Wilder or Wyler
Here are two great Hollywood directors who both immigrated to America, were German or Austrian, and of the Jewish faith: Willam Wyler (born Willi Wyler, (and never officially changed his name), July 1, 1902 in Mülhausen, Alsace, Germany [now Mulhouse, Haut-Rhin, France]), and Billy Wilder (born as Samuel Wilder, June 22, 1906 in Sucha, Galicia, Austria-Hungary [now Sucha Beskidzka, Malopolskie, Poland]).
Wyler first came to America in 1920 to work for Carl Laemmle (also Jewish and an immigrant from Germany), his uncle, at the studio he owned, Universal Studios. He grew up in the film industry and won the Best Director award 3 times and was nominated for it 9 more times.
Billy Wilder had first started in the German film industry as a screenwriter and is considered as one of the greatest screenwriters of all time before becoming a 2 time Oscar winning director (nominated six more times as Best Director) (and the rest of his six Oscars were for writing). With the rise of Hitler in 1933, Wilder fled first to Paris and then to America. He spoke no English when he got to Hollywood, and roomed with fellow German émigré*, Peter Lorre. Here is trivia for you, he was instrumental in getting “Schindler’s List” to be made.
Instead of asking who do you like more, we’re going to use their best films to decide who people think was better. So, from the list below, vote for your favorite film. The director, whose films get the most votes, wins!
And since Wyler had the longer career and was nominated more times as best director than Wilder, but Wilder’s films are higher rated on the IMDb, I gave the extra shot to Wyler.
To talk about these two, or to debate them, post your Oscar worthy posts here.
* émigré is the word for a person who leaves his country of birth for political reasons, and settles in another.
Wyler first came to America in 1920 to work for Carl Laemmle (also Jewish and an immigrant from Germany), his uncle, at the studio he owned, Universal Studios. He grew up in the film industry and won the Best Director award 3 times and was nominated for it 9 more times.
Billy Wilder had first started in the German film industry as a screenwriter and is considered as one of the greatest screenwriters of all time before becoming a 2 time Oscar winning director (nominated six more times as Best Director) (and the rest of his six Oscars were for writing). With the rise of Hitler in 1933, Wilder fled first to Paris and then to America. He spoke no English when he got to Hollywood, and roomed with fellow German émigré*, Peter Lorre. Here is trivia for you, he was instrumental in getting “Schindler’s List” to be made.
Instead of asking who do you like more, we’re going to use their best films to decide who people think was better. So, from the list below, vote for your favorite film. The director, whose films get the most votes, wins!
And since Wyler had the longer career and was nominated more times as best director than Wilder, but Wilder’s films are higher rated on the IMDb, I gave the extra shot to Wyler.
To talk about these two, or to debate them, post your Oscar worthy posts here.
* émigré is the word for a person who leaves his country of birth for political reasons, and settles in another.
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