Some Like It Wilder: The Life and Controversial Films of Billy Wilder (Screen Classics)

One of the most accomplished writers and directors of classic Hollywood, Billy Wilder (1906–2002) directed numerous acclaimed films, including Sunset Boulevard (1950), Sabrina (1954), The Seven Year Itch (1955), Witness for the Prosecution (1957), and Some Like It Hot (1959). Featuring Gene D. Phillips's unique, in-depth critical approach, Some Like It Wilder: The Life and Controversial Films of Billy Wilder provides a groundbreaking overview of a filmmaking icon. Wilder began his career as a screenwriter in Berlin but, because of his Jewish heritage, sought refuge in America when Germany came under Nazi control. Making fast connections in Hollywood, Wilder immediately made the jump from screenwriter to director. His classic films Five Graves to Cairo (1943), Double Indemnity (1945), and The Lost Weekend (1945) earned Academy Awards for best picture, director, and screenplay. During the 1960s, Wilder continued to direct and produce controversial comedies, including Kiss Me, Stupid (1964) and The Apartment (1960), which won Oscars for best picture and director. This definitive biography reveals that Wilder was, and remains, one of the most influential directors in filmmaking. A biography of the six-time Oscar-winning director of films like Some Like It Hot and Double Indemnity , featuring analysis of his work. Although his career spanned fifty years and included more than fifty films, Austrian-American film director Billy Wilder (1906-2002) may be best known for the legendary shot of Marilyn Monroe's dress billowing over a subway grating in The Seven Year Itch (1955). This "shot seen round the world" is representative not only of Hollywood's golden era of cinema but also of one of its most prolific and brilliant directors. Wilder, whose filmography includes such classics as Sunset Boulevard (1950), Sabrina (1954), Witness for the Prosecution (1957), and Some Like It Hot (1959), is often remembered for his versatility, biting wit, and passion for challenging social and moral conventions. Author Gene D. Phillips departs from the traditional biography in Some Like It Wilder , offering new insights into the acclaimed director's professional and private life. In preparation for the book, Phillips conducted personal interviews with Wilder and other key players from the legendary director's life and times. Phillips's unique combination of analysis and biographical detail brings Wilder to life, as both an artist and man. Phillips traces Wilder's path from Berlin, where he worked as a scriptwriter for one of the city's largest studios, to Hollywood, where he would quickly establish himself as a premier film director. Forming a partnership with writer-producer Charles Brackett, Wilder directed the classic films Five Graves to Cairo (1943), Double Indemnity (1945), and The Lost Weekend (1945), which earned Academy Awards for best picture, best director, and best screenplay. During the 1960s, Wilder continued to direct and produce controversial comedies, including Kiss Me Stupid (1964) and The Apartment (1960). The Apartment brought Wilder another round of Oscars for best picture, best director, and best screenplay. Wilder's maverick approach and independent artistic vision pushed boundaries and ensured his legacy as one of the Hollywood greats. Sharply written, Some Like It Wilder serves as a comprehensive companion to Wilder's films, offering a personalized and heartfelt account of the life and genius of this compelling director. Praise for Some Like It Wilder "Featuring Gene D. Phillips' unique, in-depth critical approach, Some Like It Wilder . . . provides a groundbreaking overview of a filmmaking icon . . . . This definitive biography reveals that Wilder was, and remains, one of the most influential directors in filmmaking." — Turner Classic Movies "[Phillips] goes beyond the surface and deep into the complex mind and soul of the famous film director . . . . This book is, in my view, definitive." —Vincent LoBrutto, author of Martin Scorsese: A Biography

Although his career spanned fifty years and included more than fifty films, Austrian-American film director Billy Wilder (1906—2002) may be best known for the legendary shot of Marilyn Monroe's dress billowing over a subway grating in The Seven Year Itch (1955). This "shot seen round the world" is representative not only of Hollywood's golden era of cinema but also of one of its most prolific and brilliant directors. Wilder, whose filmography includes such classics as Sunset Boulevard (1950), Sabrina (1954), Witness for the Prosecution (1957), and Some Like It Hot (1959), is often remembered for his versatility, biting wit, and passion for challenging social and moral conventions.

Author Gene D. Phillips departs from the traditional biography in Some Like It Wilder: The Life and Controversial Films of Billy Wilder, offering new insights into the acclaimed director's professional and private life. In preparation for the book, Phillips conducted personal interviews with Wilder and other key players from the legendary director's life and times. Phillips's unique combination of analysis and biographical detail brings Wilder to life, as both an artist and man.

Phillips traces Wilder's path from Berlin, where he worked as a scriptwriter for one of the city's largest studios, to Hollywood, where he would quickly establish himself as a premier film director. Forming a partnership with writer-producer Charles Brackett, Wilder directed the classic films Five Graves to Cairo (1943), Double Indemnity (1945), and The Lost Weekend (1945), which earned Academy Awards for best picture, best director, and best screenplay. During the 1960s, Wilder continued to direct and produce controversial comedies, including Kiss Me Stupid (1964) and The Apartment (1960). The Apartment brought Wilder another round of Oscars for best picture, best director, and best screenplay.Wilder's maverick approach and independent artistic vision pushed boundaries and ensured his legacy as one of the Hollywood greats. Sharply written, Some Like It Wilder serves as a comprehensive companion to Wilder's films, offering a personalized and heartfelt account of the life and genius of this compelling director.

Some Like It Wilder......Page 2 Contents......Page 10 Foreword......Page 12 Acknowledgments......Page 14 1.From Berlin to Hollywood: The Early Screenplays......Page 16 2.Champagne and Tears: Ninotchka, Midnight, and Ball of Fire......Page 34 3. New Directions: The Major and the Minor and Five Graves to Cairo......Page 48 4. The Rise of Film Noir: Double Indemnity......Page 68 5.Through a Glass Darkly: The Lost Weekend and Die Todesmühlen......Page 86 6.Wunderbar: The Emperor Waltz and A Foreign Affair......Page 104 7.Dark Windows: Sunset Boulevard......Page 124 8. Barbed Wire Satire: Ace in the Hole and Stalag......Page 144 9. Fascination: Sabrina and The Seven Year Itch......Page 168 10.Light Up the Sky: The Spirit of St. Louis and Love in the Afternoon......Page 224 11. Remains to Be Seen: Witness for the Prosecution......Page 244 12.The Gang’s All Here: Some Like It Hot......Page 258 13. Love on the Dole: The Apartment......Page 278 14. Love on the Run: One, Two, Three and Irma la Douce......Page 294 15. Grifters: Kiss Me, Stupid and The Fortune Cookie......Page 316 16. The Game’s Afoot: The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes......Page 340 17.The Perfect Blendship: The Front Page and Avanti!......Page 354 18.Twilight Years: Fedora and Buddy Buddy......Page 370 Epilogue: A Touch of Class......Page 388 Filmography......Page 394 notes......Page 414 Selected Bibliography......Page 456 Index......Page 464 From Berlin to Hollywood : the early screenplays -- Champagne and tears : Ninotchka, Midnight, and Ball of fire -- New directions : The major and the minor and Five graves to Cairo -- The rise of film noir : Double indemnity -- Through a glass darkly : The lost weekend and Die todesmühlen -- Wunderbar : The emperor waltz and A foreign affair -- Dark windows : Sunset Boulevard -- Barbed wire satire : Ace in the hole and Stalag 17 -- Fascination : Sabrina and The seven year itch -- Light up the sky : The spirit of St. Louis and Love in the afternoon -- Remains to be seen : Witness for the prosecution -- The gang's all here : Some like it hot -- Love on the dole : The apartment -- Love on the run : One, two, three and Irma La Douce -- Grifters : Kiss me, stupid and The fortune cookie -- The game's afoot : The private life of Sherlock Holmes -- The perfect blendship : The front page and Avanti! -- Twilight years : Fedora and Buddy buddy -- Epilogue : a touch of class From Berlin to Hollywood : the early screenplays Champagne and tears : Ninotchka, Midnight, and Ball of fire New directions : The major and the minor and Five graves to Cairo The rise of film noir : Double indemnity Through a glass darkly : The lost weekend and Die todesmu hlen Wunderbar : The emperor waltz and A foreign affair Dark windows : Sunset Boulevard Barbed wire satire : Ace in the hole and Stalag 17 Fascination : Sabrina and The seven year itch Light up the sky : The spirit of St. Louis and Love in the afternoon Remains to be seen : Witness for the prosecution The gang's all here : Some like it hot Love on the dole : The apartment Love on the run : One, two, three and Irma La Douce Grifters : Kiss me, stupid and The fortune cookie The game's afoot : The private life of Sherlock Holmes The perfect blendship : The front page and Avanti! Twilight years : Fedora and Buddy buddy Epilogue : a touch of class. "One of the most accomplished writers and directors of classic Hollywood, Billy Wilder (1906-2002) directed numerous acclaimed films, including Sunset Boulevard (1950), Sabrina (1954), The Seven Year Itch (1955), Witness for the Prosecution (1957), and Some Like It Hot (1959). Some Like It Wilder: The Life and Controversial Films of Billy Wilder provides an overview of a filmmaking icon." "Author Gene D. Phillips departs from the traditional biography, offering new insights into the acclaimed director's professional and private life. In preparation for the book, Phillips conducted personal interviews with Wilder and other key players from the legendary director's life and times."--Jacket