Billy Wilder was a genius and filmed this movie in Europe with a batch of European funding sources.
William Holden -who won an Oscar in Wilder's Stalaag 17-stars and gives his usual smooth professional performance. Wilder wanted Garbo to come out of retirement for this movie, but the Great Star declined. Wilder went next to Marlene Dietrich who also declined. Wilder is on record saying Marthe Keller was a poor substitute playing both roles. I feel Kim Novak would have been a better choice. (Wilder liked Kim having worked with Kim on Kiss Me Stupid).
As in all Wilder films the dialogue sparkles, and while this film was not distributed. Allied Artists-a small studio-dropped out of distributing this fine film. it is much better than initially reviewed. Billy Wilder was a stickler for the script as written and this movie like Double Indemnity, Sunset Blvd., Some Like It Hot, has great dialogue.
Billy wilder would make one more movie "Buddy Buddy and then retire. He is in estimation the greatest Director and what stars he had in his films: Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, Jean Arthur, Ty Power, Shirley MacLaine, Charles Laugton, Kim Novak,, William Holden, Paula Prentiss,Walter Matthau, Audrey Hepburn, James Cagney,Marlene Dietrich, Fred McMurray and Gloria Swanson.
William Holden -who won an Oscar in Wilder's Stalaag 17-stars and gives his usual smooth professional performance. Wilder wanted Garbo to come out of retirement for this movie, but the Great Star declined. Wilder went next to Marlene Dietrich who also declined. Wilder is on record saying Marthe Keller was a poor substitute playing both roles. I feel Kim Novak would have been a better choice. (Wilder liked Kim having worked with Kim on Kiss Me Stupid).
As in all Wilder films the dialogue sparkles, and while this film was not distributed. Allied Artists-a small studio-dropped out of distributing this fine film. it is much better than initially reviewed. Billy Wilder was a stickler for the script as written and this movie like Double Indemnity, Sunset Blvd., Some Like It Hot, has great dialogue.
Billy wilder would make one more movie "Buddy Buddy and then retire. He is in estimation the greatest Director and what stars he had in his films: Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, Jean Arthur, Ty Power, Shirley MacLaine, Charles Laugton, Kim Novak,, William Holden, Paula Prentiss,Walter Matthau, Audrey Hepburn, James Cagney,Marlene Dietrich, Fred McMurray and Gloria Swanson.