[Billy Wilder and his films]

I have lots of Billy Wilder favorites, including

 

Witness for the Prosecution

Stalag 17

The Apartment

Double Indemnity

Sabrina

and of course, Sunset Boulevard

 

I've never seen Irma La Douce--it was on TCM a day or two ago, though, and it's waiting on my DVR. Can't wait!

 

I think Witness for the Prosecution is terrific--it smacks equally of Agatha Christie and Billy Wilder. I don't know if he adapted the screenplay from her stageplay or wrote his own based on the story. Anyone know?

[The films of the amazing Howard Hawks]

Howard Hawks made so many fantastic films it's hard to choose a favorite, but I think Rio Bravo comes close--this is on my top five westerns list. This is a perfect western, and I think one of John Wayne's best performances. I agree with the comment that though the Duke and John Ford had the more celebrated partnership, Howard Hawks got the best performances out of him. Anyway, I LOVE this movie.

 

It's long but you hardly notice the length because the action is so continuous; the storyline is great and no more predictable than any other western (ie, you can assume the bad guy gets his in the end); the cast is awesome include Duke, Dean Martin as a drunken deputy struggling with his demons, Ricky Nelson as the cool Colorado, the beautiful Angie Dickenson as the unnamed "Feathers" and John Wayne's love interest, and the ever-memorable and ever-reliable Walter Brennan as the jail-keeper. I believe this one was also written by the talented Leigh Brackett.

 

Not sure why the team chose to rehash this beautiful film in "El Dorado". . . .also enjoyable but made less so by th fact that I can't help but compare it to Rio Bravo.