“A tiny room with gloomy wallpaper.” That’s how Billy Wilder remembered his time here at Viktoria-Luise-Platz 11. This Billy Wilder Plaque marks the spot where the famous director lived. He stayed here for a year and a half. He rented a room on the third floor. The York-Schulz family were his landlords.
The Billy Wilder Plaque commemorates a giant of cinema. Wilder was an Austrian-born American filmmaker. He was a screenwriter and producer. His career spanned over 50 years. He created more than 60 films. Wilder is considered one of Hollywood’s most brilliant filmmakers.
But even geniuses start somewhere. For Wilder, it was in this very building. His room was next to a constantly flushing toilet. Despite the humble setting, it was here that his film career began.
One night, Herr Galitzenstein, director of Maxim-Film, had to flee from his neighbor’s bedroom. He ended up in Wilder’s room. Galitzenstein had no choice but to buy Billy Wilder’s first screenplay.
This Billy Wilder Plaque is made of Greek marble. It has dark brass letters. It matches the Ferruccio Busoni plaque above it. Wilder’s friend, Willy Egger, had the Billy Wilder Plaque installed. The unveiling took place on February 17, 1993. Wilder attended the ceremony. He was in Berlin for the film festival.
The building that houses the Billy Wilder Plaque is a replacement. The original building was destroyed in the war. After Wilder’s death, his death date was added to the Billy Wilder Plaque.
Wilder was born Samuel Wilder on June 22, 1906. His family was Polish Jewish. They lived in Sucha Beskidzka. This was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His mother nicknamed him “Billie”. She was inspired by Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Shows.
Wilder’s parents owned a successful cake shop. It was located in Sucha’s train station. It grew into a chain of railroad cafes. But Wilder did not join the family business. He moved to Berlin.
Here in Berlin, in 1929, he filmed “People on Sunday”. Five people who worked on that film later directed in Hollywood.
In 1933, with the rise of the Nazi Party, Wilder fled to Paris. Then he moved to Hollywood. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1939.
Billy Wilder directed Marilyn Monroe in two films. These were “The Seven Year Itch” and “Some Like It Hot.” He won Oscars for Best Director and Best Screenplay for “The Lost Weekend.” He also won for “The Apartment.”
Wilder received many honors. These include the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1986. He also received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1990. And the National Medal of Arts in 1993.
Billy Wilder died on March 27, 2002. He is buried at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary.
The final line in “Some Like It Hot” is iconic. It perfectly sums up Wilder’s career: “Nobody’s perfect.” The Billy Wilder Plaque reminds us of his imperfect beginnings. It celebrates his undeniably perfect legacy.