Billy Wilder: The Director

Tuesday 29 May - Monday 30 July 2012

Born in Austria, Billy Wilder was briefly a journalist before he was given a job in Germany as a scriptwriter, later emigrating to Hollywood. These initial jobs laid the foundation for what would later be Wilder’s chief preoccupation with writing as a fundamental component of cinema. With a sardonic wit and a penchant for scathing observation, Wilder set to work on redefining the cinematic conventions of both melodrama and comedy.

Schedule

Saturday, June 2nd

  • 11:30am: The Major and the Minor

Sunday, June 3rd

  • 11:30am: The Major and the Minor

Sunday, June 10th

  • 11:30am:

Saturday, June 16th

  • 11:30am: The Lost Weekend

Sunday, June 17th

  • 11:30am: The Lost Weekend

Saturday, June 23rd

  • 11:30am: Sunset Blvd

Sunday, June 24th

  • 11:30am: Sunset Blvd

Saturday, June 30th

  • 11:30am: Sabrina

Sunday, July 1st

  • 11:30am: Sabrina

Saturday, July 7th

  • 11:30am: The Apartment

Sunday, July 8th

  • 11:30am: The Apartment

Sunday, July 15th

  • 11:30am: Kiss Me, Stupid

Saturday, July 21st

  • 11:30am: One, Two, Three

Sunday, July 22nd

  • 11:30am: One, Two, Three

Saturday, July 28th

  • 11:30am: The Front Page

Sunday, July 29th

  • 11:30am: The Front Page

Films


Sat 2 Jun, 11:30am Sun 3 Jun, 11:30am

The Major and the Minor (1942)

directed by Billy Wilder starring Ray Milland, Ginger Rogers

Wilder’s directorial debut is a wartime nod to Howard Hawks and his offbeat brand of romantic comedy. Dressing up as a 12-year-old girl to save on train fare, Ginger Rodgers accidentally insinuates herself into military officer Ray Milland’s affairs, winding up at a military academy full of hormonal cadets!

Sat 16 Jun, 11:30am Sun 17 Jun, 11:30am

The Lost Weekend (1945)

directed by Billy Wilder starring Ray Milland, Jane Wyman

Golden-Age Hollywood’s most open and adult exploration of the deleterious effects of alcoholism subsequently swept all the major Academy Awards. Ray Milland plays the alcoholic New York writer in the throes of the titular weekend. Evading a country weekend planned by his brother Wick and girlfriend Helen, he begins a four-day bender. But this bout looks to be his last…one way or the other.

Sat 23 Jun, 11:30am Sun 24 Jun, 11:30am

Sunset Blvd (1950)

directed by Billy Wilder starring Gloria Swanson, William Holden, Erich von Stroheim

Hack screenwriter Joe Gillis (William Holden) is coaxed with lavish gifts into writing a script to revive the faded career of silent-film star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), who lives in total obscurity revisiting the past with her former partner-turned-butler Max (Erich von Stroheim). But Norma’s delusions have a dangerous edge, and Joe’s not exactly a careful man.

Sat 30 Jun, 11:30am Sun 1 Jul, 11:30am

Sabrina (1954)

directed by Billy Wilder starring Audrey Hepbern, Humphrey Bogart, William Holden

In a terrifically fun film, the pert Audrey Hepburn plays Sabrina, a chauffeur’s daughter recently returned from two years abroad in Paris. Playboy David Larrabee (William Holden) finally becomes interested in the now-elegant Sabrina, though his brother, aging tycoon Linus (Humphrey Bogart) is the man with whom Sabrina finds herself falling in love.

Sat 7 Jul, 11:30am Sun 8 Jul, 11:30am

The Apartment (1960)

directed by Billy Wilder starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray

Jack Lemmon attempts to climb the corporate ladder by handing out his apartment key to various executives for their extramarital trysts, but the plan backfires when he falls for his boss’s latest girl (Shirley MacLaine). Featuring Fred MacMurray as Lemon’s heartless boss.

Sun 15 Jul, 11:30am

Kiss Me, Stupid (1964)

directed by Billy Wilder starring Dean Martin, Kim Novak

Dean Martin plays Dino, a womanizing crooner waylaid in Climax, NV as two aspiring songwriters attempt to pitch him a jingle. To help encourage the singer, Dino is given a shot at piano teacher Orville Spooner’s “wife” – local tart Polly (Kim Novak). Meanwhile, Orville’s real wife serendipitously meets Dino at a bar in this bawdy farce.

Sat 21 Jul, 11:30am Sun 22 Jul, 11:30am

One, Two, Three (1961)

directed by Billy Wilder starring James Cagney

A hilarious comedy about a Coca-Cola executive (James Cagney in a spitfire role) stationed in West Berlin freaking out over his boss’ daughter secretly marrying a Communist. The rapid-fire dialogue and incisive cultural critiques made in the film are some of Wilder’s absolute best. Do not miss this!

Sat 28 Jul, 11:30am Sun 29 Jul, 11:30am

The Front Page (1974)

directed by Billy Wilder starring Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau

Hildy Johnson (Jack Lemmon) is the top reporter of a Chicago newspaper during the 1920s. Tired of the racket, he’s determined to quit his job and get married, but his scheming editor (Walter Matthau) has other plans. It’s the day before murderer Earl Williams is due for execution, and Burns tempts Johnson to stay and write the story. The comedic duo of Lemmon and Matthau are in top form here.

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