Sunset Boulevard

1950.

#12 / #16

Winner of 3 Academy Awards.

SUNSET BOULEVARD follows Joe Gillis (William Holden), a Hollywood screenwriter, who is invited into aging silent film star Norma Desmond's (Gloria Swanson) home to rewrite her masterpiece screenplay. Gillis practically becomes a prisoner to the temperamental star, whose script is eventually rejected by Cecil B. DeMille. As Gillis falls in love with another woman, Desmond confronts and murders him. "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up." The end.

Sarah: This film is a slow walk down crazy lane. And I love that. Gloria Swanson is amazing as Norma Desmond. Probably because the part hit close to home with Swanson. Gloria was a washed up silent film star herself. It would be easy to make Norma Desmond a joke, but instead Swanson makes her crazy come from desperation, and insecurity hidden behind a huge ego. She gives the character complexity.

I think this film is so fun, in it's twisted way. There are guest appearances by Buster Keaton and other Hollywood notables, and lot's of old 20's style and charm. If I ever go crazy, I want to go the way of Norma Desmond. "I am big, it's the pictures that got small."

Eddie: NGL: I didn't like this movie. There's something very post-modern about watching a movie about a crazy woman while sitting next to a crazy woman (ahem, Sarah).

That being said, I didn't think the movie was a complete bust. Erich von Stroheim's performance as Max is excellent and subtle.

Why You Should See It: At one point in the film, Desmond returns to Paramount to meet with Cecil B. DeMille. This entire sequence is incredible.