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110 min – view video trailer
Director: Billy Wilder
Starring: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim
Genres: Drama, Film-Noir
IMDB 8.7 / Amazon 4.7 / MRQE 94% / Zagat 28
Oscars: nominated for 11, won 3 (best art, music and writing)
Ranked #13 Greatest Movies Through 1960, a Zagat Top Movie, included in 23 of the 37 lists of Greatest Movies
A hack screenwriter writes a screenplay for a former silent-film star who has faded into Hollywood obscurity. IMDB rating 8.7 from over 76,072 users
Zagat summary snippet: Some of the greatest dialogue ever (most famously, “I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille”) graces this hybrid of “Gothic” and “film noir”, a scabrous take on Hollywood from the standpoint of a struggling screenwriter trying to resurrect the career of a silent movie star who’s not exactly in touch with reality, with an inside joke laced script and pitch-perfect performances from a larger than life Swanson and hunky Holden. Zagat Ratings: Overall 28 / Acting 28 / Story 27 / Production 27 / Total 110
Joe Gillis (William Holden), a broke and cynical young screenwriter, is attempting to ditch a pair of repo men late one afternoon when he pulls off L.A.’s storied Sunset Boulevard and into the driveway of a seedy mansion belonging to Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), a forgotten silent movie luminary whose brilliant acting career withered with the coming of talkies. The demented old movie queen lives in the past, assisted by her devoted (but intimidating) butler, Max. Amazon 4.7 stars from over 293 users.
SUNSET BOULEVARD is the sad recounting of the tale of silent movie queen Norma Desmond, played by Gloria Swanson. Receiving several Academy Awards, this classic movie deserves a dramatic A+, even if the story is a bit melancholic. MovieGuide gave it 4 stars, A+ grade with content light violence, light sex, no nudity and no bad language
MRQE gave it 94% rating with links to more than 87 reviews
Madison Public Library (note: three of us watched it and it was unanimous that none of us like the movie at all)
Greatest Movies Through 1960 