The Doll

Main Plot

"The Doll," directed by Ernst Lubitsch, is a whimsical silent comedy set in a quaint European village. The story revolves around a young man named Lancelot who is pressured by his wealthy uncle to marry in order to inherit a fortune. Reluctant to wed, Lancelot devises a plan to avoid marriage by purchasing a life-like mechanical doll to pose as his bride. He acquires the doll from a toymaker, but unbeknownst to him, the doll is actually the toymaker's daughter, Ossi, who is pretending to be the doll due to a series of comedic misunderstandings. As Lancelot and Ossi navigate their unconventional arrangement, a series of humorous and heartwarming events unfold, leading to unexpected romantic developments. The film is celebrated for its playful tone, inventive visual gags, and Lubitsch's signature touch of charm and sophistication.

Characters

• Ossi Oswalda plays Ossi, a lively, life-sized doll who causes chaos and comedy when mistaken for a real woman, leading to unexpected romantic entanglements.
• Hermann Thimig plays Lancelot, a young man who avoids marriage by pretending to wed a lifelike doll, leading to comedic misunderstandings and romantic entanglements.
• Victor Janson plays Professor Habakuk, an eccentric inventor who creates a lifelike doll, leading to comedic misunderstandings and romantic entanglements in the story.

Ending Explained

In the conclusion of Ernst Lubitsch's 1919 silent comedy film "The Doll," the protagonist, Lancelot, finds himself in a series of humorous and convoluted situations involving a lifelike doll. Initially, Lancelot is coerced into marriage to secure an inheritance, but he opts to marry a mechanical doll instead to avoid the complications of a real marriage. However, unbeknownst to him, the doll is actually a real woman named Ossi, who is impersonating the doll due to a series of misunderstandings and mishaps. As the story unfolds, Lancelot and Ossi develop genuine feelings for each other. The climax reveals the truth about Ossi's identity, leading to a series of comedic revelations and reconciliations. The film concludes with Lancelot and Ossi embracing their love for one another, thus transforming what began as a farcical arrangement into a heartfelt union. The ending underscores themes of love, deception, and the humorous unpredictability of human relationships, all delivered with Lubitsch's signature wit and charm.