Greater Glory (1926) Reviews

The Greater Glory was adapted by June Mathis from The Viennese Medley, a novel by Edith O'Shaughnessy. Set during WWI, the film focuses on the changes wrought by the war upon a "typical" European family. Specifically, the story zeroes in on the two prettiest family members, Fanny (Anna Q. Nilsson) and Corinne (May Allison). Corinne is a separated from her sweetheart early in the proceedings, but promises to be faithful. Not so Fanny, who becomes the mistress of an odious war profiteer. In the end, Fanny is redeemed by True Love, while Corinne, though worn down by poverty and deprivation, likewise enjoys a happy ending. The travails of the two heroines are reflected by recurring superimposed appearances of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, whose scenes were filmed in Technicolor. Running nearly 30 reels (or six hours!) in its original form, The Greater Glory was eventually released at a more manageable 2-hour length. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi