Tag Archives: Conversations with Wilder

Billy Wilder: On Arriving In America

Posted on September 2, 2004 by sheila

Excerpt from Conversations with Wilder: I first saw America from the Aquitania. We were delayed half a day, we were up in the harbor. It was a snowing winter night. I stayed with my brother in his little house on … Continue reading →

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Billy Wilder: Ace in the Hole

Posted on September 2, 2004 by sheila

Excerpt from Conversations with Wilder: I was hoping that it would find an audience…. An they didn’t get it at all, lots of them. Some discerning critics lauded it up and it was their favorite picture of mine. But many … Continue reading →

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Billy Wilder: On William Holden

Posted on September 2, 2004 by sheila

Excerpt from Conversations with Wilder: I always tell myself that I will do a picture that is interesting character-wise, not just something atmospheric. The atmosphere, that I photograph. But I am careful to find an original set if I can, … Continue reading →

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Billy Wilder On Movie-Length

Posted on September 2, 2004 by sheila

Excerpt from Conversations with Wilder: I don’t like pictures where you can take half an hour out and it’s only better.

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Billy Wilder: On Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe

Posted on September 2, 2004 by sheila

On Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe, 2 of his most famous leading ladies: I had a special little niche for Givenchy. He did the clothes for Audrey Hepburn. There was always that style, you know. Of course she did not … Continue reading →

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Billy Wilder On Audiences

Posted on September 2, 2004 by sheila

Excerpt from Conversations with Wilder: I kind of think that overall, audiences are pretty smart. Sometimes they are a little cruel; sometimes they are too nice to you. But as soon as you say, “I don’t give a damn whether … Continue reading →

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Billy Wilder on Marilyn Monroe: “A remarkable person, and in spades when she was on the screen.”

Posted on September 2, 2004 by sheila

Excerpt from Conversations with Wilder: I never knew what Marilyn was going to do, how she was going to play a scene. I had to talk her out of it, or I had to underline it and say, “That’s very … Continue reading →

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Billy Wilder: “Make It True”

Posted on September 2, 2004 by sheila

The following anecdote reminds me of one of Hamlet’s pieces of advice to the players: “whose end, both at the fist and now, was and is to hold as ’twere the mirror up to nature”. Hold the mirror up to … Continue reading →

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Billy Wilder on Humorists

Posted on September 2, 2004 by sheila

Excerpt from Conversations with Wilder: The real humorist is always sad. You’ll find that people who are trully funny never laugh about their own jokes. They just let it go, they let it pass.

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Billy Wilder: On Jack Lemmon

Posted on September 2, 2004 by sheila

Here’s a long quote from Billy Wilder on the genius of Jack Lemmon. Genius indeed. Jack Lemmon was my Everyman. And he could do everything, except carry a love interest to the extreme, to kissing and the precoitus thing. That … Continue reading →

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