In her creepy rundown mansion on sunset boulevard, aging silent screen star norma desmond gloria swanson dreams of reviving her longgone film career. While trying to escape from his creditors, he has a flat tire and parks his car in a decadent mansion in sunset boulevard. Sunset boulevard is a classic noir film from billy wilder. Nov 11, 20 gloria swanson, as norma desmond, an aging silentfilm queen, and william holden, as the struggling young screenwriter who is held in thrall by her madness. Norma desmonds mansion in sunset boulevard 1950 at. The best of film noir what writers can learn from sunset boulevard. Early one morning, police arrive at a large house on sunset blvd.
The screenwriter believes he can manipulate her, but he. Franz waxman sunset boulevard main theme original soundtrack theme from sunset boulevard. Arguably the greatest movie about hollywood, billy wilders masterpiece sunset boulevard is a tremendously entertaining. Were at a mansion on sunset boulevard and we see the dead body floating in a pool as the police arrive. The main character becomes involved with a younger man in hopes of recapturing the glories of her youth. This film is not currently playing on mubi but 30 other great films are. The faltering movie business was built not on fragile foundations of an art form. Screenwriter joe william holden, now dependent on faded star norma gloria swanson, realizes that shes planned the new years eve party for just two, in billy wilders sunset blvd. Get to know the basics this internet movie database page has the full lowdown on all of sunset boulevards trivia and quirks, in addition to providing lots of information on the cast, the director, etc.
All kinds of people are all in the same way, mostly alone, caught in their cars, which also remind us of similar boxlike containers such as houses, offices, factories. We look at the deeper meaning of billy wilders noir classic sunset boulevard. He never challenges her crazy whims, and even goes so far as to forge fake fan letters to help beef up her idea of her own celebrity. Through voiceover, a narrator tells us that well get a distorted version of the facts from the hollywood gossip columnists, but. Oct 12, 2010 this feature is not available right now. The beginning sd, 23 min interviews with film historians, producers, and actress nancy olson who plays betty in the film are provided, all tracing the movie s origins and production. Mar 30, 2015 franz waxman sunset boulevard main theme original soundtrack theme from sunset boulevard. The script is full of wry humour some of it aimed at the technicolor talkies of the day yet. Thats the homicide squad, complete with detectives and newspaper men. Sunset boulevard is also a notable hollywood street, which emphasizes the protagonists movie backgrounds and the films criticism of hollywood. The boulevard is commemorated in billy wilders film sunset boulevard 1950, the andrew lloyd webber musical of the same name, and the 1950s television series 77 sunset strip. Get to know the basics this internet movie database page has the full lowdown on all of sunset boulevard s trivia and quirks, in addition to providing lots of information on the cast, the director, etc. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund.
Sunset boulevard 1950 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Norma is a washedup silentfilm star who didnt survive the transition to talking pictures. But she is a unique and rich old movie star, so having a pet chimp wouldnt be a terrible surprise. Every movie about the movie biz needs a movie maker, and in sunset boulevard, thats sheldrake fred clark. Through voiceover, a narrator tells us that well get a distorted version of the facts from the hollywood gossip columnists, but hell tell us the true story. Ageing silent movie star norma desmond gloria swanson takes in flatbroke screenwriter joe gillis william holden in billy wilders brilliant satire noir. That makes it the perfect settingand titlefor a movie about the film industry. Every movie about the movie biz needs a movie maker, and in sunset boulevard, thats sheldrake.
Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing sunset blvd. Of course, a chimp is also an animal that can be trained and controlled, pantomiming human behavior without the intricacies of human speech or nuance. We recommend booking sunset boulevard tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Sunset boulevard 1950, the blackest of hollywoods selfportraits, is an old dark house of a ghost story inhabited by the living shadows of its discarded stars. Sunset boulevard is a brave look at hollywood, and another masterpiece from william wilder which reminds us that there was a time when actors needed only their faces to perform, with no need to tell a single word.
Sunset boulevard is the story of an aging, reclusive, hollywood star, surrounded by wealth. Some call the movie horror because of many of its classic lines, and because of its ghoulish themes a dead man narrating the story for one. It follows a down on his luck screenwriter who finds himself working for norma desmond, a reclusive exstar who has deluded herself into. Sunset boulevard, clip, william holden, gloria swanson, 1950. Sunset boulevard is the attempt to simultaneously picture the two big, contradictory myths of u. Full length feature audio commentary by author and sunset boulevard expert ed sikov, which alternates between insightful observation, astute interpretation of certain scenes, an outlining of the films structure, and chatty, anecdotefilled musings on the films preparation and shooting, all bulwarked by sikovs clear familiarity with wilder. Snippets from an archive interview with gloria swanson are also included. Joe gillis tries to pitch him a story for a movie about a star shortstop whom gangsters try to force to throw the world series, but betty a scriptreader for paramount bursts.
Gloria swanson, as norma desmond, an aging silentfilm queen, and william holden, as the struggling young screenwriter who is held in thrall by her madness. Pay no attention to the critics, this is good stuff. Madonna is being pursued for a role in a remake of sunset boulevard. The beginning sd, 23 min interviews with film historians, producers, and actress nancy olson who plays betty in the film are provided, all tracing the movies origins and production. Sunset boulevard, american film noir, released in 1950, that is often cited as one of hollywoods greatest films, especially noted for gloria swansons portrayal of a fading movie star. Billy wilder, william holden 1950 paramount mptv gloria swanson in sunset blvd. Sunset boulevard has a number of good things going for it. Sunset boulevard is a musical with book and lyrics by don black and christopher hampton, and music by andrew lloyd webber. When the silent star first greets the penniless writer inside her mansion, they have a classic exchange. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. Joe is a cynical screenplay writer disenchanted by his ill luck on the hollywood scene.
Arguably the greatest movie about hollywood, billy wilders masterpiece sunset boulevard is a tremendously entertaining combination of noir, black comedy, and. Oct 15, 2018 22 videos play all sunset boulevard full movie 1950 sunset boulevard full movie nora desmond at a restaurant duration. By date, op only, subject only madonna madonna for sunset boulevard remake. Get your swag on with discounted movies to stream at home, exclusive movie gear, access to advanced screenings and discounts galore. That may have reignited paramounts interest in getting a. Wilder used to tell gloria swanson that her character, norma desmond, was in a sexual relationship with the chimpanzee.
Sunset boulevard remains the best drama ever made about the movies because it sees through the illusions, even if norma doesnt. Sunset boulevard is a 1950 american film noir directed and cowritten by billy wilder, and. If you like sunset boulevard you might like similar movies double indemnity, citizen kane, rear window, all about eve, north by northwest. Bruce willis, as tom mix, and james garner, as wyatt earp, have never been better at their laidback charmboy. She hires a young screenwriter to help set up her movie comeback. Sunset boulevard is both a savage indictment of the star system and the monsters it produces. This norma desmonds mansion in sunset boulevard 1950 in the process of being demolished in 1957. If you are looking for a documentary that chronicles the history of this magical place, you need to watch this sunset strip documentary.
In the movie, normas address is 10086 sunset boulevard but in reality, the house wasnt on. Forget the address given in the movie 10086 sunset boulevard, which would place it west of beverly hills, toward bel air, norma desmonds glorious old renaissancestyle. The portion of sunset boulevard that passes through beverly hills was once named beverly boulevard. In an effort to keep the full details of the story from paramount pictures and avoid the restrictive censorship of the. Enter screenwriter joe gillis william holden, who owes a lot of money. Arguably the greatest movie about hollywood, billy wilders masterpiece sunset boulevard is a tremendously entertaining combination of noir, black comedy, and character study. Aug 19, 2017 sunset boulevard has had a long history on the stage and just recently ended a 2017 revival run back in june, once again starring close. The following analysis reveals a comprehensive look at the storyform for sunset boulevard. Unlike most of the analysis found herewhich simply lists the unique individual story appreciationsthis indepth study details the actual encoding for each structural item. Though she showers him with gifts and luxury, the younger man finds his. In hollywood of the 50s, the obscure screenplay writer joe gillis is not able to sell his work to the studios, is full of debts and is thinking in returning to his hometown to work in an office. This also means it has been incorporated into the dramatica story expert application itself as an easily referenced.
It was and still is one of the hottest streets in the entire united states. What is the significance of the chimp in sunset boulevard. Sunset boulevard, clip, william holden, gloria swanson. Wilder critiqued hollywoods toxic star machine, its mistreatment of writers and its system. Andrew lloyd webber thinks madonna would be a great norma desmond in a remake of sunset boulevard. Sunset boulevard full movie amngenalp palangoplacse. Its history is more than just sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Films that discuss sunset boulevard in their screenplays or pay homage in scenes or dialogue include soapdish. Not only that but norma, an actress who is no longer in her prime, is metaphorically in the sunset of her years. Together they begin a strange, mostly psychological, affair in her decaying house on sunset boulevard. All kinds of people are all in the same way, mostly alone, caught in their cars, which also remind us of similar boxlike containers such as houses, offices. At andrew lloyd webbers opening night party for his musical version of sunset boulevard 1950, billy wilder provided that answer to a woman asking about the role of the mysterious dead chimpanzee introduced early in the film. An aging silent film queen refuses to accept that her stardom has ended. Sunset boulevard reveals the fickleness of movie fans and the cruelty of hollywood.
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