Born in Vienna, Billy Wilder started out as a newspaperman, and fled to America to escape the Nazi occupation. He had already started his forays into screenwriting that would lead him to working as a writer and later director of some of the Hollywood’s most famous and successful films. In this book, he talks about his life and work, often cracking wise and remembering his life in his own words, which were recorded by his friend, Charlotte Chandler.
I like this biography, because it’s a more anecdotal book than other biographies. It’s taken from taped conversations about his work and life, as well as loads of interviews with people who worked with him. I really liked that. It made for really interesting reading. It’s not a dry, fat biography, but a more accessible book about a cinema giant.
There are other books on Billy Wilder, and perhaps the most well known is Conversations With Wilder by Cameron Crowe, which is also well worth a look if you’d like to learn more about the man and his working practices.
About Billy:
- He loved worked with some of cinemas greatest actors and often their work with him became part of their mythos: Marilyn Monroe, William Holden, Jack Lemmon, Gloria Swanston, Shirley MacLaine, Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Audrey Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart, and more.
- He was generally known as a kind director, who was supportive to actors and made his sets a happy place to be.
- He preferred sets to locations for shoots.
- Starting as a screenwriter, he usually worked with writing partners, famously Charles Brackett and IAL Diamond, and he moved into directing to have more creative control over what was done to his scripts.
- He was a bit of a romantic, saying that his second wife Audrey was the love of his life and the woman who he loved more and more over the course of his life.
- He was a great collector of paintings and fine arts, and an auction of his collection late in his life brought in millions.
- Though he was very quick with a joke, and quite funny, a lot of people felt that he was a serious person, which isn’t surprising considering the history he lived through, including losing his mother and other family members who were killed at Auschwitz.
The Essential Wilder:
There are so many wonderful films by this man, the below are arguably his most well known and must see (though this is not an exhaustive list).
Sunset Boulevard (1950)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
The Apartment (1960)
The Seven Year Itch (1955)
Sabrina (1954)
The Ace In The Hole (1951)
Wilder is known for humor and quick wit in his films, as well as a certain cynicism. Sometimes films that he felt were serious, like The Apartment, were considered to be dark comedies by the audience or studio. Though his films could be a little subversive and take on serious themes, they’re never heavy or maudlin.
Do you have a favourite Billy Wilder quote or film? Let me know in the comments below. Or you can find me on Twitter @hermioneflavia or on Instagram @hermioneflavia.
Wildfire Movies 
Sounds interesting. Already learned some things I didn’t know about him.
I Saw Ace in the Hole a few years back. Was struck by how relevant and contemporary it was. One, Two, Three is a great film also though perhaps not as relevant. Sunset Boulevard will always be my favorite though. So cynical and dark and funny.
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I love Sunset Boulevard too! I really enjoyed doing this biography, it was really interesting.
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I forgot he did Ace in the Hole–fantastic movie!
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Your biography of the months are always quite fadcinating. (Due to my illness it means I have missed a few) but Billy Wilder was indeed an extraordinary filmaker. Notably my favourites being; Some Like it Hot, The Apartment, and Double Indemnity.
” If you’re going to tell people the truth, be funny or they’ll kill you”.
Sincerely Sonea
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Hey girl. ❤️ How’ve you been doing?
I’m glad you like them. I have fun reading them and sharing my little findings. I think the next one will be Howard Hughes….
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Hello once again Hermione. (I possibly never told you this but I adore the name ). I have posted today through the various challenges of being in pain, so it’s been a slow process but I’m trying my best to manage. Treatments are harsh so some days are more severe than others but I shall try my hardest to keep my sanity and writing intact for as long as I can.
They are equally enjoyable to read and it’s always great to revisit them in return.
I look foward to reading upon your next findings. ☺
Sincerely Sonea
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Sending you love girl. That’s so rough. ❤️❤️❤️
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Thank you Hermione. That means a lot. Much love to you.
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❤️❤️❤️❤️
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I just re-watched “Sunset Boulevard,” and found it to be so sad — yet so funny. He was a master at blending pathos and humor. I also loved “Midnight,” which of course he wrote with Charles Brackett, but didn’t direct.
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Yeah, he really did have a wonderful way of balancing tragedy and humour. I love his films. There’s a few I haven’t seen yet though. 😃
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Just saw The Apartment this year, great movie and full on considering it predates the Ratings system. Some Like It Hot is the classic.
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It’s a fascinating film like that, pushing those boundaries, getting away with a lot. I actually find it quite a sad film, personally. I feel sorry for the girl. But it’s wonderful.
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Me too but they have each other in the end which is nice.
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this is true. ❤
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