Sunset Boulevard (1950)

My Review

“Sunset Boulevard” is a classic Hollywood melodrama about a struggling screenwriter who becomes involved with an aging silent movie star who refuses to acknowledge her “has-been” status. The heavy drama proceeds from there, as he is drawn further and further into her dark world of unreality. Director Billy Wilder (“The Lost Weekend” 1945) created a riveting drama recognized as one of the greatest films of all time, with marvelous production values, great performances, and outstanding writing. He co-wrote the movie with Charles Brackett and D. M. Marshman Jr.

William Holden as Joe Gillis and Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond head the cast. These are textbook examples from Acting 101 as fine dramatic performances. Co-stars include Erich von Stroheim as Norma’s assistant, Nancy Olson as Joe’s fellow screenwriter, Fred Clark as a movie producer, Jack Webb as Nancy’s boyfriend, and Jack Warden as a party guest. Cameos include Cecil B. DeMille, Hedda Hopper, Buster Keaton, H. B. Warner, and Henry Wilcoxon. The watchable “Sunset Boulevard” was a big hit at the box office for Paramount Pictures.

It was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, winning three – Best Screenplay, Best Black-and-White Art Direction, and Best Musical Score (Franz Waxman). Non-winners were Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Holden), Best Actress (Swanson), Best Supporting Actor (von Stroheim), Best Supporting Actress (Olson), Best Black-and-White Cinematography (John F. Seitz), and Best Film Editing. “Sunset Boulevard” was filmed completely in Los Angeles, California.