Sunset Boulevard (1950) is an American film noir directed by Billy Wilder and starring William Holden, Gloria Swanson, and Eric von Stroheim. The screenplay was written by Charles Brackett, Wilder, and D. M. Marshman Jr. The supporting cast includes Nancy Olson, Fred Clark, and Jack Webb. The cinematography was by John F. Seitz and the music was by Franz Waxman.
Holden stars as Joe Gillis, a down-on-his-luck screenwriter
who by a set of strange circumstances is drawn into the orbit of Norma Desmond
(Swanson) a retired silent film star set on a return (don’t you dare say
comeback) to the screen.
Norma hires Joe to work on her screenplay of Salome, the
picture she believes will put her back on top. For the money, Joe takes the
work on but knows it’s not going to go anywhere. Norma is convinced that the
picture is sure to be a hit and that Cecil B. DeMille will direct it. DeMille
worked with Norma during her reign as the queen of the silent screen.
Joe still dreams of getting his screenplay ideas sold and finds
himself involved with Betty Schaefer (Olson), a script reader working at the
Paramount Studio. Joe keeps his relationship with Norma a secret and finds
himself falling in love with Betty, who just so happens to be engaged to Artie
Green (Webb), an assistant director who is working on location. All the while,
Norma has fallen in love with Joe and becomes more and more dependent on him.
How will this all end? Will Norma make a successful return
to the screen? Will Joe and Betty find happiness together? Or will Norma’s hold
on Joe destroy everything?
Billy Wilder (1906 - 2002) was an Austrian-born American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He won six Academy Awards for his writing and direction and was nominated twenty-one times over a career that spanned five decades. Wilder started his career as a writer, penning the screenplays for Ninotchka (1939), Ball of Fire (1942), Double Indemnity (1945), The Lost Weekend (1946), Sunset Boulevard (1951) Boulevard (1951), Sabrina (1955), Some Like it Hot (1960), and The Apartment (1961). As a director, he won Academy Awards for directing The Lost Weekend (1946) and The Apartment (1961). Wilder directed fourteen different actors in Oscar-nominated roles. He is considered one of the most versatile directors from Hollywood’s Classical period.
William Holden (1918 - 1981) was an American actor and
major movie star. He was one of the most bankable stars of the 1950s. Holden
starred in some of the most popular and beloved films of all time including Sunset Boulevard, Sabrina, Picnic (1955), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), and Stalag 17 for which he won the Academy Award for Best
Actor. Holden became a star with his very first role in Golden Boy (1939). He had lead roles in other popular
films like Our Town (1940), and I Wanted Wings (1941). World War II interrupted his career.
Holden was a first lieutenant in the United States Army Air Force. After the
war, he made some popular but forgettable films. It wasn’t after he
collaborated with director Wilder on Sunset Boulevard that Holden’s popularity and stature in Hollywood
grew to superstar status.
Gloria Swanson (1899 – 1983)
was an American actress who was a major star during the silent era. Swanson, a
Chicago native, got her start in film at Essanay Studios where silent film star
Francis X Bushman was under contract. Also employed by Essanay were Charlie
Chaplin and Wallace Beery. Swanson married Beery in 1916. He was the first of
here six husbands. Swanson, Chaplin, and Beery eventually moved to Hollywood
where their careers flourished. Swanson was nominated for three Best Actress
Oscars. The first two were for silent films and the third was for Sunset Boulevard. Swanson made the
transition to sound, but her career stalled and her star power faded.
Sunset Boulevard trivia
- Norma Desmond was based on the several stars from the silent era including Mary Pickford, Mae Murray, and Clara Bow.
- Montgomery Clift was originally cast as Joe Gillis but left the broke his contract two weeks before production.
- Gloria Swanson was asked to do a screen test which she didn’t want to do. Her friend the director George Cukor told her to do ten screen tests if necessary.
- After a private screening of the film, Barbara Stanwyck knelt in front of Swanson and kissed the hem of her dress.
- Willian Holden and Billy Wilder became close friends during the production of Sunset Boulevard.
- Nancy Olson wore her own clothes in the film because Wilder wanted her to be herself on film.
To watch the film on YouTube click here.
To join the discussion on November 13, 2023, at 6:30 p.m.
Central Time, click here. Once you RSVP, you will receive an invitation with a
link to join the discussion on Zoom.
Discussion question
- Sunset Boulevard is considered one of the greatest films of all time. Do you think its reputation as such is well deserved?
- The film lost the Best Picture Academy Award to All About Eve. Sunset Boulevard is about the film industry and All About Eve is about the theater. Which film holds up the best in 2023?
- William Holden wasn’t even in Billy Wilder’s top five choices for the role of Joe Gillis. What do you think of his performance?
- Gloria Swanson had hoped her performance and Oscar nomination would revive her movie career but it didn’t. What did you think of her performance?
- Do you have a favorite scene or line of dialogue (the film is filled with great lines)?
- Can you see any other actress from Swanson’s era in the role of Norma Desmond?
- Is Hollywood the same today as it was in 1950? Does Hollywood treat women better today?
- Bill Wilder was a director working in Hollywood. Was he exempting himself from the criticism? Was he any different than Cecil B. DeMille?
No comments:
Post a Comment