Sunset Boulevard (1950)
Director: Billy Wilder
Starring: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim
Synopsis:
A screenwriter at the end of his rope has a chance encounter with a washed-up actress and becomes increasingly entangled as he works to doctor the terrible script intended for her big return to the screen.
Impressions:
I'm going to present my nerd credentials and reveal that my gateway into this film was the spoof "Sepulveda Boulevard" from Tiny Toon Adventures. They actually did a number of spoofs of major films. Suppose it was a parental bonus. Anyway, this has a firm place in the public consciousness, so I was looking forward to giving it its due with a full viewing. Its high regard is entirely earned. This really is an amazing picture.
William Holden delivers a strong performance as the cynical writer turned kept man and Gloria Swanson deliciously hams it up as the increasingly unhinged diva Norma Desmond. Erich von Stroheim pulls it all together as the butler who's more than what he seems. It's a great character study and it does a great job of exploring and skewering the brutality of Hollywood in general and specifically in regard to the shift from silent films to talkies. The reality subtext with cast members like Swanson and von Stroheim give the story a lot of resonance. I also particularly liked Cecil B. DeMille's role as himself.
This is a film for the collection of anyone who's serious about movies. Definitely give this one a watch at the very least.
Rating:Own It