**Ernst Lubitsch (1892-1947)** was an influential German-American director, renowned for his sophisticated and brilliant comedies. He began his career in Germany with silent films, before moving to Hollywood where he became a master of the genre, distinguishing himself with an innovative and stylistically refined approach.

His distinctive style, known as "The Lubitsch Touch," was characterized by elegance, wit, lightness, and a subtle irony. Lubitsch excelled at suggesting situations and dialogue with grace and moral ambiguity, avoiding the explicit and leaving much to the viewer's imagination.

Among his masterpieces are *Trouble in Paradise* (1932), *Ninotchka* (1939), *The Shop Around the Corner* (1940), and *To Be or Not to Be* (1942). His legacy lies in defining the romantic and sophisticated comedy, with a lasting influence on world cinema.