Review of Sunset Boulevard (1950) by Sarfaraz A — 31 Oct 2012

Sunset Boulevard film noir directed and co-written by Billy Wilder, produced and co-written by Charles Brackett. Starring William Holden and Norma Desmond, Film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards and won three.

Joe Gillis (William Holden) is B-movie writer who can't find work. When re-possessors arrive to take away his car, he chases away, finally pulling off the road called Sunset Boulevard. He stops by a mansion upon brief investigation, he discovers that it is inhabited by silent movie queen Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), who is attended by her faithful butler Max(Erich von Stroheim).

I had forgotten to write review of this movie, watched it 4 years ago, along with All About Eve. I was stunned with performance from Gloria Swanson, she might have been star of silent-movies, but it's rare that you hook-up with actress from such era, exposing and flaunting her voice-talent to give boost to matured acting, is way beyond praise. I could not feel or even remember Holden in the film, it seemed as if the film was completely hoaxed by Swanson to be found everywhere in the scene, to dominant her place in full authority and stubbornness.

I previously had watched All About Eve, but my mind was boggling, as should have been of members of the Academy Award to choose between two queens of true-symbol of cinema "Gloria Swanson", and "Bette Davis". There were many awards for short-period such as Best Asst. Director, so why not two Awards in same category for same remarkable subject of domineering-cinema. Academy, as usual disappointed me by overlooking this genius acting.