I reached out to my Cubish cinema sister Aurora of ONCE UPON A SCREEN aka @CitizenScreen to see if she wanted to reprise our BILLY WILDER birthday blogathon again this year. As we contemplated our insanely busy schedules, we agreed we are of course out of our minds to add anything else to our plates- but of course we’ll happily celebrate Billy’s birthday in style. After all, “what would Lubitsch do?”

The Billy Wilder Blogathon

This is all about Billy Wilder.  The great.

Beginning his screenwriting career in 1929 Germany, Wilder would make a definitive mark on Hollywood from behind the camera, both by way of his pen and later as a premier director.  Films written by or directed by Billy Wilder continue to spark debate and adoration to this day thanks to his sharp wit and memorable imagery. Wilder directed only 27 films yet stands among an elite group of seven directors who have won Best Picture, Director and Screenplay Oscars.

These may be mere numbers contrived from opinion, but they are nonetheless impressive:  Five Billy Wilder films are listed on the American Film Institute’s (AFI) list of 100 Funniest Movies of all time: Some Like It Hot (1959) is listed at #1, The Apartment (1960) at #20, The Seven Year Itch (1955) at #51, Ninotchka (1939) at #52 and Ball of Fire (1941) at #92. Four Wilder films are on the AFI list of 100 Greatest Movies of all time: Sunset Blvd. (1950) at #16, Some Like It Hot (1959) at #22, Double Indemnity (1944) at #29 and The Apartment (1960) at #80. And perhaps most astonishing – when one considers his mere 27 films – is the fact that Wilder directed fourteen different actors in Oscar-nominated performances.

Now, putting all stats and numbers aside, what makes Billy Wilder one of the greatest directors who ever lived is not reflected on a list nor is it illustrated by his numerous awards, but rather by his enduringly entertaining filmography. A Wilder film grabs the viewer from the opening shot and always leaves a lasting impression because a Wilder ending is always memorable.

For all of those reasons and because we’re girls gone Wilder, Aurora of ONCE UPON A SCREEN @CitizenScreen and I (Kellee @IrishJayhawk66) are giddy with excitement to announce the second annual Billy Wilder Blogathon.  As was the case last year, this will be a one-day event to celebrate this master’s work on what would have been the 109^th anniversary of his birth on June 22. And we hope you are willing and able to join the celebration.

Entries for this event can be anything Wilder related – commentaries on his films or television work, created by his pen or from his place behind the camera.  You choose, blog and post and we’ll be sure to enjoy it.  We are, however, encouraging no repeats to ensure as many of his classic works are covered.

And now the usual drill…

Participants:

• Let us know which Billy Wilder film or TV program you’d like to dedicate a post to. Choose from any he wrote, directed or produced.
• Post your entry by June 22 so we can properly promote it in celebration of his birthday.
• Be sure to include the title of your blog, twitter tag, etc. or any information that would assist us in identifying your page and facilitate communication.
• Please post one of the event banners on your site and in your entry to help us promote the Wilder love.
• Aurora and I discourage repeat choices.  However, several bloggers have chosen the same Wilder film and knowing each person’s take will be different, we’re changing that policy.  In fairness, however, no more than two per movie if it comes to that.
• Have fun!  It’s sure to be a Wilder time!

Participating Blogs and Wilder topics

Movie Movie Blog Blog – Double Indemnity

Once Upon a Screen – Ace in the Hole

The Cinematic Frontier – Sunset Blvd.

Mib’s Instant Headache – Witness for the Prosecution

Outspoken & Freckled – Some Like it Hot

Critica Retro – Kiss Me, Stupid

In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood – Midnight

Shadows and Satin – Famous Couples of Noir: Norma and Joe (and possibly Joe and Betty, too!) in Sunset Boulevard

Wide Screen World – Stalag 17

Caftan Woman – Bing Crosby movies: The Emperor Waltz and Rhythm on the River

A Shroud of Thoughts – The Apartment

Old Hollywood Films – The Fortune Cookie

Cinephiled – The Major and the Minor

Rachel the Cinephile – Wilder and Lemmon films

Twenty Four Frames – The Major and the Minor

Moon in Gemini – Irma La Deuce

The Wonderful World of Cinema – Love in the Afternoon

Girls Do Film – The Apartment

Silver Screenings – Ninotchka screenplay

Pop Culture Reverie – A Foreign Affair

Cinephilia – Sabrina

Stars and Letters – Correspondence on The Spirit of St. Louis

Flickin’ Out – The Lost Weekend

Jeff – Fedora and Kiss Me, Stupid (guest post on Once Upon a Screen)

The Stop Button – Five Graves to Cairo

Almost Ginger – Some Like it Hot

Serendipitous Anachronisms – The Private Lives of Sherlock Holmes

Movie Rob – Buddy Buddy and The Private Lives of Sherlock Holmes

Goose Pimply All Over – The Seven Year Itch

Love Letters to Old Hollywood – Midnight

Le Mot du Cinephiliaque – One, Two Three

Shut up and deal.  And happy blogging!

Kellee