X
- 1950
- Approved
- Paramount Pictures
- 1 h 50 m
- 1950
- Approved
- Paramount Pictures
- 1 h 50 m
Summary Billy Wilder's 1950 classic stars Gloria Swanson as has-been silent film star Norma Desmond.
Directed By: Billy Wilder
Written By: Charles Brackett, D.M. Marshman Jr., Billy Wilder
- 1950
- Approved
- Paramount Pictures
- 1 h 50 m
- 1950
- Approved
- Paramount Pictures
- 1 h 50 m
Sunset Boulevard
8.5
Where to Watch
Summary Billy Wilder's 1950 classic stars Gloria Swanson as has-been silent film star Norma Desmond.
Directed By: Billy Wilder
Written By: Charles Brackett, D.M. Marshman Jr., Billy Wilder
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 32 Critic Reviews
94
100% Positive
32 Reviews
32 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 32 Critic Reviews
94
100% Positive
32 Reviews
32 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
In its precision, perversity and stinging wit, Sunset Boulevard still has mighty sharp teeth.
There's a long tradition of filmmakers poking fun at the movie business. But no one bit the hand that fed him more viciously or with sharper fangs than Billy Wilder in Sunset Boulevard.
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 102 User Ratings
8.5
91% Positive
93 Ratings
93 Ratings
6% Mixed
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
3% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 102 User Ratings
8.5
91% Positive
93 Ratings
93 Ratings
6% Mixed
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
3% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
Not exactly a hot take here, but this is nothing short of one of Billy Wilder's best works and one of the greatest film noirs ever made. The narrative, the structure, the dialogue, the acting, the camerawork - this is one of those impeccably rare occasions where every aspect of a film is so unbelievably well-executed that it really doesn't age. An easy, easy classic and one that should be seen by many, if not all, at one point or another.
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Although Billy Wilder's 1950 Hollywood noir Sunset Boulevard gets less attention as a travelogue, it's both an examination of the dark psychological landscape of out-of-fashion show-business types (as underlined by the title) and an actual trip through its physical environment.
Sunset Boulevard remains the best drama ever made about the movies because it sees through the illusions, even if Norma doesn't.
Billy Wilder’s cynical edge is finely honed in this darkly amusing satire, which won three Academy Awards. It’s a film that is perennially ready for its close-up.
A tour de force for Swanson and one of Wilder’s better efforts.
This brittle satiric tribute to Hollywood's leopard-skin past--it's narrated by a corpse-- is almost too clever, yet it's at its best in this cleverness, and is slightly banal in the sequences dealing with a normal girl (Nancy Olson) and modern Hollywood.
Billy Wilder’s paramount triumph of film-noir melodrama, piercing through the Hollywood industry’s utter callousness and an over-the-hill silent era actress’ poignant illusion of a comeback to garner the spotlight.
The film begins like DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944, 8/10), our ill-fated protagonist Joe Gills (Holden), a 30 something hack writer for the Hollywood studio, narrates beyond his grave to reveal the tragedy ending - as shown in a majestic shot from the angle of the bottom of a swimming pool (a trick done by putting a mirror in the bottom and shot from its reflection), a man’s body is floating on the water, facing down, and for sharp eyes, it is obviously Joe himself.
continue reading my review on my blog: google cinema omnivore, thanks
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On old Hollywood ass/Writer's ass writer's movie, in a good way. Really great performances but the suspense doesn't get there in the end for me. Awesome ending.
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The Norma Desmond replaced her beloved pet chimpanzee with the main character.
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It is damn near impossible to say something bad about Sunset Boulevard. A classic in every sense of the word, this one shows why Billy Wilder's work is so critically acclaimed. Brilliant directed, paced, written, and some great acting from William Holden and Gloria Swanson, come together to form one of the most well-known and popular film noirs of all-time. Riveting throughout, this one tells the story of Hollywood gone wrong and really all comes together well. The narration and identity of the narrator were both great, great touches that really worked wonders for the film. The characters are all well-written and, oddly, sympathetic. Overall, Sunset Boulevard is a really cool film that I cannot recommend enough. Though it may not be my favorite film ever obviously, it is still really, really good and you can easily see why it has gotten the praise it has over the years.
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On a déjà vu des films de ce genre qui traitent de vieilles gloires surannées du cinéma muet et qui n'ont pas passé le cap du parlant... et là blablabla... c'est le drame (si j'ose dire).
A l'époque en 1950, peut-être que ça interpellait un certain public nostalgique mais de là à en faire une patate chaude de presque deux plombes, faudrait pas pousser Mamie dans les orties. Donc c'est William Holden qui s'y colle et je n'ai a priori rien contre lui, car ce n'est certainement pas le pire bellâtre de ce temps-là. Loin de là, même.
Et William donc, scénariste minable devient gigolo à son insu ou pas totalement de la... (j'allais écrire la vieille bique, n'exagérons rien) de la vieille dame encore chouette mais pas tout-à-fait qui n'a pas encore imprimé que "le changement, c'est maintenant". La voix off tente de mettre du liant à cette histoire qui endormirait une tortue mais sans succès, hélas.
Parce que de toute façon, pour blablater ça blablate, ça déblatère et on pique du nez à vitesse grand V. La mise en scène de poisson crevé dans le coma n'aide pas non plus à tenir la rampe tandis que la "star" du muet est décidément très loquace et une caricature totale, sans nuance et sans talent, y compris jusqu'à la fin grotesque.
Remarquez, j'ai presque eu un film muet la plupart du temps : pendant qu'on accélére avec la télécommande, on entend plus leurs conneries. Ouf.
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Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 3 Wins & 11 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 4 Wins & 7 Nominations
National Board of Review, USA
• 3 Wins & 3 Nominations
