History Film / TheDoll

* [[Film/TheDoll1919 A German comedy film]].
* [[Film/TheDoll2017 A Mongolian horror film]].

[[quoteright:296:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/puppe_die_movie_cover_md_9.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:296: Four amusing acts from the toy box.]]

-> '''Lancelot:''' "I will not marry a woman!"
-> '''Monk:''' "You don't need to marry a woman: you can marry a doll!"

A 1919 German [[SurrealHumor Surrealist]] RomanticComedy SilentFilm. Directed by Creator/ErnstLubitsch.

Baron Chantarelle (Max Kronert) is dying. Fortunately, his line rests secure in the hands of his nephew Lancelot (Hermann Thimig), whom he has promised will inherit his fortune. However, he will only do so if Lancelot - who just CannotTalkToWomen - gets married. Despaired by this dilemma, Lancelot flees into a cloister to get away from his UnwantedHarem of suitors. He is approached by the monks, who seem to have the perfect solution to his troubles: buy a RobotGirl from the toymaker Hilarius (Victor Janson) and present her as his bride.

Meanwhile, Hilarius' apprentice (Gerhard Ritterband) has run into a few problems of his own. The dancing doll made by the toymaker [[RobotMe in his daughter Ossi's image]] has been damaged, and Hilarius will surely punish him if he finds out. Fortunately, Ossi ([[TheDanza Ossi Oswalda]]) has agreed to stand in for the automaton while it is repaired.

WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong?

The plot was adapted from the story ''Milner,'' by Creator/ErnstLubitsch and Hanns Kräly, which was based on the French comic operas ''La poupée de Nuremberg, (The Nuremberg Doll)'' and ''La poupée, (The Doll),'' both loosely inspired by the Creator/ETAHoffmann story ''Literature/TheSandman.'' The film was one of many collaborations between Creator/ErnstLubitsch and Ossi Oswalda, and was generally well recieved, but got some flack for its' portrayal of Catholicism. Lubitsch himself would later call it "one of the most imaginative [films] that [he had] ever made."

[[SimilarlyNamedWorks No relation]] to [[Literature/TheDoll the Glowacki novel.]]

----
!!This movie contains examples of:
* AdaptationDeviation: There are several differences between this film and the original operas it was based on.
** [[AdaptationNameChange Hilarius' daughter is named Ossi, rather than Alesia.]] This was due to the casting of Ossi Oswalda, who often played TheDanza in her films, [[IAmNotLeonardNimoy essentially getting typecast as herself.]]
** It follows the plot of ''La poupée'' in BroadStrokes, but Ossi's characterization owes more to Bertha, her counterpart in ''The Nuremberg Doll.''
** Alesia ''deliberately'' disguises herself as a doll to get closer to Lancelot, whom she has already fallen in love with. Ossi only gets sold to him due to a series of misunderstandings, and instead falls in love with him over the course of the story.
* AIIsACrapshoot: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted.]] There's nothing wrong with the actual doll (aside from being easily breakable) but everyone involved probably ''think'' this trope is in effect when Ossi starts acting out while disguised as it.
* AmbiguouslyGay: Lancelot. He has a strong aversion to female sexuality, and basically wants to use the Doll as TheBeard to get his inheritance. Then there is that scene - shown only in silhouette - where he's undressed by his manservant. Given that Creator/ErnstLubitsch ''did'' put more avert HoYay in [[Film/IDontWantToBeAMan some of his other films,]] and that this movie was released only a few months after the controversial pro-gay film Film/DifferentFromTheOthers, there may actually be something to this. (Of course, this would make the ending a case of IfItsYouItsOkay.)
-->'''Lancelot:''' "I will not marry a woman!"
* {{Balloonacy}}: Hilarius grabs a handful of balloons and takes to the sky to catch up to Lancelot and Ossi. Even wierder, the balloon salesman doesn't seem to have any problems staying on the ground while holding the same balloons.
* CorruptChurch: The monks are a bunch of [[SevenDeadlySins gluttonous, greedy perverts]] who are more than willing to participate in TheCon for their own gain.
* CoversAlwaysLie: [[https://cdn.cinematerial.com/p/500x/c5qze7aq/puppe-die-german-movie-poster.jpgThe theatrical poster,]] which portrays Ossi as lying in a box, being approached by a teddy bear and two other dolls, giving the impression that the film is about LivingToys and not a normal girl pretending to be a RobotGirl. More accurate posters, based on actual scenes from the film, were later made.
* DiseaseBleach: Hilarius' hair gradually turns white (and even messier) through the magic of StopMotion when he learns what happened to his daughter. It turns back to normal when he learns that she is safe.
* DoAndroidsDream: Completely [[AvertedTrope Averted.]] The actual doll shows no signs of intelligence, while Lancelot and Hilarius dismiss every one of Ossi's [[OutOfCharacterMoment breakings of character]] as mere malfunctions. The moment Ossi shows undeniable emotion is also when Lancelot realizes that she's not a doll at all.
* DoubleVision: Presumably used when Ossi and the Doll are both onscreen.
* EekAMouse: This is what finally makes Lancelot [[UnroboticReveal realize that Ossi is a real girl.]]
* EmoTeen: Hilarius' apprentice, played by the 15-year old Gerhard Ritterband. He's very emotional, poetic [[BreadMilkEggsSquick and prone to suicidal behavior.]]
* EveryoneChasingYou: Lancelot gets chased around town by dozens of women, his nanny, and even his dying uncle (who constantly has to stop to take his medicine.)
* FatBastard: All of the monks.
* FunPersonified: The Doll is meant to be this, something Ossi has to become ''quite'' a StepfordSmiler to copy.
* ImprobableHairstyle: Hilarius has an insanely spiky one, resembling a jester's hat.
* {{Jerkass}}: Most of the Baron's relatives. They start fighting over his belongings at his supposed ''deathbed'', before he's even died. Then once they break an expensive vase, [[NeverMyFault they blame him for it,]] as he hadn't entrusted it to anyone in his will.
* KidAnova: The Apprentice very much gives off this impression. He is shown to have a crush on Ossi, her automaton {{DoppelGanger}} and even her mother. He kisses all of them too, because he doesn't want any of them to feel left out.
* TheManInTheMoon: Shows up [[RogerRabbitEffect in cartoon form]] to express his disappointment of the lack of affection between Lancelot and his "doll." He gets happier once they get more intimate.
* MarketBasedTitle: The film was released in Sweden as "''Nürnbergerdockan" (The Nuremberg Doll)'', a story it has less in common with than ''The Doll.'' The title was likely chosen because Swedish audiences were more familiar with ''The Nuremberg Doll,'' and because it sounded more memorable.
* MatchCut: The movie begins with Creator/ErnstLubitsch [[CreatorCameo himself]] building up a model of a house on a hill, complete with two small figurines representing Lancelot and his nanny. We then cut to a shot of the real actors exiting an identical looking full-size house.
* MeaningfulName: Hilarius is actually a real name (more specifically, [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Hilarius the name of a Catholic Pope]]) but the similarity to the English word "hilarious" was probably not a coincidence.
* PerfectlyArrangedMarriage: Ossi is - for all intents and purposes - sold to Lancelot by Hilarious ([[ObliviouslyEvil without the knowledge of either of the men.]]) It still works out well in the end.
* PlayingGertrude: PlayedForLaughs. Little kids are cast as the ''older'' siblings of Lancelot's lovesick pursuers, all of whom seem to be in ''at least'' their late teens.
* RidiculouslyHumanRobot: Again, this is what Lancelot ''thinks'' Ossi is.
* RobotGirl: The titular doll, of course. However, Hilarius has dozens of them in his workshop, which are marketed "to bachelors, widowers and [[CardCarryingVillain misogynists.]]"
* RobotMe: Hilarius has built a "doll" (read: automaton) in his daughter's image.
* RuleOfFunny: The ''only'' rule this story follows.
* ScoobyDoobyDoors: A very early example. It's set in the town square, rather than a hallway, but fits the spirit of the trope otherwise.
* SlapSlapKiss: Ossi plays this up with Lancelot while posing as the doll, mostly to be a {{Troll}}. There are times however, where she seems to genuinely be bothered by his behavior.
* TalkingAnimal: The Coachman gives directions straight to one of his horses, who responds with an understanding nod. Later, the same horse outright complains that he and his buddy are "too tired." (Or perhaps the Coachman SpeaksFluentAnimal. It's... [[MindScrew not entirely clear.]])
* WiseBeyondTheirYears: PlayedWith. The Apprentice often talks and acts like a middle aged poet, but is still ''treated'' like an annoying child. As a result, he comes across like a pretentious kid who takes himself ''way'' too seriously.

Meanwhile, Hilarius' apprentice (Gerhard Ritterband) has run into a few problems of his own. The dancing doll made by the toymaker [[RobotMe in his daugther Ossi's image]] has been damaged, and Hilarius will surely punish him if he finds out. Fortunately, Ossi ([[TheDanza Ossi Oswalda]]) has agreed to stand in for the automaton while it is repaired.

* {{Balloonacy}}: Hilarius grabs a handful of baloons and takes to the sky to catch up to Lancelot and Ossi. Even wierder, the baloon salesman doesn't seem to have any problems staying on the ground while holding the same baloons.
* CorruptChurch: The monks are a bunch of [[SevenDeadlySins gluttonus, greedy perverts]] who are more than willing to participate in TheCon for their own gain.

* DiseaseBleach: Hilarius' hair gradually turns white (and even messier) through the magic of StopMotion when he learns what happened to his daughter. It turns back to normal when he lears that she is safe.
* DoAndroidsDream: Completely [[AvertedTrope Averted.]] The actual doll shows no signs of intelligence, while Lancelot and Hilarius dismiss every one of Ossi's [[OutOfCharacterMoment breakings of character]] as mere malfunctions. The moment Ossi shows undeniable emotion is also when Lancelot realises that she's not a doll at all.

* EekAMouse: This is what finally makes Lancelot [[UnroboticReveal realise that Ossi is a real girl.]]
* EmoTeen: Hilarius' apprentice, played by the 15-year old Gerhard Ritterband. He's very emotional, poetic [[BreadMilkEggsSquick and prone to suicidal behaviour.]]

* {{Jerkass}}: Most of the Baron's relatives. They start fighting over his belongings at his supposed ''deathbed'', before he's even died. Then once they break an exensive wase, [[NeverMyFault they blame him for it,]] as he hadn't entrusted it to anyone in his will.

* SlapSlapKiss: Ossi plays this up with Lancelot while posing as the doll, mostly to be a {{Troll}}. There are times however, where she seems to genuinly be bothered by his behaviour.

* WiseBeyondTheirYears: PlayedWith. The Apprentice often talks and acts like a middle aged poet, but is still ''treated'' like an annoying child. As a result, he comes across like a pretensious kid who takes himself ''way'' too seriously.
* WouldHurtAChild: Hilarius is perfectly fine with beating his young apprentice for misbehaving. He's bordering on being an [[AbusiveParents Abusive Parent,]] as while they are probably not related by blood, the Apprentice ''does'' consider him a parental figure.

* ProtagonistTitleFallacy: Much like with Theatre/{{Coppelia}}, the eponymous doll has fairly little screentime. However, Ossi spends the bulk of the movie impersonating it.

* DuelingWorks: British director Mayrick Milton also adapted ''La poupée'' into a movie the year afterwards. While neither has remained especially mainsteam, Lubitsch's film has still recieved the most attention, so it's probably safe to say that he "won."

* TalkingAnimal: The Coachman gives directions straight to one of his horses, who responds with an understanding nod. Later, the same horse [[SuddenlyVoiced outright complains]] that he and his buddy are "too tired." (Or perhaps the Coachman SpeaksFluentAnimal. It's... [[MindScrew not entirely clear.]])

* DuelingWorks: British director Mayrick Milton also adapted ''La poupée'' into a movie the year afterwards.

* DuelingWorks: British director Mayrick Milton also adapted ''La_poupée'' into a movie the year afterwards.

* EmoTeen: Hilarius' apprentice, played by the 15-year old Gerhard Ritterband. He's very emotional, poetic and prone to suicidal [[BreadMilkEggsSquick behaviour.]]

* MeaningfulName: Hilarius is actually a real name (more specifically, the name of a Catholic Pope) but the similarity to the English word "hilarious" was probably not a coincidence.

* SplitScreen: Presumably used when Ossi and the Doll are both onscreen.

* RobotGirl: The titular doll, of course. However, Hilarius has dozens of them in his workshop which are marketed "to bachelors, widowers and [[CardCarryingVillain misogynists.]]"

* RobotGirl: The titular doll, of course.

It was one of many collaborations between Creator/ErnstLubitsch and Ossi Oswalda. The film was generally well recieved, but got some flack for its' portrayal of Catholicism. Lubitsch himself would later call it "one of the most imaginative [films] that [he had] ever made."

* AdaptationInspiration: The film is based ''very'' loosely of the play Theatre/{{Coppelia}}, which it really only shares its' basic premise with. It has even less in common with the [[Literature/TheSandman original story]] by Creator/ETAHoffmann.

* CompletelyDifferentTitle: The film was released in Sweden as "''Nürnbergerdockan" (The Doll from Nürnberg)'', giving it a clear setting in the process.

* AIIsACrapshot: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted.]] There's nothing wrong with the actual doll (aside from being easily breakable) but everyone involved probably ''think'' this trope is in effect when Ossi starts acting out while disguised as it.
* {{Baloonacy}}: Hilarius grabs a handful of baloons and takes to the sky to catch up to Lancelot and Ossi. Even wierder, the baloon salesman doesn't seem to have any problems staying on the ground while holding the same baloons.

* SlapKissSlapKiss: Ossi plays this up with Lancelot while posing as the doll, mostly to be a {{Troll}}. There are times however, where she seems to genuinly be bothered by his behaviour.

* AllAIIsACrapshot: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted.]] There's nothing wrong with the actual doll (aside from being easily breakable) but everyone involved probably "think'' this trope is in effect when Ossi starts acting out while disguised as it.
* Baloonacy: Hilarius grabs a handful of baloons and takes to the sky to catch up to Lancelot and Ossi. Even wierder, the baloon salesman doesn't seem to have any problems staying on the ground while holding the same baloons.

* KidAnova: The Apprentice very much gives off this impression. He is shown to have a crush on Ossi, her automaton {{DoppelGänger}} and even her mother. He kisses all of them too, because he doesn't want any of them to feel left out.

* SlapSlapKissKiss: Ossi plays this up with Lancelot while posing as the doll, mostly to be a {{Troll}}. There are times however, where she seems to genuinly be bothered by his behaviour.

[[SimilarilyNamedWorks No relation]] to [[Literature/TheDoll the Glowacki novel.]]

Baron Chantarelle (Max Kronert) is dying. Fortunately, his line lies secure in the hands of his nephew Lancelot (Hermann Thimig), whom he has promised will inherit his fortune. However, he will only do so if Lancelot - who just CannotTalkToWomen - gets married. Despaired by this dilemma, Lancelot flees into a cloister to get away from his UnwantedHarem of suitors. He is approached by the monks, who seem to have the perfect solution to his troubles: buy a RobotGirl from the toymaker Hilarius (Victor Janson) and present her as his bride.

It was one of many collaborations between Creator/ErnstLubitsch and Ossi Oswalda. The film was generally well recieved, but got some flack for its' portrayal of Catholicism. Lubitsch himself would later call it "one of the most imaginative [films] that I have ever made."