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Quote by Billy Wilder

“On Ernst Lubitsch: He could do more with a closed door than other directors could do with an open fly.”

Quote by Billy Wilder

Author

Billy Wilder, born on June 22, 1906 in Austria and died on March 27, 2002 in the United States, was one of the most outstanding film directors of the 20th century. Known for his unique black humor and profound insights into human nature, Wilder's films are celebrated for their distinctive style and their exploration of social issues. His work holds a significant place in the history of cinema. more

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“I'm not happy. I'm not happy at all.”

Happiness Happy Not Happy

Author:Billy Wilder

“Love is the hardest thing in the world to write about. So simple. You've got to catch it through details, like the early morning sunlight hitting the gray tin of the rain spout in front of her house. The ringing of a telephone that sounds like Beethoven's "Pastoral." A letter scribbled on her office stationery that you carry around in your pocket because it smells of all the lilacs in Ohio.”

World Writing House Sound Simple Love Is Morning Fronts Office Rain Letters Details Smell Hardest Pockets Gray Sunlight Hitting Telephones Hardest Thing Ohio Tin Early Morning Lilac Stationery

Author:Billy Wilder

“The 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.”

Thinking Looks Kind Stills Tree Wind Kings Forests Chairs Grandmother Old Trees Rocking Chairs Dozing

Author:Billy Wilder

“Well, nobody's perfect.”

Wells Perfect Gender Nobody's Perfect

Book:Billy Wilder: Interviews

Source: Billy Wilder: Interviews

“Ever notice how these European trains always smell of eau de cologne and hard boiled eggs?”

Hard Train Smell Eggs Cologne Boiled Eggs

Author:Billy Wilder

“Ah, Marilyn, Hollywood's Joan of Arc, our Ultimate Sacrificial Lamb. Well, let me tell you, she was mean, terribly mean. The meanest woman I have ever known in this town. I am appalled by this Marilyn Monroe cult. Perhaps it's getting to be an act of courage to say the truth about her. Well, let me be courageous. I have never met anyone as utterly mean as Marilyn Monroe. Nor as utterly fabulous on the screen, and that includes Garbo.”

Wells Mean Known Mets Hollywood Ultimate Let Me Towns Screens Courageous Cult Fabulous Lambs Arcs Be Courageous Acts Of Courage Garbo

Author:Billy Wilder

“I 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.”

Events Warm Spain Chamberlain

Author:Billy Wilder

“I hate that word. It's return--a return to the millions of people who've never forgiven me for deserting the screen.”

People Hate Millions Return I Hate Screens Forgiven Never Forgive Sunset Boulevard

Author:Billy Wilder

“...Negroes must concern themselves with every single means of struggle: legal, illegal, passive, active, violent and non- violent.... They must harass, debate, petition, boycott, sing hymns, pray on steps--and shoot from their windows when the racists come cruising through their communities.... The acceptance of our condition is the only form of extremism which discredits us before our children [ellipses in source].”

“[T]here is only one large circle that we march in, around and around, each of us with our own little picture -- in front of us -- our own little mirage that we think is the future.”

Thinking Littles Fronts Circles March Mirages

Book:A Raisin in the Sun

Source: A Raisin in the Sun