“William Wyler, Forty Takes Willy”
U.S. Premiere & OFFICIAL SELECTION at Amdocs FILM FESTIVAL
On Saturday, March 29, in Palm Springs, the acclaimed French documentary William Wyler, Forty Takes Willy, directed by Bertrand Tessier and produced by Myriam Brough, will have its U.S. premiere at the Amdocs Film Festival.
“We are thrilled to be selected again at Amdocs, where we previously showcased our documentary Roger Corman: The Pope of Pop Cinema as the festival’s opening night film three years ago,” says producer Myriam Brough, who has been based in Los Angeles for the past decade. “At 95 years old, Roger Corman made the trip for his final public appearance before joining us for the Santa Barbara Festival. That film is now available on Amazon Prime US.”
True to its mission of exploring film history, California Prod has turned its attention to one of the greatest legends of Hollywood’s Golden Age: William Wyler. A record-holder with 12 Oscar nominations for Best Director—winning three times—Wyler was known for his relentless pursuit of perfection, earning him the nickname ‘Willy 40 Takes’. From Jezebel to Ben-Hur, Roman Holiday to Mrs. Miniver, his films have left an indelible mark on cinema history.
“Unlike Hitchcock or John Ford, who mainly worked within specific genres like thrillers or Westerns, Wyler moved seamlessly from one genre to another, which sometimes makes him harder to define,” explains Brough. “Surprisingly, no documentary has been dedicated to him in 40 years. We wanted to tell his true story. While film encyclopedias often describe him as an American director of German origin, he was actually French—born in 1902 in Mulhouse, Alsace, which was annexed by Germany after the 1870 war. Wyler came from a French-speaking family, grew up speaking French, and the only French words in the film come from Wyler himself!”
Wyler never forgot his French roots. During World War II, he joined the U.S. Army’s film unit to fight against the Nazi regime. The war left him partially deaf, an experience that profoundly shaped his most personal film, The Best Years of Our Lives, a powerful depiction of post-war trauma.
William Wyler, Forty Takes Willy offers a deep dive into this extraordinary career, featuring never-before-seen material. “We had the privilege of working closely with Wyler’s children,” says Brough. “They opened their family archives to us, granting access to hundreds of unpublished photos and numerous Super 8mm home movies of their father.”
The documentary, which aired in France on Canal+ and was officially selected at the prestigious Festival du Film d’Histoire in Pessac last November, provides a rare and intimate portrait of Wyler—not only as a master filmmaker but as a devoted family man and a staunch advocate for freedom. “A truly great man,” Brough concludes.
Screening Details
Saturday, March 29
📍 Amdocs Film Festival, Palm Springs – Camelot Theatre, 1:30 PM
🎟️ Reservations: Amdocs Festival Schedule - Program 23, Theater 1
See you there!