Ahomaget oBi l l yWi l de randt heartoft hedi al og ue
G T HE BI CT URE PI Whe n di s c us s i ngpromi ne ntf i l msoft hepas t ,t hename Bi l l yWi l de rl oomsl argeove rt hegol de nageHol l ywoods ce ne. I nt hos et i me s ,movi eproduc t i on wasreg ul at ed wi t hi nt he Mot i onPi c t ureProduc t i onCode,i nwhi c hf i l msmus tmee ta ce rt ai ns t andard t oe ve rbes ee n byt hel i ghtofproj ec t ors . Thel ongre i gni ngcodere s t ri c t edf reedom i nf i l mmaki ngf or ove r3decade s ,i ni t i al l yl egal i zedi n1 934.Thi sre s ul t si nuni f ormi t yandre s t rai ntont hedi rec t i onoff i l m andarti nge ne ral ,wi t hf i l mmake rswhopus hed t heboundari e soft hat t i me of t e nf ac i ng s c rut i ny f or t he f i l ms t hey produced. Mot i onpi c t ure sl i keASt ree t carNamedDe s i re( 1 954)bydi rect or El i a Kazan ri s ked hi nde rance by vi ol at i ng t he Code, s i mpl ybecaus et hef i l m di s pl ay s“ i ncorrec tmorals t andards ” . Fi l mmake rsoft hegol de nagehadt os uppre s sanyde s i ref or t he i rf i l mt obet hewayt heywant edi tt obe, ha vi ngt oj ump ove r ce ns ors hi pl oophol e s and do a s onganddance and makemaj oral t e rat i onsoft he i rart . Thi si swhe reBi l l yWi l de rcome st opl ay. Oneof hi searl i e s ty e tof t e nt al kedaboutnoi radapt at i on,Doubl eI nde mni t y( 1 944)s l i nkspas t t heconf i ni ngCode,earni ngaProduc t i on CodeAdmi ni s t rat i onapproval . Whatmake sWi l de r’ sDoubl eI nde mni t y not e wort hy i s ,t hata decade pri or,MGM pi t c hed t heJame sM.Cai ns t oryout l i net o t he PCA.Jos e ph Bree n( re s pons i bl ef or t he Code)i ni t i al l yl abe l l edi t“ unacce pt abl ef ors c ree n
f ors c ree n produc t i on” ,s ay i ngt hef i l m hadal ow t oneand s ordi dfl a vor, t hat“ t hes t orydeal si mprope rl ywi t hani l l i c i t andadul t e rouss e xre l at i ons hi p”
Whe n Paramount repi t c hed t he at t het i mepubl i s hed nove lt ot hePCAi n1 943,Bree nwoul dn’ tcomearound.That wasunt i lParamounthadWi l de ronboardandmadehi m res pons i bl ef ormos toft hes c ree nwri t i ngf orDoubl eI nde mni t y.Wi t h Wi l de rhe l mi ngt heproj ec t ,t hemovi et ookas af e r rout e,ce ns ors hi pwi s e,obs c uri ng a good amountof t he murde randadul t e ryas pec t s , al lt hewhi l ekee pi ngs omes ub t e xt .Thi sbecameaWi l de rs t apl ei nahandf ulofhi smovi e s t ocome,of t e ncoat i ngt hebl eake rs ubj ec tmat t e rofhi sf i l m wi t hhi sbri l l i ancet hroughs ubt l et ec hni queanddi al og ue. Af i nee xampl eoft hi si sonei nDoubl eI nde mni t y,i nwhi c h Wal t e rNe f f( FredMacMurray) ,an i ns uranceage nt ,wasi nqui ri ngPhy l l i sDi e t ri c hs on ( Barbra St anwy c k)on he rhus band’ scari ns urance.Phy l l i si nt hi ss ce neappeared bare l y c l ot hed, ame rebat ht owe ldrapedonhe rbody.
Thi swast hef i rs te ncount e rbe t wee nt het wo. Wi l de rwrot e t hedi al og uebe t wee nWal t e randPhy l l i st obepl ayf ul , j oki ngl y promi s c uouss t rai ghtf rom t hege t go.Thi sdi s pl ay st he i rrel at i ons hi pasat ruet ot henove ladul t e rouscoupl ewhi l es t i l l mai nt ai ni ngt hes ubj ec twi t hi nt heCodeg ui de l i ne s .
Agai n,t hi sdi al og uehappe nedduri ngt he i rf i rs tmee t i ng. Phy l l i s ’he s i t anty e tfl i rt at i ousre s pons epl ay i ngal ongwi t h Wal t e r’ sout wardi nc l i nat i onmake sape rf ec tconcoc t i onf or c he mi s t ryi nme re l y5mi nut e sofs hari ngt hes c ree nt oge t he r. Thel i ghtbant e ri ndi al og uemake sf orane f f ec t i vef ormul ai n f i l m,durat i onwi s e,and s ubs t ancewi s e.Wi l de rf i g ured hi s wayofwri t i ngdi al og uet obeamedi um t oe xpre s sc harac t e r ps y c heandt he i rre l at i ons hi pwi t ht he i rs urroundi ngs .Thi s e ve nt ual l ybecome shi sowncal l i ngcard, of t e nus i ngmoreof t hi st ec hni quei nhi sf ut uref i l ms .
ENT ERI NG T HE LI M ELI GHT The1 950c l as s i cSuns e tBoul e vardbecameoneofWi l de r’ s mos tnot abl ef i l m( hi ss e ri ous e rone, t hati s ) . Themovi edeal t wi t ht hei s s ueofoneNormaDe s mond( Gl ori aSwans on) ,an agi ng,f orme rs i l ve rs c ree nquee n,unabl et oacce ptt hathe r s t ardom hase nded. Shee ncount e rsy oungJoeGi l l i s( Wi l l i am Hol de n) ,as c ree nwri t e r,t aki nghi mi nt ohe l pwri t eas c ri pt f orhe r“ come bac k” .
Thef i l m wasa s ucce s s ,y e tnotwi t houtf ac i ngs c rut i ny. Duri ng one of t he earl i e r pre vi e ws ,Loui s B.May e r—t he ‘ May e r’f rom Me t ro Gol dwy n May e r—knoc ked Wi l de r by s ay i ngt hathedi s gracedt hei ndus t ryt hatmadehi m andf ed hi m, andurgedt hatheberunoutofHol l ywood. Thi ss ortof re s pons ef rom t hei ndus t ryhi ghe rupswass ome whati ne vi t abl e,t hemovi ebe i ng oneof t hef i rs tHol l ywood e xpos é i t s e l f. Thef i l m re veal edt ot heunas s umi ngpeopl eoft hef i ft i e st hatmovi el and i snotal lgl i t zand gl am l i kehow i ti s .
Suns e tBoul e vard,whi l eregardedasoneofBi l l yWi l de r’ s f i l msont hemores e ri ouss i de,s t i l lwast reat edwi t hhi ss i gnat uret ouc h. At hi ncoat i ngofabs urdi t yove rt hehars hs ubj ec tmat t e rofone’ sde l us i onandps y c hot i cdownt urn,t obal ancei tal lof f. Themovi el i t e ral l yope nswi t has hotofGi l l i s l y i ngf acedown i n apool ,dead.Themovi eal s oope nswi t h s ai d dead man narrat i ng t he whol et hi ng.St range,y e ti t s ome how make sl i ghtoft hes i ghtoft hes udde ndeadcorps e t heaudi e ncehadt os eeont he i rs c ree n.
SCRATCHI NG AN I TCH Themi df i f t i e swe reapoi nti nt i mewhe reBi l l yWi l de rhas e s t abl i s hed hi ms e l f asa mas t e rf i l mmake r.Howe ve r,one t hi nghehadn’ tdonewaswri t ea f ul l bl own comedy.Wi t h Mari l y n Monroe’ s name s oari ng hi ghe rt han e ve r—he r breakt hrough i n 1 953 be i ng rol e si n Ge nt l e me n Pre f e r Bl onde sandHow t oMarryaMi l l i onai re—Wi l de rt ookhe ri n andwrot et hes c re wbal lTheSe ve nYearI t c h( 1 955) ,earni ng he rt hei coni cs ki rt l i f t wal ki ngove rgrat es ce ne.
Themovi et e l l st het al eofonene urot i cRi c hard She rman( Tom Ewe l l )onhi ss e ve nt hy earofmarri age, be i ngl e f tal onei nt ownbyhi swi f ef orat ri p. Hi s ne w comme rc i algi rlne i ghbor( Mari l y nMonroe) i t c he shi sde s i ret owardsi nf i de l i t y,andt hef i l m poi nt southi ss t ruggl e st odi s regardt hei mpul s e s . Whi l e nothi smos tre f i ned s c ri pt ,The Se ve nYearI t c hwasoneofWi l de r’ sf i rs t go ata t opt obot t om romcom,and i t s t i l lbrought i n bi g cas h at t he box of f i ce.Att hatpoi nt ,t heCodes t i l ll ooms l argeove rf i l m produc t i onreg ul at i on, and whi l e The Se ve n Year I t c hi ns i nuat e st he s ubj ec tofadul t e ryt aki ngpl ace, i ts ee mst he Hol l ywood hi ghe rups had gone s of t on Wi l de randwoul dl e thi m dowhat e ve rhewant s wi t hhi sc raf t ,al be i tl oos e l y.I twashi sc raf tt hat woul df eedt he mf atc heque s , anyway s .
BI LL Y T HE ALL Y I n1 959,Wi l de rcameoutwi t h SomeLi keI tHot ,anot he r s c re wbal ls t arri ngMari l y nMonroe,wi t ht headdi t i onall ead duoofJac kLe mmonandTonyCurt i s . Themovi ef eat ure st he t wo l eads ,as bas s ce l l i s t and s axophone pl ay e rs ,ge t t i ng hunt ed down by a gang f or wi t ne s s i ng s ome t hi ng t hey s houl dn’ tha ve.Toa voi d dy i nga grue s omedeat h,t heydi s g ui s edt he ms e l ve sasups cal econs e rvat orybandgi rl s , ge t t i ng hi red i n an al l gi rl sband ( onewhe ret heye ve nt ual l yme t Mari l y nMonroe’ sc harac t e r, Sugar) .
Thati st hemovi easi ti s .Thet wol eadss pe nta maj or c hunk oft he i rrunt i mei n drag,aswome n,weari ngs ki rt s anddre s s e sandpearl sandredl i ps t i c k,s peaki ngi navoi ce anoc t a vehi ghe rt hannormal .Thec i rc ums t ance smake sf or agoodl aughi ngs t oc k,andWi l de rt ooki tasagreatmome nt t oge nt l ypokef unatt hec harac t e rsandt he i rc he mi s t rywi t h eac h ot he r.Occas i onalj absatt het wodragc harac t e rswho s t ruggl e sast heyt ryt okee pt he i rdi s g ui s ei nt ac t , a“ kee pi ti n y ourpant s ”j okehe reandt he re. Al lt hewhi l e, t hemovi ene ve r madet heme ndre s s i ngupas wome npartass ome t hi ngderogat ory.Qui t eaprogre s s i vemovewasmadewhe n Wi l de r c hos et omakequee rcodedc harac t e rsaspeopl ewhot heaudi e ncewoul drootf orand… notge tt hef uzzye ndoft hel ol l i pop. Theve ryl as tl i neofSomeLi keI tHot ,andarg uabl yon oft hemos tme morabl eonei nal lofc i ne mai t s e l f, i sat e s t ame ntt o Wi l de r’ sbri l l i antl aughi nduc i ng c raf t mans hi p of s c ree npl aywri t i ngwhi l eal s oe xhi bi t i ngas mal ll ookofhi s progre s s i ve be l i e f s .I nt hi s ,Jac k Le mmon’ sc harac t e r( i n drag)conf e s s e st ohe ry ac ht owni ngbeau, Os goodFi e l di ngI I I , t hats hecoul dne ve re l opebecaus es hehasbee namant hi s whol et i me. AndOs good. . . wast ot al l yi ndi f f e re nt .
SW EET AND SO UR Onl yay earaf t e rSomeLi keI tHotre l eas edandbecamea maj orhi t ,Bi l l yWi l de rcameoutwi t hTheApart me nt( 1 960) , anot he rcomedys t arri ngt heof t e nt y pecas t edas t hene urot i ce ve ry man Jac kLe mmon asi ns urancecompanye mpl oy ee C. C. Baxt e r. Thes t orygoe swi t hBaxt e rde ve l opi ngac rus hon t hee l e vat or as s i s t anton hi sof f i cebui l di ng,Fran Kube l i k ( Shi rl eyMac l ai ne)whi c hhef oundouthasbee nhi sownbos s ’ mi s t re s sal lt hi st i me.Thef i l m t ake sy ou t ot hebi t t e rs wee t j ourneyasBaxt e rt ri e sandf ai l st owooKube l i kunt i loneday s hedec i de st oc utof ft heagoni zi ngre l at i ons hi pwi t hamarri edman, onceandf oral l . Themovi ei sa pre t t ydi al og uere l i antf i l m,asi tdoe s n’ t ha vemuc hs l aps t i c ke s ques ubs t ance sandwass e ti nal i mi t ed,al mos ti nt e nt i onal l yde pre s s i nge nvi ronme nt .Now wi t h Le mmonast hes i ng ul arl ead, Wi l de rmadeane f f ortt os howcas et hes ardoni cf unni ne s sof hi ss c ree nwri t i ng t hrough Le mmonandhi sarc he t y pal , qui rkyde l i ve ry. Jac kLe mmon’ s Baxt e ri sa s mal l mani nabi gc i t ype rs onal i t ywhoi sne u rot i cand j i t t e ry.Thehi gh pos i t i on t hatheacqui red att he companyf orgi vi nghi ss upe ri orsf a vorsmake shi m qui t eout ofpl ace,whi c hre s ul t si nhi ms peaki ngi nat i mi dmanne r, of t e ne nunc i at i ng eac hs e nt e nce i nf ear of ge t t i ng t hi ngs mi xed up.Hi ss peec h qui rk s t i c kswhe nt al ki ngt oKube l i k, and s oon e nough Kube l i k woul d cat c h on ast heyde ve l op t he i rre l at i ons hi p. Gi vi ngt hec harac t e rsadi s t i nc tuni que ne s s i nt hewayt heyt al kac t sasane f f ec t i vet oolf orWi l de rt oadd de pt hi nt ot he i rpe rs onaswhi l eal s odi s pl ay i ngt he i rcorres ponde nce.
Thes ubj ec tmat t e rofTheApart me nts urroundst opi c sof adul t e ry,e ve ni ns i nuat i ngt hats omec harac t e rsares e xual l y ac t i ve( s howni nl i t e ral l yt hemaj orpl otpoi ntoft hemovi e, i n whi c hC. C. Baxt e r’ sapart me nti sf reque nt edbyhi shi ghe rups i n hi scompanyt o“ mi ngl e”wi t ht he i r mi s t re s s e s ) .Al lt he whi l e,t hef i l mf e l tl i ght ,s ome whati nnoce nte ve n,whe ny ou j uxt apos et hec i rc ums t ance swi t h Baxt e r’ sge nui nef ondne s s t owardsMi s sKube l i kwi t hal lhe rnai ve t y.
I n onepi vot als ce nei nt hef i l m,Baxt e rnot i ce sa broke n handmi rrori nhi sroom andre t urnedi tt ohi sbos st hathad j us tocc upi ed i t .Thene xtday,hef ound t hes ames hat t e red mi rrori nt hehandsofMi s sKube l i khe rs e l f,maki ngi tt he ve rymome ntBaxt e rreal i ze st hewomanhef anc i e shasbee n an adul t e re rt ohi sown s upe ri or.Kube l i kcy ni cal l ye xpl ai ns how s hepre f e rredt hemi rrort ol ookt hatway,t hef rac t ure re fl ec t i nghow s hes ee she rs e l f, i mpl y i ngt hatKube l i khast hi s negat i vei mageofhe rs e l fi n he rmi nd ass omeonewhoi s conf us edandf rai l .Thi ss y mbol i s m goe sbot hway s ,whe reas f orBaxt e r,t here ve l at i on f rac t ure shi svi e w andbreakst he i mageoft hei nnoce nte l e vat orhe l pe rc rus ht hathekne w andl oved.
T HE BACK PAGES Wi l de rwoul dgoonanddi rec tandwri t es e ve ralmorecomedi e spos tTheApart me nt ,whi l es omenotascomme rc i al l y s ucce s s f ulashi sworkspre1 960s . Thi sphe nome nonwhe rea f i l mmake r’ snamewoul ds l owl ymovea wayf rom t hel i mel i ghti ss ome t hi ngt hat ’ si ne vi t abl e, wi t hne we rname si nt he f i l mi ndus t rypoppi ngupeac hy ear, bri ngi ngmoret i mere l e vanti deas( t he60spart i c ul arl ywasas ubve rs i vepe ri odi n hi s t ory)ands l owl yt aki nghi spos i t i on. Howe ve r,t hi sdoe s n’ t meant hef i l msheproducedde s ce ndedi nqual i t y. Thi sri ngs t ruewhe ny ouwat c hf i l msofhi sl i keI rmaLaDouce( 1 964)or TheFrontPage( 1 97 4) , equal l ygreatf i l mst hatke pthi ss i gnat ures ugarys wee tdi al og uewri t i ngove rbl eaks ubj ec tmat t e r s t y l eofs t ory t e l l i ng. Thes ucce s sherece i vedf rom hi spre vi ous f i l msmaj orl yf unded hi sproj ec t saf t e rwards ,bri ngi ng i n bi gge rand broade ri deast omat e ri al i zehi si deasi nf i l mmaki ng. Hee ve nbegant oi ncorporat ecol ori nt ohi smovi e s( a re l at i ve l ye xpe ns i veproce s si nf i l m produc t i on oft het i me, pre vi ous l yhi swe real lbl ac kandwhi t e) , ade l i be rat ec hoi cet o makehi ss t ori e se ve nmorel i f e l i ke. Wi l de rwasaf i l mmake rwhowoul dt akeac i rc ums t ances o mundaneand e l e vat ei ti nt os ome t hi ngs ot as t ybymaki ng t hec harac t e rss ayt heri ghtt hi ngs . Heprove st hatt heartof di al og uecoul dt rul yaddde pt ht oamovi e, af f ec t i nghow t he audi e ncewoul dpe rce i vehow c harac t e rsbe ha vej us tbyas i l l y onel i ne roras i mpl es peec hqui rk.Hemaj orl yc hangedt he way sofe nt e rt ai nme ntmedi aofourt i me,t hatonedoe snot neede l aborat eandout l andi s hgagst omakepeopl eofal lage s l aughandwee pandc ri ngeandf ee l .
Themovi econt i nue sasBaxt e ronedayf oundandt e ndt o t hebroke n Kube l i ki n hi sapart me ntwhohadat t e mpt edt o t akehe rownl i f ebys wal l owi nghi ss l ee pi ngpi l l st hatheke pt i nhi sbat hroom. Now, t het opi cofdeat hwasnotuncommon i nmos tWi l de rmovi e s t oputi ti npe rs pec t i ve,SomeLi keI t Hot ,al be i ta comedy,had a coupl e of ons c ree n murde r s ce ne s —y e tt hes ui c i deat t e mptofay ounggi rls t uc ki nacompl i c i tre l at i ons hi pwi t hamarri edmanf e l tal i t t l emoreharrowi ngand pe rs onal .Thi smake st hei mageoft hes t i l lf at i g ued Kube l i k,pos t s ui c i deat t e mpt ,goi ng al ong wi t h Baxt e r’ se f f ort st omakehe rf ee lbe t t e rve rys wee tandgrat i f y i ng. Thec hat t yBaxt e rs hee pi s hl yope nsabouthow onceheal s o t ri ed t o ki l lhi ms e l fbute nded up i nj uri ng hi sl eg,t e l l i ng Kube l i kt hatdoi ngs uc ht hi ngi s n’ twort ht heri s k,t hati t ’ l l pas sandt hepe rs ony ou’ rec ry i ngaboutwi l lonedaybecome j us ts omeg uywho’ l ls e ndy ouaf rui t cakee ve ryChri s t mas .
Youwoul dn’ tt akehi m asj us tacomi corawords mi t hora movi eman, butanart i s tt hathasgreatl oveandunde rs t andi ngoft heaudi e nceandt hepeopl e. I nt hee nd,t hel egacyof Bi l l yWi l de rl i ve sonashec hangedt het raj ec t oryoft hec reat i vei ndus t rywi t hhi sc raf t s mans hi p, c i ne mawi s e.
A di recto r must be a po li ceman, a mi dw i fe, a psycho anal yst , a syco phant and a bastard. -Bi l l yWi l de r
Wri t t e nandI l l us t rat ed by