Sat Jul 09, 2011 9:47 am
Teutonic bourgeois like German aristocrats, from time to time need some
fresh air in order to take a break from their matrimony obligations
that become dangerously monotonous. So that's precisely what Herr Meyer ( Herr Ernst Lubitsch ) from Berlin did. He took a trip to the Tyrol in
Switzerland, leaving behind his wife Frau Paula ( Frau Ethel Orff ),
and had a good time with the help of an accomplice, his personal
doctor.
Once in the Tyrol and accordingly dressed like the natives of such a
neutral country, Herr Meyer will meet an idle bourgeois woman, Frau
Kitty ( Frau Trude Troll ). She is also spending a trifle time in the
same elegant hotel (with the permission in this case of her fiancée);
She's a beautiful fraulein who constantly is harassed by gentlemen and
Herr Meyer isn't exactly an exception about this… "Meyer aus Berlin" (
Meyer From Berlin ) (1919) is a characteristic Herr Lubitsch film from
his German early silent period. It's a satiric and ironic view about
matrimony and bourgeoisie, in where sarcastic comments, puns and
hilarious situations gives Herr Lubitsch the chance to do what he likes
most. That's to depict the battle of sexes and the peculiar
relationship and behaviour among men and women in the institution of
matrimony, strict obligations and rules that obviously were made in
order to be broken as the German director ( and aristocrats ) have
known for ages. Flirting, deceit and lies are men's favourite games and
minor sins ...until your wife discovers everything, natürlich!...
Besides being a light comedy as trivial as any matrimony, "Meyer aus
Berlin" is also a peculiar early mountain film. (However, in Herr
Lubitsch's parameters, natürlich!) So thanks Gott there is no trace of
epic climbing, snow or ski races in the film. On the contrary, for Herr
Meyer the idea to climb the mount Watzmann as suggested this by Frau
Kitty is a terrible idea; Kitty, as it happened with other vigorous
Teutonic women, very much likes this genuine German sport, , but to
Meyer, it's a tedious and sweating plan that he doesn't like at al
preferring more exciting sports like chasing maids or wooing Frau
Kitty.
Filmed after "Carmen" (1918), the big budget costume film production
that gave Herr Lubitsch world fame and reputation outside Germany,
"Meyer aus Berlin" is more prosaic and light entertainment. It is one
of these comedies that the German director inserted between expensive
and huge film projects. This doesn't mean that these comedies are
simple ones, not at all; such pictures display inventive technical
effects and careful sceneries that are filmed accordingly with peculiar
contemporary stories.
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because
this German Count must play the aristocrat's favourite games mentioned
before.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien
http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com
fresh air in order to take a break from their matrimony obligations
that become dangerously monotonous. So that's precisely what Herr Meyer ( Herr Ernst Lubitsch ) from Berlin did. He took a trip to the Tyrol in
Switzerland, leaving behind his wife Frau Paula ( Frau Ethel Orff ),
and had a good time with the help of an accomplice, his personal
doctor.
Once in the Tyrol and accordingly dressed like the natives of such a
neutral country, Herr Meyer will meet an idle bourgeois woman, Frau
Kitty ( Frau Trude Troll ). She is also spending a trifle time in the
same elegant hotel (with the permission in this case of her fiancée);
She's a beautiful fraulein who constantly is harassed by gentlemen and
Herr Meyer isn't exactly an exception about this… "Meyer aus Berlin" (
Meyer From Berlin ) (1919) is a characteristic Herr Lubitsch film from
his German early silent period. It's a satiric and ironic view about
matrimony and bourgeoisie, in where sarcastic comments, puns and
hilarious situations gives Herr Lubitsch the chance to do what he likes
most. That's to depict the battle of sexes and the peculiar
relationship and behaviour among men and women in the institution of
matrimony, strict obligations and rules that obviously were made in
order to be broken as the German director ( and aristocrats ) have
known for ages. Flirting, deceit and lies are men's favourite games and
minor sins ...until your wife discovers everything, natürlich!...
Besides being a light comedy as trivial as any matrimony, "Meyer aus
Berlin" is also a peculiar early mountain film. (However, in Herr
Lubitsch's parameters, natürlich!) So thanks Gott there is no trace of
epic climbing, snow or ski races in the film. On the contrary, for Herr
Meyer the idea to climb the mount Watzmann as suggested this by Frau
Kitty is a terrible idea; Kitty, as it happened with other vigorous
Teutonic women, very much likes this genuine German sport, , but to
Meyer, it's a tedious and sweating plan that he doesn't like at al
preferring more exciting sports like chasing maids or wooing Frau
Kitty.
Filmed after "Carmen" (1918), the big budget costume film production
that gave Herr Lubitsch world fame and reputation outside Germany,
"Meyer aus Berlin" is more prosaic and light entertainment. It is one
of these comedies that the German director inserted between expensive
and huge film projects. This doesn't mean that these comedies are
simple ones, not at all; such pictures display inventive technical
effects and careful sceneries that are filmed accordingly with peculiar
contemporary stories.
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because
this German Count must play the aristocrat's favourite games mentioned
before.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien
http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com
