Afleveringen
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A reading of Samson Raphaelsonâs Freundschaft, as published on May 11, 1981, in The New Yorker.
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NEXT WEEK:Noah Isenberg joins us to discuss Billy Wilder and his cold war comedic epic One, Two, Three. For information as to where to find this film, check out our resources page.
WORKS CITED:Freundschaft by Samson Raphaelson
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David Cairns returns to discuss the end of Ernst Lubitschâs career and life: a period in which, after a heart attack left him debilitated, he produced a series of films directed by the likes of Joseph L. Mankiewicz and Otto Preminger. We cover Dragonwyck, cinemaâs foremost depiction of the Dutch patroonship system in what is now upstate New York; A Royal Scandal, a remake of Forbidden Paradise; andThat Lady in Ermine, Lubitschâs final unfinished project later completed to little effect by Otto Preminger.
Throughout the episode, we discuss the gap in worldviews between Lubitsch and Preminger, our dream Lubitsch/actor pairings that never came to pass, Billy Wilderâs tall tales, Ernst Lubitschâs death, and what comes next.
Edited by Brennen King.
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NEXT WEEK:A reading of Freundschaft, Samson Raphaelsonâs eulogy for Ernst Lubitsch.
WORKS CITED:The World and Its Double: The Life and Work of Otto Preminger by Chris Fujiwara
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Writer and film historian Eloise Ross joins us to discuss noted Lubitsch disciple Otto Preminger and his 1944 noir Laura. We cover Premingerâs past and parallels with Lubitsch, the tumultuous story of Lauraâs production, the filmâs highly unusual tone, its memorable characters and dialogue, and the majesty of Clifton Webb.
Edited by Brennen King
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NEXT WEEK:David Cairns returns to discuss A Royal Scandal, Dragonwyck, That Lady in Ermine, and the death of Ernst Lubitsch.
WORKS CITED:The World and Its Double: The Life and Work of Otto Preminger by Chris Fujiwara
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Willa Ross returns for a lively discussion about Heaven Can Wait. We cover Lubitsch and Raphaelsonâs opposing views on the filmâs unusual protagonist, its counterintuitive structure and elisions, the filmâs theological implications, argue about whether or not the production code negatively impacted the film, and discuss what happened at Fox in the early 1970s and why it matters for technicolor pictures such as this.
Edited by Griffin Sheel.
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Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
NEXT WEEK:Writer and film historian Eloise Ross joins us to discuss Otto Preminger and his 1944 noir Laura. For information as to where to find this film, check out our resources page.
WORKS CITED:Eloise Ross's Writeup for HEAVEN CAN WAIT in Senses of CInema
Heaven Can Wait: The Simple Act of Living by William Paul
Robert Harrisâs âKNIGHTS OF FILM PRESERVATIONâ Forum Post
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Peter Labuza returns for the second of two episodes on To Be Or Not To Be. We discuss the filmâs production history, the way in which the film both fulfills and frustrates conventions of comedic structure, Lubitschâs specific habits in directing actors, the filmâs unusual tonal arc, the filmâs depiction of fascist ideology, and Rudolph Mateâs cinematography.
Edited by Eden Cote-Foster.
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NEXT WEEK:Willa Ross returns to discuss Heaven Can Wait. For information as to where to find this film, check out our resources page.
WORKS CITED:Bosley Crowtherâs Review of TO BE OR NOT TO BE in the New York Times
Ernst Lubitsch's Response
Independent Stardom: Freelance Women in the Hollywood Studio System by Emily Carman
Five Came Back: A Story of Hollywood and the Second World War by Mark Harris
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Returning guest Dara Jaffe and first-time guest Gary Jaffe join us for the first of two episodes on To Be Or Not To Be. In this episode, we cover the interplay between theatre and film, and of improvisation and comedy; the many dimensions of the filmâs relationship with Jewish identities; the use of empathy and humanism as anti-fascist tools; Lubitschâs self-reflexive approach to diegetic reality; the key character of Greenberg, and Felix Bressartâs performance; the history of performances of William Shakespeareâs The Merchant of Venice; and the filmâs influence on contemporary cinema.
Recorded at the Margaret Herrick Library in Beverly Hills, CA by Anna Citak-Scott.
Edited by Griffin Sheel.
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NEXT WEEK:Peter Labuza returns for the second of two discussions on To Be Or Not To Be. For information as to where to find this film, check out our resources page.
WORKS CITED:Production Code Administration notes on To Be Or Not To Be
Hollywood's Other Great Anti-Nazi Movie by Thomas Doherty
David Kalatâs Commentary on the Criterion Edition of To Be Or Not To Be
Adrian Martinâs Review of To Be Or Not To Be.
To Be Or Not To Be (A Jew) by Dorian Stuber and Marianne Tettlebaum
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We return from our brief hiatus with our most in-depth episode yet, culled from five hours of discussions recorded over a period of several months with William Paul, author of the essential critical study Ernst Lubitschâs American Comedy.
We discuss Paulâs friendship with frequent Lubitsch collaborator Samson Raphaelson, Raphaelsonâs sometimes-harsh retrospective criticism of his own work, the linguistic tics that unite Lubitschâs filmography, their methods of adapting obscure Hungarian plays, Raphaelsonâs recollections of Alfred Hitchcock's very different working methods, and Suspicionâs shocking alternate ending.
Later on, we discuss the neuroscientific mechanisms of comedy, the biological purpose of laughter, the relationship of To Be Or Not To Be and the idea of âpassingâ, and engage in some record-correction as to whether or not the film was as controversial as is widely believed.
Edited by Brennen King and Eden Cote-Foster.
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NEXT WEEK:Dara and Ryan Jaffe join us for the first of two discussions on To Be Or Not To Be For information as to where to find this film, check out our resources page.
WORKS CITED:Ernst Lubitschâs American Comedy by William Paul
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Tim Brayton returns to discuss noted Lubitsch fan and disciple Preston Sturges and his 1941 meta-comedy SULLIVANâS TRAVELS. We cover Sturgesâ immense admiration of Lubitsch, the filmâs immensely fascinating but perhaps frustrating relationship with its own status as a satire of its own form, Sturgesâ political beliefs and moral compass, the value of communal viewings to comedic cinema, and much more.
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NEXT WEEK:Weâre taking a little break! See you in a few weeks for the last eleven episodes of Season 5, the end of our story.
WORKS CITED:Romantic Comedy in Hollywood: From Lubitsch to Sturges and The Lady Eve (The Current) by James Harvey
Pursuits of Happiness: A Reading of the lady Eve by Stanley Cavell
Fast Talk: Preston Sturges and the Speed of Sound by Joe McElhaney
Preston Sturges: Success in the Movies by Manny Farber and W.S. Poster
Christmas in July (Review) by Adrian Martin
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UW-Madison PHD Candidate Lance St. Laurent joins us to discuss THAT UNCERTAIN FEELING, as well as some comedic theory. We discuss our mutual admiration for elements of this relatively minor divorce-and-remarriage-style comedy, Lubitschâs attempts to tackle psychoanalysis and modern art, and the filmâs production origins. Additionally, we go deep on comic theory: relief, superiority, and incongruity all have their day, and we discuss the ways in which comedy involves collaboration between an artist and their audience. Lastly, we apply all this to the Tom Green masterpiece FREDDY GOT FINGERED, because thatâs germane.
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NEXT WEEK:Tim Brayton returns to discuss Preston Sturges and THE LADY EVE. For information as to where to find this film, check out our resources page.
WORKS CITED:Humour: A Short Introduction by Noel Carroll
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This week, we present an episode of the SCREEN GUILD THEATER starring Ernst Lubitsch, Claudette Colbert, and possibly Jack Benny!
Originally aired on October 20th, 1940.
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NEXT WEEK:Lance St. Laurent joins us to discuss THAT UNCERTAIN FEELING, as well as some comedic theory. For information as to where to find this film, check out our resources page.
WORKS CITED:Ernst Lubitsch: The Radio Years (Forum Post) - A list of every Lubitsch-related episode of the Screen Guild Theater.
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Critic Adrian Martin joins us for our final episode on THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER. In our discussion, we deconstruct some of the filmâs camera direction, discuss Lubitschâs late-period style and his more subtle (yet still very much present) formalism, his structural methodology, his use of repetition, the dynamics between âartâ and âcraftâ, and Lubitschâs continuing influence.
We also, at long last, try to define the Lubitsch âtouchâ. Or maybe not.
Edited by Brennen King
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NEXT WEEK:We present an episode of THE GULF SCREEN GUILD THEATRE starring Ernst Lubitsch, Claudette Colbert, and possibly Jack Benny.
WORKS CITED:Game Space and Play Time: A Partial History of American Screen Comedy (Lubitsch, Sturges, Tashlin) by Adrian Martin
Adrian Martin's Review of THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER
Innuendo by William D. Routt
CinematĂłgrafos - Edgardo Cozarinsky (Buenos Aires: BAFICI, 2010)
Acting Ordinary in The Shop Around the Corner - George Tolles
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Whit Stillman and Jose Arroyo join us for our second episode on THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER. Whit discusses Lubitschâs writing process, the ways in which the film is exemplary of the Hollywood studio system at its best, and his admiration for Pirovitch. Jose later joins us for a formal breakdown of the filmâs final scene.
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NEXT WEEK:Film critic Adrian Martin joins us for our final episode on THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER.
WORKS CITED:Whit Stillman: Not So Long Ago
Stillman's Writeup on THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER for the New York Times
Jose Arroyo's Podcast Episode on SHOP and YOU'VE GOT MAIL
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Kevin Bahr joins us for the first of our episodes on the greatest Jimmy Stewart-related Christmas movie of them all, THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER. In this episode, we discuss the filmâs unusual structure, ensemble nature, each characterâs arc towards self-improvement, capital, our shared admiration of Pepi, the filmâs historical context, Samson Raphaelsonâs screenplay, and the depths of the filmâs darkness as well as the warmth that persists despite said darkness.
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NEXT WEEK:Whit Stillman and Jose Arroyo join us for our second episode on THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER. For information as to where to find this film, check out our resources page.
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Author Donald Bracket joins us to discuss NINOTCHKA, and in particular the collaboration between the filmâs two writers: Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder. We cover their tumultuous collaboration from their first films to its sordid ending with the masterpiece SUNSET BOULEVARD, as well as the development of the screenplay for NINOTCHKA.
Edited by Griffin Sheel.
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Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
NEXT WEEK:Kevin Bahr joins us for the first of our episodes on THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER.. For information as to where to find this film, check out our resources page.
WORKS CITED:DOUBLE SOLITAIRE: The Films of Charles Brackett and Billy Wilderby Donald Brackett
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Actor and podcaster Griffin Newman joins us to discuss NINOTCHKA! We discuss Lubitschâs stature in Hollywood, Greta Garboâs incredible lead performance, Rouben Mamoulianâs musical remake SILK STOCKINGS, the early development of the script, Cary Grantâs possible involvement, the filmâs mechanics as both a romantic comedy and geopolitical satire, the filmâs relationship with the ideologies of the lead characters, the great Felix Bressart, and the Al Ruddy hagiography otherwise known as âTHE OFFERâ.
Edited by Griffin Sheel.
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NEXT WEEK:Author Donald Bracket joins us to discuss NINOTCHKA and the filmâs two writers: Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder. For information as to where to find this film, check out our resources page.
WORKS CITED:Production Code Administration notes on NINOTCHKA
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Film historian and podcast host Dr. Olympia Kiriakou joins us to discuss Lubitschâs sole screwball comedy: BLUEBEARDâS EIGHTH WIFE. We run down the definition of âscrewballâ through lenses of class, sex, tone, and pace; the impact of the production code on the genre; the uneasy fit between Lubitsch and the genre; the filmâs terrific meet-cute; the introduction of two upstarts named Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett; and much more!
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Edited by Sophia Yoon.
NEXT WEEK:Podcaster and actor Griffin Newman joins us to discuss NINOTCHKA.. For information as to where to find this film, check out our resources page.
WORKS CITED:Becoming Carole Lombard by Olympia Kiriakou
The Screwball Story Podcast
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Film programmer and curator Chris Cassingham joins us to discuss Lubitschâs ambiguous, cloistered chamber drama ANGEL. We cover Lubitschâs newfound low-key late period style, the withholding nature of both the filmâs characters and the film itself, interwar politics, the filmâs deeply-encoded implications, Marlena Dietrichâs persona, and our feminist readings of the text.
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NEXT WEEK:Film historian Dr. Olympia Kiriakou joins us to discuss BLUEBEARDâS EIGHTH WIFE. For information as to where to find this film, check out our resources page.
WORKS CITED:Adrian Martin's review of ANGEL
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Film writer and author Imogen Sara Smith joins us to discuss Frank Borzageâs DESIRE, produced by Ernst Lubitsch during his tenure as Production Head at Paramount Studios! In this episode, we discuss the state of Lubitschâs career in this time of personal and political upheaval, the state of Hollywood in the Hays Code era, the the careers of Marlene Dietrich and Frank Borzage, the filmâs relationship with genre, and the code-mandated final beat of the plot.
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Edited by Brennen King
NEXT WEEK:Film programmer and curator Chris Cassingham joins us to discuss ANGEL. For information as to where to find this film, check out our resources page.
WORKS CITED:The Motion Picture Production ("Hays") Code [Full Text]
Marlene Dietrich: Life and Legend by Steven Bach
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Itâs our final season, and much has changed: Lubitsch is production head of Paramount, though not for long. The Production Code administration is enforcing the Hays code with an iron fist and, much worse, the National Socialist German Workers' Party is ruling Germany with a significantly heavier iron first. Over the course of the next ten years, weâll experience another world war, the height of classical Hollywood, and the death of our showâs namesake.
To kick things off, renowned author Scott Eyman joins us to discuss his definitive biography of Ernst Lubitsch, Laughter in Paradise, as well as Lubitschâs life and career circa the mid-late 1930s. We cover Eymanâs research process, Lubitschâs attitudes towards life and art, his tenure as production head of Paramount, and his working methods with actors.
Edited by Sophia Yoon.
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Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
NEXT WEEK:Author Imogen Sara Smith joins us to discuss DESIRE. For information as to where to find this film, check out our resources page.
WORKS CITED:Ernst Lubitsch Made the Hollywood Comedy Sublime by Alex Ross
What Makes Lubitsch Lubitsch by Farren Smith Nehme
Survival Tactics: German Filmmakers in Hollywood by Joe McElhaney
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Itâs our season finale, and the end of the pre-code era! To celebrate, Tim Brayton returns to discuss THE MERRY WIDOW. We effuse about the filmâs infectious energy, the many incredible âLubitsch Touchâ moments and gestures, discuss Lubitschâs extremely loose adaptation of the Lehar operetta, the French-language version, Edward Everett Hortonâs greatest role, the filmâs relationship with love and death, the more âconservativeâ nature of the filmâs resolution, and much more!
With that, Season 4 of HOW WOULD LUBITSCH DO IT comes to a close, and with it the pre-code era. Oh how weâll miss you, lax Hays office overseers.
Thanks to the guests who lent their time and support to this season: Jennifer Fleeger, Katharine Coldiron, Jonathan Mackris, Will Sloan, Matt Severson, Lea Jacobs, Tanya Goldman, Willa Ross, Krin Gabbard, Molly Rasberry, Jordan Fish, Ray Tintori, Z Behl, Eric Dienstfrey and Tim Brayton.
Our editors: Gloria Mercer, Griffin Sheel, Sophia Yoon, & Rylee Cronin.
Our location sound engineer, Anna Citak-Scott.
And others who lent valuable counsel and support: Peter Labuza, Jose Arroyo, the Margaret Herrick Library, Dave Kehr and the Museum of Modern Art, Dara Jaffe and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Patrick Keating, Scott Eyman, Paul Cuff, David Cairns, and all the members of our Discord.
We have a Discord!
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NEXT SEASON:The censorâs hammer falls, and Lubitschâs career comes to a close in grand fashion in Season 5.
WORKS CITED:MPAA Production Code Administration Records for THE MERRY WIDOW
The Merry Widow Blog Entry by Jose Arroyo
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