina Kelly, La Reine Kelly, Queen Kelly
color: Bianco & Nero
production company: JOSEPH KENNEDY E GLORIA SWANSON PER GLORIA SWANSON PICTURE
Su gentile concessione dell'Ente dello Spettacolo
