'Those figures, those legs...' - How Billy Wilder's past as a journalist scripted Hollywood's iconic scenes

"Those figures, those legs…". No quote encapsulates the inimitable Billy Wilder's early influence on Hollywood better than these words. Once a penniless reporter, Wilder has indeed sketched an impressive trajectory from newsroom floors in Austria to Hollywood's glittering red carpet. A recent publication, 'Billy Wilder on Assignment,' reveals how Wilder's journalism days shaped the characters, plotlines, and the unmistakable wit in his cinematic masterpieces, including the unforgettable 'Some Like It Hot' and 'Sunset Boulevard'.

"Sex Sells" - A Journalist's Lesson in Screenwriting

In his early days as a journalist, Wilder's compelling narratives about celebrities and entertainment brought readers in droves. His enticing description of Tiller Girls, a popular British dance troupe he covered for an Austrian tabloid, finds echoes in the all-female musical troupe in 'Some Like It Hot'.

His brutally honest profiles, like his criticism of Erich von Stroheim's lavish habits, sowed the seeds for future plotlines and casting choices. As reported by The Guardian, in a notable instance of life imitating art, Wilder later directed both Gloria Swanson and Von Stroheim in 'Sunset Boulevard,' a poignant commentary on Hollywood's forgotten stars.

Billy Wilder - The "Born Entertainer" Shaping the Human Condition

Wilder's journalism demonstrated his "desire to entertain and even to dazzle his reader", according to Noah Isenberg, professor of film at the University of Texas at Austin and editor of 'Billy Wilder on Assignment.' He further states, "in a lot of these early pieces, I think you can see the germs for a lot of later ideas."

Shelley Frisch, the collection’s translator, sees the articles as new Wilder films discovered. "You see in these pieces the journalist Billy Wilder studying the human condition from all possible angles," she said. In one such piece, Wilder's experience of being hired as a dancer despite not knowing how to dance, amusingly mirrors the narratives of his movies.

Billy Wilder - An Unforgiving World's Architect of Fortune

His early days of living hand-to-mouth as a journalist influenced Wilder's decisions as a filmmaker. It taught him that "if he could entertain an audience, he could sell a piece." He understood what it was like to "try to claw his way through a sometimes unforgiving world," similar to his characters like CC Baxter in 'The Apartment.'

Even years later, Billy Wilder's journey from the newsroom to the director's chair continues to fascinate and inspire. His knack for turning his journalistic experiences into silver-screen gold remains a testament to the man's enduring legacy in Hollywood.

(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)