A director in Hollywood in my time couldn't do what he wanted to do.

Quote by Douglas Sirk

Topics: Douglas Sirk Quotes

In the 19th century, you had bourgeois art without politics - an almost frozen idea...

In the 19th century, you had bourgeois art without politics - an almost frozen idea...

At the same time, of course, Marxism arose - Rosa Luxembourg, Leninism, anarchism - and...

At the same time, of course, Marxism arose - Rosa Luxembourg, Leninism, anarchism - and...

Ross Hunter was my assistant on Take Me to Town, He was a young man,...

Ross Hunter was my assistant on Take Me to Town, He was a young man,...

You have to think with the heart.

You have to think with the heart.

The war was the end of an era, in art as well. And we were...

The war was the end of an era, in art as well. And we were...

I was making films about American society, and it is true that I never felt...

I was making films about American society, and it is true that I never felt...

Throughout my pictures I employ a lighting which is not naturalistic.

Throughout my pictures I employ a lighting which is not naturalistic.

If I can say one thing for my pictures, it is a certain craftsmanship. A...

If I can say one thing for my pictures, it is a certain craftsmanship. A...

For a house, somewhere near Los Angeles I found an old church. Very old, no...

For a house, somewhere near Los Angeles I found an old church. Very old, no...

If I couldn't read, I couldn't live.

If I couldn't read, I couldn't live.

I worked for UFA as a set designer, you know.

I worked for UFA as a set designer, you know.

Your camera is the best critic there is. Critics never see as much as the...

Your camera is the best critic there is. Critics never see as much as the...

My idea at this time, which was slowly developing, was to create a comedie humaine...

My idea at this time, which was slowly developing, was to create a comedie humaine...

And in movies you must be a gambler. To produce films is to gamble.

And in movies you must be a gambler. To produce films is to gamble.

And it really began with Einstein. We attended his lectures. Now the theory of relativity...

And it really began with Einstein. We attended his lectures. Now the theory of relativity...

So slowly in my mind formed the idea of melodrama, a form I found to...

So slowly in my mind formed the idea of melodrama, a form I found to...

Rock Hudson was not an educated man, but that very beautiful body of his was...

Rock Hudson was not an educated man, but that very beautiful body of his was...

But I always wanted my characters to be more than cyphers for the failings of...

But I always wanted my characters to be more than cyphers for the failings of...

These happy endings all express the weak and sly promise that the world is not...

These happy endings all express the weak and sly promise that the world is not...

There arose a belief in style - and in banality. Banality encompassed politics, too, because...

There arose a belief in style - and in banality. Banality encompassed politics, too, because...