I Don’t Want to Be a Man (1918): Cast & Plot
I Don’t Want to Be a Man is a 1918 romantic comedy directed by Ernst Lubitsch, starring Ossi Oswalda as Ossi, Curt Goetz and Margarete Kupfer. It runs 45 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 45 min
- Director
- Ernst Lubitsch
- Studio
- Projektions-AG Union
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is I Don’t Want to Be a Man About?
The premise of I Don’t Want to Be a Man without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A teenage tomboy, weary of her strict guardian’s control, disguises herself as a man to enjoy greater freedom. She soon discovers that living as the opposite sex brings unexpected complications and challenges. The film unfolds as a witty, gender‑bending comedy that feels surprisingly modern for its era.
I Don’t Want to Be a Man Themes & Keywords
· 23 tags- tomboy
- drunkenness
- claim in title
- secret identity
- female dressed as male
- mistaken identity
- woman dresses as a man
- woman posing as a man
- woman pretending as man
- homosexuality
- teenage girl
- girl dresses as a boy
+11 more Show fewer
- gender disguise
- girl disguised as boy
- disguise
- woman disguised as a man
- cross dressing
- man
- subway
- dancing
- female protagonist
- bedroom
- cigar smoking
I Don’t Want to Be a Man Cast & Characters
Ossi Oswalda leads the cast as Ossi, with Curt Goetz as Dr. Kersten and Margarete Kupfer as Gouvernante. Directed by Ernst Lubitsch; 5 actors are credited in all.
- Director Ernst Lubitsch
- Ossi Oswalda as Ossi
- Curt Goetz as Dr. Kersten
- Margarete Kupfer as Gouvernante
- Victor Janson
Also Starring in I Don’t Want to Be a Man
· 1 more- Ferry Sikla Counsellor Brockmüller
More from Ernst Lubitsch
More films directed by Ernst Lubitsch, best-rated first: The Shop Around the Corner, That Lady in Ermine, Cluny Brown and Heaven Can Wait.
I Don’t Want to Be a Man Plot Summary
What happens in I Don’t Want to Be a Man from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
High-spirited Ossi is the bane of her uncle and gouvernante’s existence. She insists on playing poker and smoking and talking with strange men on the street. When her uncle leaves to take up a new job, she looks forward to enjoying new freedom. Her hopes are dashed when her new guardian Dr. Kersten proves to be strict and unyielding.
Frustrated with her cloistered life, Ossi sneaks out on the town dressed as a young man. She finds that being a man has its own disadvantages when she discovers she is not given the same gentle treatment when she is masquerading as a male. She decides to attend a lavish ball in her new disguise.
Full summary
The whole story of I Don’t Want to Be a Man, scene by scene
I Don’t Want to Be a Man Also Known As
8 alternative titles, including “No quiero ser un hombre” and “I Wouldn't Like to Be a Man”.
- Also known as
-
- No quiero ser un hombre
- I Wouldn't Like to Be a Man
- Je ne voudrais pas être un homme
- Non vorrei essere un uomo
- Не хочу быть мужчиной
- 我不想做男人
- 남자가 되기 싫어요
- Mas Eu Não Quero Ser Um Homem
Seen I Don’t Want to Be a Man?
Movies Like I Don’t Want to Be a Man
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including She's the Man, The Girl I Want and Just One of the Guys.
I Don’t Want to Be a Man FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of I Don’t Want to Be a Man, each answered in a sentence.
How long is I Don’t Want to Be a Man?
I Don’t Want to Be a Man runs 45 minutes.
When was I Don’t Want to Be a Man released?
I Don’t Want to Be a Man was released on October 1, 1918.
Who directed I Don’t Want to Be a Man?
I Don’t Want to Be a Man was directed by Ernst Lubitsch.
More films by Ernst Lubitsch Who is in the cast of I Don’t Want to Be a Man?
I Don’t Want to Be a Man stars Ossi Oswalda as Ossi, Curt Goetz as Dr. Kersten and Margarete Kupfer as Gouvernante, among 5 credited actors.
Does I Don’t Want to Be a Man have a post-credit scene?
No. I Don’t Want to Be a Man has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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