The Lubitsch Touch

A course at Lancashire College, 1-3 November 2002 led by David Redfern.

Course Outline

Ernst Lubitsch (1893-1947) was Hollywood's greatest exponent of the romantic comedy of manners. His skill in blending visual innuendo accompanied by witty and scintillating dialogue became known throughout Hollywood as "The Lubitsch Touch". The course will explore the reputation of this underrated film master and also consider the influence of his film style on other film-makers such as Billy Wilder and Mitchell Leisen.

The Programme

Friday
19.45
The Marriage Circle (Warner, Ernst Lubitsch, 1924, 85m)
with Monte Blue, Creighton Hale, Adolphe Menjou, Marie Prevost, Florence Vidor.

Saturday
09.00
Cine-spectacle:
Eternal Love (United Artists, Ernst Lubitsch, 1929, 71m)
with John Barrymore, Hobart Bosworth, Camilla Horn, Victor Varconi.

11.15
discussion with video extracts

14.00 Sophistication personified:

Trouble In Paradise (Paramount, Ernst Lubitsch, 1932, 83m) with Kay Francis, Miriam Hopkins, Herbert Marshall, Charles Ruggles.
A still from 'Trouble in Paradise'.

16.00 Continental imitation:

Tonight Or Never (Goldwyn, Mervyn Le Roy, 1931, 81m) with Melvyn Douglas, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Gloria Swanson.
A still from 'Tonight Or Never'.

19.30
Paris Paramount:
Midnight (Paramount, Michell Leisen, 1939, 94m)
with Don Ameche, Mary astor, John Barrymore, Claudette Colbert.

Sunday
09.15
Homage to the master:
Love In The Afternoon (United Artists, Billy Wilder, 1957, 130m) with Maurice Chevalier, Gary Cooper, Audrey Hepburn, John McGiver. A still from 'Love In The Afternoon'.

Course Objectives

The course sought to assess the career of émigré director Ernst Lubitsch in the light of changes in American society between 1920 and 1950 and account for his privileged status within the Hollywood film industry.

An investigation into the visual and aural practices that constitute the elegance and sophistication of Lubitsch's cinematic comedy. Particular consideration was given to the use of performance and role-playing as a comic device.
As well as evaluating the impact and acclaim of Lubitsch's silent films the course also focused on his creative use of sound technology during the early transitional phase of the American sound film.

Friday 19.45	*The Marriage Circle* (Warner, Ernst Lubitsch, 1924, 85m) with Monte Blue, Creighton Hale, Adolphe Menjou, Marie Prevost, Florence Vidor.
Saturday 09.00	Cine-spectacle: *Eternal Love* (United Artists, Ernst Lubitsch, 1929, 71m) with John Barrymore, Hobart Bosworth, Camilla Horn, Victor Varconi.
11.15	discussion with video extracts
14.00 Sophistication personified: *Trouble In Paradise* (Paramount, Ernst Lubitsch, 1932, 83m) with Kay Francis, Miriam Hopkins, Herbert Marshall, Charles Ruggles.

16.00 Continental imitation: *Tonight Or Never* (Goldwyn, Mervyn Le Roy, 1931, 81m) with Melvyn Douglas, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Gloria Swanson.

19.30	Paris Paramount: *Midnight* (Paramount, Michell Leisen, 1939, 94m) with Don Ameche, Mary astor, John Barrymore, Claudette Colbert.
Sunday 09.15	Homage to the master: *Love In The Afternoon* (United Artists, Billy Wilder, 1957, 130m) with Maurice Chevalier, Gary Cooper, Audrey Hepburn, John McGiver.