Forsgren: Explore the genius of Billy Wilder with The Seven Year Itch

You don’t have to peruse Netflix for too long to figure out it’s a treasure trove of low-budget B-movies, little-seen independent films and a whole spectrum of documentaries. But Netflix also has a good selection of classic films. This month, we sample the work of the great director, Billy Wilder, with “The Seven Year Itch”.

If I’m ever asked which film director’s career I wish was my own, I’m afraid the answer would be a toss-up between two men. The first one, Ridley Scott, is responsible for two of the greatest science fiction films ever made, “Alien” and “Blade Runner”. He also directed other great films like “Gladiator”, “Blackhawk Down”, and “The Martian”. As a sci-fi nerd, how could I not want to be responsible for that body of work?”

The other director whose career I most wish was my own is Billy Wilder. An iconic film maker from Hollywood’s classic era, Wilder immigrated from Germany in the 1930s, at first working as a screenwriter, then moving on to directing some of the greatest Hollywood films ever made. I’m talking stuff like “Double Indemnity”. Like “Sunset Boulevard”. Like “Stalag 17”. And like “Some Like It Hot”.

Wilder effortlessly jumped from genre to genre, proving as adept at comedies and dramas as he was at gangster pictures. Simply put, the dude could do anything. I’d love to be that versatile at making movies. Or anything, really.

One example of Wilder’s ability to create funny comedies with layers of deeper meanings is the 1955 classic “The Seven Year Itch”. Adapted from a popular Broadway play, “Itch” is, on its surface, a silly comedy about what happens when a middle-aged family man is left all alone in the presence of a very attractive neighbor girl. It works perfectly on that level, but there’s more there if you care to look for it.

The story: Publishing executive Richard Sherman (Tom Ewell) finds himself alone for the summer after putting his wife and kid on a train to the country. In spite of promising to abstain from drinking, smoking and chasing women, Richard finds himself breaking all those promises after he meets the gorgeous young woman (Marilyn Monroe, who is credited as “The Girl”) who’s staying upstairs for the summer.

It would be easy to credit the source material for the levels of meaning in “Itch”, but we all know that movie adaptations can trash a lot of the underlying themes in an effort to appeal to a wider audience. Of course, movies were a made for a more mature audience back when “Itch” came out. Still, adapting anything from one medium to another can be difficult. Wilder should be credited for getting as much depth into this movie as he did.

Consider the plight of Richard. He wants to be faithful, but it seems that everything is stacked against him. His imagination goes into overdrive, playing out scenarios where he seduces The Girl, and the ramifications of that seduction. He can’t help but be pulled toward The Girl.

It doesn’t help that people around Richard keep encouraging him to misbehave. From his boss to the janitor giving him a wink and a nudge, offering no help in keeping his promises. This unyielding pressure to give in to his urges drives Richard to the brink. And it’s analogous to the pressures we all face every day. Maybe it’s temptation to be dishonest at work. We all operate under pressure every day and sometimes it’s hard to do the right thing.

Also, consider the movie’s ending. You can look at it as the right way to end a silly comedy about a decent guy and his dealing with temptation. I think there’s more there, though. Instead of a near-miss, I see the resolution of a relationship where both parties get exactly what they need. I can’t say too much more than that or I’ll spoil it, but let’s just say that both Richard and The Girl leave the story better than when the story opened.

That, in a nutshell, is the genius of Billy Wilder. He injects meaning and depth into every story he tells. Watch his other films and you’ll see it again and again. “The Seven Year Itch” is more than just the movie where Marilyn Monroe’s dress gets blown up by the breeze from a passing subway train. It’s a story about man struggling with his own nature and how unexpected relationships can enrich our lives. At least, that’s what I see. The wonderful thing about art is that everybody sees something different in it.