Review of Sunset Boulevard (1950) by Nik B — 20 Jan 2010
When is a film noir stop being a film noir? When they bring out the dead monkey.
...And that happens pretty quickly in this story. We start with dead guy in the pool and, like all noirs, the narrarator comes out and says, "Poor sap. Here's how this happened..." But in this case, instead of following a mystery novel to its conclusion, we take the detour where broke, jobless writer accidentally falls into a mansion with a washed out 50-year old silent movie actress shut in.
The actress offers him a job editing down a horrible script she's been working on to get her comeback on. He needs the money, so he moves in. And she pretty much makes him her bitch. Buying him clothes, gifts and all the cigarettes in the history of the world. (People in '50s movies smoke a lot.).
The actress Norma, played with crazy clenched teeth by Gloria Swanson, is a complete headcase drama queen. Remember the monkey? That was her pet. She also attempts suicide when lover boy rejects her for the first time. But like all crazy bitches, the shine under a spotlight. A great scene back at the studio actually puts you in her corner for a while. Until the famous closing line, that is. She did not win the Oscar, but her delivery was perfectly campy and over the top.
This review of Sunset Boulevard (1950) was written by Nik B on 20 Jan 2010.
Sunset Boulevard has generally received very positive reviews.
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