Position a rack in the middle of an oven and preheat the oven to 450 deg F. (230 deg C). Select a 9- or 10-inch (23-or 25-cm) pie plate (preferable glass) or springform pan. If using a springform pan, carefully butter the sides and bottom.
Crush the wafers into fine crumbs: Break into pieces, place in a food processor fitted with the metal blade and process finely. Or place the wafers in a heavy-duty plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin. (You will have about 3 cups.)
In a mixing bowl combine the crumbs, sugar and butter and, using a fork, mix completely. Press the crumb mixture onto the bottom and sides of the plate or pan. In the springform pan the crumb coating will come only halfway up the sides and will be slightly uneven, which is fine. Bake for 5 minutes. Let cool, cover and chill well before filling