When his rich uncle refuses his inheritance unless he settles down with a nice bride, young Lancelot (Hermann Thimig) enlists the help of a dollmaker to create a lifelike robotic surrogate to pose as his wife and appease his uncle’s demand. When the doll is destroyed prior to the transfer, the dollmaker’s daughter (whose likeness the doll was modelled on) must stand-in and pretend to be the doll, as well as Lancelot’s wife. Grifting, chicanery, and not insubstantial amounts of zany hijinks ensue, as Lancelot’s supposed subservient android bride turns out to be a lot more than he can handle.

Oswalda is positively charming as the firebrand agitator and the presence of the patented and famous “Lubitsch touch” makes this one of the silent era’s most beloved of romantic comedies. Lighthearted and hilarious, but instilled with very Expressionist visuals (including an animated sequence with the director himself), THE DOLL is a must-see for the whole family! – ALICIA FLETCHER

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