Osmond, Cliff

Irma La Douce

In 1963, Billy Wilder's Irma La Douce was one of the biggest box-office hits of the year, grossing twice as much as The Great Escape and The Birds. Yet this popular movie has been almost completely forgotten by film history, even to fans of Wilder or stars Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine (the same trio had made a masterpiece, The Apartment, three years earlier). It doesn't represent the best work of those legends, but Irma provides tart entertainment. At least some of the movie's popularity can be chalked up to its subject, which was pretty risqué for the time: Lemmon plays a Paris policeman who falls in love with a prostitute (MacLaine). The script was adapted from a stage musical, but Wilder decided to cut the songs, instead developing the humor and romance into his own blend of bittersweet perversity; this Technicolor-fantasy Paris is kind of a dark cousin to Gigi. Lemmon is in his prime period of hand-wringing self-doubt, and MacLaine is perfectly in tune with his rhythms, especially in scenes that add tenderness to the sometimes queasy mix of moods. Ironically--given the nixing of the songs--the film won its only Oscar for André Previn's adaptation of the stage play's music into a wordless orchestral score. --Robert Horton

The Fortune Cookie

In their first screen pairing Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon portray a shyster lawyer and a cameraman in this madcap tale of greed and recouping lost love.System Requirements:Starring: Jack Lemmon Marge Redmond Walter Matthau Ron Rich Judi West Cliff Osmond Lurene Tuttle Harry Holcombe Les Tremayne and Lauren Gilbert. Directed By: Billy Wilder. Running Time: 126 Min. B&W. This film is presented in "Widescreen" format. Copyright 2000 MGM Studios.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 027616858931

Billy Wilder's insurance-scam comedy, written with partner I.A.L. Diamond, is one of the legendary filmmaker's surlier efforts. Were it not for the star-making performance of Walter Matthau (which won him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor), it might not have registered so strongly with audiences. Shot in a grimy black and white, the story begins as CBS cameraman Harry Hinkle (Jack Lemmon) is injured on the sidelines of a football game when Cleveland Browns star Boom Boom Jackson (Ron Rich) accidentally barrels into him. Hinkle's all right, but his ambulance-chasing brother-in-law William Gingrich (Matthau), also known as "Whiplash Willie," has a lawsuit filed before Hinkle even wakes up at the hospital. Hinkle is reluctant to join in on the scheme, which involves staying in a wheelchair, until he realizes it may bring his ex-wife (Judi West) back, even though her eyes practically flash dollar signs at the thought of his case's settlement potential. Working on Hinkle's conscience, however, is a burgeoning friendship with Jackson, who feels horrible about the incident. Not as sure-footed or as brazenly funny as many other Wilder efforts, the film nevertheless boasts a comic turn by Matthau that is deliciously conniving and endlessly inventive. Wilder, Hollywood's most caustically funny blend of pessimist and optimist, doesn't even aim for balance here. He clearly loves Matthau's character above all others and lets him run the show. The Lemmon and Matthau franchise began here and would go on to include their reteaming for Wilder's films The Front Page and Buddy Buddy. --Robert Abele

The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again

The 1979 sequel to The Apple Dumpling Gang reunites Tim Conway and Don Knotts as thieves with hearts of gold, this time helping out a soldier (Tim Matheson) whose commander (Harry Morgan) is being undermined by a villainous lieutenant. The film is for kids, but the adult-heavy plot takes this movie in a different direction than its predecessor, which focused on three adorable orphans. The slapstick comedy is good, and supporting cast, Morgan, Matheson, Ruth Buzzi and Jack Elam, are enjoyable, but the freshness of the first film is missing. --Tom Keogh

There's more trouble afoot as The Apple Dumpling Gang (Don Knotts and Tim Conway) can't stop causing trouble -- and laughs -- even when they give up their life of crime! First the ditsy duo is accused of bank robbery as they try to deposit a check. Then they join the U.S. Cavalry and wind up in the stockade for inadvertently blowing up their fort. Although they escape this mess, the witless team who could never shoot straight still can't seem to succeed in going straight. It's riotous, raucous fun as THE APPLE DUMPLING GANG RIDES AGAIN!

Kiss Me, Stupid

In 1964 director Billy Wilder was at the top of his game. Following a string of hits that had begun in 1959 with Some Like It Hot, he now intended to direct a bawdy boudoir farce in the grand tradition of the French theater. The contorted plot involves one Orville J. Spooner, an aspiring song writer (originally to be played by Peter Sellers, but replaced by Ray Walston after Sellers suffered a heart attack, which he partly blamed on Wilder), and his crazed lyricist, buddy Barney Milsap. Together they toil away in the town of Climax, Nevada, Orville working as a piano teacher and Barney pumping gas across the street. Along comes Dean Martin, playing a thinly veiled caricature of himself, who just wants to fill up his tank. Instead, the songwriting duo rig his car so he's forced to spend the night at Orville's, giving the dolts a chance to pitch their songs. But Dino also wants Orville's wife. No problem! They hire Polly the Pistol (Kim Novak), the local prostitute, to masquerade as her. Thus begin the high jinks. The film plays like an extended dirty joke that could have been told around the office water cooler in 1960. It was a colossal failure both critically and commercially, and was banned by the Catholic League of Decency, to boot. Nonetheless, the film has aged well and was ahead of its time (think of it as the grandfather of Caddyshack and the great-grandfather of There's Something About Mary). Wilder eventually renounced the film and moved on. --Kristian St. Clair

Dean Martin is full of charm wit and snappy one-liners in this "sly irreverent brash and daring comedy" (The Film Daily) from the legendary team of Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond (Some Like It Hot The Apartment)!When the world-renowned singer "Dino" (Martin in a hilarious self-parody) passes through Climax Nevada he doesn't count on meeting two would-be songwriters with a plan to trap him there and serenade him with their songs. But then again they weren't counting on Dino's insatiable appetite... for wine and women! And when one of the men learns that his own wife was once president of Dino's fan club he hires a replacement wife (Kim Novak) to help lure the carousing star into a song-buying mood!System Requirements:Starring: Dean Martin Kim Novak Felicia Farr Cliff Osmond Ray Walston Directed By: Billy Wilder Running Time: 126 Min. Color Copyright 2003 MGM Studios.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: PG-13 UPC: 027616887627 Manufacturer No: 1004722

Copacabana

Based on the ever-popular Barry Manilow song, 1985's Copacabana is a light, innocuous hour and a half. Dime-a-dance girl Lola LaMar (Annette O'Toole) longs to showcase her talents at NYC's famous Copacabana club. She and bartender-songwriter Tony Starr (Manilow) meet cute and fall in love with visions of fame dancing in their heads. O'Toole's strong voice and sexy shimmers are showcased in "Man Wanted," while Manilow shines in "Who Needs to Dream" and "Sweet Heaven (I'm in Love Again)." When suave Rico (Joe Bologna) offers Lola a headliner at his Havana nightclub Tropicana, she jumps at the chance. Broken-hearted Tony stays behind singing the blues until he discovers Rico's intentions are not honorable. A big dance number and rescue ensue. But as in the song, there is a showdown at the end and Lola is left alone with faded feathers in her hair. Campy and clean, Copacabana gives musical fans a fix but leaves them wishing for a little more substance. --Dana Van Nest

The tune-filled story of star-crossed lovers Tony and Lola comes to life in this delightful musical. Bringing his hit song to life, Barry Manilow stars as Tony, a struggling young pianist/composer at New York's famous Copacabana nightclub who falls for beautiful showgirl Lola ("Smallville's" Annette O'Toole). Love is in the air, but smarmy rival nighclub owner Rico (Joseph Bologna) offers Lola a shot at the big time performing in Havana. When heartbroken Tony learns that Rico's intentions are not exactly honorable, chaos ensues! An irresistible combination of Manilow's infectious melodies, splashy song and dance numbers, and glitzy costumes, "Copacabana" is a delirious musical romp the whole family will enjoy!

In Search of a Golden Sky

One family's story of courage survival and love. After the tragic death of their parents the Morrison children have no alternative but to live with their Uncle Zep. They dread leaving civilization to live in his secluded cabin in the wilderness but when Zep shares his knowledge and love the children come to care deeply for both the kindhearted old man and their new life in nature's majestic splendor. The county welfare department fiercely opposes this living arrangement and rules that the children must be placed in foster homes and the family's only chance to stay together is to hide out in Zep's fishing shack on the other side of the mountains. Their treacherous journey confronts them with the perilous side of nature but this true family story filled with spectacular shots of nature's breathtaking beauty proves that the "golden sky" is out there for those with the courage to make their dreams come true.System Requirements:Running Time: 94 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NR UPC: 014381340525 Manufacturer No: ID3405ZVDV

The Front Page

Charles MacArthur and Ben Hecht's classic newspaper comedy--about a conniving editor who talks his star reporter out of getting married long enough to cover a big story--has survived lesser adaptations than this one. (Ever see Switching Channels?) But few have been more disappointing. Billy Wilder teamed Walter Matthau (as the unscrupulous editor) and Jack Lemmon (as the fast-talking reporter), who try to get the scoop on everyone else in the story of a convicted killer who escapes on his way to the electric chair. But Matthau and Lemmon, as good as they are, succumb to the temptation to do shtick--and Carol Burnett shows up in a florid, unfunny performance as a hooker. An attempt to bottle the same lightning that struck with The Sting--but Wilder, Lemmon, and Matthau just can't do it. --Marshall Fine

The Billy Wilder DVD Collection (The Apartment / Avanti! / The Fortune Cookie / Irma la Douce / Kiss Me Stupid / One Two Three / The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes / Some Like It Hot / Witness for the Prosecution)

Collection of nine films directed by Billy Wilder.
Genre: Feature Film-Comedy
Rating: NR
Release Date: 7-NOV-2006
Media Type: DVD

Even if "nobody's perfect," Billy Wilder sometimes came close. This DVD box presents a strong cross-section of films by one of Hollywood's greatest directors, and although his early Paramount years are not covered (they're available in a different set), the box does include a couple of Wilder's woefully underappreciated autumnal gems. Chronologically speaking, 1957's Witness for the Prosecution is the earliest film in the set, a crackerjack courtroom drama derived from Agatha Christie. It gives especially tasty roles to Charles Laughton and Marlene Dietrich. With Some Like It Hot, Wilder merely created the film widely considered the best comedy of the sound era, with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon impersonating female musicians in the Roaring Twenties. Marilyn Monroe is the songbird tired of getting the fuzzy end of the lollipop. Wilder took home three Oscars® for The Apartment, his exquisitely bittersweet look at an organization man (Lemmon) who loans out his flat for his boss's liaisons.

One, Two, Three is a breathless Cold War comedy (and a time capsule of its era) with James Cagney as a Coca-Cola executive in Berlin. Irma La Douce teams Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine in a racy Parisian love story that became a box-office smash. With Kiss Me, Stupid, Wilder suffered a rare flop, although the once-scandalous sex comedy looks better and sharper as it ages. The Fortune Cookie, which nabbed an Oscar for Walter Matthau, is one of Wilder's most cynical tales, but the last two films in the set represent Wilder's late-career romantic flowering. The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes arranges slapstick around the melancholy, misogynistic figure of Holmes, who might just be a directorial self-portrait. Avanti! is a delightful, leisurely romance about a businessman (Lemmon again) who loosens up while in Italy settling his late father's business. It's a lovely end note for a snappy, often acerbic collection. --Robert Horton

The Front Page

Charles MacArthur and Ben Hecht's classic newspaper comedy--about a conniving editor who talks his star reporter out of getting married long enough to cover a big story--has survived lesser adaptations than this one. (Ever see Switching Channels?) But few have been more disappointing. Billy Wilder teamed Walter Matthau (as the unscrupulous editor) and Jack Lemmon (as the fast-talking reporter), who try to get the scoop on everyone else in the story of a convicted killer who escapes on his way to the electric chair. But Matthau and Lemmon, as good as they are, succumb to the temptation to do shtick--and Carol Burnett shows up in a florid, unfunny performance as a hooker. An attempt to bottle the same lightning that struck with The Sting--but Wilder, Lemmon, and Matthau just can't do it. --Marshall Fine

Graveyard Tramps

Bee girls by nature, maybe, but not by cup size. Price Is Right model Anitra Ford anchors this enjoyably sleazy horror movie about women who mate... and kill! Also, they get naked a lot. After a State Department employee meets a mysterious motel death, agent Agar (Marlboro Man William Smith) heads to Peckham, CA, to investigate. Soon, highly unattractive middle-aged men are falling victim to beautiful young women as quickly as they can drop trou. The women look completely normal except that they all wear huge sunglasses even in the dark (hmmm...) and are frequently naked. One could do a tidy thesis on how this 1973 marvel reflected male fears of newly independent women--sexual and career independence seem to lead directly to lesbianism and lethal coitus. (Screenwriter Nicholas Meyer also wrote Fatal Attraction.) But why bother intellectualizing when you can just lie back and let the bad sex puns and horrific '70s soundtrack wash over you? And try not to worry about why that one woman is naked on her motorcycle. --Ali Davis

They ll love the very life out of your body! A powerful cosmic force is turning earth women into queen bees who kill men by wearing them out sexually. This wonderfully enjoyable campy sci-fi film was called a Guilty pleasure by Siskel and Ebert. This film is also known as Invasion of the bee Girls. System Requirements: Running Time 85 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR Rating: R UPC: 787364458394 Manufacturer No: 44583-9