Billy Wilder (1906–2002) was an Austrian filmmaker. Wilder initially pursued a career in journalism after being inspired by an American newsreel.[1] He worked for the Austrian magazine Die Bühne and the newspaper Die Stunde in Vienna, and later for the German newspapers Berliner Nachtausgabe, and Berliner Börsen-Courier in Berlin.[2] His first screenplay was for the German silent thriller The Daredevil Reporter (1929).[3] Wilder fled to Paris in 1933 after the rise of the Nazi Party, where he co-directed and co-wrote the screenplay of French drama Mauvaise Graine (1934).[4] In the same year, Wilder left France on board the RMS Aquitania to work in Hollywood despite having little knowledge of English.[5][6]
In 1938, he began collaborating with Charles Brackett on screenplays with Ernst Lubitsch's romantic comedy Bluebeard's Eighth Wife.[7] It was the first of 14 consecutive commercially successful films that the pair co-wrote including the comedy Ninotchka (1939), and the romantic drama Hold Back the Dawn (1941), which both received nominations for the Academy Award for Best Screenplay.[6][8][9] Wilder made his Hollywood directorial debut with comedy The Major and the Minor (1942), which starred Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland. Two years later, he directed and co-wrote the screenplay for the film noir Double Indemnity (1944), which is considered a classic of its genre.[6] He followed this with The Lost Weekend (1945), a drama about a writer struggling with alcoholism, for which Wilder won his first Academy Award for Best Director and shared the Best Original Screenplay award with Brackett. The film also won Best Picture.[10][11]
Wilder directed and co-wrote the screenplay for Sunset Boulevard (1950), a film noir about a reclusive silent film actress starring Gloria Swanson and William Holden.[12] It garnered 11 Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, and all four acting categories. He won his second Best Screenplay Oscar with Brackett for the film as well as the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written Drama.[13][14] During the 1950s, Wilder also received Best Director nominations at the Oscars for Stalag 17 (1953), Sabrina (1954), Witness for the Prosecution (1957), and Some Like It Hot (1959).[15] The lattermost film starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon is considered one of the best comedies of all time.[16][17] In 1960, he directed and co-wrote The Apartment, a romantic comedy about an insurance clerk who allows his coworkers to use his apartment to conduct extra-marital affairs, which starred Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine.[18] The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture and the BAFTA Award for Best Film. Wilder shared the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay with I. A. L. Diamond.[19][20]
In recognition of his career, Wilder received the AFI's Life Achievement Award, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Fellowship Award, the Directors Guild of America's Lifetime Achievement Award, the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, the Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement, and the Producers Guild of America's Lifetime Achievement Award.[21] Double Indemnity, Sunset Boulevard, Some Like It Hot, and The Apartment are included in the AFI's greatest American films of all time.[22] As of 2019, 10 of his films are in the National Film Registry.[23]
Filmography
editAs director
edit| Year | Title | Credited as | Language(s) | Notes | Ref(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | Producer | |||||
| 1934 | Mauvaise Graine | Yes | Yes | French | English title: Bad Seed Co-directed with Alexander Esway |
[24] | |
| 1942 | The Major and the Minor | Yes | Yes | English | [25] | ||
| 1943 | Five Graves to Cairo | Yes | Yes | English | [26] | ||
| 1944 | Double Indemnity | Yes | Yes | English | Listed in the National Film Registry | [27] | |
| 1945 | The Lost Weekend | Yes | Yes | English | Listed in the National Film Registry | [27] | |
| 1945 | Death Mills | Yes | English German |
German title: Die Todesmühlen Also editing supervisor |
[28] [29] | ||
| 1948 | The Emperor Waltz | Yes | Yes | English | [30] | ||
| 1948 | A Foreign Affair | Yes | Yes | English | [31] | ||
| 1950 | Sunset Boulevard | Yes | Yes | English | Listed in the National Film Registry | [32] | |
| 1951 | Ace in the Hole | Yes | Yes | Yes | English | Listed in the National Film Registry | [27] |
| 1953 | Stalag 17 | Yes | Yes | Yes | English | [33] | |
| 1954 | Sabrina | Yes | Yes | Yes | English | Listed in the National Film Registry | [33] |
| 1955 | The Seven Year Itch | Yes | Yes | Yes | English | [33] | |
| 1957 | The Spirit of St. Louis | Yes | Yes | English | [33] | ||
| 1957 | Love in the Afternoon | Yes | Yes | Yes | English | [33] | |
| 1957 | Witness for the Prosecution | Yes | Yes | English | [27] | ||
| 1959 | Some Like It Hot | Yes | Yes | Yes | English | Listed in the National Film Registry | [34] |
| 1960 | The Apartment | Yes | Yes | Yes | English | Listed in the National Film Registry | [35] |
| 1961 | One, Two, Three | Yes | Yes | Yes | English | [36] | |
| 1963 | Irma la Douce | Yes | Yes | Yes | English | [37] | |
| 1964 | Kiss Me, Stupid | Yes | Yes | Yes | English | [38] | |
| 1966 | The Fortune Cookie | Yes | Yes | Yes | English | [39] | |
| 1970 | The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes | Yes | Yes | Yes | English | [33] | |
| 1972 | Avanti! | Yes | Yes | Yes | English | [40] | |
| 1974 | The Front Page | Yes | Yes | English | [41] | ||
| 1978 | Fedora | Yes | Yes | Yes | English | [42] [43] | |
| 1981 | Buddy Buddy | Yes | Yes | English | [44] | ||
As writer only
edit| Year | Title | Credited as | Language(s) | Notes | Ref(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screenwriter | Storywriter | |||||
| 1929 | The Daredevil Reporter | Yes | German | German title: Der Teufelsreporter | [45] | |
| 1930 | People on Sunday | Yes | German | German title: Menschen am Sonntag | [46] | |
| 1930 | A Student's Song of Heidelberg | Yes | German | German title: Ein Burschenlied aus Heidelberg | [47] | |
| 1931 | The Man in Search of His Murderer | Yes | German | German title: Der Mann, der seinen Mörder sucht | [48] | |
| 1931 | Her Grace Commands | Yes | German | German title: Ihre Hoheit befiehlt; simultaneously filmed as Princesse, à vos ordres! and remade as Adorable | [49] | |
| 1931 | The Wrong Husband | Yes | German | German title: Der Falsche Ehemann | [50] | |
| 1931 | Emil and the Detectives | Yes | German | German title: Emil und die Detektive | [51] | |
| 1932 | Happy Ever After | Yes | English | Simultaneously filmed as Ein blonder Traum and Un rêve blond | [52] | |
| 1932 | The Victor | Yes | German | German title: Der Sieger | [53] | |
| 1932 | Once There Was a Waltz | Yes | German | German title: Es war einmal ein Walzer; remade as Where Is This Lady? | [50] | |
| 1932 | Scampolo | Yes | German | Simultaneously filmed as Un peu d'amour | [52] | |
| 1932 | The Blue of Heaven | Yes | German | German title: Das Blaue vom Himmel | [52] | |
| 1933 | Madame Wants No Children | Yes | German | German title: Madame wünscht keine Kinder; simultaneously filmed as Madame ne veut pas d'enfants | [52] | |
| 1933 | What Women Dream | Yes | German | German title: Was Frauen träumen; remade as One Exciting Adventure | [52] | |
| 1934 | Music in the Air | Yes | English | [54] | ||
| 1935 | Lottery Lover | Yes | English | [24] | ||
| 1935 | Under Pressure | Yes | English | [24] | ||
| 1937 | Champagne Waltz | Yes | English | [33] | ||
| 1938 | Bluebeard's Eighth Wife | Yes | English | [33] | ||
| 1939 | Midnight | Yes | English | Listed in the National Film Registry | [33] | |
| 1939 | What a Life | Yes | English | [33] | ||
| 1939 | Ninotchka | Yes | English | Listed in the National Film Registry | [33] | |
| 1940 | Rhythm on the River | Yes | English | [33] | ||
| 1940 | Arise, My Love | Yes | English | [33] | ||
| 1941 | Hold Back the Dawn | Yes | English | [33] | ||
| 1941 | Ball of Fire | Yes | English | Listed in the National Film Registry; remade as A Song Is Born | [33] | |
References
edit- ^ Sikov 2017, p. 32.
- ^ Sikov 2017, pp. 35, 52, 56.
- ^ Sikov 2017, pp. 70.
- ^ Sikov 2017, pp. 109–110, 115–116.
- ^ Sikov 2017, p. 122.
- ^ a b c Oliver, Myrna (March 29, 2002). "From the Archives: Billy Wilder, 95; Director, writer and producer won six Oscars and peers' envy". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 25, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ^ Sikov 2017, p. 145.
- ^ "The 12th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ^ "The 14th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on October 11, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ^ "The 18th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ^ "Film From Any Source in 1961". British Academy Film Awards. Archived from the original on February 16, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (June 27, 1999). "Sunset Boulevard movie review (1950)". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on November 20, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ "The 23rd Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on September 1, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ^ "Writers Guild Awards Winners 1995-1949". Writers Guild of America. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^
- "The 26th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on October 11, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- "The 27th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- "The 30th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- "The 32nd Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ^ Barber, Nicholas (August 22, 2017). "Why Some Like It Hot is the greatest comedy ever made". BBC. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ^ "Some Like It Hot". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (July 22, 2001). "The Apartment movie review & film summary (1960)". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ^ "The 33rd Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on September 19, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ^ "Film From Any Source in 1961". British Academy Film Awards. Archived from the original on February 16, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
- ^
- Hammond, Pete (October 3, 2014). "Steve Martin To Receive AFI Life Achievement Award". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 28, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- Thorpe, Vanessa (February 17, 2002). "Bafta gives its top honour to Merchant Ivory". The Observer. Archived from the original on November 28, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- "Steven Spielberg to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award, DGA's Highest Honor". Directors Guild of America. January 31, 2000. Archived from the original on November 28, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- White, Michael (February 28, 2007). "My Oscar night with Cher". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 28, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- "The Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement". Writers Guild of America Awards. Archived from the original on February 23, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- McNary, Dave (November 19, 2006). "PGA sets Selznick laurel". Variety. Archived from the original on November 28, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ^ "AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies — 10th Anniversary Edition". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- ^ "Complete National Film Registry Listing". National Film Registry. Archived from the original on December 17, 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
- ^ a b c Gemünden 2008, p. 173.
- ^ Crowther, Bosley (September 17, 1942). "The Screen; ' The Major and the Minor,' a Charming Comedy-Romance, With Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland, at the Paramount". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ Crowther, Bosley (May 27, 1943). "'Five Graves' to Cairo,' Drama of World Conflict, With von Stroheim and Franchot Tone, at the Paramount Theatre". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Billy Wilder". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ Gemünden 2008, p. 168.
- ^ Jones, Abigail (February 6, 2015). "Why Hitchcock's Film on the Holocaust Was Never Shown". Newsweek. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ Phillips 2010, p. 350.
- ^ Crowther, Bosley (July 1, 1948). "Jean Arthur, Marlene Dietrich and John Land a Triangle in 'A Foreign Affair'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ Pryor, Thomas M. (August 11, 1950). "Sunset Boulevard". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Filmography". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
- ^ "Review: 'Some Like It Hot'". Variety. February 24, 1959. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ Crowther, Bosley (June 16, 1960). "Screen: Busy 'Apartment':Jack Lemmon Scores in Billy Wilder Film". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ Crowther, Bosley (December 22, 1961). "Screen: Berlin Laughter:'One, Two, Three' Is at Astor and Fine Arts". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ Crowther, Bosley (June 6, 1963). "Wilder's 'Irma la Douce'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 28, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ^ Weiler, A. H. (December 23, 1964). "Kiss Me, Stupid'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 9, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
- ^ Canby, Vincent (October 20, 1966). "Screen: 'The Fortune Cookie,' Funny Fantasy of Chiselers, Begins Its Run:3 Manhattan Theaters Have Wilder's Film Walter Matthau Stars As Farcical Villain A Western and a Horror Film Also Open Here". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 29, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ Weiler, A. H. (December 18, 1972). "'Avanti!,' Another Billy Wilder Farce, Stars Jack Lemmon". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ Canby, Vincent (December 19, 1974). "Wilder's Uneven Film of 'Front Page':The Cast". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ Oleszczyk, Michal (May 20, 2013). "Cannes Classics: Tip of 'Fedora' to You". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (April 15, 1979). "Wilder's Movie 'Fedora' Opens:The Cast". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ Canby, Vincent (December 11, 1981). "Wilder's 'Buddy Buddy'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ Phillips 2010, p. 6.
- ^ Phillips 2010, p. 8.
- ^ Gemünden 2013, p. 193.
- ^ Gemünden 2008, p. 170.
- ^ Gemünden 2008, pp. 170–171.
- ^ a b Gemünden 2008, p. 171.
- ^ Phillips 2010, p. 9.
- ^ a b c d e Gemünden 2008, p. 172.
- ^ Sikov 2017, p. 77.
- ^ Phillips 2010, p. 15.
Bibliography
edit- Brackett, Charles (December 16, 2014). Slide, Anthony (ed.). "It's the Pictures That Got Small": Charles Brackett on Billy Wilder and Hollywood's Golden Age. Columbia University Press. doi:10.7312/slid16708. ISBN 9780231167086. JSTOR 10.7312/slid16708. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- Gemünden, Gerd (2008). A Foreign Affair: Billy Wilder's American Films (1 ed.). Berghahn Books. pp. 167–169. doi:10.3167/9781845454180. ISBN 978-1-84545-418-0. JSTOR j.ctt9qcq5c. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- Gemünden, Gerd (January 15, 2013). A Foreign Affair: Billy Wilder's American Films. Berghahn Books. ISBN 978-0-85745-520-8.
- Phillips, Gene (February 5, 2010). Some Like It Wilder: The Life and Controversial Films of Billy Wilder. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0-8131-7367-2.
- Sikov, Ed (June 14, 2017). On Sunset Boulevard: The Life and Times of Billy Wilder. University Press of Mississippi. ISBN 978-1-4968-1267-4.
External links
edit- Billy Wilder at IMDb