Ernst Lubitsch — Biographical Sketch (1927) 🇺🇸

Ernst Lubitsch, recognized among the foremost motion picture directors in the world, might now be a good clothing salesman in Berlin if his father had had his way. The elder Lubitsch was a practical and determined man, the proprietor of a clothing store, and he insisted for three years after Ernst’s graduation from school that he clerk in his store.

For three years young Lubitsch clerked, but as he did so during the day he was a student of the drama by night. The first week he was at work he went to Victor Arnold, a famous stage comedian who undertook to teach him the principles of acting. Arnold took Lubitsch to Max Reinhardt, the great stage director of Germany, and the youngster was given a small part. For several years he worked under Reinhardt, learning the technique of acting.

After the first two years he divided his time between the stage and motion pictures, which were just beginning to make themselves felt as competition to the Continental stage. In 1913 Lubitsch did his first picture, appearing in a comedy rôle which made an immediate hit. At the end of a year he was directing his own picture comedies.

In 1918 Lubitsch set to work producing Carmen, which later in America was released under the title of Gypsy Blood. During the same year he produced what he still considers his greatest picture. It was made as Madame DuBarry and released in this country as Passion. It was that picture largely, that served eventually to bring both Lubitsch and Pola Negri to America, where they have been extremely popular and successful ever since.

Lubitsch’s first American-made picture was Rosita with Mary Pickford. Then followed a long contract with Warner Bros., for whom he made such pictures as Beau Brummel, with John Barrymore, The Marriage Circle, “Three Women,” “Kiss Me Again,” “Lady Windemer’s Fan” and So This is Paris. For Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer he made The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg. He is now with Paramount, where he is engaged with the production of “The Patriot.”

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• The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg

M-G-M

Coming

• The Patriot

Paramount

Collection: Motion Picture News, October 1927 (Booking Guide and Studio Directory)