Was so excited to see this as it featured darling Ossi Oswalda, so very
popular during silent times but could not make a go of it in talkies.
She happened to catch the eye of budding director Ernst Lubitsch who
used her as a leading lady in a few of his early directorial efforts. Based
on the story of "Coppelia" it is, supposedly, one of the first of Lubitsch's
films to show his magic touch and Ossi is delightful.
Just an enchanting story - the old Baron has decreed that all maidens shall present themselves in the village square so his nephew Lancelot can marry and the line shall not die out. Lancelot is a milquetoast and cries when he hears the news and runs away to a monastery!! If you've only seen Herman Thimig as an older character actor, he is absolutely super in this as the effete prince who thinks that marrying a doll is going to answer all his prayers!! And darling Ossi Oswalda is bewitching as (who else) Ossi, the cheeky, spirited daughter of a doll maker. Lancelot has bought the doll modeled on the doll maker's daughter but when the boisterous apprentice (young Gerhardt Ritterband's career was stopped when the Nazis rose to power because of his Jewish heritage - he is fabulous in this, a real show stopper) breaks the doll, the real Ossi takes her place!! There are hi jinks at the wedding ball and in the wedding night when Lancelot, still believing Ossi is a doll, uses her as a coat and hat stand!! She is not amused!!
A tremendous fun movie!!
Just an enchanting story - the old Baron has decreed that all maidens shall present themselves in the village square so his nephew Lancelot can marry and the line shall not die out. Lancelot is a milquetoast and cries when he hears the news and runs away to a monastery!! If you've only seen Herman Thimig as an older character actor, he is absolutely super in this as the effete prince who thinks that marrying a doll is going to answer all his prayers!! And darling Ossi Oswalda is bewitching as (who else) Ossi, the cheeky, spirited daughter of a doll maker. Lancelot has bought the doll modeled on the doll maker's daughter but when the boisterous apprentice (young Gerhardt Ritterband's career was stopped when the Nazis rose to power because of his Jewish heritage - he is fabulous in this, a real show stopper) breaks the doll, the real Ossi takes her place!! There are hi jinks at the wedding ball and in the wedding night when Lancelot, still believing Ossi is a doll, uses her as a coat and hat stand!! She is not amused!!
A tremendous fun movie!!