Ernst Lubitsch would have to be one of the most sadly
forgotten directors of all time, His work was incredibly popular during the
golden age of hollywood and his branded “Lubitsch touch” was as famous as Alfred
Hitchcock’s title of “the maste of suspense”. Ernst Lubitsch virtually invented
the modern romantic comedy and his films possess a sophistication that no
comedy films today possess. Here are two films that I recently viewed from the
work of the great Director Ernst Lubitsch.
Trouble In Paradise (1932)
There is really no other film quite like Trouble in Paradise. It is a pre-code (meaning before movies were censored as heavily) sophisticated romantic comedy, often called the first modern romantic comedy. This film is also Ernst Lubitsch’s first talking rom com and it works so well. It’s hard to describe what the Lubitsch touch is but once you see this film you will know. While it isn’t really a laugh out loud funny film per se the whole thing is so wonderfully sophisticated that it just never fails to be; utterly irresistible. The style on display here is unique to its time period with immaculately decorated art deco sets. This film has a level of sophistication that has never really been matched. In many ways this comedy is all about sex and seduction but it is all done in such a wonderfully sophisticated manner that it has a much greater and more enjoyable impact. The acting is top notch and the whole film is like a time capsule. One year later when the code hit this film would not have been able to have been made and one year earlier it would have been far more of a talkie, meaning that the acting would have been stiffer and the music would have been mostly gone. But coming out when it does this movie is one of a kind and a true treasure for anyone who enjoys romantic comedies or movies in general. It’s a little difficult to find but well, well worth it! 5/5!
There is really no other film quite like Trouble in Paradise. It is a pre-code (meaning before movies were censored as heavily) sophisticated romantic comedy, often called the first modern romantic comedy. This film is also Ernst Lubitsch’s first talking rom com and it works so well. It’s hard to describe what the Lubitsch touch is but once you see this film you will know. While it isn’t really a laugh out loud funny film per se the whole thing is so wonderfully sophisticated that it just never fails to be; utterly irresistible. The style on display here is unique to its time period with immaculately decorated art deco sets. This film has a level of sophistication that has never really been matched. In many ways this comedy is all about sex and seduction but it is all done in such a wonderfully sophisticated manner that it has a much greater and more enjoyable impact. The acting is top notch and the whole film is like a time capsule. One year later when the code hit this film would not have been able to have been made and one year earlier it would have been far more of a talkie, meaning that the acting would have been stiffer and the music would have been mostly gone. But coming out when it does this movie is one of a kind and a true treasure for anyone who enjoys romantic comedies or movies in general. It’s a little difficult to find but well, well worth it! 5/5!
Ninotchka (1939)
Ninotchka is one of the films from Hollywood’s greatest year (the year of Gone With the Wind, the Wizard of Oz and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) and like all the film it seems from that year this one is also truly great. It is a very romantic comedy with emphasis on the romance. Lubitsch was a very romantic director and in some cases his movies almost stop comedy all together it seems in order to pursue romance. It doesn’t matter because he does romance so tastefully and well that the audience doesn’t care. Don’t get me wrong though Ninotchka is funny and it has the Lubitsch touch. It’s a story about a Russian female colonel who falls in love with a very capitalistic man in Paris. This contrast between communism and capitalism gives the film some truly great moments. The jabs at the Russian communist state are quite funny but it’s also interesting to see how Lubitsch does not dehumanize the soviets but rather humanizes them. This makes the film truly interesting. Gretta Garbo is truly great as the Colonel and this is her one comedy. The film is maybe a little long but it is so interesting and funny that it keeps you watching 4.5/5
Ninotchka is one of the films from Hollywood’s greatest year (the year of Gone With the Wind, the Wizard of Oz and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) and like all the film it seems from that year this one is also truly great. It is a very romantic comedy with emphasis on the romance. Lubitsch was a very romantic director and in some cases his movies almost stop comedy all together it seems in order to pursue romance. It doesn’t matter because he does romance so tastefully and well that the audience doesn’t care. Don’t get me wrong though Ninotchka is funny and it has the Lubitsch touch. It’s a story about a Russian female colonel who falls in love with a very capitalistic man in Paris. This contrast between communism and capitalism gives the film some truly great moments. The jabs at the Russian communist state are quite funny but it’s also interesting to see how Lubitsch does not dehumanize the soviets but rather humanizes them. This makes the film truly interesting. Gretta Garbo is truly great as the Colonel and this is her one comedy. The film is maybe a little long but it is so interesting and funny that it keeps you watching 4.5/5
No comments:
Post a Comment