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Queen Kelly

(Erich von Stroheim, 1929) 

Introduced by Dennis Doros and Amy Heller, Milestone Films

New Restoration

Black-and-white still featuring Gloria Swanson and Walter Byron. Byron leans in toward Swanson, and she backs away.
Feb 28, 2026 1:00 PM
Film/Video Theater

$8 members
$12 general public
$9 adults 55 and over
$6 students

Prices include all fees; fees waived for members and in-person purchases.

For ticketing questions please call the Visitor Desk at (614) 292-3535.

A limited number of listening devices are available upon request.

If you have questions about accessibility or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please email accessibility@wexarts.org or call (614) 688-3890. Visit our Accessibility page to learn more.

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A sordid tale of illicit love that pales in comparison to the drama surrounding its production.

Star Gloria Swanson had a premonition that Queen Kelly would never be finished, and she was technically right. Produced as a silent film, Queen Kelly was financed in part by Swanson’s lover Joseph Kennedy (patriarch of the Kennedy dynasty). Erich von Stroheim, infamous for his extravagant filmmaking, was hired to direct. Between rising costs and concerns that what had been shot would never pass the censors, Swanson and Kennedy pulled the plug. The film was only shown in a shortened version for years—until now. This new restoration reimagines a version as close to the intended original as possible. The plot? Swanson stars as convent girl Kitty Kelly who falls for a prince (Walter Byron) who is engaged to the deranged Queen Regina. When the mad queen finds them together, she imprisons the prince and banishes Kelly to a brothel. (101 mins., 4K DCP)

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IMAGE CAPTION
Queen Kelly, courtesy of Milestone Film & Video.

In the press

Tag(s)

Program Support

Reconstruction: Dennis Doros and Amy Heller, Milestone Film & Video, Harrington Park, NJ. Nitrate materials and stills courtesy of the George Eastman Museum, Rochester, New York. 4K digital stabilization, timing and cleanup by Metropolis Post, NYC. Colorist: Jason Crump. Digital restoration artist: Ian Bostick. Supervised by Milestone Films. Original music composed by Eli Denson.

SUPPORT FOR FILM PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY

Rohauer Collection Foundation

WEXNER CENTER PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE BY

Greater Columbus Arts Council

The Wexner Family

Ohio Arts Council, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts

CampusParc

The Columbus Foundation

Every Page Foundation

Mellon Foundation

Axium Packaging

Nationwide Foundation

Michael and Anita Goldberg

Vorys, Sater, Seymour, and Pease, LLP

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY

Joyce Shenk

Rebecca Perry and Ben Towle

Lachelle Thigpen

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Queen Kelly

Feb 28, 2026 1:00 PM EST
Film/Video Theater

$8 members
$12 general public
$9 adults 55 and over
$6 students

Prices include all fees; fees waived for members and in-person purchases.

For ticketing questions please call the Visitor Desk at (614) 292-3535.

A limited number of listening devices are available upon request.

If you have questions about accessibility or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please email accessibility@wexarts.org or call (614) 688-3890. Visit our Accessibility page to learn more.

Become a Member