Billy Wilder directing on the set of Fedora, 1978, United Artists
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Hollywood’s 1960s began with Billy Wilder winning three Oscars for The Apartment. But Wilder’s biggest success would also prove to be his last film to be afforded such respectability, as Wilder largely abandoned the type of material that the Academy embraced, and veered gleefully into disreputability. Of the 9 films Wilder made in the 20 years after The Apartment, in this episode we’ll pay special attention to three that were engaged with the rapidly changing culture – in Hollywood and beyond: One, Two, Three (1961); Avanti (1972); and Fedora (1978).
Still from Avanti!, 1972, United Artists
SHOW NOTES:
Sources:
Billy Wilder: Dancing on the Edge by Joseph McBride
The American Cinema by Andrew Sarris
Cagney by Cagney: An Autobiography by James Cagney
Wilder Times: The Life of Billy Wilder by Kevin Lally
Nobody’s Perfect: Billy WIlder, A Personal Biography by Charlotte Chandler
Billy Wilder: Interviews edited by Robert Horton
“Wilder’s Work to be Shown at Museum of Modern Art,” New York Times, November 25, 1964
“Billy Wilder: He Directs Directors”, Joyce Haber, Los Angeles Times, January 24, 1972
S“Wilder in Italy: Order Among the Extroverts”, William Tuohy, Los Angeles Times, April 30, 1972
“Romeos love the chubby Juliet”, Sunday Mirror, May 14, 1972
“Wilder: Movies Like Roulette,” Bob Thomas, The Day, May 15, 1972
“Avanti!,” Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times, January 1, 1972
“Wilder Made This…Sans Usual Wit”, Kathleen Carroll, New York Daily News, December 18, 1972
“Hollywood: Forget the Incense,” TIME, December 28, 1962
“The Greatest Story Ever Told,” Variety, December 31, 1964
“The 10 Worst Movies of 1972,” Vincent Canby, New York Times, January 7, 1973
“Wilder laments change in movie-directing role”, Harry Tessell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 19, 1977
“Back to Sunset Blvd.”, Michael Ventura, LA Weekly, April 26, 1979
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Still from One, Two, Three, 1961, United Artists
Music:
The music used in this episode, with the exception of the intro, was sourced from royalty-free music libraries and licensed music collections. The intro includes a clip from the film Casablanca.
Excerpts from the following songs were used throughout the episode:
"Vik Fence Larda” - The Fence
“Chai Belltini” - Vermouth
“Eggs and Powder” - Muffuletta
“Guild Rat” - El Baul
“Cab Ride” - Pacha Faro
“Coquelicot” - Magenta
“Hardtop Rocks” - Vermouth
“Rasteplass” - Oslo
“Flashing Runner” - Resolute
“Levanger” - Lillehammer
“Cobalt Blue” - Marble Run
“I Need to Start Writing Things Down” - Chris Zabriskie
This episode was written, narrated, edited and produced by Karina Longworth.
Our editor this season is Evan Viola.
Research, production, and social media assistant: Brendan Whalen.
Logo design: Teddy Blanks.
Billy Wilder