Top 5 Best Films Directed by William Wyler

Roman Holiday is a 1953 romantic comedy directed and produced by William Wyler. The film stars Audrey Hepburn as a princess visiting Rome on her own and Gregory Peck as a reporter. Hepburn won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance, and the screenplay and costume design also received recognition. The script was written by John Dighton and Dalton Trumbo, though Trumbo, being blacklisted, did not receive credit, and Ian McLellan Hunter took his place. Trumbo's credit was restored when the film was released on DVD in 2003, and by December 19, 2011, all credits for Trumbo’s work were officially reinstated. Director Bernard Vorhaus, also blacklisted, worked as an assistant director under a pseudonym. Filming took place at Cinecittà Studios and on location around Rome during the era of 'Hollywood on the Tiber.' The film was showcased at the 14th Venice Film Festival in its official selection. In 1999, the United States Library of Congress selected Roman Holiday for preservation in the National Film Registry for its 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant' contribution. DETAILS:Release Year: August 27, 1953 Genre: Romantic Comedy Director: William Wyler Stars: Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

The Heiress is a 1949 American romantic drama directed and produced by William Wyler, based on a screenplay by Ruth and Augustus Goetz, adapted from their 1947 stage play, which in turn was based on Henry James' 1880 novel Washington Square. The film stars Olivia de Havilland as Catherine Sloper, a young, naive woman who falls in love with a charming young man despite the objections of her emotionally abusive father, who suspects the man is a fortune hunter. Montgomery Clift plays Morris Townsend, while Ralph Richardson portrays Dr. Sloper.

The Heiress premiered in Los Angeles on October 6, 1949, and was released by Paramount Pictures on December 28, 1949. Although the film was a box office disappointment, earning $2.3 million against a $2.6 million budget, it was highly praised by critics for Wyler's direction, the screenplay, and the performances of the cast. The film earned eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won four Oscars, more than any other nominated film that year: Best Actress (for de Havilland), Best Music Score, Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design.

In 1996, The Heiress was selected by the United States Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry for its 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant' qualities.

DETAILS:
Release Date: October 6, 1949
Genre: Drama, Romance
Director: William Wyler
Stars: Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clift, Ralph Richardson
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10

Funny Girl is a 1968 American biographical musical comedy directed by William Wyler, with a screenplay by Isobel Lennart, adapted from her book for the stage musical of the same name. It tells the life story and career of Broadway star and comedian Fanny Brice, focusing on her tumultuous relationship with businessman and gambler Nicky Arnstein.

Produced by Brice's son-in-law Ray Stark (and the first film from his Rastar company), with music and lyrics by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, the film stars Barbra Streisand in her debut performance as Fanny Brice, alongside Omar Sharif as Arnstein. The supporting cast includes Kay Medford, Anne Francis, Walter Pidgeon, Lee Allen, and Mae Questel. A major commercial and critical success, Funny Girl became the highest-grossing film of 1968 in the U.S. and earned eight Academy Award nominations. Streisand won the Best Actress Oscar, sharing the award with Katharine Hepburn (The Lion in Winter). In 2006, the American Film Institute ranked it 16th in their list of the greatest movie musicals of all time. Previously, it was ranked 41st in AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions list in 2002. The songs “People” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade” ranked 13th and 46th in AFI’s 100 Years...100 Songs list in 2004, while the iconic line “Hello, gorgeous” ranked 81st in AFI’s 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes list in 2005. Funny Girl is considered one of the greatest movie musicals ever made.

How to Steal a Million is a 1966 American comedy heist film directed by William Wyler, starring Audrey Hepburn, Peter O'Toole, Eli Wallach, Hugh Griffith, and Charles Boyer. Set and filmed in Paris, the characters speak entirely in English, and Hepburn's wardrobe was designed by Givenchy.

The film follows art collector Davis Leland, who is obsessed with acquiring a statue of Venus. He meets Nicole, intending to purchase the statue, but falls in love with her instead. When they meet again, he proposes, but Nicole is forced to rush off to the museum to execute a heist. She accepts his ring and they plan the robbery together. They hide in a utility closet until the museum closes, with Simon disabling the security alarms after learning the system is flawed. Nicole reveals the statue was made by her grandfather and modeled after her grandmother. Simon realizes Venus is worthless, but agrees to steal it for her. In disguise as a cleaner, Nicole hides the statue in a bucket. When the theft is discovered, they flee amidst chaos. Leland, eager to obtain Venus by any means, finally agrees to buy it from Simon, with the condition it is never displayed and that he will sever ties with the Bonnet family. Simon secretly adds Nicole's engagement ring to the package. As they prepare to escape, a previous admirer of a 'Van Gogh' arrives at the Bonnet estate and is welcomed by the sly blacksmith. Nicole introduces him as her 'cousin', and Simon marvels at her newfound talent for deception.

The Big Country is a 1958 American epic Western directed by William Wyler, starring Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, Carroll Baker, Charlton Heston, and Burl Ives, with supporting roles from Charles Bickford and Chuck Connors. Shot in Technicolor and Technirama, the film is based on the serialized novel 'Ambush at Blanco Canyon' by Donald Hamilton and was co-produced by Wyler and Peck. The opening title sequence was designed by Saul Bass.

Burl Ives won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role, and the film also received a Golden Globe Award. It was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Score, composed by Jerome Moross. This is one of the few films in which Charlton Heston played a supporting role rather than the lead.

The plot revolves around Rufus, who captures Maragon as a hostage in order to lure Lieutenant McKay into an ambush at a canyon near his home. Although McKay promised Rufus equal access to water rights, he finds himself at odds with Buck, leading to a dramatic showdown. Buck shoots first but misses, grazing McKay's forehead, which gives McKay the chance to return fire. Buck's cowardice convinces McKay to spare him, but Buck's frustration leads him to grab a gun from a bystander, forcing Rufus to kill his own son. The final confrontation between Rufus and the lieutenant occurs in the canyon, where they engage in a one-on-one duel. Armed with rifles, the two old men face off and ultimately kill each other. McKay, along with Julie and Ramon, begins a new life together.