The Doll (1919)
"Die Puppe" (original title)

Because the Baron of Chanterelle wants to preserve his family line, he forces his timid nephew Lancelot to choose one of the village maidens to wed. Lancelot flees to a monastery to escape ... See full summary »

Director:

Ernst Lubitsch

Writers:

E.T.A. Hoffmann (story), Hanns Kräly,

Stars:

Max Kronert, Hermann Thimig, Victor Janson

Cast

Credited cast:
Max Kronert	...	Baron von Chanterelle
Hermann Thimig	...	Lancelot
Victor Janson	...	Hilarius
Marga Köhler	...	Dessen Frau
Ossi Oswalda	...	Ossi - His Daughter
Gerhard Ritterband	...	Der Lehrling
Jakob Tiedtke	...	Der Briar
Josefine Dora	...	Lancelot's Maid
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lapitski
Paul Morgan
Hedy Searle
Arthur Weinschenk

Storyline

Because the Baron of Chanterelle wants to preserve his family line, he forces his timid nephew Lancelot to choose one of the village maidens to wed. Lancelot flees to a monastery to escape the forty eager maidens. When the gluttonous monks discover that the Baron is offering a large sum for the marriage, they suggest Lancelot marry a mechanical doll instead. The doll maker has just finished making a replica of his daughter Ossi, but his assistant accidentally breaks it and convinces the real girl to mimic the doll. Lancelot buys her, thinking she is a doll, and takes her back to the monastery, where they are wed.

---

Plot Keywords:

doll | monastery | baron | monk | breaking dishes | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy

---

Details

Country:

Germany

Release Date:

6 April 1920 (Finland)

Also Known As:

The Doll

Company Credits

Production Co:

Projektions-AG Union (PAGU)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

48 min 58 min (2000 restored) 70 min (copy with French titles at Brussels Musée du Cinéma)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Coppélia, A ballet in three acts (2000)

User Reviews

Oh, You Beautiful Doll

People speak of the Lubitsch Touch first showing up in THE OYSTER PRINCESS, but that movie always struck me me as a a good romantic comedy, dimmed by changes in fashion, creaking a bit in age.

But this movie is the real thing: a silly story told with much flair and constant surprises. It begins with Lubitsch showing you a model of the set, like Penn and Teller showing you how they do the cup-and-ball trick, followed by a show that dazzles you: pantomime horses, venal monks and a little bit of E.T.A. Hoffman all fall under the thrall of Lubitsch and all of them, and the audience too, end up with smiles on their faces.

This movie is too good to more than hint at its wonders. If you have never seen a silent feature, see this one.