"Since that first showing of Foolish Wives I have seemed to walk through vast crowds of people, their white American faces turned towards me in stern reproof"

This quote by Erich von Stroheim assesses the response of the general public to his 1922 film, Foolish Wives. The quote recommends that the public's reaction to the film was one of disapproval and criticism. The expression "white American faces" implies that the criticism was originating from a specific group, likely white Americans. The expression "stern reproof" implies that the criticism was strong and unwavering. This quote recommends that von Stroheim was deeply impacted by the public's response to his movie, and that it had an enduring impact on him. It is an effective reminder of the power of popular opinion and how it can form the way an artist is viewed. Von Stroheim's quote is a testament to the significance of popular opinion and how it can form the method an artist is perceived.