ReFocus: The Historical Films of Ernst Lubitsch

David John Boyd is a post-doctoral research fellow of the Stirling Maxwell Centre in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at the University of Glasgow. His research focuses include historical representation in film, film-philosophies of embodiment, and theories of intermediality and adaptation in global visual culture. His recent publications include From Glasgow to Gotham: The Comics Art of Frank Quitely with Julie Briand-Boyd (forthcoming 2025) and Deleuze and Global Animation: Estranged Images (forthcoming 2026).

• List of FiguresAcknowledgementsNotes on ContributorsIntroduction: Ernst Lubitsch’s Touch of the Past - David John BoydPart I. Lubitsch’s Costume Films: From Berlin to Hollywood (1914–27)1. Eyeing Egypt: Transparent Orientalism on the Edge of Cinematic Modernity in The Eyes of Mummy Ma (1918) - Christina Parker-Flynn2. Longing for Visual Attraction: Fashion and Fabrics as Sensual Quality in the Early Films of Ernst Lubitsch - Evelyn Echle3. The Woven World-Image: Lubitsch, Deleuze and the Film-Philosophies ofFabric - David John Boyd4. ‘The Lubitsch Touch' under National Socialism: Lubitsch’s Early Historicals and Their Influence on Nazi Film Aesthetics - Mina Radović5. ‘Do You Know That You Two Are Married to Each Other?’: The Oyster Princess and The Doll (1919) as Farces of Sex and Class - Ciara Moloney6. Carnival, Spectatorship and Desire in Rosita (1923) - Irene Rihuete VareaPart II. Lubitsch’s Pre-Code Imaginary (1928–33)7. Lubitsch’s ‘Hidden Jewish Touch’: Jewish Anxieties and Gallic Desires - Craig Svonkin8. ‘This Is Real!’: Money in Trouble in Paradise (1932) - Kyle StinePart III. Lubitsch’s Émigré Hollywood (1934–48)9. The Earnest Turn in Ernst’s Historiography - Amin Heidari10. Pariah Humour: Ernst Lubitsch’s Refugee Comedies - Fabrizio S. Ciccone11. Fighting Fascism: Ernst Lubitsch’s To Be or Not to Be (1942) - Jan-Christopher Horak12. Ernst Lubitsch in Dialogue with History - Margie Burns13. History and/as Genre in the Work of Fritz Lang and Ernst Lubitsch - Matthew Williamson14. Remaking Lubitsch in Hong Kong Cinema: The Ninotchka Trope in Her Fatal Ways (1991) - Jessica Siu-yin YeungIndex

Like adjusting the lens on a projector, this volume brings Lubitsch’s films into sharper focus, revealing new dimensions. The authors convincingly refocus our vision of Lubitsch’s humanizing touch with fresh insights and diverse approaches that illuminate the global impact of his style and demonstrate why his historical films continue to reward close analysis long after their initial flicker.