Oooo, let's discuss... Billy Wilder!

[soitgoes...]

Just to get this back on track a bit, it's been awhile since I've seen a Wilder movie. The last was Ace in the Hole a year or so ago. I went on a kick where I saw most of his "biggies" at rather high clip. I need to delve into his 2nd and 3rd tier films some more. Thoughts on what next to view? I've seen:

Double Indemnity (1944)
The Lost Weekend (1945)
Sunset Blvd. (1950)
Ace in the Hole (1951)
Stalag 17 (1953)
The Spirit of St. Louis (1957)
Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
The Apartment (1960)
The Fortune Cookie (1966)

[Qrazy]

Just to get this back on track a bit, it's been awhile since I've seen a Wilder movie.

Same... I've seen...

# The Fortune Cookie (1966)
# One, Two, Three (1961)
# The Apartment (1960)
# Some Like It Hot (1959)
# Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
# The Spirit of St. Louis (1957)
# The Seven Year Itch (1955)
# Sabrina (1954)
# Stalag 17 (1953)
# Ace in the Hole (1951)
# Sunset Blvd. (1950)
# The Lost Weekend (1945)
# Double Indemnity (1944)
# The Major and the Minor (1942)

[Kurious Jorge v3.1]

I've Seen:

Five Graves to Cairo
Sunset Blvd.
Ace in the Hole
Some Like it Hot
The Apartment
One,Two, Three

[Grouchy]

I've seen...

Double Indemnity
Sunset Blvd.
Sabrina
The Seven Year Itch
Some Like it Hot

The classics, basically. As mentioned, one of his defining characteristics is that he talks about serious and grave issues in a mocking, off-hand way, like fear of old age in Seven Year Itch or gender politics in Some Like it Hot. Also a great director of actors, there's not a single bad performance in any of the films I mentioned.

Sabrina is boring as hell, though. That movie lost its charm early on for me.

[Philosophe_rouge]

Very right, I'm a pretty big fan of Wilder, though with my new love of Lubitsch I find I appreciate Lubitsch's lightness compared to Wilder's almost misanthropic darkness (at least at times). Even his comedies seemed to be weighed down by anger, or frustration that while perfectly executed can almost be too much for me at times. I will say, that perhaps in a way, this is truer to life... I've always liked the idea that comedy is closer to reality than fiction, or even that comedy is just one hair removed from tragedy. He seems to really capture that in his cinema.

I really ought to revisit his work, many I've seen years ago, and owe a re-appreciation.

I've seen:

Essentials
Sunset Blvd. (1950)
The Apartment (1960)
Some Like It Hot (1959)

Good
Ace in the Hole (1951)
Stalag 17 (1953)
The Seven Year Itch (1955)
Sabrina (1954)

Bottom tier (still worth recommending)
Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
One, Two, Three (1961)
Kiss Me, Stupid (1964)

I need to rewatch
Double Indemnity (1944)

Most want to see:
The Major and the Minor
Five Graves to Cairo
Love in the Afternoon
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes

[origami_mustache]

I didn't find The Apartment to be as essential as everyone says it is...not to say I didn't like it, but storywise it's probably my least favorite from what I've seen.

[Boner M]

Wilder is one of those directors whose work I generally enjoy, but have never really given any serious thought to at all. In other words, I got nothing.

[Yxklyx]

Essentials
Sunset Blvd. (1950)
The Apartment (1960)
Some Like It Hot (1959)

Good
Ace in the Hole (1951)
Stalag 17 (1953)
The Seven Year Itch (1955)
Sabrina (1954)

Bottom tier (still worth recommending)
Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
One, Two, Three (1961)
Kiss Me, Stupid (1964)

I'd put Kiss Me, Stupid right below Ace in the Hole. Hmm, haven't see The Seven Year Itch though.

[Qrazy]

I'd put Kiss Me, Stupid right below Ace in the Hole. Hmm, haven't see The Seven Year Itch though.

Unfortunately Tom Ewell is no Jack Lemmon.

[Philosophe_rouge]

I'd put Kiss Me, Stupid right below Ace in the Hole. Hmm, haven't see The Seven Year Itch though.

Within each category, there is no real order. I don't really think Kiss me, is his worst fil, though I will agree with Qrazy (though, not about Itch... which I'd also agree has the same probems) that it suffers if only because the lead actor is not as charismatic or talented as he should be. Wilder when working with great actors did wonderful work, but he seemed either inept at drawing great ones out of minor actors, or had a strange sense of aesthetics. It would probably be my greatest critisism of his work. Most of his "worst" films, are brought down for the most part by performances or acting. Though, admittingly I should see more of his work to really claim this to be true.

[Yxklyx]

... Thoughts on what next to view? ...

Kiss Me, Stupid