How Would Lubitsch Do It?

S2E09 - The Flame [1923] with Stefan Drössler

For our season finale, we’re excited to welcome Munich Film Museum director Stefan Drössler to discuss the (mostly) lost film THE FLAME. Stefan was responsible for the reconstructions of both THE FLAME and THE LOVES OF THE PHARAOH, and shares his insights into all elements of the restoration process: handling and structuring the film elements, creating (or recreating) the soundtracks, and speculative tinting. We also discuss the state of the German and American film industries circa 1923, Lubitsch’s decision to leave for America, his German identity, and the fates of many of Lubitsch’s German collaborators.
Gloria Mercer was our dialogue editor for this episode.
NEXT WEEK:
That brings us to the end of Lubitsch’s Berlin period and, thusly, the end of season 2! Join us in July when we return for our third season in which we cover Lubitsch’s American silent period.
WORKS CITED:
FILM HISTORY: THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNEY Vol. 21 No. 3: Ernst Lubitsch and EFA by Stefan Drössler
THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER Trailer

S2E08 - The Loves of the Pharaoh [1922] with Kristin Thompson

Film academic, Egyptologist, all-around legend Kristin Thompson joins us to discuss THE LOVES OF THE PHARAOH! We cover the ‘Egyptomania’ craze that swept the western world in the early 20th century, the film’s anachronism, the possible historical inspirations for the film’s plot, Lubitsch’s transition to dark studios, the evolution in acting styles, and the influence Weimar cinema had on American films and vice versa.
Griffin Sheel was our dialogue editor for this episode.
NEXT WEEK:
Munich Film Museum director Stefan Drössler joins us to discuss THE FLAME.
WORKS CITED:
HERR LUBITSCH GOES TO HOLLYWOOD by Kristin Thompson
Paul Cuff’s Entry on THE LOVES OF THE PHARAOH on his website ‘The Realm of Silence’.

S2E07 - The Wildcat [1921] with Bram Ruiter and Will Ross

Will Ross and Bram Ruiter rejoin us to discuss Lubitsch’s 1921 Bavarian expressionist comedy epic THE WILDCAT. We wrestle with this exhilarating-yet-difficult work as we consider unmotivated aspect ratio changes, body double swaps, questionable rug-pull endings, Lubitsch’s artistic toolkit, and the film’s ridiculous production design.
 
Griffin Sheel was our dialogue editor for this episode.
 
NEXT WEEK:
Legendary film scholar and egyptologist Kristin Thompson joins us to discuss THE LOVES OF THE PHARAOH. 

S2E06.5 - Napoléon vu par Abel Gance [1927] with Paul Cuff

Surprise! Paul Cuff returns to discuss something completely different: Abel Gance’s 1927 epic NAPOLEON! We discuss our shared love of the film, our first experiences watching it, Abel Gance’s subsequent career, and the history of the film’s restoration.
Gloria Mercer was our dialogue editor for this episode.
NEXT WEEK:
Bram Ruiter and Will Ross rejoin us to discuss Lubitsch’s 1921 expressionist comic extravaganza, THE WILDCAT.
WORKS CITED:
A REVOLUTION FOR THE SCREEN: ABEL GANCE’S NAPOLEON by Paul Buff
Paul Cuff’s Commentary on the BFI Napoleon Blu-Ray
NAPOLEON by Kevin Brownlow

S2E06 - Anna Boleyn [1920] with Paul Cuff

Film academic Paul Cuff joins us to discuss ANNA BOLEYN, Lubitsch’s second grand historical biopic about European royalty. We discuss Lubitsch’s career directory, the uses and misuses of Emil Jannings and Henny Porten, Weimar-era production design and lighting, silent film scores, and how this film compares to Lubitsch’s others epics.
Gloria Mercer was our dialogue editor for this episode.
NEXT WEEK:
After recording this episode, Paul and I discussed a certain other silent historical epic for long enough to warrant a whole bonus episode. So, we’re taking a break from Lubitsch for a week to talk NAPOLEON VU PAR ABEL GANCE (1927). What a curveball!
WORKS CITED:
Paul’s Entry on THE LOVES OF THE PHARAOH on his website ‘The Realm of Silence’.

S2E05 - This is Not a Sumurun [1920] Episode

Instead of discussing SUMURUN, Devan will discuss the podcast and answer some of your questions.
We’re starting a discord! Check it out here: https://discord.gg/jJFvB5tk
NEXT WEEK:
Film academic Paul Cuff joins us to discuss ANNA BOLEYN, Lubitsch’s second grand historical biopic about European royalty.

S2E04 - Romeo and Juliet in the Snow [1920] with Maddie Whittle

Film writer and programmer Maddie Whittle joins us to discuss ROMEO AND JULIET IN THE SNOW, Lubitsch’s other 1920 comic riff on William Shakespeare. We discuss shocking adaptational genre shifts, dunking jokes, Lubitsch’s habit of shooting location exteriors in the alps and only the alps, continuity, and the sad preservation status of this film.
Griffin Sheel was our dialogue editor for this episode.
NEXT WEEK:
We discuss SUMURUN.

S2E03 - Kohlheisel’s Daughters [1920] with David Cairns

Filmmaker, critic, and academic David Cairns joins us to discuss KOHLHEISEL’S DAUGHTERS, Lubitsch’s Bavarian comic riff on Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’. We delve into the difficulties of adapting one of the English canon’s most infamously chauvinistic plays, empathizing with 103-year-old art, our confusion over the fact that this film has been so unjustifiably neglected, slipping things past the sensors, Henny Porten’s wonderful performances, Emil Jannings’ lack of sex appeal, Fritz Lang’s flight from the Nazis, and the ways in which this film points (or doesn’t) to Lubitsch’s future tendencies.
Gloria Mercer was our dialogue editor for this episode.
NEXT WEEK:
Maddie Whittle joins us to discuss Lubitsch’s other 1920 travesty on a Shakespeare play, ROMEO AND JULIETTE IN THE SNOW!
WORKS CITED:
EUREKA MADAME DUBARRY BLU-RAY LINER NOTES - David Cairns
SHADOWPLAY

S2E02 - The Doll [1919] with Tim Brayton

Critic and friend of the show Tim Brayton returns to discuss Lubitsch’s lo-fi comic masterpiece THE DOLL. Much enthusiasm for this completely iconoclastic curio of a film is shared as we discuss the nature of artifice, history’s least-convincing fake horses, the mysterious circumstances under which this film’s release was botched, Lubitsch’s not-all-that-scathing satire of organized religion, and unacceptably bad silent film scores.
Griffin Sheel was our dialogue editor for this episode.
NEXT WEEK:
Filmmaker, critic, and academic David Cairns joins us to discuss KOHLHEISEL’S DAUGHTERS, Lubitsch’s bizarre Bavarian take on Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’.

S2E01 - Madame DuBarry [1919] with Jaime Rebanal

Critic Jaime Rebanal joins us to discuss MADAME DUBARRY, Lubitsch’s highly celebrated international breakthrough. What are we to make of it aesthetically circa 2023? How do we interface with 104-year-old blockbusters? Are biopics inherently broken? Who is Emil Subich? We cover all this and more, plus John Ford!
NEXT WEEK:
Critic and friend of the show Tim Brayton returns to discuss Lubitsch’s lo-fi comic masterpiece THE DOLL.. For details on where to find this film, check out our resources page.
WORKS CITED:
FROM CALIGARI TO HITLER by Siegfried Kracauer