I hate that word. It’s return–a return to the millions of people who’ve never forgiven me for deserting the screen.
BILLY WILDERI hate that word. It’s return–a return to the millions of people who’ve never forgiven me for deserting the screen.
BILLY WILDERThe only pictures worth making are the ones that are playing with fire.
BILLY WILDERFilm’s thought of as a director’s medium because the director creates the end product that appears on the screen. It’s that stupid auteur theory again, that the director is the author of the film. But what does the director shoot-the telephone book?
BILLY WILDERMarilyn was mean. Terribly mean. The meanest woman I have ever met around this town. I have never met anybody as mean as Marilyn Monroe or as utterly fabulous on the screen.
BILLY WILDERI had one life. And what did I do? Wasted it in some palooka preliminaries in Spain, just before Hitler and Chamberlain warm up for the main event.
BILLY WILDERI just made pictures I would’ve liked to see.
BILLY WILDERA director must be a policeman, a midwife, a psychoanalyst, a sycophant and a bastard.
BILLY WILDER[about the Hotel Marmont on Sunset Blvd., a piece of Hollywood history] I would rather sleep in a bathroom than in another hotel.
BILLY WILDERThe forest of Compiegne. Look at it. Like a kind grandmother dozing in her rocking chair. Old trees practicing curtsies in the wind because they still think Louis XIV is king.
BILLY WILDERDevelop a clean line of action for your leading character
BILLY WILDERHollywood didn’t kill Marilyn Monroe, it’s the Marilyn Monroes who are killing Hollywood.
BILLY WILDERMy Aunt Minnie would always be punctual and never hold up production, but who would pay to see my Aunt Minnie?
BILLY WILDERShoot a few scenes out of focus. I want to win the foreign film award.
BILLY WILDERI don’t go to church. Kneeling bags my nylons.
BILLY WILDEROne’s too many and a hundred’s not enough.
BILLY WILDERIf there’s anything I hate more than not being taken seriously, it’s being taken too seriously.
BILLY WILDER