Directed by:
Billy WilderCinematography:
John F. SeitzComposer:
Franz WaxmanCast:
William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson, Fred Clark, Franklyn Farnum, Jack Webb, Lloyd Gough, Cecil B. DeMille, Hedda Hopper (more)VOD (1)
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Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond, an aging silent film queen, and William Holden as the struggling writer who is held in thrall by her madness, created two of the screen's most memorable characters in Sunsent Boulevard. Winner of three Academy Awards, director Billy Wilder's orchestration of the bizarre tale is a true cinematic classic. From the unforgettable opening sequence through the inevitable unfolding of tragic destiny, the film is the definitive statement on the dark and desparate side of Hollywood. (Paramount Pictures AU)
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William Holden's cynical bons mots about the factory of dreams simply had to become timeless. However, his solitary character also functions as an ideal guide to the dark noir with a tinge of black humor. An unforgettable film that serves at the same time as both an homage to Hollywood and a powerful critique.
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It occurs to me that it's not exactly flattery when (for example) Hollywood is referred to as the Dream Factory. If it makes the audience dream, that's good. But when the stars HAVE to dream because of it, it's worse. Sunset Boulevard captures all this transience very convincingly, mercilessly passes it on and still has something to say. Buster Keaton's role (he said one word, but twice!) delighted me, and Gloria Swanson, William Holden and Erich von Stroheim thrilled me.
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Sunset Blvd. is one of those films that I have to constantly re-evaluate within myself because too many people try to reinterpret it and rape its premise. I'd recommend more study of Gloria Swanson's career, as without her you have no chance to grasp this Wilder pun, even if you may struggle to endlessly analyze the narrative to your own taste.
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My experience with Double Indemnity taught me that in the case of Wilder's films, it is not important what, but how. The storyline is simple, so there is no need to worry about spoilers in this case. In the first shot, you will see a dead man who will immediately start narrating from the position of the storyteller, describing how he got the bullets in his body. After fifteen minutes, the motive becomes clear even to the keen observer. It doesn't make sense to classify the movie as a crime genre; it is rather a psychological drama in a noir implementation, a study of the gradual psychological self-destruction of a person who voluntarily isolated themselves from society and lives in self-delusion. He created an illusion that costs him more and more mental strength to maintain and distorts his character. Wilder focuses on the atmosphere, and the inevitable decay of the characters is similar to the deterioration of a luxurious mansion once teeming with life, now as useless as the life of its owner. The pompousness of the props, covered in dust without use, only underlines the hopelessness of the position of a movie star who tries in vain to stop time. Practically all characters are somehow connected to the world of cinema, and Wilder, with his perfect knowledge of the environment, describes the ruthless machinery of the film industry, where only a few succeed in fierce competition, and their time in the limelight is painfully short. The heart of the movie is not the protagonist - the narrator, but Norma, a half-forgotten diva of the silent film era, gifted with repulsive self-centeredness, affected and increasingly dangerous due to her obsession to regain lost fame. In that microcosm of the luxurious villa, she can still play the role of a star, even though she has only one devoted fan left. The real world outside of this enclave is indifferent to her, and anyone who tries to open her eyes is an enemy. The icy queen unknowingly, but relentlessly, prepares for her final role. Wilder directed this film inventively, with precision, sensitivity, and thoughtfulness, which rightfully made him one of the legends of the genre and even the world of film of that era. Overall impression: 90%.
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Another one of those films you hear about being great, being significant, and then you see it and realize it's all true. An amazing snapshot of Hollywood in its time. A tribute to the legends of the silent era, as well as a demonstration of how show business actually works. It's smart, it's very cynical, and it's truly breathtaking. A glimpse of Buster Keaton warms the heart.
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Photo © Paramount Pictures
![Sunset Blvd. - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/158/097/158097154_dacb48.jpg)
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