Film writer and author Imogen Sara Smith joins us to discuss Frank Borzage’s DESIRE, produced by Ernst Lubitsch during his tenure as Production Head at Paramount Studios! In this episode, we discuss the state of Lubitsch’s 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 film’s relationship with genre, and the code-mandated final beat of the plot.

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Edited by Brennen King

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.

The Motion Picture Production ("Hays") Code [Full Text]

Marlene Dietrich: Life and Legend by Steven Bach

It’s 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, we’ll experience another world war, the height of classical Hollywood, and the death of our show’s 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 Lubitsch’s life and career circa the mid-late 1930s. We cover Eyman’s research process, Lubitsch’s attitudes towards life and art, his tenure as production head of Paramount, and his working methods with actors.

Edited by Sophia Yoon.

We have a Discord!

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Author Imogen Sara Smith joins us to discuss DESIRE. For information as to where to find this film, check out our resources page.

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

It’s 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 film’s infectious energy, the many incredible ‘Lubitsch Touch’ moments and gestures, discuss Lubitsch’s extremely loose adaptation of the Lehar operetta, the French-language version, Edward Everett Horton’s greatest role, the film’s relationship with love and death, the more “conservative” nature of the film’s 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 we’ll 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!

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

The censor’s hammer falls, and Lubitsch’s career comes to a close in grand fashion in Season 5.

MPAA Production Code Administration Records for THE MERRY WIDOW

The Merry Widow Blog Entry by Jose Arroyo