Film Forum

U.S., 1924
Directed by Erich von Stroheim
Based on Frank Norris’ 1899 novel, McTeague
Starring Gibson Gowland, ZaSu Pitts, Jean Hersholt
Approx. 120 min. 35mm.

Turn-of-the-century San Francisco dentist Gibson Gowland loses his business to rival Jean Hersholt and his sanity to wife ZaSu Pitts’ miserliness, en route to a harrowing Death Valley finale. The screen’s ultimate masterpiece maudit, but it remains “among the memorable artistic achievements in Hollywood history.” – John Douglas Eames 

Presented with support from The Ada Katz Fund for Literature in Film

Reviews

“An uncompromising exercise in naturalism... 4/4 stars.”
 – Roger Ebert