Masters of Cinema: Billy Wilder

BillyWilder(USA,1906-2002)isanundisputedmasterofAmericancomedy,takingsituationcomedytotheedgeoftheabsurdin"SomeLikeitHot"(1959).Buthealsomadepessimisticmelodramassuchas"SunsetBoulevard"(1950),inwhichGloriaSwansongivesamovingperformanceasafallenstar,andafewfineexamplesoffilmnoir,suchas"DoubleIndemnity"(1944)et"WitnessfortheProsecution"(1957).Wilderworkedwiththegreateststarsandhisfilmographyisstuddedwithclassicscenes,includingMarilynMonroeplayingthebanjoin"SomeLikeitHot"orholdingherbillowingskirtoverthesubwayoutletin"SevenYearItch"(1955),JackLemmondrainingspaghettiwithatennisracketin"TheApartment"(1960)andShirleyMacLaineasaParisianstreetwalkerin"IrmalaDouce"(1963).Hishumourisoftenincisiveandhisvisionoftheworldsomewhatcynical,butallhischaractersexperienceamomentoftruthand,forthisreason,BillyWilderisprimarilyagreatmoralist.