Mysterien eines Friseursalons (Mysteries of a Barbershop), 1923

In a barbershop,
the famous Professor Moras
author of the book
How to Be Attractive
asks the barber to cut his hair and beard
exactly like in the poster in the window.

The barber assistant
accidentally turns the poster around
showing the picture of a bald Chinese man

Meanwhile the Barber’s assistant,
who is attracted to Moras,
is jealous of his Moras’ companion
and treats the woman badly.

The assistants treatment
causes the companion to cry

in the Barber’s waiting room
three clients
read in the newspaper
that a man was cut by a barber
and they become scared.

Professor Moras leaves the barbershop
very upset with his new appearance

he meets an acquaintance in a restaurant,
he uses another patron’s hat
to hide his haircut.

The patron believes
Moras is stealing his hat
So he challenges him
to a duel with sabers.

Before the duel,
the patron goes to the barbershop
the barber gets startled
accidentally beheading the patron.

The barber fixes the head back on
and the patron proceeds on to the duel

during the duel
the barber’s assistant uses
a stick, line and a fish hook
to remove the head
thus saving her beloved Moras.

Brecht did not write
a complete script for
Mysterien eines Friseursalons ,
instead he supplied “notes” and “parts of a manuscript”
for this short, silent film
the intent being
that the actors improvise his scenarios.

Erwin Faber,
who plays Dr. Moras in the film
suggests Brecht intended the film to be
“just a little joke.”

The piece was created
in 1923
during a month-long pause
just prior to Brecht’s beginning rehearsals
for In the Jungle of Cities.