The Lubitsch Touch


Ernst Lubitsch (1892-1947)
The Lubitsch Touch
Ernst Lubitsch (1892-1947)



Shop Around the Corner (1940)
Klara Novak (Margaret Sullavan)
Alfred Kralik (Jimmy Stewart)


North by Northwest (1959)
Cary Grant & Eva Maria Saint


To Catch a Thief (1955)
Cary Grant & Grace Kelly


Casablanca (1942)
Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman


Roman Holiday (1953)
Gregory Peck & Audrey Hepburn


My Fair Lady (1964)
Rex Harrison & Audrey Hepburn

In Ernst Lubitsch's
Shop Around the Corner
Klara plans to buy music box
as Christmas gift to Alfred

but Pirovitch convinced her
that a wallet is a better present;
when she agrees, he tells Alfred—
"You've got the wallet!"

In North by Northwest, Grant
enters window of lady's room;
She yells "Stop!" then whispers
"stop"— and everyone laughs.

In To Catch a Thief,
Cary Grant escapes police chase
by jumping on a bus— sits in
back next to Alfred Hitchcock!

In Casablanca's Rick's Café
Waiter Sakall feels his coat
when pickpocketer passed by,
to see if anything was stolen.

In Roman Holiday,
Audrey Hepburn hits Peck
who faked losing his hand
in the Mouth of Truth.

In My Fair Lady,
Audrey Hepburn yells out
in Ascot Race "Come on Dover.
Move your blooming ass!"

A surprise screen scene
bringing laughs & applause
to the whole audience—
that's the Lubitsch Touch!


— Peter Y. Chou
     Mountain View, 9-18-2023
Pirovitch convinced Klara not to
buy Alfred music box & says
"You got the wallet"


She yells "Stop!" but after turning
on the light, whispers "stop".
British Actress is Patricia Cutts


Cary Grant escapes police chase
jumps on bus & finds sitting
next to him— Hitchcock!


Waiter S.Z. Sakall feels his coat
when pickpocketer passed by him


Audrey Hepburn hits Peck
who faked losing his hand
in the Mouth of Truth


Audrey Hepburn yells out
in Ascot Race "Come on Dover.
Move your blooming ass!"