Yes, I was hired by Universal because they needed a comedy director. They had seen Scandal and liked it. I saw an opportunity even in those comedies to begin my project of American films.

Quote by Douglas Sirk

Topics: Douglas Sirk Quotes

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

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

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.

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...

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.

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...

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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...

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...

I never regarded my pictures as very much to be proud of, except in this,...

I never regarded my pictures as very much to be proud of, except in this,...

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...

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...

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

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

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...