Billy Wilder

[ballmouse]

I remember enjoying the film the first time I watched it. And then I watched it years later (which was years ago) and I recall I could not enjoy Ewell or his character. He wasn't likeable in any way I could remember. His character had such a consistent lack of charm that I figured it must have been intentional on the part of Wilder or the screenplay. But having seen no other films of his, I also couldn't be certain if that was just something he carried with him.

[Matt]

I don't know if it will change your mind about him, but you need to sit down in front of The Girl Can't Help It ASAP

[hearthesilence]

The Girl Can't Help It is the best film he's in. He also has a supporting role in Adam's Rib.

One frustration with Monroe's films once she became a huge star is that they rarely cast her opposite of a leading man who was on par in terms of charisma. The exceptions that I remember: Richard Widmark worked great with her in Don't Bother to Knock (her first or second lead role), Robert Mitchum was great in River of No Return, as mentioned above there's Olivier, Tony Curtis may not have been on the same level but he delivered one of his best performances in Some Like It Hot, and finally Clark Gable and Montgomery Clift were excellent in The Misfits. There's also people like Cary Grant earlier in her career, but again this was before she became a lead performer.

[Stefan]

Well, considering she’s been in the film business for just over ten years, that’s not a bad track record.