Sally (film series)
Encyclopedia
Sally, Sally Meyer or shortly Meyer was an silent movie
slapstick
character played by Ernst Lubitsch
, before he moved to Hollywood. The character was an antisemitic satire of a Jewish businessman.
Meyer was portrayed as a stereotypical Jew, who cannot be trusted and haggles about everything. He is also adulterous towards his wife.
When Ernst Lubitsch first became involved in the movie industry he starred in slapstick comedies which poked fun at Jewish stereotypes. He performed these roles as an actor in such films as "Die Firma heiratet" (1914), "Der Stolz der Firma" (1914), "Schuhpalast Pinkus" (1916), "Der schwarze Moritz" (1916). In "Der Schuhpalast Pinkus" (1916) Lubitsch first performed as a character named "Sally Pinkus", a Jewish boy who prefers being lazy and act as a class clown instead of working for school. He cheats on his tests and chases girls. "Der Fall Rosentopf" (1918) featured the character Sally once again. He was named Sally Meyer in the film Meyer aus Berlin (1918), which is the official debut of the character.
During the First World War and during the 1920s the character was very popular, especially in Germany
, where the films were made. Most film were only four reels long. After Lubitsch moved to Hollywood he stopped making movies about the character.
During World War II
, on 9 August 1939, Hermann Göring
claimed that "The Ruhr will not be subjected to a single bomb. If an enemy bomber reaches the Ruhr, my name is not Hermann Göring: you can call me Meier!" ("I want to be called Meier if ..." is a German idiom to express that something is impossible. Meier (in several spelling variants) is the second most common surname in Germany.)
Today the films about Meyer are almost forgotten, also due to the controversial antisemitism in the storylines. For many years the film "Meyer aus Berlin" was thought to be lost, but it was discovered in Dutch film archives under the title "Sally geht auf Reisen". ("Sally goes on a trip")
Silent Movie
Silent Movie is a 1976 satirical comedy film co-written, directed by, and starring Mel Brooks, and released by 20th Century Fox on June 17, 1976...
slapstick
Slapstick
Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
character played by Ernst Lubitsch
Ernst Lubitsch
Ernst Lubitsch was a German-born film director. His urbane comedies of manners gave him the reputation of being Hollywood's most elegant and sophisticated director; as his prestige grew, his films were promoted as having "the Lubitsch touch."In 1947 he received an Honorary Academy Award for his...
, before he moved to Hollywood. The character was an antisemitic satire of a Jewish businessman.
Meyer was portrayed as a stereotypical Jew, who cannot be trusted and haggles about everything. He is also adulterous towards his wife.
When Ernst Lubitsch first became involved in the movie industry he starred in slapstick comedies which poked fun at Jewish stereotypes. He performed these roles as an actor in such films as "Die Firma heiratet" (1914), "Der Stolz der Firma" (1914), "Schuhpalast Pinkus" (1916), "Der schwarze Moritz" (1916). In "Der Schuhpalast Pinkus" (1916) Lubitsch first performed as a character named "Sally Pinkus", a Jewish boy who prefers being lazy and act as a class clown instead of working for school. He cheats on his tests and chases girls. "Der Fall Rosentopf" (1918) featured the character Sally once again. He was named Sally Meyer in the film Meyer aus Berlin (1918), which is the official debut of the character.
During the First World War and during the 1920s the character was very popular, especially in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where the films were made. Most film were only four reels long. After Lubitsch moved to Hollywood he stopped making movies about the character.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, on 9 August 1939, Hermann Göring
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
claimed that "The Ruhr will not be subjected to a single bomb. If an enemy bomber reaches the Ruhr, my name is not Hermann Göring: you can call me Meier!" ("I want to be called Meier if ..." is a German idiom to express that something is impossible. Meier (in several spelling variants) is the second most common surname in Germany.)
Today the films about Meyer are almost forgotten, also due to the controversial antisemitism in the storylines. For many years the film "Meyer aus Berlin" was thought to be lost, but it was discovered in Dutch film archives under the title "Sally geht auf Reisen". ("Sally goes on a trip")
More information
- (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bpl/glal/2006/00000059/00000001/art00007)
- http://books.google.be/booksid=GOYnByZYkYYC&pg=PA45&lpg=PA45&dq=sally+meyer+lubitsch&source=bl&ots=XcbqpeGqzY&sig=iRevMZzkAoAilqXp6JBVLpUn9zc&hl=nl&ei=6QteS4PyKsmx4QbypdzyBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CCkQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=sally%20meyer%20lubitsch&f=false