TMI (2-2-12)


TMI (Today’s Movie Info)

February: Director’s Month

 BILLY WILDER (1906–2002) wrote many German scripts prior to Hitler’s coming to power.  Being Jewish, Wilder fled Germany.  Both of his parents died at Auschwitz. He collaborated closely with Steven Spielberg on the script for Schindler’s List (1993) but refused a screen credit. Wilder was nominated for eight Best Director Oscars (second most to William Wyler’s 12), winning twice: The Lost Weekend (1945) and The Apartment (1960). Wilder is one of only seven filmmakers to win Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay for the same film.  He won all three for The Apartment (1960).  He made 7 films with his favorite actor, Jack Lemmon, including Wilder’s final film Buddy Buddy (1981).  Wilder was such a versatile filmmaker, he won recognition for his film work in comedies, drama, war and film noir.  He directed four films that consistently show up on lists for the 100 best movies of all time: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd (1950), Some Like it Hot (1959), The Apartment (1960).  He once said of Marilyn Monroe: “breasts like granite, and a brain like Swiss cheese”

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 at 7:06 am and is filed under TMI Dailies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Leave a comment