LUBITSCH ERNST: (1892-1947)

LUBITSCH ERNST: (1892-1947)

Lubitsch lures Jannings to Hollywood -

 

 

‘Your name is known here, and it is the only one of all German actors – and that is colossal, and you can be incredibly proud of this success!’

 

LUBITSCH ERNST: (1892-1947) German-born American film director, an Honorary Academy Award recipient. An excellent T.L.S., Ernst, three pages, 4to, Beverly Hills, California, 23^rd July 1923, to Emil Jannings, in German. Lubitsch states that he has received Jannings's letter via the German film producer Paul Davidson ('on the one hand to give me an opinion on the new film and on the other hand to show me the difficulties you are having to work with') and continues to entice Jannings to come and work with him in Hollywood, stating, in part, 'You will have been informed…..about my work and plans here. I haven't signed yet, but will probably sign a three-year contract here and do two movies a year for the Warner Bros. and one for the Pickfords. You will now have received the telegram in which I asked if you would like to come over. You will also be wondering who is Warner Bros?? Above all, they are really delightful people, with whom I can work however I want, and with whom you would also feel comfortable, and that is one of the main things in a foreign country, along with all the money. I'm now trying to see when I can make a film with you…..If the offer comes, it goes without saying that you will be offered a fee that is reasonable. But don't make the mistake of going overboard and potentially losing a combination that could make the difference in your life…….Every person in film circles and the public who has seen you takes off their hat to you, they have the greatest admiration for you, they sometimes consider you to be the greatest film actor in the world, as does the press. Your name is known here, and it is the only one of all German actors - and that is colossal, and you can be incredibly proud of this success! But it is not so popular that it has penetrated the lower classes and small towns…..But you will get popularity quickly once you get here. You would, I'm sure, have a colossal career here. If the offer goes to you, I will see to it that it is decent and proper - but accept it. The opposite might be the biggest mistake of your life…….We dwell in the deepest peace and in the most beautiful nature……And you too would certainly settle in here, especially since you would have the greatest relief because Gussy [Holl, wife of Jannings from 1923] speaks perfect English. I hear you should already be married, that would make the crossing much easier. It would also be easier for you since you have me here - you might not be able to gauge that at the moment - but you wouldn't feel the difference in work between over there and here at all. I had a harder time at first…..but from the moment, where I entered the studio, and directed 10 hours, all resistance disappeared. I can't predict how successful my film will be, but the impression people got of me at work was just - old class…..My Pickford film premieres on September 3^rd in New York. I'm incredibly excited. Everyone who has seen it is enthusiastic, hopefully the public and the press too. In about two weeks I'll start my new film, which is based on 'Nur ein Traum'. I can direct entirely in English and work just as well as I do at home. So, dear Emil, I hope it's not too far away when I pick you up from the train in Los Angeles'. To the base of the final page appears an A.N.S. by Helene 'Leni' Lubitsch, the director's wife, also expressing her desire to see Jannings and his wife Gussy join them in Hollywood. A letter of wonderful content and fine association. Two file holes to the left edge of each page, only very slightly affecting a few words of text, and with some light overall creasing and age wear, about VG

 

Emil Jannings (1884-1950) Swiss-born German actor. Following the end of World War I Jannings and Lubitsch had been at the heart of Weimar Culture in 1920s Berlin, and the increasing popularity of Jannings enabled him to sign an agreement with Paramount Pictures and eventually follow Lubitsch to Hollywood. Jannings started his career in America in 1927 by appearing in The Way of All Flesh and in the following year starred in The Last Command. For his work in both films Jannings became the first recipient of the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1927/28. The actor would only be directed by Lubitsch in one Hollywood film, The Patriot (1928), and his career in America would reach an abrupt ending with the advent of talkies. The movie going public found the actor's thick German accent difficult to understand and Jannings returned to Europe, starring alongside Marlene Dietrich in The Blue Angel (1930).