S5E0.5 - Desire [1936] with Imogen Sara Smith

How Would Lubitsch Do It?

Film writer and author Imogen Sara Smith joins us to discuss Frank Borzage’s DESIRE, produced by Ernst Lubitsch during his tenure as Production Head at Paramount Studios! In this episode, we discuss the state of Lubitsch’s career in this time of personal and political upheaval, the state of Hollywood in the Hays Code era, the the careers of Marlene Dietrich and Frank Borzage, the film’s relationship with genre, and the code-mandated final beat of the plot.

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Edited by Brennen King

NEXT WEEK:

Film programmer and curator Chris Cassingham joins us to discuss ANGEL. For information as to where to find this film, check out our resources page.

WORKS CITED:

The Motion Picture Production ("Hays") Code [Full Text]

Marlene Dietrich: Life and Legend by Steven Bach