The Writer:
Billy Wilder is one of the great legends of screenwriting. His mix of classic comedies and riveting dramas set the standard for excellence in writing and directing.
Wilder was born in what is now Poland. He originally intended to become a lawyer then spent several years working as a journalist. He turned to screenwriting in 1929 and wrote scripts in Berlin until Hitler came to power in 1933. A man of Jewish descent, Wilder quickly emigrated to Paris then later to the United States. Wilder came to Hollywood not speaking a word of English but picked up the lingo and the business very quickly.
His greatest works include Some Like it Hot, Sunset Blvd., Sabrina, Double Indemnity, and The Apartment.
Credits:
Sabrina (earlier screenplay) – 1995
Hallmark Hall of Fame (TV series) – 1982
Buddy Buddy – 1981
Fedora (writer) – 1978
The Front Page (screenplay) – 1974
Double Indemnity (TV movie) (1944 screenplay) – 1973
Avanti! – 1972
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (written by) – 1970
Casino Royale (uncredited) – 1967
The Fortune Cookie (written by) – 1966
Ates gibi kadin (story “Ball of Fire” – uncredited) – 1965
Kiss Me, Stupid (screenplay) – 1964
Irma la Douce (writer) – 1963
One, Two, Three (screenplay) – 1961
Ocean’s Eleven (uncredited) – 1960
The Apartment (written by) – 1960
Ninotchka (TV movie) (1939 screenplay) – 1960
Some Like It Hot (screenplay) – 1959
Witness for the Prosecution (screenplay) – 1957
Love in the Afternoon (screenplay) – 1957
The Spirit of St. Louis (screenplay) – 1957
Robert Montgomery Presents (TV series) – 1956
The Seven Year Itch (screenplay) – 1955
Lux Video Theatre (TV series) – 1954-55
Emil und die Detektive (earlier screenplay / as Billie Wilder) – 1954
Sabrina (screenplay) – 1954
Stalag 17 (written for the screen by) – 1953
Ace in the Hole (written by) – 1951
Sunset Blvd. (written by) – 1950
A Song Is Born (story “From A to Z”) – 1948
A Foreign Affair (screenplay) – 1948
The Emperor Waltz (written by) – 1948
The Bishop’s Wife (uncredited) – 1947
The Lost Weekend (screenplay) – 1945
Double Indemnity (screenplay) – 1944
Five Graves to Cairo (screenplay) – 1943
The Major and the Minor (written by) – 1942
Ball of Fire (original story / screenplay) – 1941
Hold Back the Dawn (written by) – 1941
Arise, My Love (screenplay) – 1940
Rhythm on the River (story) – 1940
What a Life (screenplay) – 1939
Ninotchka (screenplay) – 1939
Midnight (screenplay) – 1939
That Certain Age (uncredited) – 1938
Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife (screenplay) – 1938
Champagne Waltz (story) – 1937
The Lottery Lover (screenplay) – 1935
Emil and the Detectives (uncredited) – 1935
Under Pressure – 1935
Mauvaise graine (screenplay / as Billie Wilder) – 1934
Music in the Air (adaptation and screenplay) – 1934
One Exciting Adventure (story) – 1934
Adorable (story “Ihre Hoheit Befiehlt”) – 1933
Was Frauen träumen (writer) – 1933
No Children Wanted (screenplay / as Billie Wilder) – 1933
Madame Wants No Children (adaptation) – 1933
Un rêve blond (screenplay / as Billie Wilder) – 1932
Ein Mädel der Strasse – 1932
A Blonde’s Dream – 1932
Un peu d’amour (screenplay) – 1932
Where Is This Lady? (story “Es War Einmal Ein Walzer”) – 1932
Emil und die Detektive (screenplay / as Billie Wilder) – 1931
Princesse, à vos ordres! – 1931
The Wrong Husband – 1931
Seitensprünge (idea) – 1931
Her Grace Commands – 1931
Der Mann, der seinen Mörder sucht – 1931
Ein Burschenlied aus Heidelberg – 1930
People on Sunday – 1930
Hell of a Reporter (as Billie Wilder) – 1929
Quotes:
Some pictures play wonderfully to a room of eight people. I don’t go for that. I go for the masses. I go for the end effect.
I just made pictures I would’ve liked to see.
Making movies is little like walking into a dark room. Some people stumble across furniture, others break their legs but some of us see better in the dark than others. The ultimate trick is to convince, persuade.Anyone who doesn’t believe in miracles isn’t a realist.
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