Hollywood loses another giant.

March 28, 2002 4:17 PM

Hollywood loses another giant. Billy Wilder passes on at 95. Just the quick list of movies at the top of the article gives me pause..Stalag 17, Some Like it Hot, The Seven-Year Itch. Damn, this is definitely a sad week in the entertainment business.
posted by PeteyStock (15 comments total)

The first man to stand up fairly publicly to Louis Mayer. The man who teamed up Matthau and Lemmon. The man who wrote and directed urban comedy-dramas with a dark subversive edge. I'm speechless. Now I no longer have a favorite living filmmaker.
posted by ed at 4:30 PM on March 28, 2002

"Damn, this is definitely a sad week in the entertainment business."

Yeah... the Oscars do suck....
posted by wfrgms at 4:33 PM on March 28, 2002

Why do celebrities always die in threes?
posted by ZachsMind at 4:33 PM on March 28, 2002

four
posted by eyeballkid at 4:44 PM on March 28, 2002

That was a month ago, eyeball.
posted by donkeyschlong at 4:46 PM on March 28, 2002

William Holden said he had a "mind full of razor blades." If he'd only made Sunset Blvd he'd still be my favorite director. Generally speaking, any film that makes me say, Who wrote this? came from Billy Wilder.
posted by coelecanth at 4:51 PM on March 28, 2002

apologies. didn't realize there was a time limit.
posted by eyeballkid at 4:52 PM on March 28, 2002

Not to mention one of the funniest and fastest-moving satires of all time, One, Two, Three, exquisitely directed and which featured a great performance by Cagney. Sadly, it and Sunset Blvd., two absolute cinematic jewels, are unavailable on DVD (along with Ace in the Hole and two underrated films from his later years, Fedora and The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes), while such travesties as Freddy Got Fingered are.
posted by ed at 4:58 PM on March 28, 2002

coelecanth: Who wrote this? came from Billy Wilder

Wilder is a favorite of mine too, but let's not forget he almost always co-wrote. IAL Diamond and Wilder's scripts are among my favorite ever written. Charles Brackett was nothing to sneeze at either. Though I prefer The Apartment to Some Like it Hot, this is one kickass book.
posted by dobbs at 5:02 PM on March 28, 2002

"The Lost Weekend" is the only movie that scares me. ('Leaving Los Vegas' is close) ....all the pawn shops closed...genius.
posted by clavdivs at 6:39 PM on March 28, 2002

If he'd only made "Some Like It Hot" that would have been enough but all of his work will be lasting testaments to great filmmaking list goes on. He had talent, brains, balls, heart, a sense of humor, elegance. He was the greatest writer-director ever as far as I am concerned. While "nobody's perfect" …he was as close as they came.

If you haven't read "Conversations with Wilder" by Cameron Crowe perhaps now's a good time to find a copy. Its like being with the man himself… a delight. Good night Billy.
posted by TeejNSF at 6:44 PM on March 28, 2002

If we are listing our favorite Wilder films, don't forget Double Indemnity, one of the best noirs, indeed one of the prototypes of noir. I will also mention a personal favorite of mine, though it was one of Wilder's rare box office flops, and (as a result?) Wilder himself didn't like it: Kiss Me, Stupid, the ultimate Dean Martin film.
posted by Rebis at 6:48 PM on March 28, 2002

I second TeejNSF's recommendation of Crowe's book, although there are far more photographs than text. The interview alone is worth the price.

Meanwhile, here's an absolutely magnificent collection of Wilderiana from The New York Times: profiles, interviews, articles and film reviews(some from the 30's by the great man himself).[Reg. req.]
posted by MiguelCardoso at 7:06 PM on March 28, 2002

"don't forget Double Indemnity, one of the best noirs, indeed one of the prototypes of noir" YES< YES< YES. oh that had all the goodies to make one cringe.
posted by clavdivs at 7:26 PM on March 28, 2002

The final three minutes of "The Apartment" are pure genius.
posted by ed at 10:54 PM on March 28, 2002