Biography![]() Ernst Lubitsch: Laughter in Paradise By Scott Eyman, Simon & Schuster, 1993 | Master of InnuendoI'm not going to write a particularly detailed tribute to Ernst Lubitsch on this, the day after his birthday, because so many people have done it already and certainly better than I could. Like here on this excellent site: Born in Berlin to an Ashkenazic tailor, Lubitsch started out in German silent films as an actor and director. He moved to Hollywood in 1922 and began making the kind of urbane romantic comedies that would later come to define his signature style -- witty, sophisticated, subtle, sexy, and beautifully crafted -- "The Lubitsch Touch." Again, I point you elsewhere for biographical details and suggest you start watching any and all of the films listed below, which are all available streaming or on DVD. Let's just say the man knew how to use Edward Everett Horton. Favorite Five
Billy Wilder Defines "The Lubitsch Touch"And Kay Francis and Miriam Hopkins Show YouA scene from Trouble in Paradise (1932) Here's another quickie from the same film: ("She hates him!" Hee hee.) |