This is essentially a soap opera, and all the alterations and reconstructions haven't changed that fact. Despite its complicated production history, it remains a visually appealing melodrama. Erich von Stroheim directed nearly every aspect of this diverting, though somewhat repetitive, story about a scoundrel. That scoundrel, "Count Sergius Karanzim" (EVS), flaunts himself along the Côte D'Azur, enticing unsuspecting (and wealthy) women to his rented villa where he, alongside his two “cousins” (Maude George & Mae Busch playing the Princesses “Petchnikoff”), systematically swindles them. His charisma, cleverness, and manipulation provide a comfortable existence for some time until he sets his sights too high on the wife of an American diplomat in Monte Carlo. "Mrs. Hughes" (Miss Dupont) and her husband (Rudolph Christians) might just disrupt the operations of these confidence men. It's enjoyable enough to watch; Von Stroheim is entirely believable as the con artist, and DuPont also works well as his somewhat foolish victim. The production occasionally feels a little still, but at 100 years old, it’s presented in a way that highlights the Mediterranean landscape while simultaneously mocking the empty, wealthy clientele who believed their abundant money made up for their lack of judgment, intelligence, and common sense. It does drag at times, so I'm not entirely surprised to hear that this original 21-reel film was shortened. Nevertheless, what remains moves along smoothly with concise intertitles that are occasionally quite amusing. I don’t know if I would revisit it, but I am pleased that I saw it. You can recognize the groundwork for many films that came later in this production.

Source on TMDB