Ernst Lubitsch Quotes

Germany, Director
January 29, 1892 – November, 30, 1947.

Ernst Lubitsch was a German American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His urbane comedies of manners gave him the reputation of being Hollywood's most elegant and sophisticated director; as his prestige grew, his films were promoted as having "the Lubitsch touch". Among his best known works are Trouble in Paradise, Ninotchka, The Shop Around the Corner and To Be or Not to Be.

In Hollywood we acquire the finest novels in order to smell the leather bindings.

Ernst Lubitsch
- Hollywood
- Novels
- Leather
The job of the director is to suggest two plus two. Let the viewer say four.

Ernst Lubitsch
- Job
- Director
- Viewer

I sometimes make pictures which are not up to my standard, but then it can only be said of a mediocrity that all his work is up to his standard.

Ernst Lubitsch
There are a thousand ways to point a camera, but really only one.

Ernst Lubitsch
- Camera
- Ways
Nobody should try to play comedy unless they have a circus going on inside.

Ernst Lubitsch
- Comedy
- Play
- Circus
You could name the great stars of the silent screen who were finished; the great directors gone; the great title writers who were washed up. But remember this, as long as you live: the producers didn't lose a man. They all made the switch. That's where the great talent is.

Ernst Lubitsch
I've been to Paris, France, and I've been to Paris, Paramount. I think I prefer Paris, Paramount.

Ernst Lubitsch
- Paris
- I Think
It is the task of the scenarist to invent little pieces of business that are so characteristic and give so deep an insight into his creatures, that their personalities clearly and organically unfold before the eyes of the audience so that the latter feel that the actions of these people are contingent upon their characters, that there exists some kind of a logical fate, and that nothing is left to mere accident or coincidence.

Ernst Lubitsch

Any good movie is filled with secrets. If a director doesn't leave anything unsaid, it's a lousy picture. If a picture's unsaid, it's a lousy picture. If a picture is good, it's mysterious, with things unsaid.

Ernst Lubitsch
- Movie
- Picture
- Director