His incredulous father witnesses his son's gestures toward thin air.While J.J.King is speaking with his new captain, Mary runs onto the deck of theStonewall Jacksonand stands next to Willie and admires his uniform.] Yet in the aftermath of his victory, the surface of the world was ravaged by the vilest war in human history.The film was a major commercial success - the biggest box-office draw sinceGone With The Wind (1939).[Stroheim was one of actress Gloria Swanson's greatest directors in the early days of the movies.His career, like Gloria Swanson's, ended abruptly around 1930 - making the film semi-autobiographical and a mixture of both fact and fiction.Isn't it lovely?Preston: Julie, it's red!Julie: It's gorgeously red.Preston: But you can't wear red to the Olympus Ball!Julie: Why not?Preston: You never saw an unmarried girl in anything but white!Julie: Then you're gonna see one tomorrow night.