The classic American film noir of 1950 Sunset Blvd tells the tale of an aging Hollywood star and her demise from screen to murder.
Its director, Billy Wilder, directed other iconic films and Sunset Blvd was awarded three oscars. The setting for the film, as the title may suggest, is the classic boulevard running through Beverley Hills in Los Angeles. For many this is associated with money, opulence and fame.
The movie stars William Holden as screenplay and down on his luck bum and Gloria Swanson is the faded, glamorous Norma Desmond who used to be a big star in the silent movie industry.
The plot centers around Holden in character as Joe Gillis, a young screenplay writer who is down on his luck. He owes money and has dreams of grandeur, which his pay check can not compete with. He meets Norma Desmond, a now aging star of the silent screen, and given his limited options he agrees to write a screenplay for her to relaunch her career.
Desmond is deluded. She is much older now and the silent movie industry is long gone. Gillis exploits this to his advantage though and moves in to her mansion and her heart. She is in love with him and when she feels him slipping away then she tries to take her life.
Norma Desmond is much older than Joe and she has matured a lot since her screen debut and Hollywood is not kind to old stars. The film company has little interest in starting Desmond's career through the offered screenplay and this does little to propel Joe into the spotlight either.
Joe is writing another script with another actress and he develops an attraction to her. He tells Norma that he is leaving and she prevents this by firing a single shot and killing him dead in her swimming pool.
At this point Desmond in her deranged, mentally unstable state delivers her classic line "I'm ready for my close up". She is unable to cope with reality preferring to switch to a fantasy world where she is at the center stage.
This is a tragic movie and reveals the inner darkness and corruption in the film industry. People become dispensable commodities and the film is testament to an actress with a mental illness who cannot accept that her youth and beauty are behind her.
She is a sad reminder of an industry that worships the young over everything else. This is particularly poignant in this day and age of cosmetic enhancement and shows how an individual can suffer once they lost their film making appeal.
Desmond has several maids and each are gentle with her and try to hide the fact that she has aged and grown out of touch with reality.
Sunset Boulevard is suitable for all ages and is a thought provoking look at the lives of the rich and famous. Desmond's lavish mansion, swimming pool and servants are things that are associated with making it in life, but her mental instability arising from her lost youth makes all these material possessions meaningless.
Gillis on the other hand is portrayed as a mercenary man who is out for his own greed. He shows some sympathy for Desmond's frailty, but ultimately he is out to exploit her for her wealth. - 40731
Its director, Billy Wilder, directed other iconic films and Sunset Blvd was awarded three oscars. The setting for the film, as the title may suggest, is the classic boulevard running through Beverley Hills in Los Angeles. For many this is associated with money, opulence and fame.
The movie stars William Holden as screenplay and down on his luck bum and Gloria Swanson is the faded, glamorous Norma Desmond who used to be a big star in the silent movie industry.
The plot centers around Holden in character as Joe Gillis, a young screenplay writer who is down on his luck. He owes money and has dreams of grandeur, which his pay check can not compete with. He meets Norma Desmond, a now aging star of the silent screen, and given his limited options he agrees to write a screenplay for her to relaunch her career.
Desmond is deluded. She is much older now and the silent movie industry is long gone. Gillis exploits this to his advantage though and moves in to her mansion and her heart. She is in love with him and when she feels him slipping away then she tries to take her life.
Norma Desmond is much older than Joe and she has matured a lot since her screen debut and Hollywood is not kind to old stars. The film company has little interest in starting Desmond's career through the offered screenplay and this does little to propel Joe into the spotlight either.
Joe is writing another script with another actress and he develops an attraction to her. He tells Norma that he is leaving and she prevents this by firing a single shot and killing him dead in her swimming pool.
At this point Desmond in her deranged, mentally unstable state delivers her classic line "I'm ready for my close up". She is unable to cope with reality preferring to switch to a fantasy world where she is at the center stage.
This is a tragic movie and reveals the inner darkness and corruption in the film industry. People become dispensable commodities and the film is testament to an actress with a mental illness who cannot accept that her youth and beauty are behind her.
She is a sad reminder of an industry that worships the young over everything else. This is particularly poignant in this day and age of cosmetic enhancement and shows how an individual can suffer once they lost their film making appeal.
Desmond has several maids and each are gentle with her and try to hide the fact that she has aged and grown out of touch with reality.
Sunset Boulevard is suitable for all ages and is a thought provoking look at the lives of the rich and famous. Desmond's lavish mansion, swimming pool and servants are things that are associated with making it in life, but her mental instability arising from her lost youth makes all these material possessions meaningless.
Gillis on the other hand is portrayed as a mercenary man who is out for his own greed. He shows some sympathy for Desmond's frailty, but ultimately he is out to exploit her for her wealth. - 40731
About the Author:
While making movies at Columbia, Marilyn adopted a Chihuahua she named Choo Choo in. Online Films His view of the back of several apartmentbuildings, their inner courtyard, and the persons dwelling within. The quality of their downloads is always excellent and the connection speed great.
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