--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm delighted with it, because it used to…" description: "\"I'm delighted with it, because it used to be that films were the lowest form of art. Now we've got something to look down on.\" — Billy Wilder" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/billy-wilder-8818_art_i-m-delighted-with-it-because-it-used-to_540276.jpg" --- # I'm delighted with it, because it used to be that films… ![“I'm delighted with it, because it used to be that films were the lowest form of art. Now we've got something to look down on.” quote by Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/billy-wilder-8818_art_i-m-delighted-with-it-because-it-used-to_540276.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/billy-wilder-8818_art_i-m-delighted-with-it-because-it-used-to_540276.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/billy-wilder-8818_art_i-m-delighted-with-it-because-it-used-to_540276.jpg) > “I'm delighted with it, because it used to be that films were the lowest form of art. Now we've got something to look down on.” [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Films once dismissed as low art now serve as a higher standard for critique. **In simple terms:** Films have risen from low art to a critical benchmark. Key Takeaway Recognize film’s power to critique culture. Themes art culture media criticism Mood reflective analytical thoughtful Type critical inspirational When to use this quote - Film reviews - academic courses - media analysis - creative writing Key Concepts Film theory Cultural hierarchy Artistic value Questions to Reflect On - What makes film a superior medium for critique? - Can other art forms achieve similar critical impact? A Different Perspective Elevating film may overlook other valuable art forms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/films/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) ## Related quotes > [It used to be that we in films were the lowest form of art. Now we have something to look down on. (Of Television)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/it-used-to-be-that-we-in-films-were-the-lowest-form-of-art-now-we/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [A lot of films seem to go to the lowest common denominator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/a-lot-of-films-seem-to-go-to-the-lowest-common-denominator/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [Rewards and punishment is the lowest form of education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rewards-and-punishment-is-the-lowest-form-of-education/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Making people laugh is the lowest form of comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-donoghue/making-people-laugh-is-the-lowest-form-of-comedy/) [Michael O'Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-donoghue/) > [Rewards and punishments are the lowest form of education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/rewards-and-punishments-are-the-lowest-form-of-education/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Singing is the lowest form of communication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/singing-is-the-lowest-form-of-communication/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Muzaffarnagar is 40 kilometers from my village. So I used to see films if I was able to save money and on special occasions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawazuddin-siddiqui/muzaffarnagar-is-40-kilometers-from-my-village-so-i-used-to-see-films/) [Nawazuddin Siddiqui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawazuddin-siddiqui/) > [I like serious films and earlier used to do only such films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biju-menon/i-like-serious-films-and-earlier-used-to-do-only-such-films/) [Biju Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biju-menon/) > [I'm used to my films having little effect on making the world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-m-used-to-my-films-having-little-effect-on-making-the-world-a/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [Something economically changed. It used to be that you needed 20 million people to watch a TV show for it to be a hit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/something-economically-changed-it-used-to-be-that-you-needed-20/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [It used to be said that this country was a child-centered one. Nothing could be further from the truth. Children have been our lowest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/it-used-to-be-said-that-this-country-was-a-child-centered-one-nothing/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Making fun of disabled kids is the lowest form of immaturity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/making-fun-of-disabled-kids-is-the-lowest-form-of-immaturity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The highest as the lowest form of criticism is a mode of autobiography. Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-highest-as-the-lowest-form-of-criticism-is-a-mode-of/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [A pun is the lowest form of humor—when you don't think of it first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-levant/a-pun-is-the-lowest-form-of-humor-when-you-don-t-think-of-it-first/) [Oscar Levant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-levant/) > [“Exactitude is the lowest form of pictorial gratification.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa-2/exactitude-is-the-lowest-form-of-pictorial-gratification/) [S.I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa-2/) ## More by Billy Wilder > [If there's anything I hate more than not being taken seriously, it's being taken too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/if-there-s-anything-i-hate-more-than-not-being-taken-seriously-it-s/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I just always think, 'Do I like it?' And if I like it, maybe other people will come and like it too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/i-just-always-think-do-i-like-it-and-if-i-like-it-maybe-other-people/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [Helen: You've got talent and ambition. Don: Talent? Ambition? That's dead long ago. That's drowned. That's drifting around with a bloated belly on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/helen-you-ve-got-talent-and-ambition-don-talent-ambition-that-s-dead/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [An actor entering through the door, you've got nothing. But if he enters through the window, you've got a situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/an-actor-entering-through-the-door-you-ve-got-nothing-but-if-he/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I hate that word. It's return--a return to the millions of people who've never forgiven me for deserting the screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/i-hate-that-word-it-s-return-a-return-to-the-millions-of-people-who/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [The more subtle and elegant you are in hiding your plot points, the better you are as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/the-more-subtle-and-elegant-you-are-in-hiding-your-plot-points-the/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [When Chaplin found a voice to say what was on his mind, he was like a child of eight writing lyrics for Beethoven's Ninth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/when-chaplin-found-a-voice-to-say-what-was-on-his-mind-he-was-like-a/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I, you know, am all over the place — every category of pictures I have made, good, bad or indifferent. I could not make,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/i-you-know-am-all-over-the-place-every-category-of-pictures-i-have/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [Love is the hardest thing in the world to write about. So simple. You've got to catch it through details, like the early morning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/love-is-the-hardest-thing-in-the-world-to-write-about-so-simple-you/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [If you don't like what you're doing, it's unlikely anyone else will either, so be sure you are happy with your own work first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/if-you-don-t-like-what-you-re-doing-it-s-unlikely-anyone-else-will/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I have ten commandments. The first nine are, thou shalt not bore. The tenth is, thou shalt have right of final cut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/i-have-ten-commandments-the-first-nine-are-thou-shalt-not-bore-the/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I just made pictures I would've liked to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/i-just-made-pictures-i-would-ve-liked-to-see/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [Money makes even bastards legitimate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/money-makes-even-bastards-legitimate/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [After so many drive-in waitresses becoming movie stars, there has been this real drought, when along come class; somebody who actually went to school,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/after-so-many-drive-in-waitresses-becoming-movie-stars-there-has-been/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I never overestimate the audience, nor do I underestimate them. I just have a very rational idea as to who we’re dealing with, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/i-never-overestimate-the-audience-nor-do-i-underestimate-them-i-just/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) [Explore all 77 Billy Wilder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm delighted with it, because it used to be that films were the lowest form of art. 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