One, Two, Three 1961
One, Two, Three is Billy Wilder's Hellzapoppin' ode to Cold War politics, the classy comedy with the machine-gun pacing. He brings on the jokes, gags, puns and political jabs so quickly even his perfect cast of fast-talking farceurs has a hard time keeping up with him.

The movie was both filmed during and is set in the months prior to the closing off of East Germany and construction of the Berlin Wall (beginning August 1961, four months prior to the film's release). Cagney is C.R. MacNamara, the head of Coca-Cola's West Berlin office. Ruthless, conniving, and ambitious, early scenes have "Mac" plotting with three equally dodgy Soviet trade representatives (Leon Askin, Ralf Wolter, and Peter Capell) to open the Soviet market.

However, Atlanta-based company president Wendell P. Hazeltine (Howard St. John) nixes the idea, instead ordering Mac to look after his wayward 17-year-old daughter, Scarlett (Pamela Tiffin), who's on a carefree tour of Europe. Her short stay in Berlin inexplicably last two months, and with Hazeltine and his wife arriving soon to collect her, Mac is horrified to learn that she's secretly married Otto Piffl (Horst Buchholz), a militant Communist from East Germany and, further, Scarlett is pregnant.


Director: Billy Wilder
Cast: James Cagney, Horst Buchholz, Pamela Tiffin
Country: USA
Genre: Comedy

One, Two, Three (1961) Eureka – Masters of Cinema
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BD50 | 1080p AVC | 01:48:33 | 40.1 Gb + 3% rec
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Extras:

Commentary - this archival commentary was recorded by film historian Michael Schlesinger. The bulk of the information addresses the film's production history, the nature of its dialog and the satirical elements in it, the period in which the film was conceived, and its critical reception.

Interview with Neil Sinyard - in this new video interview, critic Neil Sinyard explains how One, Two, Three came to exist and discusses some of its more interesting satirical overtones. There are also good observations about the evolution of Billy Wilder's career after the success he experienced with Some Like It Hot and The Apartment. In English, not subtitled. (29 min, 1080p).

Trailer - a vintage trailer for One, Two, Three. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

One, Two, Three (1961) Kino Lorber
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BD25, DVD9 | 1080p AVC, NTSC | 01:48:44 | 22.9 Gb + 5.40 Gb
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Extras:

Commentary features film historian Michael Schlesinger.

"Billy Wilder and Volker Schlondorff Discussing 'One, Two, Three'" (3:08, SD) is a brief snippet from an undated interview with the director, who briefly explores his movie between film clips. Schlondorff appears as well, introducing the chat.

"Billy Wilider on Politics and 'One, Two, Three" (6:03, SD) returns to the helmer (without Schlondorff) to highlight shooting conditions in Germany, with the production forced to relocate due to construction of the Berlin Wall. Wilder is in high spirits here, examining his failures and successes with a sense of humor.

Theatrical Trailer (2:11)

Trailers for Witness For the Prosecution (3:08), The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (3:00), The Gallant Hours (2:49)