Billy Wilder DVD Collection (Sunset Boulevard/Stalag 17/Sabrina)

Rating:
Summary: He Left Us Too Soon
Review: Billy Wilder died earlier this year at 95 years old, and it was still too soon. A shame that Hollywood left him after "Buddy Buddy," to spend the last twenty years of his life pining for a movie production that never came his way.

These three movies represent Wilder in his heydey at Paramount Pictures, and also his three best with William Holden, who was just at home playing it straight or wisecracking. Sure, I'd like to see "The Apartment," and "Some Like It Hot" on this collection, but those were released by United Artists, so those would be released by MGM, not Paramount anyhow.

These three movies really hold their own, even -- or rather, especially -- today. "Sunset Boulevard" is one of the darkest of black comedies, and a really disturbing portrait of Hollywood has-been Norma Desmond and Holden as her kept man screenwriter, who's been hired to bring her out of mothballs. Chilling last line: "I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. deMille."

"Stalag 17" is a nice mix of serious war movie interspersed with slapstick humour. Though Holden is great, his supporting cast almost steal the show, especially Sig Ruman as Sergeant Schultz, the camp guard, Otto Preminger as Commandant von Scherbach and Harvey Lembeck and Robert Strauss as the camp cutups, Harry Shapiro and "The Animal."

"Sabrina" is a beautiful portrait of a young Audrey Hepburn, so vivacious and full of wondrous energy. Though she's a bit self-aware in her role, her charm still just carries you away. Holden is in a supporting role here, but Humphrey Bogart comes off as a bit stiff. Really, though, it's Audrey's movie from beginning to end, and the romantic-comedy script by Ernest Lehman and Samuel Taylor has wit and panache.

I own all three movies separately, but this set is worth laying down your Benjamins in one fell swoop.

Rating:
Summary: He Left Us Too Soon
Review: Billy Wilder died earlier this year at 95 years old, and it was still too soon. A shame that Hollywood left him after "Buddy Buddy," to spend the last twenty years of his life pining for a movie production that never came his way.

These three movies represent Wilder in his heydey at Paramount Pictures, and also his three best with William Holden, who was just at home playing it straight or wisecracking. Sure, I'd like to see "The Apartment," and "Some Like It Hot" on this collection, but those were released by United Artists, so those would be released by MGM, not Paramount anyhow.

These three movies really hold their own, even -- or rather, especially -- today. "Sunset Boulevard" is one of the darkest of black comedies, and a really disturbing portrait of Hollywood has-been Norma Desmond and Holden as her kept man screenwriter, who's been hired to bring her out of mothballs. Chilling last line: "I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. deMille."

"Stalag 17" is a nice mix of serious war movie interspersed with slapstick humour. Though Holden is great, his supporting cast almost steal the show, especially Sig Ruman as Sergeant Schultz, the camp guard, Otto Preminger as Commandant von Scherbach and Harvey Lembeck and Robert Strauss as the camp cutups, Harry Shapiro and "The Animal."

"Sabrina" is a beautiful portrait of a young Audrey Hepburn, so vivacious and full of wondrous energy. Though she's a bit self-aware in her role, her charm still just carries you away. Holden is in a supporting role here, but Humphrey Bogart comes off as a bit stiff. Really, though, it's Audrey's movie from beginning to end, and the romantic-comedy script by Ernest Lehman and Samuel Taylor has wit and panache.

I own all three movies separately, but this set is worth laying down your Benjamins in one fell swoop.

Rating:
Summary: Finally, a DVD collection for the best director of all time
Review: Billy Wilder is my cinematic idol. His versatility as a director and as a write is still unmatched. Although these wouldn't all be my choices to include in the collection, I'm still very excited. Sunset Boulevard is one of the most perfect motion pictures of all time. If only the three movies were Sunset Boulevard, Some Like it Hot, and The Apartment, this collection would be perfect. I'll just have to wait until next time. Until then, this will do me just fine.

Rating:
Summary: Where's the great lost Billy Wilder classic
Review: Every Billy Wilder film is available in some format except for
Big Carnival(AKA Ace in the Hole). This movie deserves a dvd release. It is a great indictment of mass media. It stars Kirk Douglas in one of his best performances. At the time of its release Billy Wilder didn't think it was hard hitting enough.

Rating:
Summary: Folks, hello, this is a *Paramount* collection ...
Review: No need to say these are all fine, classic movies,but in response to those who wonder why it doesn't include SOME LIKE IT HOT or THE APARTMENT ... this boxed set is issued by Paramount Pictures. Paramount can't release films made by other studios, so please stop complaining. :-)

I think it's great to have these three films boxed, especially the little-seen STALAG 17.

SOME LIKE IT HOT and THE APARTMENT are available everywhere, so let's be grateful for what Paramount is giving us: the best movies Wilder made at their studio.

Rating:
Summary: Where's Some Like It Hot
Review: Sunset Blvd...Absolutely, Sabrina...Of course, Stalag 17...Maybe. But why no Some Like It Hot. Afterall The AFI voted this one their all-time favorite comedy and it certainly warrants high acclaim by both critics and film buffs alike for more than 50 years. Marilyn was suberb as Sugarcane, in her very best role ever.

Anyway, Billy Wilder left us with some absolute gems and here are three reasons to admire his wit and cinimatic genius. I'll leave you with one of his funnest jokes..An elderly man goes to see his Doctor...DR, "What brings you here today. Elderly Gent, "I'm having trouble peeing". DR, "How old are you?" E.G. "I'm 93". DR, "Don't worry. You've peed enough!"

Rating:
Summary: Sunset is a Masterpiece- But What About Double Indemnity?
Review: This collection includes one of the greatest dark-comic noirs of all time, Sunset Boulevard. I also love the worldly, sometimes sad, sweet, funny Sabrina. Stalag 17 is also a classic, in a very different genre. But I have been puzzling for some time about my inability to find a new, in-print DVD of Double Indemnity, the noir classic of 1943. In my opinion, Double Indemnity tops even Sunset Boulevard -- a close second -- for pure genius film-making. Whom can we pester about releasing a digitally-remastered Double Indemnity??