Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Ernst Lubitsch
Ernst Lubitsch Facts
| Sign | Aquarius |
| Born |
Jan 29, 1892 Berlin, Germany |
| Died |
Nov 30, 1947 Hollywood, CA |
| Age | Died at 55 |
| Total Facts | 14 |
Billy Wilder considered him his favorite director.
Became a naturalized US citizen in 1936.
Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume One, 1890- 1945". Pages 692-700. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1987.
Brought together Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald, one of Hollywood's greatest screen pairings.
Directed 3 different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Lewis Stone, Maurice Chevalier and Greta Garbo
Discovered actress/singer Jeanette MacDonald in New York (1929).
Gave the film industry "The Lubitsch Touch" due to his sophisticated wit and style.
He directed a "mummy' movie. It wasn't one of the post-Boris Karloff films, but the silent German production Eyes of the Mummy Ma (1918).
He had a daughter, Nicola, with his wife Vivian Gaye.
Retrospective at the 34th Berlin International Film Festival. [1984]
Son of Simcha (Simon) Lubitsch, a Jewish tailor.
The term "MOS" is used, on a slate, when a scene is filmed without sync sound (or any sound). This directive is widely thought to be a homage to Lubitsch who would say, in his thick Berlin accent, that he wished to shoot some footage "mitout sound." "Mit" means "with" in German...ergo...without sound..."mitout sound"- "M-O-S."
Was known for always playing practical jokes on his film sets.
Was voted the 16th Greatest Director of all time by Entertainment Weekly.