I was making films about American society, and it is true that I never felt at home there, except perhaps when my wife and I lived on a farm in the San Fernando Valley.

Quote by Douglas Sirk

Topics: Douglas Sirk Quotes

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.

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

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

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 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...

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,...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

You have to think with the heart.

You have to think with the heart.

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

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

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

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

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...

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

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