From one director to another

Left: Hitchcock. Right: Wilder directing Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon in the final scene of "The Apartment¨.

"The Apartment" (1960) was directed, produced and co-written by Billy Wilder. This wonderful comedy-drama, starring Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon, was both a commercial and critical success. Having been nominated for ten Academy Awards, the film ended up winning five. Apart from winning the Oscar for his direction, Wilder also got an Oscar for Best Picture and Best Screenplay (which he co-wrote with I.A.L. Diamond).

"The Apartment" premiered on 15 June 1960 in New York. Two weeks later, Alfred Hitchcock wrote fellow director Wilder the following letter.

Via: cinephilia & beyond

Transcript:

June 29, 1960

Mr. Billy Wilder
10375 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, California

Dear Mr Wilder,

I saw THE APARTMENT the other day.

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed it, and how beautifully made.

I felt this so much that I was impelled to drop you this note.

Kindest regards,

Alfred Hitchcock (signed)

AH: yh