Review of Sunset Boulevard (1950) by Tomass P — 20 Mar 2013
This is hands down the finest film ever made about Hollywood. Gloria Swanson is absolutely brilliant as the great Norma Desmond. "You're Norma Desmond. You used to be in silent pictures. You used to be big. (Norma) "I AM big. It's the pictures that got small." The writing is just as good as it gets in this noir classic that takes aim at Hollywood itself & really does cut through the illusions of it all with a cleverness & bite rarely scene.
Gloria Swanson is truly remarkable in this film with her dramatic eye bulging, claw-like hands poses & her sharp dramatic voice inflections. Absolutely brilliant acting! Just a fantastic treat to watch every single moment of her on the screen. One of the greatest performances on film, ever!
William Holden's performance is also very good. Who could play opposite Swanson while more than holding his own and that is certainly Holden. His self- sickened character who is badly in need of cash ends up prostituting himself & paying the ultimate price for his choices. Holden really is not given enough credit for how truly marvelous his performance is.
Max...then there is the undying loyalty of Max. Norma Desmond's dedicated butler who is played to perfection by Erich Von Stroheim. Max's charcter would fit right into a 1950's horror film just as easily as he does in this film. He is the creepy over obsessed, over dedicated servant to the great Norma Desmond and Von Stronheim is simply brilliant.
Of course the film is directed & co-written by the very great Billy Wilder who made some of the greatest films ever made. Arguably this may be Wilder's finest effort, a masterful work in every way & for a film lover, pure bliss to watch. Pure bliss!
"All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.".
This review of Sunset Boulevard (1950) was written by Tomass P on 20 Mar 2013.
Sunset Boulevard has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
