Very funny, and charming, German Comedy/Fantasy from the great Ernst Lubitsch. The Baron of the Toy-box country is afraid He has seen his last days, and tries to persuade his nephew Lancelot, to Marry and carry on the family line. Soon it is revealed that The boy is positively petrified of girls. Every eligible young maiden attempts to chase him down all at once. He manages to elude the stampede of femininity, and seeks refuge in a convent.
The Monks who have some mighty hearty eating habits, are seeking the means to continue to stuff themselves. When they learn the boy will be paid 300,000 francs to return and choose a bride, they devise a scheme to cash in. Lancelot is encouraged to venture to a famous Life-size Mechanical Doll-maker. For coming up with the idea, in return the Monk's will pocket the loot! After-all, that 300, 000 francs will buy allot of fresh pickled pig -knuckles!
The idea being, Lancelot should be able to pass off one of the fine designer creations as the real thing to his Uncle? Trouble is, due to some unforeseen complications "The Doll, Ossi" is the real thing! When the true doll loses an arm, the actual flesh and blood daughter who the robot is based on takes her place! Ossi believes that this is all just temporary, while the doll is being repaired by her Fathers assistant, . But, soon she ends up being taken back to the royal court to wed the prince!
During The carriage ride to the palace Ossi quickly falls for Lancelot, despite his obvious stupidity! Next, getting her into a wedding dress is a bit of a struggle. Still the Bride proves the life-of the party, as soon as her new Hubby's back is turned. Somehow she manages to maintain the illusion to him that she is still just a machine. When the startled Doll-maker discovers He has inadvertently sold his own daughter to Lancelot rather than a reasonable facsimile, it stands his hair on end! And our story isn't over yet!
Ossi Oswalda Stars as "Ossi, The Doll". She was known as "The German Mary Pickford", and is a truly delightful comedienne in this rare little jewel of a film.
THE DOLL is the latest release in the "Lubitsch in Berlin" DVD series from Kino. This unique production goes a long ways to illustrating why Lubitsch was, and still is among the true masters of the cinema! Highly recommended, although my favorite title in the series so far is probably the hilarious comedy THE OYSTER PRINCESS" (1919) which also starred the intriguing Miss Ossi Oswalda. Some Wonderful stuff to be sure! A great series, and MADAME DU BARRY (1919) with Pola Negri, and Emil Jannings likely will be coming soon!
I am afraid that these are the only two Ossi Oswalda comedies that I have seen so far. I sure hope more still survive as well!
You can also see her in Ich möchte kein Mann sein (1918) which is available on DVD. Beside these, there is Das Fidele Gefängnis (1917) (available as supplement on Criterion Trouble in Paradise).