Billy Wilder (born Samuel Wilder) born on June 22, 1906, in Sucha, Austria (now Poland), was a director in the 1940s to the early 80s who was best known for his satirical movies on American life and topics that usually wouldn’t be deemed “doable.” He created classics such as “Sunset Boulevard “(1950), “Some Like it Hot” (1959), and “The Apartment” (1960); which are also arguably considered to be his best.
“Sunset Boulevard” (1950) Gloria Swanson, William Holden, and Erich Von Stroheim.
Gloria Swanson in “Sunset Boulevard” (1950).
“Sunset Boulevard” is a Film Noir/ Mystery starring Gloria Swanson, William Holden and Erich Von Stroheim. The plot follows a struggling screenwriter, Joe Gillis (Holden), who has been found dead in a pool. The main suspect is Norma Desmond (Swanson), a former silent film actress who is slowly driven to madness because she cannot accept that she is no longer a “star.”
So, when Gillis suddenly comes across her house while trying to hide his car, he believes her house to be abandoned, she finds out he is a fledgling screenwriter and demands he make a movie which she had been writing for years. She refuses to let him leave her house, holding him hostage while he is constantly pushed into saying yes by her butler (Stroheim) every time he thinks he can escape.
This movie is highly praised because of Swanson’s portrayal of the stuck-up Norman Desmond. Ironically, Swanson was truly a former actress during the silent film era who made a return to the big screen after almost 20 years to do this film for Wilder.
“Some Like it Hot” (1959) Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, and Tony Curtis.
Public Domain Photo: Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, and Tony Curtis.
In this movie, Joe (Curtis) and Jerry (Lemmon) are two men who accidentally witness a mob run in the city of Chicago. Out of fear, they take a gig; however, it is ¨Sweet Sue and her society,¨ an all-girl band, so they decide to cross-dress and pretend to be women to do what they believe will save their lives. There, they meet Sugar (Monroe).
This movie was an influence for the hit 2004 comedy, “White Chicks,” where they too pretend to be women but instead, to go undercover.
“Some Like It Hot” broke boundaries at this time that most other movies weren’t able to; the HAYS code was still under law, meaning no LGBTQ+ elements were able to be put into movies, but Wilder managed to do the exact opposite. This movie is on AFI’s 100 Best Comedies.
“The Apartment” (1960) Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, and Fred MacMurray.
Public Domain Photo: Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine.
In this award-nominated movie, Jack Lemmon portrays the typical businessman (C.C. Baxter) undergoing stress and anxiety from his work environment, but not quite typical since he lends his apartment to his colleagues so they can cheat on their wives. It is revealed when he is taking the elevator to see his boss that he is in love with the elevator operator girl, Fran Kubelik, however, she has been having an off and on affair with his boss, Jeff D. Sheldrake.
This film has heavy elements, both in its romance and comedy. Such elements, such as suicide and depression, helped change the film industry’s perspective on how to tell its stories.
