:05:01
This was a bitter film
for Hollywood to look at,
:05:04
because it was about Hollywood.
:05:07
I think what Billy was
most concerned about
:05:10
was the fact that
he might be perceived
:05:15
as betraying his colleagues
and his own industry.
:05:20
Some people loved it,
some hated it.
:05:22
The trade papers were mixed.
"Variety" called it "disturbing".
:05:26
It is disturbing. "The Hollywood
Reporter" gave it a rave review.
:05:30
It said it's a movie that
should be studied frame by frame.
:05:34
But the most famous story
is the encounter
:05:38
between Louis B Mayer, head of
MGM, and Wilder after a screening.
:05:43
Louis B Mayer became incensed
at one screening
:05:48
and said to Billy,
"How could you do this?"
:05:52
Everyone there,
except for Mayer, loved it.
:05:56
Mayer stomped out to his car
:05:59
and said to Wilder on the way out,
"You bastard!"
:06:03
- Billy had a famous retort.
- It was heated language.
:06:07
He was appalled at the image
of Hollywood that Wilder would present.
:06:12
Wilder had a bitter, sardonic streak.
:06:15
As a screenwriter in Germany
in the '20s and '30s,
:06:21
his films had bite and
he kept that in Hollywood.
:06:24
Somebody pointed out Wilder may be
the only Hollywood director then
:06:30
whose parents were consumed
by the Holocaust.
:06:35
That's why there's always the dark
element, even in his comedies.
:06:41
There was a time in this business
when they had the eyes of the world.
:06:45
But that wasn't good enough.
They had to have the ears, too.
:06:50
So they opened their big mouths
and out came talk, talk, talk!
:06:54
Norma Desmond is one of
the great characters ever created.
:06:59
She stands up in any literature,
movies as one of the greats.