But I always wanted my characters to be more than cyphers for the failings of their world. And I never had to look too hard to find a part of myself in them.

Quote by Douglas Sirk

Topics: Douglas Sirk Quotes

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...

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...

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...

Your characters have to remain innocent of what your picture is after.

Your characters have to remain innocent of what your picture is after.

Yes, I was hired by Universal because they needed a comedy director. They had seen...

Yes, I was hired by Universal because they needed a comedy director. They had seen...

Intellectualism came very late to America. That's why Americans are so proud of it. I...

Intellectualism came very late to America. That's why Americans are so proud of it. I...

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...

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...

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

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

At the time I belonged to the socialist party, and Hitler came to power.

At the time I belonged to the socialist party, and Hitler came to power.

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...

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.

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...

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.

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...

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

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

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...

I considered that the homes that people live in exactly describe their lives.

I considered that the homes that people live in exactly describe their lives.

I think the great artists, especially in literature, have always thought with the heart.

I think the great artists, especially in literature, have always thought with the heart.