My Top 10 Billy Wilder movies

Arrived from work like an hour and a half ago, ate something, came to see what my fellow bloggers had posted, and noticed that today is Mr. Wilder's birthday. So, here's my ranking of his movies (as director), with a particular order for a change and some random thoughts:

#10.- Some like it hot: funny, the guys are terrific, Monroe is charming, classic ending. Billy had some problems with Marilyn (or, as he said, Monroe had problems with Monroe) and some days she couldn't say a simple line like "It's me, Sugar". Anyway, he said that she had a great timing in her good days. 

#9.- A Foreign Affair: Dietrich owns this film, has some great moments, the one I'm embedding is one of them. Read somewhere that Jean Arthur had 'diva behavior' during this film, argued with Wilder and at the end apologized. The master was right. 

#8.- Love in the afternoon: Ah, if only Gary had been younger...anyway, good film, Audrey is great as always and Chevalier has a solid performance. Fell in love with the song "Fascination". Terrific ending. 

#7.- The lost weekend: Here I thought: "What a great actor is Ray Milland". The scene I remember the most is when he's trying to sell his typewriter, and everything is closed. Drinking is a bad habit. 

# 6.- Double Indemnity: Witty dialog, interesting racconto, one of the first films I saw starring Stanwyck. What can I say? A classic.

#5.- Sabrina: Ah, if only Bogie had been younger...I enjoy this film very much, has so many unforgettable parts: Audrey trynig to kill herself, Audrey in Paris trying to cook (It is all in the wrist), the letter reading scene in the kitchen ('that's good, that's bad', remember?)  Audrey coming back all dressed up, the dance in the tennis court, the line "Democracy can be a wickedly unfair thing Sabrina. Nobody poor was ever called democratic for marrying somebody rich."...I could go on forever...Anyway, I'm embedding "La vie en rose" because it's lovely...

#4 Sunset Boulevard: This movie introduced me William Holden and Gloria Swanson. I remember that awful monkey, the great narration in off, the camera shot from inside the pool, Norma's visit to the studios, the ending...

#3.- Avanti: Jack Lemmon and Billy Wilder were a great team. This is a terrific movie, with great jokes, a nice (and adulterous) relationship, Juliet Mills is so funny and her performance smooth, you learn how to say "excuse me" and "come in" in Italian. Oh, has lovely music too.

#2.- Witness for the Prosecution: Aaaaaaah, they fooled me. How difficult must be to maintain the Agatha Christie's suspense effect. Wilder did. Laughton and Marlene...they give an acting class. 

#1.- The apartment: this is kind the perfect movie. Excellent. Lovely. Jack Lemmon waiting outside in the cold, tired, because he lended his apartment to some lovers. Jack in love with Shirley McLaine. Shirley in despair. Noodles in a tennis racket. You know.