Die Bergkatze

Vuorikissa / Bergkatten. DE 1921. PC: Union. D: Ernst Lubitsch. SC: Hanns Kräly, Lubitsch. DP: Theodor Sparkuhl. AD: Ernst Stern. Starring: Pola Negri (Rischka), Paul Heidemann (Ltn. Alexis), Victor Janson (commander of the fort), Hermann Thimig (Pepo). 1818 m /18 fps/ 88 min. Transit Film / FWMS restored (2000) print /18 fps/ 82 min. E-subtitles AA. Viewed at Cinema Orion, Helsinki, 12 Feb 2008. One of Lubitsch's most original and elaborate German comedies revisited. The winter inspires Lubitsch again, and he tries for once to play with Expressionism, not letting it inhibit him. The set design is lovely, also in Pola Negri's dream sequence with its band of snowmen. The anti-militaristic satire is pretty mild. Pola Negri is at her best here in a comic variation of her Carmen interpretation. Lubitsch has his fun with reversed sex roles: Pola Negri is the active and aggressive protagonist, to whom the males have to react. There are the formal marriages in the end, but no choice of possible pairings would be ideal. One spectator commented that Lubitsch in this film tries too hard and preferred his more relaxed comedies. The restored version is great but the visual quality of this screening print not so hot.