Erich von Stroheim (1885-1957) was one of the true giants in American film history. Stubborn, arrogant, and colorful, he saw himself as a cinema artist, leading to numerous conflicts with producers and studio executives who complained about the inflated budgets and extraordinary lenght of his films. When his notorius antics led him to be banned from directing, Stroheim spent the remainder of his life as an actor; his portrayals of evil men earned him the epithet, "The Man You Love to Hate".
For years Stroheim´s life has been wreathed in myths, many of his own devising. Arthur Lennig scoured European and American archives for details concerning the life of the actor and director, and he counters several long-accepted and oft-repeated claims. The result is a painstakingly researched portrait of Stroheim´s genius on both sides of the camera and his failed quest to triumph over the Hollywood system.