It's hard not to fall in love with 'Die Austernprinzessin' from the very beginning. The picture immediately carries itself with a measure of farcical madcap energy, like so many of Ernst Lubitsch's other comedies, but also a certain stark precision and carefulness in its details and in Lubitsch's direction. Yet even with the exaggerated body language and facial expressions as the silent era largely demanded, and the lively and exaggerated characterizations, the movie bears a natural ease and flow that is gratifying. Moreover, there's an unmistakable directness to the presentation - which is to say, not a lack of nuance, but a presence of great briskness in the plot development. The new score for modern releases, composed by Aljoscha Zimmermann, works all the while to sustain that zip with brilliant, upbeat music befitting the silent era and the feature. And for all that - just as immediately, 'Die Austernprinzessin' is wonderfully entertaining.
I very much admire the consideration for rounding aspects like set design and decoration, hair and makeup, costume design, and what feels like very meticulous orchestration of every scene. Frankly, the whole production design is unexpectedly but very assuredly grand, and inviting. I can't help but wonder how many takes were shot before achieving the final cut - and at the same time, the cast so readily impresses that perhaps there was no need for multiple takes. Everyone involved absolutely embraces the delightful ridiculousness of each scene and the narrative as a whole, bearing outstanding, robust physicality and personality that's a pleasure and a marvel to experience. That goes for Ossi Oswalda as the spoiled and tenacious title character; Victor Janson as the haughty and self-important Oyster King; Harry Liedtke and Julius Falkenstein as Prince Nucki and his friend Josef, both holding a playful zest in their comportment; and even the large supporting cast and many extras impress with admirable vigor and articulate poise.
Lubitsch's sharp direction is tremendous - his arrangement of scenes, his guidance of the assembled cast and crew, his keen eye for fetching shots. For that matter, all commendations as well to cinematographer Theodor Sparkuhly, and the vivid editing is just as fabulous. And even still, the screenplay is a total blast; Lubitsch and frequent collaborator Hanns Kräly once again knocked it out of the park with superb, funny writing. Every facet - characters, scenes, narrative, intertitles - are vibrant and outright intoxicating, curt and quick yet rich with detail, and full of utmost wit and intelligence. There is nothing in 'Die Austernprinzessin' that doesn't completely capture the imagination and lift one's spirits. So much astounding passion and animated vitality dominate each passing moment - I fail to see how one could possibly not fall in love with this picture.
Rife with situational humor, physical comedy, sight gags, clever wordplay and repartee, and outright absurdism, and built from top to bottom with a mind for both amusement and excellence, this is a true joy. For all the phenomenal, forgotten, overlooked, essential features of the silent era generally, and of Ernst Lubitsch's oeuvre specifically, even still 'Die Austernprinzessin' dazzles with its momentous display of exceptional skill from all involved. It's impossible to overstate how lovely a film this is, and it earns my highest, most enthusiastic recommendation: wherever and however you can watch it, 'Die Austernprinzessin' is a hilarious, endlessly enjoyable must-see!
I very much admire the consideration for rounding aspects like set design and decoration, hair and makeup, costume design, and what feels like very meticulous orchestration of every scene. Frankly, the whole production design is unexpectedly but very assuredly grand, and inviting. I can't help but wonder how many takes were shot before achieving the final cut - and at the same time, the cast so readily impresses that perhaps there was no need for multiple takes. Everyone involved absolutely embraces the delightful ridiculousness of each scene and the narrative as a whole, bearing outstanding, robust physicality and personality that's a pleasure and a marvel to experience. That goes for Ossi Oswalda as the spoiled and tenacious title character; Victor Janson as the haughty and self-important Oyster King; Harry Liedtke and Julius Falkenstein as Prince Nucki and his friend Josef, both holding a playful zest in their comportment; and even the large supporting cast and many extras impress with admirable vigor and articulate poise.
Lubitsch's sharp direction is tremendous - his arrangement of scenes, his guidance of the assembled cast and crew, his keen eye for fetching shots. For that matter, all commendations as well to cinematographer Theodor Sparkuhly, and the vivid editing is just as fabulous. And even still, the screenplay is a total blast; Lubitsch and frequent collaborator Hanns Kräly once again knocked it out of the park with superb, funny writing. Every facet - characters, scenes, narrative, intertitles - are vibrant and outright intoxicating, curt and quick yet rich with detail, and full of utmost wit and intelligence. There is nothing in 'Die Austernprinzessin' that doesn't completely capture the imagination and lift one's spirits. So much astounding passion and animated vitality dominate each passing moment - I fail to see how one could possibly not fall in love with this picture.
Rife with situational humor, physical comedy, sight gags, clever wordplay and repartee, and outright absurdism, and built from top to bottom with a mind for both amusement and excellence, this is a true joy. For all the phenomenal, forgotten, overlooked, essential features of the silent era generally, and of Ernst Lubitsch's oeuvre specifically, even still 'Die Austernprinzessin' dazzles with its momentous display of exceptional skill from all involved. It's impossible to overstate how lovely a film this is, and it earns my highest, most enthusiastic recommendation: wherever and however you can watch it, 'Die Austernprinzessin' is a hilarious, endlessly enjoyable must-see!