If anyone can point to an earlier film that better prefigures the musical genre, I want to hear about it. This being Lubitsch’s first sound film and musical, I expected something a bit obvious and grotesque. Rather, he proved himself the master of the ellipsis even at this early stage. By my count, there are 76 shots of people opening either doors, windows, or curtains within a 105 minute span. Movement takes precedence over the payoff. Contrast this to the highly overrated Love Me Tonight, where I’m simply begging Mamoulian to stumble to the next setpiece with cinema intact.

Lubitsch’s tight cutting means he never allows his characters to think or ponder on a situation, to reflect on moral positions, or to assess their surroundings. And he loves the ellipse. It’s very similar to Hawks, but whereas Hawks’ characters are too busy doing something for the luxury of self-reflection, Lubitsch’s characters are too busy doing nothing. (this is why I consider Hawks and Lubitsch the most atheist of filmmakers- it never occurs to them to even ponder the existence of a higher moral purpose).