Develop a clean line of action for your leading character

Develop a clean line of action for your leading character

Billy Wilder

One's too many and a hundred's not enough.

One's too many and a hundred's not enough.

I just made pictures I would've liked to see.

I just made pictures I would've liked to see.

Hindsight is always twenty-twenty.

Hindsight is always twenty-twenty.

On Ernst Lubitsch: He could do more with a closed door than other directors could do with an open fly.

On Ernst Lubitsch: He could do more with a closed door than other directors could do with an open fly.

My Aunt Minnie would always be punctual and never hold up production, but who would pay to see my Aunt Minnie?

My Aunt Minnie would always be punctual and never hold up production, but who would pay to see my Aunt Minnie?

The ultimate trick is to convince, persuade. Every single person out there is an idiot, but collectively they're a genius.

The ultimate trick is to convince, persuade. Every single person out there is an idiot, but collectively they're a genius.

An actor entering through the door, you've got nothing. But if he enters through the window, you've got a situation.

An actor entering through the door, you've got nothing. But if he enters through the window, you've got a situation.

If something smells bad, why put your nose in it?

If something smells bad, why put your nose in it?

Shoot a few scenes out of focus. I want to win the foreign film award.

Shoot a few scenes out of focus. I want to win the foreign film award.

Don't be too clever for an audience. Make it obvious. Make the subtleties obvious also.

Don't be too clever for an audience. Make it obvious. Make the subtleties obvious also.

Money makes even bastards legitimate.

Money makes even bastards legitimate.

We are on the track of something absolutely mediocre.

We are on the track of something absolutely mediocre.

God save me from myself.

God save me from myself.

I just always think, 'Do I like it?' And if I like it, maybe other people will come and like it too.

I just always think, 'Do I like it?' And if I like it, maybe other people will come and like it too.

France is a place where the money falls apart in your hands but you can't tear the toilet paper.

France is a place where the money falls apart in your hands but you can't tear the toilet paper.

The best director is the one you don't see.

The best director is the one you don't see.

Make subtlety obvious.

Make subtlety obvious.

The only pictures worth making are the ones that are playing with fire.

The only pictures worth making are the ones that are playing with fire.