Vashirdfel Simply A Masterpiece

Grimerlana Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

CommentsXp Best movie ever!

BelSports This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

henryhertzhobbit If you don't like farce comedies like It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, Murder by Death, and The Pink Panther Strikes Again avoid this one because that is what it is. After reading most of these reviews I think people misunderstood this movie. If you compare it to a painting the cold war is just the canvas it is painted on. In reality it is about a person who just can't get things right in his career and hopefully this time around he can contain things and make it all work. Everybody else is trying to do the same thing. On the way they merge in so many references to other movies and one liners it could be considered a history of cinema. If you don't understand them the fast pace may make it difficult for you to keep up with it. But for the younger people today that get most of these references they will like its fast pace. Most movies from that time period move too slowly for them. Oh yes, I guess the McNamara curse does finally get done away with in the end. Or does it? You will have to see the end to decide that for yourself.

RoswellFan James Cagney is at the top of his game giving a machine gun like delivery of his lines, once again, demonstrating his status as a legendary star.Add to this, a cast of good character actors, some familiar like Leon Askin and Red Buttons and some not so familiar. All in all a cast that helps makes a film that delivers laughs in rapid fire succession!Included in this cast is Horst Buchholz who is especially funny as the loony communist. Now, someone mentioned that Jack Lemmon thought a regular comedian should have been put in that role. I think that would have made the character less funny. It needs the "serious" touch that Buchholz gives Otto that really makes his statements even more ludicrous and therefore even funnier. A good example is the scene where Otto makes his comments on Americanism while being dragged out of the room, "America, unemployment, discrimination, gangsterism, juvenile delinquency, but under our new 20 year plan, we will catch up with you!".If any one has not seen this gem, my advice is look for it on TV, buy it, rent it, just watch it! You won't stop laughing!

wes-connors Coca-Cola executive James Cagney (as C.R. "Mac" MacNamara) works in Berlin, Germany; he's trying to sell Coke in the U.S.S.R. As the Russians erect the "Berlin Wall", Mr. Cagney smooches sexy German secretary Lilo Pulver (as Ingeborg); this will, later, upset wife Arlene Francis (as Phyllis). Aiming for a London promotion, Cagney agrees to look after his boss' pretty 17-year-old daughter, Pamela Tiffin (as Scarlett Hazeltine). Ms. Tiffin turns out to be a swinger; out for a hot time, she hooks up with handsome Horst Buchholz (as Otto Ludwig Piffl), and becomes a pregnant bride. To make matters worse, Mr. Buchholz turns out to be a card-carrying Communist. How is Cagney going to explain all this to his Capitalist boss? Doing a "Cagney impersonation," Red Buttons makes a brief appearance. It's one of several scripted references to Cagney's impressive film career.Writer/director Billy Wilder does not accomplish as much without Garbo and Lubitsch; instead, see "Ninotchka" (1939).For some reason, Cagney SHOUTS almost every one of his lines. This adversely affects the other performers, especially Buchholz. Cagney later accused Buchholz of scene-stealing; but, with so much time devoted to the good-looking young man in his boxer shorts, Buchholz didn't have to work very hard. Buchholz' performance is quite good, considering. And, others in the cast were nominated for acting awards: Cagney was the "New York Film Critics" runner-up "Best Actor", Ms. Francis was "Supporting Actress" #3 in the "Film Daily" poll, and Tiffin was a "Golden Globe" nominee. Mostly, this was due to Wilder's reputation; Cagney was not fooled, and decided to semi-retire after "One, Two, Three". Fortunately, Wilder had more classics in his future.***** One, Two, Three (12/15/61) Billy Wilder ~ James Cagney, Horst Buchholz, Pamela Tiffin, Arlene Francis

Ilpo Hirvonen Billy Wilder is well-known of his comedies and his satire, which usually strikes to Soviet Union's communism, western capitalism, materialism.. And the only right ideology to Wilder is humanism, which he seems to be telling to us through many of his movies.First this movie became a flop, because it was banned until the Berlin Wall collapsed. And after that people didn't find the subject very amusing anymore. What I know is that this movie was banned in many countries for years. Reasons in the eastern Europe were mostly that it was too anti-soviet.And the reason what makes this movie so great, and most pictures by Wilder. Is that the movie has a great message, Wilder's satire is brilliant, good casting, good writing and the film's basis is strong.This movie is like a non-stop laughter. It just keeps going on and on. As someone already said here, there's just a great line after another. I also think this is James Cagney's best performance.I just can't tell how great this is by words; Delightful, funny, political, serious, crazy! Actually that's what this movie is, crazy, everything seems incredibly absurd in this picture and I think that's the way for Wilder to deal with this issue.Highly recommended to everyone!