A Hollywood Story: Sensational...Daring...Unforgettable...Sunset Blvd
A hack screenwriter writes a screenplay for a former silent film star who has faded into Hollywood obscurity.
- Bleak ending
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Character
Nostalgic, meticulous, bleak and intimate.
- contemporarynostalgic
- rawmeticulous
- warmbleak
- intimateepic
- cooloverwhelming
Who loves it, who doesn't
40 profiled raters. Loved most by The Provocateurs; disliked most by The Formalists.
Where do you stand?
Answer first; then see how everyone, and your circle, split.
“Is Sunset Boulevard better than Some Like It Hot?”
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“Is Norma Desmond the real protagonist?”
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“Is the nostalgia doing the heavy lifting?”
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Ask the title
A yes-or-no question, answered from what people wrote here, on TMDB and on Wikipedia. Never made up.
Reviews
We read them all: the case for is nadia_noir's, funniest is hollis's. Marked below.
- hollisFunniestThe Empath★★★★★
Gloria Swanson is not overacting; the character is. The film knows exactly where the line is.(1 spoiler sentence hidden; tap to read)
- nadia_noirThe case forThe Provocateur★★★★★
Wilder's cruelty is exact, and Swanson gives the performance of a person who never got to stop performing. Every noir since is a footnote.(1 spoiler sentence hidden; tap to read)
Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Curator Co.'s numbers.
- Andres Gomezon TMDB · Jun 20148/10
A classic for the must to be seen list. Gloria Swanson is magnificent.
Read the whole review on TMDB - Filipe Manuel Netoon TMDB · Nov 202210/10
**One of the great films of Hollywood's golden age.** This movie is really special. Not only does it show us a lot about the world of Hollywood during its golden age, but it also reveals a lot about the actors' egos, vanities and their titanic struggles to preserve their careers and stay in the limelight. Brilliantly directed by Billy Wilder, it is considered by many to be one of the great movie classics, combining entertainment, artistic value and cultural relevance. In 1951, it won three Oscars (Best Screenplay, Best Art Direction in a Black and White Film, Best Comic Film Soundtrack) and could perfectly have won one more, for Best Actress. But awards like these are never completely fair, especially in years so fertile for good films. Starting with the iconic scene of the dead man in the pool, the film intrigues us, and curiosity grips us, as the film shows how it all happened, introducing us to an average screenwriter who struggles to write a successful script that can leverage his career. He owes money, is in serious trouble and takes advantage of the opportunity to earn some easy money at the expense of a retired silent film actress, who decides to hire him to revise and type
Read the whole review on TMDB - CinemaSerfon TMDB · Jan 20237/10
"Gillis" (William Holden) is a down-at-heel script writer who is struggling to keep his head above water. Not having had any successes for a while, his car is about to be repossessed and his erstwhile boss "Sheldrake" (Fred Clark) has nothing for him. On the run from the pursuing repo men, he turns his car into the drive of a decaying old mansion. Hiding his car in the garage, he is mistaken by the house's owner for an undertaker - she has a small matter that needs attending too! Realising her error she demands he leave, but not before he mentions what he does for a living. She has a script. Hundreds of pages of script - and she offers him a job, champagne and caviar if he will edit and refine it so "Norma Desmond" (Gloria Swanson), a retired former silent movie star, can present it to her favourite director Cecil B DeMille and restart her glorious career. Initially just seeing dollar signs, he agrees and what now ensues is a masterfully crafted story of love, dependency, ambition and delusion in which Swanson absolutely shines. It's clear to us from the outset that her grasp on reality is somewhat limited, and but for her dedicated factotum "Max" (Erich von Stroheim) she might wel
Read the whole review on TMDB - r96skon TMDB · May 20239/10
Ace! <em>'Sunset Boulevard'</em> is a splendid flick from 1950. I will note that I found the middle to be ever so slightly less interesting than the beginning and ending, though even so overall I most definitely enjoyed watching it. Love the dialogue, the score is excellent too. William Holden and Gloria Swanson are tremendous together onscreen, in what is a supremely well told story.
Read the whole review on TMDB - MrDeltoid77on TMDB · Jul 20259/10
IMHO...This is a straight up Horror film. A demented, faded star of the Silent era takes in a down on his luck writer... and basically keeps him as a boy toy/hostage. She has a creepy attraction to the much younger man. Her house and butler are straight out of Hammer Film. That being said... I love this film. The casting is great. William Holden gives one of his best performances ever. Gloria Swanson plays deranged wonderfully. And Von Stroheim is a brilliant bit of casting. You get the feeling he would do anything for his employer... including murder. The writing is crisp...Billy Wilder's direction is amongst some of his best. For those who resist B&W films... put aside your prejudice and watch this film. It is excellent.
Read the whole review on TMDB
Cast
- William HoldenJoe Gillis
- Gloria SwansonNorma Desmond
- Erich von StroheimMax von Mayerling
- Nancy OlsonBetty Schaefer
- Fred ClarkSheldrake
- Lloyd GoughMorino
- Jack WebbArtie Green
- Franklyn FarnumUndertaker
- Larry J. BlakeFinance Man #1
- Charles DaytonFinance Man #2
Crew
- Billy WilderDirector
- Charles BrackettScreenplay
- Billy WilderScreenplay
- D.M. Marshman Jr.Screenplay
- John F. SeitzDirector of Photography
- Franz WaxmanOriginal Music Composer
- Arthur P. SchmidtEditor
- Charles BrackettProducer
Where to watch
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Pairings
Companions we picked from the closest works, and how to take them.
Similar in taste
Closest on the same fourteen dimensions, from everything scored on Curator Co. Other media included when they land close.
Pennies from Heaven 198164% alikeBoth nostalgic.
Barton Fink 199163% alikeBoth intimate.
Inside Llewyn Davis 201362% alikeClose across the board.
Both nostalgic, meticulous.
Judy & Punch 201961% alikeClose across the board.
Bad Education 200461% alikeClose across the board.
Saltburn 202361% alikeClose across the board; this one is more contemporary.
Bad Times at the El Royale 201861% alikeBoth nostalgic, intimate.
WandaVision 202164% alikeSeries · Both nostalgic.
FEUD 201757% alikeSeries · Both nostalgic.
Often watched with
Recommendations from TMDB. Opening one adds it to Curator Co.
