Original subtitles

Die Puppe was approved by the Berlin Board of Censors at a length of 1375 metres.

The only known contemporary nitrate copy of the film that has survived,

which is in the Filmarchiv Austria in Vienna now,

is 1305 metres long.

It's tinted and it contains German titles and inserts.

The basis for the video remastering is the internegative of this copy

that's been photochemically restored by the Filmarchiv Austria in 2000.

The worst damage was digitally restored.

Missing intertitles were restored and marked by the FWM logo.

The positioning of an intertitle that previously appeared in the wrong place was rectified.

THE DOLL.

Four amusing acts from a toy-chest,

freely adapted from Wilner, by Hanns Kraly and Ernst Lubitsch

Direction: Ernst Lubitsch.

Technical Director: Kurt Waschneck. Cinematography: Theodor Sparkuhl.

CAST: Baron von Chanterelle: Max Kronert

Lancelot, his nephew: Hermann Thimig Hilarius, dollmaker: Victor Janson

His wife: Marga Kohler Ossi, his daughter: Ossi Oswalda

The Apprentice: Gerhardt Ritterband The Prior: Jacob Thiedtke

Lancelot's nanny: Josefine Dora

FIRST ACT.

Dearest sun, please shine, so that I don't catch a cold.

The Baron von Chanterelle does not wish for his lineage to die out

and therefore invites all of the region's maidens

to gather in the marketplace so that his nephew, the sole heir,

may choose a fitting maiden to take as his wife.

Your nephew Lancelot!

What do you want from my little nurseling?!

Lancelot, you should marry!

You get married!

Don't let yourself get talked into anything!

Our little sister's going to get married.

Forty maidens are at the door!

How does one get to the abbey?

Dear brothers! Money's getting tight - food, tighter -

soon we'll have nothing left to nibble!!

What are you disturbing our meagre meal for?

Forty maidens are on my trail!

Don't exaggerate, my son!

Protect me from the maidens - and I'll be happy to starve with you!

Refresh yourself, my son! We like to give - but only a little!

Some days later.

It would be better if you participated in my concerns!

Reverend Father, allow us to participate in your concerns!

Dear Nephew Lancelot! Please come back. All is forgiven. -

You'll receive 300,000 francs dowry should you decide to marry.

- Baron Chanterelle.

Do you know how many pork knuckles you could eat for that!

I won't be marrying any woman!

You don't need to marry any woman either - you'll marry a doll!

In the abbey's archives.

Hilarius the world-renowned dollmaker.

Available for bachelors, widowers and misogynists!

I have succeeded, with the help of a mechanism I built,

in constructing a life-like doll that can walk, dance and sing

with the push of a few different buttons.

You'll buy a doll, pretend to marry her and give us the dowry!

Only if it doesn't hurt!

END OF THE FIRST ACT.

SECOND ACT.

Hilarius has made a doll in the image of his daughter.

Laugh a little, Ossi!

What are you doing tickling my daughter?!

What am I supposed to do? Should I hit her again?

Then I'll take more beatings.

Mother, our second Ossi is finished!

Hilarius, you really are a master!

Is it any wonder, when you've got this sort of apprentice?!

You have to bring me something new.

Come in, young man!

He's lucky a customer's here!

Dollbaby, you're my shining star.

O, woe is me!!

I'm done for.

Fix the arm - in the meantime I'll play the doll!

O, how improper!

I want a proper doll of solid character!

I have one completely irreproachable doll!

Bring the doll into the shop.

Now, my dollbaby, what do you have to say to Mummy?

Just as naughty as Ossi.

So no-one feels neglected.

My favourite meal is chocolate pudding!

When he starts with his stories...

How we lookin' here?

In the meantime get acquainted with the mechanism!

That's what I call a solid character!

Ahhh, women!

It would be like you, to go drinking expensive paints!

Careful - she's freshly lacquered!

Very well, I'll buy dolly here and take her with me straightaway.

There must be a screw loose!

I'd like to get a wedding dress.

Dear Nephew Lancelot! Please come back. All is forgiven. -

You'll receive 300,000 francs dowry should you decide to marry.

- Baron Chanterelle.

I want to pull the wool over my uncle's eyes by pretending to marry the doll!

Don't forget to oil her twice a week!

Owner's Manual

I leave her to you. Treat her well.

Am I seeing things?!

END OF THE SECOND ACT.

THIRD ACT.

Out of grief over his lost nephew,

Baron von Chanterelle sees his end approaching.

To whom did you promise the vase?

You should all divide everything up evenly.

That's on account of your bad planning!

Your nephew Lancelot is here with a young lady!

She's from an old patrician family. They're all very formal.

Everyone get changed for the wedding!

We're pleased to see you healthy again!

You're able to get undressed on your own?

She must have one complex mechanism.

What is that doll doing here? - I sold her! -

Master, hear the confession of a broken man.

This is truly hair-raising.

O, you hyena of lust!!

I can't bear the shame - I'm throwing myself out the window.

What use is this horrible life?!

Wedding at Castle Chanterelle.

My bride doesn't have any appetite.

You're both so quiet?!

Oh - my bride isn't wound up!

Hippolyt is going to pay you the dowry.

If something goes wrong afterwards - then it's nobody's fault.

A dance of honour for the bride!

Your bride just came unwound!

Then I'll have to wind her up again!

Now I've overwound her!

END OF THE THIRD ACT.

FOURTH ACT.

The wedding guests depart.

Goodbye, Mrs Executive Customs Inspector Secretary!

Good night, Mrs Substratum Appellate Supernumerary!

Sleep well, Kreuzwendedich!

Do you need any more pieces of advice?

Thanks, I've got an instruction manual.

Due to his grief, Hilarius has been sleepwalking.

It's just a doll!

We'll just put her in the junk room.

Turn away, dearest brothers!

And now, my son, let us assist in carrying your heavy burden.

Carry her into the junk room!

Oh, isn't that kind of the brothers!

Yes, they're kind brothers!

If I yell now, he'll fall down from there!

The man's the head of a family! - He should keep living!

A pity that you're only a dolly!

Sweet Ossi!

Lancelot is dreaming.

I can't believe you're a real girl!

A mouse!

You're afraid of a mouse? Yeah, you're a girl all right!

I drove them to the abbey.

We're too tired - we're not going anywhere!

Good thing I dropped in when I did!

Ossi, the daughter of the well-known dollmaker Hilarius,

and Lancelot, nephew of the Baron Chanterelle,

were legally married. - The Registrar, Ungefer

Now I'm free of all worries!