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Albert Bassermann (played Dutch diplomat Van Meer in Foreign Correspondent) couldn't speak a word of English and learned all his lines phonetically. His small speech about people who gives crumbs to birds is so touching. Same thing with Peter Lorre. He learned all his lines phonetically in The Man Who Knew too Much (1934).

Not exactly. The Mortal Storm is a film about fall of families when Hitler became the chancellor. I found the film to be very strong especially because of strong performances from Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart.

Yes, that's the one. I think Frank Borzage's The Mortal Storm moved Ernst Lubitsch a lot. Robert Stack and Henry Victor are in both The Mortal Storm and To be or not to be. Robert Stack played Sobinski in To be or not to be. And Henry Victor played Schultz in To be or not to be.

In my opinion, Frederick Stafford was just ok. I found second half interesting, because it shows why Andre fell in love with Juanita. Andre's wife was really in love with Jacques. I prefer the duel ending, because Andre feels like he has nothing to lose. He didn't know that Juanita died. But he knows that he will never see her again.

Have you all seen Frank Borzage's The Mortal Storm? Many of the actors who worked in The Shop around the Corner are also in this film.

What do you all think about Spellbound? I don't think it is one of Hitchcock's best. But still I think it is a good film.

Thanks, MissGoddess. Its one of my favorite Lubitsch films.

I wasn't into The Trouble with Harry. I thought the film was ok. As for The Lodger, it depends upon the version you watch. I love the version I have. Hitchcock actually gives an obscure foreshadowing in the end that Lodger might be Jack the Ripper. The Studio put the "Happy ending", because the audience won't accept Ivor Novello as the villain. Ivor Novello was a big star at that time.

I think there are other connections. Here is another example. 1) Dr. Zhivago's relationship with Tonya and Lara. Andre's relationship with his wife Nicole and Juanita.

Did anyone notice similarities between Topaz (1969) and Boris Pasternak's novel Dr. Zhivago? 1) Dr. Zhivago refused to leave Russia, because he loved Russia. In Topaz, Juanita (Karin Dor) refused to leave Cuba, because She loved the Country. 2) Lara leaves Dr. Zhivago. In Topaz, Andre (Frederick Stafford) leaves Karin Dor. 3) Maurice Jarre composed the music for both films Dr. Zhivago and Topaz.

Another Great Review, Jack Favell. Its been a long time since I saw Montecarlo. The interesting things I liked about review was your explanations on the facial features of the characters and your descriptions on camera as a comedian. I forgot to write a reply on your previous post. I've seen Palm Beach Story written of as a "uniquely American Lubitsch homage". I know Preston Sturges mentions about Lubitsch in "Sullivan's Travels." But I like Lubitsch far better than Preston Sturges. Preston Sturges is a talented writer. But somehow I liked Lubitsch's films far better than films from Preston Sturges.

SPOILERS Topaz is a political thriller. But the political subjects in the film are also connected to personal life of Frederick Stafford (Andre) in many ways.

Topaz is a codename of French Spy Ring. I also forgot to mention something about Marnie. Hitchcock once said in an interview that Marnie is a modern version of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew."

SPOILERS I forgot to mention this. The relationship between Andre (Frederick Stafford) and Juanita (Karin Dor) is a great example of doomed love. I think this explains Hitchcock's original ending with the duel scene.

SPOILERS Great Photos, MissGoddess. What I liked about Topaz was all of these incidents in the film are connected to one character - Andre (Frederick Stafford). I think Hitchcock makes Andre very sympathetic. Andre's daughter (Claude Jade) and his son in law likes Andre more than Nicole (Dany Robin). Another thing I found interesting about Topaz is Andre never finds out what happened to Juanita (Karin Dor)? But he knows that he will never see her again. I think it is implied throughout the film that Nicole was never really in love with Andre. This may have been the reason why Andre fell in love with Juanita. It was revealed by Jacques (Michel Piccoli) at the party that Nicole, Andre and Jacques had been very close during WWII and she could have chosen either man to be her husband - she chose Andre.

What is everyone's opinion on Topaz (1969)? I think this film will get better by time. As you all know, It was a box office disaster. And Hitchcock didn't get enough time to work on the script. Some of the Scenes were written hours before the shooting. But there are lots of interesting things in the film. I think Hitchcock left the relationship very open to the audience. I think its an interesting Hitchcock.

Great Review, Jack Favell. Can you post your reviews on Lubitsch's musicals The Smiling Lieutenant and The Merry Widow?

I forgot to mention the meaning and symbolism of hats in Foreign Correspondent. Joel McCrea loses 3 hats in the film. He loses the first hat, when he travels U.S to England. Little Boy stole the hat. Joel McCrea loses the second hat while traveling with Van Meer to the conference. Joel McCrea accidentally leaves the hat in the taxi. And Joel McCrea loses his third hat, because of the wind. This happens right before Joel McCrea enters the windmill. There are other references of hat. Laraine Day (Carol) asks Joel McCrea in the Hotel Europe "Don't you think you been talking through your hat?" In the top of Cathedral, a boy loses his hat. This happens when Edmund Gwenn (Roley) raises the boy to see the view from the cathedral. I don't if there are more hats. In the first half of the film, I believe Hats are used for different purposes. Here are somethings I noticed. 1) In the first half, Hats are used to seperate the characters "Johnny Jones" and "Huntley Haverstock. " But in the second half, Joel McCrea completely becomes Huntley Haverstock to the public. 2) Hats are also used for foreshadowing. For Example, the famous windmill scene and top of the cathedral.

Like Under Capricorn, Marnie has a nightmarish cinematography. What is everyone's opinion on "I confess"? It is one of the less known Hitchcock films. I think it is a great film. Unlike Paul Newman's performance in Torn Curtain, I thought Monty Clift's performance was very strong.

From what I know of, the story of the novel and story of the film are very different. And in the novel, Marnie's last name isn't Edgar. The novel takes place in England. In the film, the setting was changed from England to United States. Hitchcock used symbolisms in his films. In Foreign Correspondent, we see symbolisms with hats and birds.

Many People dislike Marnie (1964). I don't know why. Did anyone noticed brilliant symbolisms by Hitchcock? Marnie's last name in the film is "Edgar." The film takes place in New York (Strutt's office), Virginia (Garrod's Stables) and Philadelphia (Rutland Publishing and Wickwind). These are the three places that "Edgar" Allan Poe lived throughout the better part of his life. Finally, and most conclusively, the film's climactic scene takes place at Marnie's mother's home in Baltimore, the city where Poe died under mysterious circumstances in 1849.

I thought George Sanders did a brilliant performance. Whenever I think of All about Eve, I think of Clever "Addison DeWitt."

Billy Wilder is another great director I always liked. What is your opinion on this great director? My favorite Billy Wilder film is Double Indemnity. According to the Book "Its only a movie", Alfred Hitchcock said "Many times, people have told me how much they enjoyed Witness for Prosecution. They thought it was my film instead of Billy Wilder's. And Wilder told me people asked him about The Paradine Case, thinking he had done it." This confusion happened because we see both Charles Laughton and John Williams in both The Paradine Case and Witness for Prosecution. I always liked the partnership of Charles Brackett/Billy Wilder. Their great works can be seen in Great Films like Ernst Lubitsch's Ninotchka, Midnight, The Lost Weekend, and Sunset Blvd. Sadly, they didn't work together after Sunset Blvd. What is everyone's opinion on Billy Wilder?

That's a great photo, MissGoddess. What is your favorite film? Marnie is one of my favorite Hitchcock films. I thought Sean Connery was great too.

That's great. I am sure you will enjoy those films. I have a question for everyone. What do you all think about Heaven Can Wait (1943)? And this is the only Lubitsch film in color.