The Marriage Circle | 1924 | Romantic Comedy

Title: The Marriage Circle | 1924 | Romantic Comedy Director: Ernst Lubitsch Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Starring: Adolphe Menjou, Florence Vidor, Monte Blue, Marie Prevost, Creighton Hale, Harry Myers Based on: Play *Only a Dream* by Lothar Schmidt Release Date: January 16 1924 (U.S. limited) / February 3 1924 (New York) Runtime: Approximately 85 minutes Format: Silent black and white Country: United States Language: Silent with English intertitles Genres: Romantic Comedy --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Introduction to Vienna and the couples 00:15:00 Professor Stock’s suspicions 00:30:00 Flirtation and misinterpretations 00:45:00 Jealousy and investigations 01:00:00 Confessions and resolutions 01:15:00 Restored trust --- Summary: The Marriage Circle is a 1924 American silent romantic comedy directed and produced by Ernst Lubitsch in his first major Hollywood comedy for Warner Bros. Set in Vienna, the film follows two intertwined couples whose romantic relationships are tested by jealousy, flirtation, and misunderstandings. Professor Josef Stock suspects his wife Mizzi of infidelity and hires a detective, while Mizzi sets her sights on Dr. Franz Braun, whose own marriage to Charlotte draws the unwelcome attention of Dr. Gustav Mueller. Through a series of comic situations and social entanglements, the characters navigate temptation and reconciliation, with Lubitsch’s characteristic subtle wit and sophisticated handling of adult relationships. --- Background: Produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and distributed in the United States and Germany, The Marriage Circle was adapted from a German stage play by Lothar Schmidt. It helped establish Lubitsch’s reputation in Hollywood for refined romantic comedies and was later remade as the musical *One Hour with You* in 1932. The film survives in archives and has been restored for modern audiences. --- Trivia: The Marriage Circle was one of Warner Bros.’ most successful comedies of 1924 and showcased Lubitsch’s early “Lubitsch touch.” The narrative of romantic entanglements and misunderstandings in Vienna was considered sophisticated for its time. The film has been preserved and screened at institutions such as MoMA and the UCLA Film Archive. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: January–February 1924 Original Studio / Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: #TheMarriageCircle #ErnstLubitsch #SilentFilm #RomanticComedy #1924Film #WarnerBros #PublicDomain