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Billy Wilder

Jackie Susann

00:21 / 06.08.06

I saw The Apartment recently, for the first time, and loved it. One of the greatest romantic comedies ever, no doubt, so very sweet and clever - I'd compare it to the really good Woody Allen movies in that its a romcom that avoids moralism and patronising its audience. Then I saw Some Like It Hot, and was amazed I'd never seen that before - so good! Brilliant, brilliant set pieces and hilarious one-liners, a great cast, totally classic dialogue. ("Why would a man want to marry another man?" "For security." And of course the classic last line.)

So now I'm on a mission to watch a whole lot of Billy Wilder. Has any other director produced work of such high quality across such disparate genres? I can't think of one. Barbelith, what would you recommend/avoid?

Shrug

01:11 / 06.08.06

Wow, both The Apartment and Sunset Boulevard are two of my all time favourite films, yet I never knew they were directed by the same person!
As far as recommendations go; I think Sabrina was one of his other more popularly acclaimed films (although your enjoyment may depend on your fondness for Audrey Hepburn).

Jackie Susann

03:28 / 06.08.06

Watching Sabrina last night was what prompted me to start this thread. Best line: 'The twentieth century? I could pick a century out of a hat and get a better one than that!'

I've totally got to get Sunset Boulevard, I've never seen it and I'm sure I'll love it.

Spatula Clarke

10:25 / 06.08.06

I adore The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes. It's thoughtful, gentle, calmly paced and does some interesting things with the character. The second of its two stories is just a magical flight of fancy. I've always wanted somebody to film the proposed third part, but I suppose that'd inevitably take the shine off. Colin Blakely's Watson is shit, but you can't have everything.

Witness for the Prosecution is also well worth seeing. It's less Wilder's film than it is Charles Laughton's, but the director gets kudos for letting his actor get away with such an over the top performance - it's a wonderfully tasty bit of pantomime. Without Laughton, it'd tread close to being one of those rather dull midweek afternoon films, but Wilder does put a few of his own flourishes in to keep it sparkly. Great ending, too - kept hidden from the audience right up until the last minute.

Brigade du jour

22:15 / 06.08.06

Definitely check out Sunset Boulevard - but beware it's a bit darker than some of the other films mentioned so far. Yes, he was a pretty versatile dude.

illmatic

10:40 / 07.08.06

I borrowed a copy of Sunset Boulevard from work recently, and was absolutely blown away. The characterisation is first class, the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat but for me the best thing was the air of decaying glamour and madness projected by Gloria Swanson. It's really something. I love the way he plays with and comments on Hollywood history with this. What a film!

Does anyone know if Norma Desmond is based on a real life person?

Shrug

12:01 / 07.08.06

A quick internet search reveals that her name is a combination of early screen comedienne Mabel Normand and her lover William Desmond Taylor. An absolutely spoiler laden link here.

Ethan Hawke

12:19 / 07.08.06

I'm actually not that much of Billy Wilder fan. His movies feel cold and schematic to me sometime, even the comedies.

As far as directors making quality films across genres, Howard Hawks is probably the guy to beat. Bringing up Baby, Scarface, His Girl Friday, Red River and a film he did with Wilder helping with the writing, Ball of Fire, starring Gary Cooper as a linguist who is compiling an encylcopedia of slang, who finds the perfect subject in Barbara Stanwyck's burlesque queen/mob moll.

illmatic

13:27 / 07.08.06

Cheers Shrug.

*off topic*

I watched Almaldovar's All About My Mother last night, and Huma in that very much reminded me - in looks if nothing else - of Swanson's character.

Jackie Susann

22:54 / 17.08.06

I saw Sunset Boulevard last night, and it was fantastic! That shot looking up from the bottom of the pool, past Dan's body, up to the cops, is amazing!

The Return Of Rothkoid

23:28 / 17.08.06

I think the interesting thing about Sunset Boulevard is that Norma Desmond's character pretty much echoes Gloria's own career at that point - she'd been out of commission for a while, and her career was pretty much over by that point. (It's what the on-disc doco said, anyway - pointing out that Erich von Stroheim's career (he'd been a director previously) somewhat echoed the role he had in the film, too.)

I don't know how to put my finger on it, but Wilder's productions seem both wicked and classy. That's what appeals to me, anyway.

Chew On Fat

08:04 / 18.08.06

FYI

There are some Wilder films on in Riverside Cinema Hammersmith on the 24th Aug and 03 Sep

if seeing them on the silver screen is your thing>

Its probably about time I saw some of these films too. I've only seen 'Some like it hot' and was bemused that this very funny farce begins with a mob massacre that actually happened in real life.

Chew On Fat

08:07 / 18.08.06

OOPs. back to link lessons for me!

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