Christopher Nolan Once Named the Film He Calls “Absolute Genius”

Christopher Nolan, the director behind blockbusters like The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar, Dunkirk, and Oppenheimer, once shared his admiration for classic cinema.

In a 2013 interview with Criterion, just before Interstellar was released, Nolan revealed his top ten favourite films. Among them, he singled out Erich von Stroheim’s 1924 silent film Greed, calling it “von Stroheim’s lost work of absolute genius.”

Greed is a psychological drama based on Frank Norris’ 1899 novel McTeague. It tells the story of a San Francisco dentist, John McTeague, and his wife Trina, who becomes increasingly obsessed after winning the lottery.

Nolan praised the film for its depth and craftsmanship, noting its influence on storytelling and cinema.

The film was ambitious from the start. Von Stroheim shot nearly 85 hours of footage on location, including a grueling two-month shoot in Death Valley for the final sequence. The production used advanced techniques for the time, like deep focus cinematography and montage editing, aiming to create a naturalistic tragedy where environment and heredity shape the characters’ lives.

Von Stroheim wanted the film to reflect human instincts, calling it a study of bêtes humaines, or human beasts.

Despite his vision, the studio intervened. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) edited Greed down from over nine hours to roughly two-and-a-half hours.

Only twelve people reportedly saw the full-length 42-reel version, now lost. Von Stroheim considered Greed his most complete work and was deeply hurt by the cuts.

The film’s original release failed at the box office and was met with critical indifference. However, by the 1950s, critics and filmmakers began recognizing its brilliance. The film has been praised for its pioneering techniques and storytelling, and in 1958, it was ranked number six on the prestigious Brussels 12 list at the World Expo.

In 1991, the United States Library of Congress selected Greed for preservation in the National Film Registry, citing it as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

Though only fragments survive today, Greed’s legacy remains. Turner Entertainment attempted a reconstruction in 1999, creating a four-hour version using stills for missing scenes. Nolan’s admiration highlights the enduring impact of this silent epic.

Nolan also referenced other classics in his top ten, including The Testament of Dr. Mabuse, which he called “essential research for anyone attempting to write a supervillain,” and Nagisa Oshima’s Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, starring David Bowie. For Nolan, Greed stands out as a monumental achievement in film history.

From a personal perspective, it’s clear why Nolan calls it “absolute genius.” Even nearly a century later, its ambition, depth, and technical mastery continue to influence filmmakers. What do you think, does Greed deserve its place as a cinematic masterpiece? Share your thoughts in the comments.