--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On Ernst Lubitsch: He could do more with…" description: "\"On Ernst Lubitsch: He could do more with a closed door than other directors could do with an open fly.\" — Billy Wilder" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f2/billy-wilder-8818_closed-door_on-ernst-lubitsch-he-could-do-more-with_982545.jpg" --- # On Ernst Lubitsch: He could do more with a closed door… ![“On Ernst Lubitsch: He could do more with a closed door than other directors could do with an open fly.” quote by Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f2/billy-wilder-8818_closed-door_on-ernst-lubitsch-he-could-do-more-with_982545.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f2/billy-wilder-8818_closed-door_on-ernst-lubitsch-he-could-do-more-with_982545.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f2/billy-wilder-8818_closed-door_on-ernst-lubitsch-he-could-do-more-with_982545.jpg) > “On Ernst Lubitsch: He could do more with a closed door than other directors could do with an open fly.” [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A director can convey more meaning with subtle constraints than with obvious exposition. **In simple terms:** Subtlety can be more powerful than explicitness. Key Takeaway Embrace constraints to spark creativity. Themes creativity film directing subtlety constraints Mood thoughtful analytical inspirational Type professional educational When to use this quote - budget‑tight productions - script revisions - scene blocking - creative problem solving Key Concepts minimalism visual storytelling implied meaning Questions to Reflect On - When does restraint hinder storytelling? - How can subtle cues be made clear? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on subtlety may obscure intent for some audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Closed door](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closed-door/) [Closed doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closed-doors/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Directors Open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors-open-1060653/) [Door Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/door-directors-1959180/) [Doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doors/) [Ernst Lubitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ernst-lubitsch-1959178/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Lubitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lubitsch-1920261/) [Lubitsch Closed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lubitsch-closed-1959179/) ## Related quotes > [The most exciting thing I've seen is directors not only being open to actors coming in the room with different abilities but actively looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/the-most-exciting-thing-i-ve-seen-is-directors-not-only-being-open-to/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [Some directors are open to ideas, and some are rigid. And, some actors are into method acting, and some, instinctive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shriya-saran/some-directors-are-open-to-ideas-and-some-are-rigid-and-some-actors/) [Shriya Saran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shriya-saran/) > [“A tip from Lubitsch: 'Let the audience add up two plus two and they'll love you forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-chandler/a-tip-from-lubitsch-let-the-audience-add-up-two-plus-two-and-they-ll/) [Charlotte Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-chandler/) > [There are directors you never, ever want to get close to. Lubitsch was one. Outside of the work, I don't think I ever said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-ameche/there-are-directors-you-never-ever-want-to-get-close-to-lubitsch-was/) [Don Ameche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-ameche/) > [I'm not someone who could do 'Superweib,' even if you tell me that this director is another Lubitsch. I saw the preview, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-ganz/i-m-not-someone-who-could-do-superweib-even-if-you-tell-me-that-this/) [Bruno Ganz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-ganz/) > [Another train will come. Why rush? Why worry? Why go crazy? Another train will come. And sure enough, another train going my way was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esmeralda-santiago/another-train-will-come-why-rush-why-worry-why-go-crazy-another-train/) [Esmeralda Santiago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esmeralda-santiago/) > [What you don't know is when she get home and get behind closed doors, man she hit the floor and what you can't see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mary/what-you-don-t-know-is-when-she-get-home-and-get-behind-closed-doors/) [Mary Mary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mary/) > [That is the most important thing to me, what happens behind the closed doors in the studio and makes me an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/that-is-the-most-important-thing-to-me-what-happens-behind-the-closed/) [Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/) > [It is one of life's laws that as soon as one door closes another opens. But the tragedy is we look at the closed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/it-is-one-of-life-s-laws-that-as-soon-as-one-door-closes-another/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [The Metropolitan Museum of Art some time ago held a display of contemporary art at which $52,000 was awarded to American sculptors, painters, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-keller/the-metropolitan-museum-of-art-some-time-ago-held-a-display-of/) [James Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-keller/) > [The people want government that works for them at every level. They want good government that begins at their doorstep in the barangay, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-macapagal-arroyo/the-people-want-government-that-works-for-them-at-every-level-they/) [Gloria Macapagal Arroyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-macapagal-arroyo/) > [Others like City Hall the old way, when they could make deals behind closed doors with your tax money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-miller/others-like-city-hall-the-old-way-when-they-could-make-deals-behind/) [Laura Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-miller/) > [“It’s amazing how people can change behind closed doors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/it-s-amazing-how-people-can-change-behind-closed-doors/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [Closed some doors, not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because they no longer lead somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenz-jeffrey/closed-some-doors-not-because-of-pride-incapacity-or-arrogance-but/) [Frenz Jeffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frenz-jeffrey/) > [Nothing attracts me like a closed door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-bourke-white/nothing-attracts-me-like-a-closed-door/) [Margaret Bourke-White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-bourke-white/) ## More by Billy Wilder > [If there's anything I hate more than not being taken seriously, it's being taken too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/if-there-s-anything-i-hate-more-than-not-being-taken-seriously-it-s/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I just always think, 'Do I like it?' And if I like it, maybe other people will come and like it too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/i-just-always-think-do-i-like-it-and-if-i-like-it-maybe-other-people/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [Helen: You've got talent and ambition. Don: Talent? Ambition? That's dead long ago. That's drowned. That's drifting around with a bloated belly on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/helen-you-ve-got-talent-and-ambition-don-talent-ambition-that-s-dead/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [An actor entering through the door, you've got nothing. But if he enters through the window, you've got a situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/an-actor-entering-through-the-door-you-ve-got-nothing-but-if-he/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I hate that word. It's return--a return to the millions of people who've never forgiven me for deserting the screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/i-hate-that-word-it-s-return-a-return-to-the-millions-of-people-who/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [The more subtle and elegant you are in hiding your plot points, the better you are as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/the-more-subtle-and-elegant-you-are-in-hiding-your-plot-points-the/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [When Chaplin found a voice to say what was on his mind, he was like a child of eight writing lyrics for Beethoven's Ninth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/when-chaplin-found-a-voice-to-say-what-was-on-his-mind-he-was-like-a/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I, you know, am all over the place — every category of pictures I have made, good, bad or indifferent. I could not make,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/i-you-know-am-all-over-the-place-every-category-of-pictures-i-have/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [Love is the hardest thing in the world to write about. So simple. You've got to catch it through details, like the early morning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/love-is-the-hardest-thing-in-the-world-to-write-about-so-simple-you/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [If you don't like what you're doing, it's unlikely anyone else will either, so be sure you are happy with your own work first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/if-you-don-t-like-what-you-re-doing-it-s-unlikely-anyone-else-will/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I have ten commandments. The first nine are, thou shalt not bore. The tenth is, thou shalt have right of final cut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/i-have-ten-commandments-the-first-nine-are-thou-shalt-not-bore-the/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I just made pictures I would've liked to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/i-just-made-pictures-i-would-ve-liked-to-see/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [Money makes even bastards legitimate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/money-makes-even-bastards-legitimate/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [After so many drive-in waitresses becoming movie stars, there has been this real drought, when along come class; somebody who actually went to school,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/after-so-many-drive-in-waitresses-becoming-movie-stars-there-has-been/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I'm delighted with it, because it used to be that films were the lowest form of art. Now we've got something to look down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/i-m-delighted-with-it-because-it-used-to-be-that-films-were-the/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) [Explore all 77 Billy Wilder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) ## More Closed door quotes > [Nothing attracts me like a closed door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-bourke-white/nothing-attracts-me-like-a-closed-door/) [Margaret Bourke-White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-bourke-white/) > [“Eventually, Edgard said, “She doesn’t know anything about me. Not even that we were roping partners. Not that we were…” He looked at Trevor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorelei-james/eventually-edgard-said-she-doesn-t-know-anything-about-me-not-even/) [Lorelei James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorelei-james/) > [“The lawyers ceded their right to argue to case before the justices. A verdict would be rendered in secret, behind closed doors, with only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-berard/the-lawyers-ceded-their-right-to-argue-to-case-before-the-justices-a/) [Adrienne Berard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-berard/) > [“International leaders in business, government, and nonprofit organizations whisper behind closed doors about the way visiting Americans live in their own bubbles without having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livermore/international-leaders-in-business-government-and-nonprofit/) [David Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livermore/) > [“I just . . . I just wanted to make sure you were . . . okay.” He shoved away from the door as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/i-just-i-just-wanted-to-make-sure-you-were-okay-he-shoved-away-from/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“As Helen Keller put it, “When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/as-helen-keller-put-it-when-one-door-of-happiness-closes-another/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [“It’s amazing how people can change behind closed doors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/it-s-amazing-how-people-can-change-behind-closed-doors/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [I developed the habit of writing novels behind a closed door, or at my uncle's, on the dining table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-white/i-developed-the-habit-of-writing-novels-behind-a-closed-door-or-at-my/) [Patrick White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-white/) > [Sometimes the ones who seem the most holy in public are the ones hiding the most dirty of secrets behind closed doors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sashauni-aaeliyae/sometimes-the-ones-who-seem-the-most-holy-in-public-are-the-ones/) [Sashauni Aaeliyae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sashauni-aaeliyae/) > [“Girl in the wind blowing wide open the closed doors of my life - which way are we going? Standing against the lurid sky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-brown/girl-in-the-wind-blowing-wide-open-the-closed-doors-of-my-life-which/) [Christy Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-brown/) > [Others like City Hall the old way, when they could make deals behind closed doors with your tax money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-miller/others-like-city-hall-the-old-way-when-they-could-make-deals-behind/) [Laura Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-miller/) > [The people want government that works for them at every level. They want good government that begins at their doorstep in the barangay, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-macapagal-arroyo/the-people-want-government-that-works-for-them-at-every-level-they/) [Gloria Macapagal Arroyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-macapagal-arroyo/) > [The Metropolitan Museum of Art some time ago held a display of contemporary art at which $52,000 was awarded to American sculptors, painters, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-keller/the-metropolitan-museum-of-art-some-time-ago-held-a-display-of/) [James Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-keller/) > [It is one of life's laws that as soon as one door closes another opens. But the tragedy is we look at the closed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/it-is-one-of-life-s-laws-that-as-soon-as-one-door-closes-another/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [To all those I've loved I can't take this any more, By the time you read this, I'll be waiting at Hell's door. I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-all-those-i-ve-loved-i-can-t-take-this-any-more-by-the-time-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 517 Closed door quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closed-door/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "On Ernst Lubitsch: He could do more with a closed door than other directors could do with an open fly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Billy Wilder" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/on-ernst-lubitsch-he-could-do-more-with-a-closed-door-than-other/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Closed door" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/on-ernst-lubitsch-he-could-do-more-with-a-closed-door-than-other/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f2/billy-wilder-8818_closed-door_on-ernst-lubitsch-he-could-do-more-with_982545.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f2/billy-wilder-8818_closed-door_on-ernst-lubitsch-he-could-do-more-with_982545.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f2/billy-wilder-8818_closed-door_on-ernst-lubitsch-he-could-do-more-with_982545.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“On Ernst Lubitsch: He could do more with a closed door than other directors could do with an open fly.” — Billy Wilder", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Billy Wilder", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "On Ernst Lubitsch: He could do...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/on-ernst-lubitsch-he-could-do-more-with-a-closed-door-than-other/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/on-ernst-lubitsch-he-could-do-more-with-a-closed-door-than-other/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```