IMDb RATING
7.1/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
A convent girl is abducted and seduced by a prince before being sent off to a brothel in East Africa.A convent girl is abducted and seduced by a prince before being sent off to a brothel in East Africa.A convent girl is abducted and seduced by a prince before being sent off to a brothel in East Africa.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
- Directors
- Erich von Stroheim
- Richard Boleslawski(uncredited)
- Writers
- Erich von Stroheim(based on an original story by)
- Marian Ainslee(titles)
- Benjamin Glazer(uncredited)
- Stars
Top credits
- Directors
- Erich von Stroheim
- Richard Boleslawski(uncredited)
- Writers
- Erich von Stroheim(based on an original story by)
- Marian Ainslee(titles)
- Benjamin Glazer(uncredited)
- Stars
- Awards
- 1 win
Sylvia Ashton
- Kelly's Auntas Kelly's Aunt
- (uncredited)
Rae Daggett
- Coughdropsas Coughdrops
- (uncredited)
Florence Gibson
- Kelly's Auntas Kelly's Aunt
- (uncredited)
Madge Hunt
- Mother Superioras Mother Superior
- (uncredited)
Tully Marshall
- Jan Vryheidas Jan Vryheid
- (uncredited)
Gordon Westcott
- Lackeyas Lackey
- (uncredited)
- Directors
- Erich von Stroheim
- Richard Boleslawski(uncredited)
- Writers
- Erich von Stroheim(based on an original story by)
- Marian Ainslee(titles)
- Benjamin Glazer(uncredited)
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
- All cast & crew
Storyline
Prince Wolfram is the betrothed of mad Queen Regina V of Kronberg. Supreme ruler, her word is law and he is a playboy. On maneuvers as punishment for partying with other women, he sees Kelly walking the the other students of a convent. He is intrigued by her beauty and wants her. He kidnaps her that night from the convent and takes her to his room and professes his love for her. When the Queen finds them together the next morning , she whips Kelly and throws her out of the castle. Regina then puts Wolfram into prison for not wanting to marry the Queen. Kelly goes to German East Africa to visit her dying Aunt and is forced to marry the disgusting Jan. The Aunt dies after the wedding and Kelly refuses to live with Jan and becomes the head of Aunties Brothel. Her extravagances and style earn her the name 'Queen Kelly' and Prince Wolfram does not marry Queen Regina V. —Tony Fontana <tony.fontana@spacebbs.com>
- Genre
- Certificate
- Passed
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaWhen Tully Marshall dribbled tobacco juice on Gloria Swanson's hand during the wedding sequence and explained that director Erich von Stroheim ordered him to do it, it was the final straw. She called producer Joseph P. Kennedy and demanded that von Stroheim be fired. He was, effectively shutting down the production.
- GoofsThe positions of the two different groups, the troops and the convent girls, are constantly changing in relation to the shrine on Kambach road.
- Quotes
[as Wolfram and Fritz are racing their horses down the street]
Girl 1: Come on, Wild Wolfram! I've bet my nightie on you!
Girl 2: Come on, Fritz! She hasn't GOT a nightie!
- Alternate versionsDirector Erich von Stroheim never completed the film: the ending is made using stills and subtitles. The European version has a different storyline than the American one.
- ConnectionsEdited from Queen Kelly: The Kino Restored International Ending (2011)
Top review
Stroheim's Swansong
In an ancient European kingdom, sultry Seena Owen (as Queen Regina V) lounges, awaiting her nuptials with dashing Walter Byron (as Prince Wolfram). Nearby, convent girl Gloria Swanson (as Patricia Kelly) encourages the Lord's wrath by sleeping with her photographs of the handsome Mr. Byron. While he is out riding one day, Ms. Swanson gets a chance to meet the idolized Prince, and embarrassingly loses her knickers! For Swanson and Byron, it's love at first sight. But, how can a simple convent girl get the Queen's stud?
Director Erich von Stroheim and actress Gloria Swanson, with their skills in full tilt excess, are a joy to behold. Yet, "Queen Kelly" emerges as a fairly strong film, despite its self-indulgence. Once considered a hopelessly unfinished work; the film has been restored, with great integrity, through intertitles, stills, and imagination. There is no doubt Swanson would have played the final reels expertly; but, there is no way to tell if Stroheim and Swanson would have re-shot some of her opening footage. Few convent girls looked as gorgeous as Gloria Swanson, with her amplified eyelashes. Though she isn't the first (or last) Hollywood convent inhabitant to look so ravishing, it would have been wise to tone down the look, until later in the film.
Flaws notwithstanding, "Queen Kelly" is full of great stuff. Tobacco-stained Tully Marshall (as Jan Vryheid) and whip-wielding Ms. Owen are delightfully outrageous. Byron, pocketing her knickers, is a thoroughly charming partner for Swanson. Stroheim, and photographers Gordon Pollock and Paul Ivano, are outstanding; a simple scene of Swanson praying, with candles dripping around her, is beautiful.
Ah, they had faces then
Director Erich von Stroheim and actress Gloria Swanson, with their skills in full tilt excess, are a joy to behold. Yet, "Queen Kelly" emerges as a fairly strong film, despite its self-indulgence. Once considered a hopelessly unfinished work; the film has been restored, with great integrity, through intertitles, stills, and imagination. There is no doubt Swanson would have played the final reels expertly; but, there is no way to tell if Stroheim and Swanson would have re-shot some of her opening footage. Few convent girls looked as gorgeous as Gloria Swanson, with her amplified eyelashes. Though she isn't the first (or last) Hollywood convent inhabitant to look so ravishing, it would have been wise to tone down the look, until later in the film.
Flaws notwithstanding, "Queen Kelly" is full of great stuff. Tobacco-stained Tully Marshall (as Jan Vryheid) and whip-wielding Ms. Owen are delightfully outrageous. Byron, pocketing her knickers, is a thoroughly charming partner for Swanson. Stroheim, and photographers Gordon Pollock and Paul Ivano, are outstanding; a simple scene of Swanson praying, with candles dripping around her, is beautiful.
Ah, they had faces then
helpful•21
- wes-connors
- Apr 19, 2008
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $800,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 41 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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