Wilder, Billy

Description

Billy Wilder (USA, 1906-2002) is an undisputed master of American comedy, taking situation comedy to the edge of the absurd in Some Like it Hot (1959). But he also made pessimistic melodramas such as Sunset Boulevard (1950), in which Gloria Swanson gives a moving performance as a fallen star, and a few fine examples of film noir, such as Double Indemnity (1944) et Witness for the Prosecution (1957). Wilder worked with the greatest stars and his filmography is studded with classic scenes, including Marilyn Monroe playing the banjo in Some Like it Hot or holding her billowing skirt over the subway outlet in Seven Year Itch (1955), Jack Lemmon draining spaghetti with a tennis racket in The Apartment (1960) and Shirley MacLaine as a Parisian streetwalker in Irma la Douce (1963). His humour is often incisive and his vision of the world somewhat cynical, but all his characters experience a moment of truth and, for this reason, Billy Wilder is primarily a great moralist.

NoA"l Simsolo is a film historian, scriptwriter, actor, film-maker and novelist. He has published many books on film.

On the Masters of Cinema Series "Modern directors are briefly and brilliantly profiled in sharp prose and smart pictures in these movie master-classes for film buffs and beginners."-Saga "Short, beautifully illustrated essays on great directors."-The Times "Exceptional value... Lively and accessible... Indispensable."-Obessed With Film "Bargain price. Does an already saturated market need yet more auteur guides? On this evidence, yes... Briskly paced, scalpel-sharp primers... The collective quality is high, the tone scholarly but not intimidating... A triumph of layout as much as content, each book glows with gorgeous on- and off-screen archive photography... Magnifique."-Total Film