What critics call dirty in our pictures, they call lusty in foreign films.
Billy WilderRead
Film’s thought of as a director’s medium because the director creates the end product that appears on the screen. It’s that stupid auteur theory again, that the director is the author of the film. But what does the director shoot-the telephone book? Writers became much more important when sound came in, but they’ve had to put up a valiant fight to get the credit they deserve.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the importance of screenwriters in film, challenging the notion that directors are the sole creators.
Billy Wilder critiques the auteur theory, which suggests that directors are the primary authors of films, by emphasizing the significant role of screenwriters, especially with the introduction of sound. He points out that while directors receive much of the credit, it is the writers who craft the stories and dialogues that form the backbone of filmmaking, advocating for their recognition in an industry that traditionally elevates directors.
Themes
FilmDirectorWriterAuteur TheoryCredit
In practice
Example use cases
During a film studies lecture to illustrate the role of writers in cinema.
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A film is a terrible thing to waste.
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