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

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,...

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.

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...

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

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

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 worked for UFA as a set designer, you know.

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

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...

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...

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

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