{"id":3986,"date":"2007-09-18T14:47:11","date_gmt":"2007-09-18T21:47:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3986"},"modified":"2022-01-27T01:10:14","modified_gmt":"2022-01-27T08:10:14","slug":"sunset-boulevard-1950","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3986","title":{"rendered":"Sunset Boulevard (1950)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;We didn&#8217;t need dialogue. We had faces!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Sunset-Boulevard-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Sunset-Boulevard-Poster-198x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"198\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-23065\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Sunset-Boulevard-Poster-198x300.jpg 198w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Sunset-Boulevard-Poster-84x128.jpg 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Sunset-Boulevard-Poster.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 198px) 100vw, 198px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nDesperate for money, aspiring writer Joe Gillis (William Holden) is hired by aging silent movie star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) to help her write her comeback screenplay. Soon the two are lovers &#8212; but things become complicated when Holden finds himself falling in love with a young screenwriter (Nancy Olson).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Actors and Actresses<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Billy Wilder Films<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Erich von Stroheim Films<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Flashback Films<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Gloria Swanson Films<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Has-Beens<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Hollywood<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Jack Webb Films<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Love Triangle<\/a><\/li>\n<li>May-December Romance<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Nancy Olson Films<\/li>\n<li>Prostitutes and Gigolos<\/a><\/li>\n<li>William Holden Films<\/li>\n<li>Writers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nAs Peary notes, Billy Wilder&#8217;s <em>Sunset Boulevard<\/em> &#8220;remains the harshest indictment of Hollywood on film&#8221; &#8212; not only &#8220;assaulting those who have made [it] a place where talent and integrity have little meaning&#8221;, but offering a &#8220;funeral elegy to old-style Hollywood films&#8221;. Despite its gloomy thematic premise, however, it&#8217;s a surprisingly enjoyable movie, full of fabulous set designs, stand-out performances (particularly by Swanson), memorable scenes, and dark humor. The story itself is densely layered: in addition to its sharp critique of Hollywood, <em>Sunset Boulevard<\/em> is both a suspenseful <em>noir<\/em> &#8220;romance&#8221; (with Swanson an atypical <em>femme fatale<\/em>), and &#8212; as noted by both Peary and DVD Savant (see link below) &#8212; an unusual &#8220;ghost story&#8221; with a &#8220;morbid, death-obsessed plot&#8221;, and countless &#8220;horror-movie references and imagery&#8221;. Perhaps the strongest indication of <em>Sunset Boulevard<\/em>&#8216;s brilliance, however, is that our knowledge of Joe&#8217;s ultimate fate (his corpse narrates the story) does nothing to mitigate our enjoyment of the film as it unfolds.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Swanson5.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Swanson5.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3998\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>William Holden as Joe<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Holden3.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Holden3.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3991\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Eric von Stroheim as Max the butler<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Butler.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Butler.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3993\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Nancy Olson as Betty Schaefer<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Nancy2.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Nancy2.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3992\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Marvelously baroque set designs<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Set4.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Set4.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3994\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Norma pantomiming silent screen characters<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Chaplin3.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Chaplin3.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3995\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>John Seitz&#8217;s noirish cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Swanson.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Swanson.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3997\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The famous &#8220;bridge playing&#8221; sequence with former silent stars<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Keaton2.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Keaton2.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3996\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A macabre sense of humor<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Monkey.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Monkey.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3988\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The classic opening shot<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Pool.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Pool.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3989\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The even more famous closing shots<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Final1.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/08\/Final1.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3990\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Countless memorable lines<br \/>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Joe:<\/strong> You&#8217;re Norma Desmond. You used to be in pictures &#8212; you used to be big.<br \/>\n<strong>Norma:<\/strong> I <em>am<\/em> big. It&#8217;s the <em>pictures<\/em> that got small.<br \/>\n<strong>Joe:<\/strong> I knew there was something wrong with them&#8230;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<li>Franz Waxman&#8217;s appropriately creepy score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nDefinitely. This is an undisputed classic of American cinema, and merits multiple viewings. Discussed at length in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?page_id=5986\">Peary&#8217;s <em>Cult Movies<\/em> (1981)<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Genuine Classic<\/li>\n<li>Noteworthy Performance(s)<\/li>\n<li>Oscar Winner or Nominee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0043014\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s663blvd.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/great-movie-sunset-boulevard-1950\">Roger Ebert&#8217;s Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/stinkylulu.blogspot.com\/2007\/05\/nancy-olson-in-sunset-boulevard-1950.html\">Stinky Lulu: Nancy Olson in <em>Sunset Boulevard<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/4254\/sunset-blvd#articles-reviews\">TCM Articles<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/sunset-blvd-1\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;We didn&#8217;t need dialogue. We had faces!&#8221; Synopsis: Desperate for money, aspiring writer Joe Gillis (William Holden) is hired by aging silent movie star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) to help her write her comeback screenplay. Soon the two are lovers &#8212; but things become complicated when Holden finds himself falling in love with a young screenwriter (Nancy Olson). Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Actors and Actresses Billy Wilder Films Erich von Stroheim Films Flashback Films Gloria Swanson Films Has-Beens Hollywood&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3986\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3986","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3986","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3986"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3986\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":80707,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3986\/revisions\/80707"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3986"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3986"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3986"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}