Review of Sunset Boulevard (1950) by Matthew R — 09 Apr 2011

The city of Hollywood, California, as the historical center of the American movie industry, has been a place of fantasies and fascinations since the first film producers decided to move there in 1913. Most of this almost supernatural mystique that has impregnated the city since those days was a direct result of the economic bonanza of the "Roaring Twenties" and the creation of the "star system", imposed by the major film studios in the early years Hollywood's Golden Age. The myths and legends of classic Hollywood would soon be exported to the world, and became an enormous influence for an Austrian young writer named Samuel "Billy" Wilder. Wilder would later move to America after the rise of the Nazi regime, and started a promising career at Hollywood, the very place of his dreams of youth. The opulence and decadence of the city inspired Wilder to write and direct a legendary movie in 1950: "Sunset Boulevard".

Washed-up screenwriter Joe Gillis (William Holden) is struggling to survive in Hollywood, outwitting the various loan-sharks after him. During one such escape, he finds himself stranded at the tumbledown mansion of former silent movie star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) and her loyal butler Max (Erich von Stroheim). After befriending Joe and convincing him to work on a rewrite of her own script, Joe senses the opportunity to use the situation to his advantage. But as Joe falls ever deeper under Norma's influence, he begins to find himself alienated from his own friends until he starts to fall for his friend's fiancée Betty (Nancy Olson). Love though can create serious consequences; sometimes fatal.....

Being both ground-breaking in its portrayal of Hollywood's film making process as well as its subject matter, "Sunset Boulevard" is such an accessible film in ways that most modern films aren't. On one hand, it is a classic film noir but it's also a biting satire on movie-making in general, the first film showing audiences the action beneath the scenes. At other times, it becomes a disturbing horror film especially when the tyrannical Norma Desmond is tipped over the edge, leering at the camera like a vampire in make-up. This is largely down to Swanson's performance, being both suitably melodramatic and dominating the film as she should. Not to say that the others don't perform as well or any of the cameos which fans of early movies will delight in. Most films, when they try to be many things at once, struggle to fit their brief but such is the feeling of "Sunset Boulevard" that you never get the feeling that anything was missed. This is one of the most complete films I have ever seen - even my favorite films have something I could criticize if I was being picky. But there is very little not to like about this movie - like most film noirs, you need to stick with it and pay attention but the rewards are quite remarkable.

In the end, it is hard to imagine how much of an impact this would have made in 1950 but even today, "Sunset Boulevard" is a film that everyone should watch. It's chilling and amusing in equal measures, being a powerful fable about the effects of fame and power which I felt was still relevant today. It truly is a timeless piece of movie-making, one which actually deserves the praise heaped upon it back then and today. It's bold, brave and utterly magnificent.

Story: A.

Acting: A.

Direction: A.

Visuals: A.

Overall: A.

**** out of 4 stars.