Probably the first director to fall victim of a studio's controlling interests. An outstanding director with vision who preferred early retirement to having his artistic integrity compromised.
Foolish Wives (1922): A simple story, not a lot different from the story of one of his earlier films (Blind Husbands). Stroheim plays the part of a womanizing Count Karamzin, who's royal status is questionable and who's intentions are as plain as the nose on his face. In Monte Carlo, the Count latches onto a young married woman of means whom he hopes to take for a trophy as well as an economic windfall. Karamzin proves to be as much a coward as he is a cad. 
Greed (1924): One of the truly great early films that the book has introduced me to. Turner Classic Movies airs a very worthy restoration of this film about once a year. The restoration attempts to get as close as possible to the original vision in a four hour run time (still far short of Stroheim's original 10 hour film, what was he thinking?) using production notes and stills where lost footage is unavailable. Though it takes a bit of patience, the final product brings his vision back to life.
Notable exceptions: After "retiring" from film directing, Stroheim would continue to act, most notably in Jean Renoir's "La Grande Illusion" and Billy Wilder's "Sunset Boulevard" Seek out "Queen Kelly". This is Stroheim's last directed full length feature and is the source of many of the clips shown, credited to Nora Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard".
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