Louis Lerch Movies

The title of this German comedy is derived from a colloquialism which translates as By the Skin of His Teeth. In the tradition of Harold Lloyd and Ben Turpin, leading man Siegfried Arno manages to wriggle in and out of one devastating dilemma after another, always managing to escape by the proverbial teeth-skin. Arno, who later enjoyed a lengthy Hollywood career as a character actor, was a slight, meek-looking individual, making his various on-screen adventures all the more amusing. Critics, then as now, were resistant to such pure-slapstick endeavors as Um Eine Nasenlaenge, and most of them turned thumbs down. But audiences -- especially German audiences -- were too busy laughing to notice the plot and production deficiencies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Previously filmed in 1915 and 1922, The Crimson Circle was based on a novel by Edgar Wallace. The story concentrates on the exploits of Derek Yale, the elusive young head of a blackmailing operation. Dogging Yale's trail at every turn is relentless Scotland Yard inspector Parr. In hopes of escaping detection, Yale poses as a private detective who offers his assistance in his own capture! It is Yale's love for Parr's pretty daughter that leads to his downfall. Completed as a 75-minute silent film by director Frederick Zelnik, Crimson Circle was extensively reshot by Sinclair Hill and finally released as a 60-minute "sound" picture. The property was filmed for a fourth time in 1936. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Doctor's Women was one of the English-language titles of the 1928 Swedish production Parisiskor. Intoxicated by the seductive charms of Paris, Dr. Robert Monnier (Louis Lerch) romances two sisters almost simultaneously. One of the sisters, Nita (Margit Manstadt), already has a fiance, a playwright named Armand (Miles Mander). But Armand "graciously" steps aside to allow Nita to wed Monnier, fully intending to use his skills as a dramatist to sabotage the honeymoon. Directed by Gustaf Molander, Doctor's Women played better in its original Swedish version than in its heavily edited and poorly subtitled English-language version. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Making a rare foray outside his native Scandinavia, director Gustav Molander headed to England to film Parisiennes, the British version of his 1928 Swedish film Parisiskor. Miles Mander stars as Armand de Marny, a playwright who must inaugurate a new love affair every time he begins work on a play. His latest amour is actress Nita Duval (Margita Manstad), the star of his newest production. But the affair comes to an abrupt end when the play's producer replaces Nita with another actress. Marrying Dr. Monnier (Louis Lerch) on the rebound, Nita can't get over Armand, and before long the couple has rekindled their romance. When Armand is accidentally shot while visiting Nita, her cousin Jeanne (Ruth Weyher) takes the blame so as not to bring disgrace upon Monnier. The matter is solved when Monnier divorces Nita to marry his true love, Jeanne, leaving Nita free for the convalescent Armand. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The oft-filmed Prosper Merimee novel Carmen was again committed to celluloid in 1926, this time under the skilled hand of French director Jacques Feyder. Raquel Miller plays the title character, an unbridled gypsy girl fated to bring about the ruin of herself and her soldier lover Don José (Louis Lerch). Tragedy is inevitable when, after thoroughly debasing Don José, Carmen falls for sexy toreador Escamillo (Guerrero de Xandoval). Director Feyder manages to transform this timeworn story into a feast for the eyes, especially during the climactic bullfighting sequence. When released in America in 1928, Carmen did surprisingly well, considering that Fox Pictures had recently produced its own version of the same story, with Dolores Del Rio as the ill-fated heroine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide