Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Blind Husbands

Play trailer Poster for Blind Husbands Released Oct 21, 1919 1h 8m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
On vacation with her surgeon husband, Dr. Armstrong (Sam De Grasse), Margaret (Francilia Billington) feels neglected and flirts with Austrian Lt. Erich von Steuben (Erich von Stroheim). When the doctor is called away for an emergency, the lieutenant tries to enter Margaret's room but is stopped by Silent Sepp (Gibson Gowland), the couple's mountain guide. The doctor returns and goes hiking with the lieutenant but grows furious when he sees a note from his wife in the Austrian's pocket.

Where to Watch

Blind Husbands

Critics Reviews

View All (11) Critics Reviews
Variety Staff Variety This picture is sensational. It marks an epoch. Nov 12, 2019 Full Review Rod McShane Time Out It's a moral tale, as simplistic as it sounds, but what makes it distinctive is the use of design and the characters' personal mannerisms as fully functional elements of the director's overall moral purpose. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review NYT Staff New York Times Mr. Stroheim, unlike many directors, grasps the fact that the screen is the place for moving pictures and that whatever is to be done on it with artistic finish, must be done pictorially. Mar 25, 2006 Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills Telling a very similar story on a less grandiose scale, its runaway success amongst thrilled/shocked viewers turned “The Man You Love to Hate” into the talent studio executives were most tempted and tormented by throughout the Roaring Twenties. May 9, 2022 Full Review Michael Barrett PopMatters The director’s command of film technique was undeniable and remains masterful today.... May 5, 2022 Full Review Ronald Bergan Radio Times Cynical, witty and erotic. Rated: 4/5 Nov 12, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (8) audience reviews
Nick M Stroheim's directorial debut is difficult to assess. Through most of it I was terribly bored, but then the last 20 minutes were intensely interesting and brought all of the labor together to form a competent picture. The story was told and the film constructed with confidence and skill, but most of the foreshadowing and major plot points were telegraphed so clearly that the directing upstaged the movie itself. Its wiki page shares two contrasting biographers' assessments. The first calls it "the most impressive and significant debut film in Hollywood history" until Citizen Kane, and the second declares it "an apprentice work, exasperating in its infantile narcissism, its unleashing of the director's wish-fulfillment fantasies." Both ring true to me. Stroheim is vying for a seat at the big boys' table, and isn't taking "no" for an answer, but either his lack of experience precluded subtlety in his approach, or he was paranoid that anything other than over-the-top statements wouldn't earn him notice. There is also perhaps a condescension here - a lack of respect for the intelligence of his audience? He has managed to infuse so much of himself in the picture that you get a real sense of the man's personality and vision. Unfortunately, having done that I'm left with the distinct impression that I don't like the man. Regardless, the payout at the end justified the time spent getting there, and featured some incredible cinematography and athleticism. It is an impressive film that I found somewhat enjoyable and intelligently produced, but I can't see myself recommending it to anyone. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/08/24 Full Review Audience Member The best romance movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review spencer p With wonderful direction, natural acting, and strong, realistic emotion; Stroheim makes an emblematic debut into film with this marriage story. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Not one of Stroheim's best. The subject matter is similar to "Foolish Wives", but this plays like a fairly routine melodrama when compared to that grand epic. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member An enjoyable silent film with Erich von Stroheim on fine form. The film is often funny and it is quite captivating for a silent film. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member A very good but somewhat stiff film. Von Stroheim plays his usual officer character but the whole story lacks of depth and nuances. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Blind Husbands

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All Cast and Crew

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
The Blot 100% 50% The Blot Watchlist Within Our Gates 100% 50% Within Our Gates Watchlist Orphans of the Storm 88% 71% Orphans of the Storm Watchlist Foolish Wives 89% 69% Foolish Wives Watchlist Phantom 43% 61% Phantom Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All Blind Husbands photos

Blind Husbands

Blind Husbands (1919) Blind Husbands (1919) Blind Husbands (1919) Blind Husbands (1919) Blind Husbands (1919) Blind Husbands (1919) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis On vacation with her surgeon husband, Dr. Armstrong (Sam De Grasse), Margaret (Francilia Billington) feels neglected and flirts with Austrian Lt. Erich von Steuben (Erich von Stroheim). When the doctor is called away for an emergency, the lieutenant tries to enter Margaret's room but is stopped by Silent Sepp (Gibson Gowland), the couple's mountain guide. The doctor returns and goes hiking with the lieutenant but grows furious when he sees a note from his wife in the Austrian's pocket.
Director
Erich von Stroheim
Producer
Erich von Stroheim
Screenwriter
Erich von Stroheim
Distributor
Universal Film Manufacturing Company
Production Co
Universal Film Manufacturing Company
Genre
Drama
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 21, 1919, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 11, 2016
Runtime
1h 8m
Most Popular at Home Now