Talk:Billy Wilder

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[edit] Comments moved here from Wikipedia:Cinema Collaboration of the Week

  • Major writer-director whose career spanned five decades. Began as a screenwriter in Germany, fled to the United States when the Nazis took over. Learned English and moved to Hollywood. Created classic films in several genres including film noir Double Indemnity, romantic comedy Sabrina, war Stalag 17, courtroom drama Witness for the Prosecution, and comedy Some Like it Hot. Current article is an eight line stub with some lists.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by [[User:|User:]] ([[User talk:|talk]] • contribs) .

[edit] Some changes, especially the spoiler!!

I removed the spoiler from the description of Sunset Boulevard... Many people interested in reading about Wilder may not have seen all of his films, nor would they appreciate knowing the 'gotcha' before they watch it for the first time. Note also that the description of The Apartment doesn't state WHO attempts suicide on Christmas Eve, but the statement made about Sunset Boulevard will change the viewer's perception from the first five minutes on.

This article still needs some drawing out - it jumps from his beginning in Hollywood to his overall standards as a writer, then to his later work in the 1940s and 1950s, then his 1950s work again (where some of the same films are mentioned). Will this article be based more around a timeline, or more thematic in scope (1930s, 1940s, 1950s, etc vs. writing, noir, themes in his work, etc). The article needs to go more one way or the other, in order to really make it a great featured piece. Noirdame 21:17, 8 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Filmography

A filmography would help this page i think. --Cptbuck 04:07, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

I created a template and added it to the article. I will add two more for writer and producer -- Romulus15 07:43, 19 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Re: Olivier comment

Can anyone confirm whether the Lawrence Olivier quote from the set of Wuthering Heights was directed at Wilder or at the film's director William Wyler. Because if it is, as I suspect, the latter, then the quotation should be removed. Dave 15:36, 10 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] WP:WikiProject Actors and Filmmakers priority assessment

Per debate and discussion re: assessment of the approximate 100 top priority articles of the project, this article has been included as a top priority article. Wildhartlivie (talk) 00:44, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] reference?

Directorial style Wilder's directorial choices reflected his belief in the primacy of writing. He avoided the exuberant cinematography of Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Welles because, in Wilder's opinion, shots that called attention to themselves would distract the audience from the story. Wilder's pictures have tight plotting and memorable dialogue. Wilder filmed in black and white whenever studios would let him. Despite his conservative directorial style, his subject matter often pushed the boundaries of mainstream entertainment.

exactly the kind of information I had been looking for. unfortunately, there is no reference given. does anyone know where this was taken from? thanks a lot! Babsilicious (talk) 12:39, 27 May 2008 (UTC)