Als ich tot war (When I Was Dead, 1916) with Ernst Lubitsch, Louise Schenrich, Lanchen Voss and Julius Falkenstein
![Image](http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa123/cleteux/als-ich-tot-war-aka-wo-ist-mein-schatz.jpg)
Ernst is victim of a nasty mother-in-law who keeps locking him out his flat when he comes home late. He sleeps on the staircase where she comes to take away his clothes. He is finally kicked out of his home leaving a suicide note to his wife. But, he is hired later as a servant, wearing a disguise...
This comedy directed and played by Ernest Lubitsch still shows its stagey origine. The direction is pretty static and Lubitsch himself as an actor is mugging a lot to the camera.I recognised Julius Falkenstein the bald actor in Die Austernprinzessin who plays a suitor selected by the masty mother-in-law for her 'widowed' daughter. The best gag of the film is the supper when Falkenstein tries desperately to eat his soup with a spoon. The spoon has a huge hole in it done by naughty Ernst. But overall, it's not among Lubitsch's best German silent comedies.
Wenn vier dasselbe tun (When Four Do the Same, 1917) with Emil Jannings, Ossi Oswalda, Margarete Kupfer and Fritz Schultz
![Image](http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa123/cleteux/SilverScreen/Vier.jpg)
![Image](http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa123/cleteux/SilverScreen/LubitschVierSmall.jpg)
Ossie (O. Oswalda) comes back from her convent to live with her father (E. Jannings). She meets a shy librarian (F. Schultz) and falls in love with him...
This Lubitsch considered lost until recently has resurfaced in the Russian archive. The cast is very promising with Ossie Oswalda playing Jannings' daughter. Unfortunately, the film is disappointing with a fairly obvious narrative. One has to take into account that the Russian titles have probably watered down considerably the original German ones. The French translation was fairly heavy. Oswalda is wonderful, as usual, full of charm and energy. The best scenes show Jannings dancing with the old librarian he is courting. He is a terrible dancer and he spends all his time caressing his handlebars moustache.
Der Blusenkönig (The King of Blouses, 1917) with Ernst Lubitsch, Käthe Dorsch and Guido Herzfeld
![Image](http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa123/cleteux/SilverScreen/Blusenkonig.jpg)
Sally Katz (E. Lubitsch) has become the king of women's blouses. He comes back to visit his former employer. His daughter flirts with him...
There is only 12 min left of this 3-reels comedy directed and played by Lubitsch. It's a shame because this is the film that caught my eye. It contains a lovely scene that shows the way of Lubitsch's future masterpieces and innuendo. Sally is alone with the boss' daughter. Somebody is watching and listening to them through a keyhole (there is a similar scene in Die Austernprinzessin). He ties back the lady's shoelace. As the lace touches her feet, she lets out a cry of pleasure. The spy misunderstands the cry. Very funny!