Sunset Boulevard (also known as Sunset Blvd.) is a 1950 motion picture drama named for the famous street, Sunset Boulevard, in Los Angeles. movie poster for film Sunset Boulevard (movie) This is a copyrighted poster. ... Billy Wilder (June 22, 1906–March 27, 2002) had a career as a screenwriter, film director and producer that spanned more than 50 years and more than 60 films. ... Charles Brackett (November 26, 1892-March 9, 1969) was an accomplished movie screenwriter and movie producer. ... For the North Carolina Governor by this name, please see William Woods Holden. ... Gloria Swanson (March 27, 1897 - April 4, 1983) was an American actress. ... Erich Von Stroheim (September 22, 1885 - May 12, 1957) was a filmmaker and actor, noted for his arrogant Teutonic character parts. ... The Paramount Pictures logo used from 1987 to 1995. ... August 4 is the 216th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (217th in leap years), with 149 days remaining. ... 1950 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... See also: 1949 in film 1950 1951 in film 1950s in film 1940s in film years in film film Events February 15 - Walt Disney Studios animated film Cinderella debuts. ... Film refers to the celluloid media on which movies are printed Film is a term that encompasses motion pictures as individual projects, as well as the field in general. ... Sunset Boulevard is a street in the western part of Los Angeles County, California, that stretches from Figueroa Street in Downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Coast Highway at the Pacific Ocean in the Pacific Palisades. ... Griffith Observatory and the Downtown Los Angeles skyline. ...

The movie, directed and co-written by Billy Wilder, tells the story of a down-on-his-luck screenwriter, Joe Gillis (William Holden), who becomes entangled with a faded movie star of the silent era, Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), who believes she can make a comeback. Supporting performers include Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson, Fred Clark, Lloyd Gough and Jack Webb. There are cameo appearances by Cecil B. DeMille, Buster Keaton, H. B. Warner, Anna Q. Nilsson and Hedda Hopper. The film director, on the right, gives last minute direction to the cast and crew, whilst filming a costume drama on location in London. ... Billy Wilder (June 22, 1906–March 27, 2002) had a career as a screenwriter, film director and producer that spanned more than 50 years and more than 60 films. ... For the North Carolina Governor by this name, please see William Woods Holden. ... A movie star is a celebrity who is well known for his or her starring, or leading, roles in motion pictures. ... A silent film is a film which has no accompanying soundtrack. ... Gloria Swanson (March 27, 1897 - April 4, 1983) was an American actress. ... Erich Von Stroheim (September 22, 1885 - May 12, 1957) was a filmmaker and actor, noted for his arrogant Teutonic character parts. ... Nancy Olson and William Holden in Sunset Boulevard Nancy Olson (born July 14, 1928 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an American actress. ... Frederick Leonard Clark (March 19, 1914 – December 5, 1968) was an American film actor. ... Lloyd Gough (September 21, 1907 – July 23, 1984) was an American theater, film, and television actor. ... John Randolph Jack Webb (April 2, 1920 - December 23, 1982) was an American actor, television producer, and writer who is most famous for his role as a detective in the television series Dragnet. ... Cecil Blount DeMille (August 12, 1881 - January 21, 1959) was one of the most successful filmmakers during the first half of the 20th century. ... Joseph Francis Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966), always known as Buster Keaton, was a popular and influential American silent_film comic actor and filmmaker. ... H. B. Warner (26 October 1875, London - 21 December 1958, Woodland Hills, California) was a British actor, born Henry B. Warner. ... Anna Quirentia Nilsson (March 30, 1888 – February 11, 1974) was a Swedish actress who achieved success in American silent movies. ... Hedda Hopper (May 2, 1885 – February 1, 1966) was an American actress and newspaper gossip columnist. ...

The film has become widely accepted as a classic, admired as a penetrating satire of the movie business and as one of the outstanding films ever produced by the Hollywood studio system. Sunset Boulevard was ranked number 12 on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 best American films of the 20th century. The American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1965 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act. ...

Plot

Holden plays Joe Gillis, who becomes the "kept man" of the aging star, played by Swanson, in her large mansion on Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills. The opening scenes reveal that Gillis has been killed, and he is first seen as a corpse floating face down in a swimming pool. He narrates the remainder of the movie and explains how his liaison with Desmond led to his murder. Gillis was trying to escape two repossession agents when he sought refuge in what he believed to be an empty mansion on Sunset Boulevard. After meeting its occupants, a German butler and an eccentric older woman, he realises that she is Norma Desmond, formerly one of the great stars of the silent screen. She offers him a job reading a script she has been writing for her planned return to the screen, and, short of money, he agrees. After some time he assumes the role of a "kept man", but is horrified to learn that Norma is in love with him. Seeking refuge at a friend's house, he speaks with a young woman, Betty, who is interested in his writing. He phones the Desmond house to say he is leaving, but is told Norma has attempted suicide. After rushing back to the mansion, he comforts her and stays. Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, U.S.A., which is bordered on the north by the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, on the east by the City of West Hollywood and the Fairfax District of the City of Los Angeles...

The corpse of Joe Gillis floating in Norma Desmond's pool, in the film's opening scenes.

The two appear to be relatively contented, and Norma continues working on her script, finally sending it to Paramount Studios. When she receives calls from the studio she assumes Cecil B De Mille is interested in filming the project and goes off to the studio to meet with him. Gillis and the butler learn that the studio only wants to hire Norma's vintage car but hide this from her. Joe begins secretly meeting with Betty, working on a screenplay, and they fall in love. When Norma discovers this she phones Betty, and tells her what sort of man Joe really is. Joe takes the phone and tells Betty to come to the house, where he explains his side of the situation and sends Betty away. Misundertanding his actions, Norma is grateful to Joe, but he brushes her thanks away and begins packing to leave the house. Norma threatens to shoot him, but he does not take her seriously. As he walks away, she shoots him several times before he falls dead into the pool. Download high resolution version (1276x952, 85 KB)screenshot of actor William Holden from the film Sunset Boulevard (movie) This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... Download high resolution version (1276x952, 85 KB)screenshot of actor William Holden from the film Sunset Boulevard (movie) This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ...

After Joe's death, Norma loses herself in her fantasy world and when news cameras come to film her, she believes she is on the set of her new film. She descends her grand staircase and after making a speech declaring her happiness at making a new film, she reaches for the camera, and as she moves closer to it, the screen fades to white, as the narrator concludes that Norma's wish has, in an unexpected way, come true for her.

Background

The street, Sunset Boulevard, has been associated with the film production of Hollywood almost since its beginning, when the first film studio opened on Sunset Boulevard in 1911. The earliest film workers lived modestly in the neighborhood that began to grow near the studios, but during the 1920s as profits and salaries rose to unprecedented levels, so too did the development of the "star system" along with star homes noted for their often incongruous grandeur. As new areas were developed, large Italianate palaces were built alongside imposing Tudor castles. The stars themselves were the subject of public fascination throughout the world, and magazines and newspapers reported the excesses of their lives. 1911 is a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... Sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or primarily in North America as the Roaring Twenties. Events and trends Technology John T. Thompson invents Thompson submachine gun, also known as Tommy gun John Logie Baird invents the first working television system (1925) Charles Lindbergh becomes the first person to fly... A movie star is a celebrity who is well known for his or her starring, or leading, roles in motion pictures. ...

As a young man in Warsaw, Poland, Billy Wilder was interested in American culture, with much of his interest fuelled by American films. By the late 1940s many of the grand Hollywood houses remained, and Wilder, now resident in Los Angeles, found they were part of his current everyday world. Many of the famous stars of the silent era still lived in those palaces, most of them no longer involved in the film business. Wilder wondered how they spent their time now that "the parade had passed them by" and began to think about the story of a star who has lost her standing. Charles Brackett said that the idea of adding a gigolo to the storyline was provided by D. M. Marshman Jr. who was also credited officially on the screenplay. Warsaw (Polish: Warszawa, see also other names, in full The Capital City of Warsaw, Polish: Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa) is the capital of Poland and its largest city. ... Billy Wilder (June 22, 1906–March 27, 2002) had a career as a screenwriter, film director and producer that spanned more than 50 years and more than 60 films. ... Events and trends The 1940s were dominated by World War II, the most destructive armed conflict in history. ...

Casting

As the story began to take shape they envisioned a satire on ambition and the role of sex appeal, and they intended it as a vehicle of Mae West. After several discussions with her she refused to commit to the project, eventually telling them that she considered herself to be too young to play a former silent screen actress. They decided to change the tone of the film, and met with Pola Negri, who according to Wilder, "threw a tantrum at the mere suggestion of playing a has-been", however Wilder also noted that her heavy Polish accent would prove difficult, and ruled her out of contention. They next met with "America's Sweetheart" Mary Pickford in what Wilder referred to as "a bout of insanity". He recalled the meeting at her home Pickfair, during which Pickford grew more alarmed as the unfolded the plot to her. Finally they withdrew, with an acknowledgement that they had been incorrect in considering her, and a profuse apology. Satire is a literary technique of writing or art which principally ridicules its subject (for example, individuals, organizations, or states) often as an intended means of provoking or preventing change. ... Ambition could refer to one of the following: Motivation, especially to improve a situation. ... Sex in advertising is the use of sexual interest as a tool of persuasion to draw interest to a particular product, for purpose of sale. ... MAE-West is a major Internet peering point located in San Jose, California. ... Pola Negri (December 31, 1894 – August 1, 1987) was a Polish film actress who achieved notoriety as a femme fatale in silent films. ... Mary Pickford Mary Pickford (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979) was a motion picture star, known as Americas Sweetheart and the girl with the curl. ... Pickfair was the name of the Hollywood mansion home of silent film actors Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. ...

George Cukor suggested Gloria Swanson. Wilder later commented that they had not considered Paramount Studios' top silent screen actress because they believed she was "somehow unattainable". Swanson was chagrined to be asked to submit to a screentest, reportedly saying that she had "built Paramount", a reaction that was later echoed in the screenplay. In her memoir she recalled asking Cukor if it was unreasonable of her to refuse the screentest, and he replied that Norma Desmond would be the role for which she would be remembered. "If they ask you to do ten screentests, do ten screentests, or I will personally shoot you". In a 1975 interview Wilder commented, "there was a lot of Norma in her, you know". George Cukor (July 7, 1899 - January 23, 1983) was an American film director. ... The Paramount Pictures logo used from 1988 to 1989. ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ...

William Holden and Gloria Swanson in a scene where Joe and Norma are watching one of her films.

Like Desmond, Swanson had been one of the most feted actresses of the silent screen, known for her beauty, talent and extravagant lifestyle. At her peak in 1925 she was said to have received 10,000 fan letters in a single week. She had also lived on Sunset Boulevard in an elaborate Italianate palace, from 1920 until the early 1930s. Fan magazines often wrote of the luxurious furnishings, including a black marble bathroom which Swanson was said to have had specially fitted with a solid gold bathtub, and of elaborate parties Swanson hosted for Hollywood's elite. In these areas Swanson was a strong reflection of what the writers now wanted in the Desmond character, but the resemblance ended there. Swanson had gracefully drifted away from the screen when she had realized her time was past. She had moved successfully on with her life, and had cut many of her Hollywood ties. By this time she was living in New York, where she acted on television, but she was more occupied with her family of three children and her business interests, to dwell much on the career she had once had. Returning to Hollywood was not something she had seriously contemplated. screenshot showing actors William Holden and Gloria Swanson in the film Sunset Boulevard This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... screenshot showing actors William Holden and Gloria Swanson in the film Sunset Boulevard This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... 1925 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1920 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ... Events and trends The 1930s were spent struggling for a solution to the global depression. ... Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the state of New York and the entire United States. ...

Montgomery Clift was signed to play Joe Gillis, but he withdrew shortly before filming began, reportedly because he did not want to play love scenes with an older actress. Fred MacMurray was asked to step in but he declined. They then offered the part to William Holden, a young actor who had made an impressive debut in Golden Boy (1939) but who had spent the next decade in second-rate films. Montgomery Clift Montgomery Clift (October 17, 1920 - July 23, 1966) was an American actor. ... Frederick Martin MacMurray (August 30, 1908–November 5, 1991) was a Hollywood actor who appeared in over one hundred movies, during a career that lasted from the 1930s to the 1970s. ... Golden Boy is the title of a play by Clifford Odets, first staged in 1937 by the Group Theatre. ... 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Erich von Stroheim, a leading film director of the 1920s who had directed Swanson, was signed to play Max, the faithful servant, who helps keep Norma safe in the world she has created for herself. In the film it is revealed the Max von Mayerling was Desmond's director, a touch of authenticity that pleased Wilder. Erich Von Stroheim (September 22, 1885 - May 12, 1957) was a filmmaker and actor, noted for his arrogant Teutonic character parts. ...

For the role of Betty Schaeffer, Wilder wanted a newcomer who could project a wholesome and ordinary image to contrast with Swanson's flamboyant Desmond. He chose Nancy Olsen, who had recently been considered for the role of Delilah in Samson and Delilah. Samson and Dalilah by Tintoretto (1518 - 1594) Delilah or Dlila (דְּלִילָה, Standard Hebrew meaning [One who] weakened or uprooted or impoverished from the root dal meaning weak or poor. Also: Dəlila, Tiberian Hebrew Dəlîlāh; Arabic Dalilah), was the woman in the valley of Sorek whom Samson loved, and was his...

Writing

In the final scene Norma Desmond says, "All right, Mr DeMille, I'm ready for my closeup" before appearing to reach into the camera and dissolve into the light.

The sharp and witty dialogue includes a handful of instantly recognizable lines, "I am big. It's the pictures that got small." and "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my closeup." There are also several obliquely self-referential comments on the movie itself that break through the fourth wall. (For example, at a New Year's Eve party, hepcat Arnie (Jack Webb) tells guests to watch how much punch they consume, remarking that the budget calls for only "three drinks per extra." In Swanson's closing scene, she refers to "all those people sitting out there in the dark.") Moreover, as noted above, it includes cameos by such Hollywood luminaries as Buster Keaton and Hedda Hopper, and Cecil B. DeMille makes an extended appearance as himself. And in one scene, Desmond watches herself in one of her early movies; the movie she is watching is one of Gloria Swanson's own silents, Queen Kelly, in which she was directed by Erich von Stroheim (who plays Desmond's butler/manservant, Max). Download high resolution version (1278x954, 103 KB)screenshot of actress Gloria Swanson from the film Sunset Boulevard (movie) This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... Download high resolution version (1278x954, 103 KB)screenshot of actress Gloria Swanson from the film Sunset Boulevard (movie) This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... Specifically in a proscenium theater, the term fourth wall applies to the imaginary invisible wall at the front of the stage in a theater through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play. ... Joseph Francis Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966), always known as Buster Keaton, was a popular and influential American silent_film comic actor and filmmaker. ... Hedda Hopper (May 2, 1885 – February 1, 1966) was an American actress and newspaper gossip columnist. ... Cecil Blount DeMille (August 12, 1881 - January 21, 1959) was one of the most successful filmmakers during the first half of the 20th century. ... Erich Von Stroheim (September 22, 1885 - May 12, 1957) was a filmmaker and actor, noted for his arrogant Teutonic character parts. ...

The humor is darkly cynical and its view of the seamy side of Hollywood presages such later works as David Lynch's Mulholland Drive, which includes more than a few references to this movie. The name Desmond was almost certainly borrowed from that of William Desmond Taylor, the Hollywood director whose murder in 1922 caused a series of nationwide scandals. Greetings from Hollywood Hollywood is a district of the city of Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., that extends from Vermont Avenue on the east to just beyond Laurel Canyon Boulevard above Sunset and Crescent Heights Boulevards on the west; the north to south boundary east of La Brea Avenue... Mulholland Drive is a motion picture, released in 2001 and directed by David Lynch. ... William Desmond Taylor (April 26, 1872 – February 1, 1922) was a US film director who was a successful and popular Hollywood figure. ...

Sunset Boulevard was an original screenplay by Charles Brackett, D. M. Marshman, Jr. and Billy Wilder. Before and during filming the project was known as A Can of Beans, as Wilder and Brackett believed Paramount executives would not allow production to continue if they were fully aware of the subject matter. Wilder later said that the studio had been given a broad outline of the storyline which bore no resemblance to the writer's intention, and allowed Wilder and Brackett considerable freedom as a result of their previous successes. When filming started a screenplay existed for only the first third of the film. It was only during filming that they decided on the ending. Charles Brackett (November 26, 1892-March 9, 1969) was an accomplished movie screenwriter and movie producer. ... Billy Wilder (June 22, 1906–March 27, 2002) had a career as a screenwriter, film director and producer that spanned more than 50 years and more than 60 films. ...

Music and design

The atmospheric cinematography of John F. Seitz. In this scene Norma Desmond is dramatically lit by a movie projector.

The dark and shadowy film noir cinematography style of the film was the work of John F. Seitz. Wilder allowed Seitz great latitude, as demonstrated by his recollection of a conversation about the lighting required for the filming of the funeral of Norma Desmond's monkey. Seitz recalled asking Wilder what he wanted, and Wilder replied "you know, just your standard monkey funeral shot". Wilder also revealed that for some interior shots, Seitz would sprinkle dust in front of the camera before filming, to suggest the "mustiness" of the place, a trick he had also used during production of Double Indemnity (1944). screenshot of actress Gloria Swanson from the film Sunset Boulevard (movie) This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... screenshot of actress Gloria Swanson from the film Sunset Boulevard (movie) This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... Double Indemnity is a 1944 film noir It stars Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G. Robinson. ...

Wilder was very specific in the way he wanted Joe Gillis' corpse to be filmed from the bottom of the pool. The art director John Meehan undertook various experiments, including building a tank to enclose the camera underwater, but this was not successful. He was able to achieve the shot by placing a mirror on the bottom of the pool and filming Holden's reflection, with the distorted images of the policeman standing around the pool, forming a backdrop.

Edith Head was responsible for the costume design, and had also worked with Wilder. For Norma Desmond they decided that although she lived in the past she would have remained somewhat up to date in fashion, so rather than dress her in authentic 1920s costumes, Head designed costumes that closely resembled the mid 1940s Dior and Chanel look, added embelishments to make them appear exaggerated, and in terms of fashion style, only a few seasons out of date. As Swanson recalled in her biography they were "a trifle outdated, a trifle exotic". Head later described her assignment as "the most challenging of my career", and explained her approach with the comment, "Because Norma Desmond was an actress who had become lost in her own imagination, I tried to to make her look like she was always impersonating someone". Swanson worked closely with Head in choosing Desmond's costumes, and Head observed that although she had worked in the Hollywood of the 1920's she relied on Swanson's expertise. "She (Swanson) was creating a past that she knew and I didn't." Edith Head (October 28, 1897 - October 24, 1981) was an American costume designer who had a long career in Hollywood that garnered more Academy Awards than any other woman in history. ... 1940 was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Christian Dior (January 21, 1905 – October 24, 1957) was an influential French fashion designer. ... Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel (August 19, 1883 – January 10, 1971) was a pioneering French couturier whose modernist philosophy, menswear-inspired fashions, and pursuit of expensive simplicity made her arguably the most important figure in the history of 20th-century fashion design. ...

Head was also responsible for the costumes of William Holden, which ranged from a cheap suit, to the more expensive tailored items his character acquired from Desmond. Although Head also designed the costumes for some of the minor characters, Von Stroheim wore a uniform of his own choosing throughout the shooting, and Nancy Olson wore clothes which Billy Wilder chose from her own personal wardrobe.

Franz Waxman another of Wilder's former collaborators provided the musical score. His theme for Norma was based around tango music, and was contrasted with Joe Gillis' be-bop theme. For the final scenes of the film he used a distorted arrangement of the type of exotic music that had been used in the types of films both Swanson and Desmond had made. The film's soundtrack was released on CD for the first time in 2002. Franz Waxman (December 24, 1906 - February 24, 1967), born Franz Wachsmann, was a German-American composer of music for films. ... Tango may have one of the following meanings. ... Bebop or bop is a form of jazz which uses a fast tempo and complex improvisational techniques. ... Size of CD compared to pencil. ... 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The overstated decadence of Norma Desmond's home was created by set designer Hans Drier, whose career extended back to the silent era, and who also had provided the interior design for some movie stars residences, including that of Mae West.

Touches of authenticity

Wilder wanted to create a film that dealt with a world of illusion and he deliberately placed the illusion within an authentic setting. Norma Desmond began to take on some of the attributes of the actress now signed to play her. For the dozens of photographs of Norma that adorned her home, Swanson was asked to bring her own personal mementoes, and she also brought a large oil painting of herself that was featured prominently.

Erich von Stroheim and William Holden

Erich von Stroheim, a leading director of the silent era, who had directed Swanson, was signed to play the part of Norma's servant Max, a leading director of the silent era, who had directed Norma. Wilder wanted to use a scene from an old film of Norma's to further demonstrate what she was once capable of. Logically it should be one of Swanson's to be used, but he considered it would be even more interesting if it was one directed by von Stroheim. The film selected, and which Norma, Joe and Max watch, is Queen Kelly (1928), an expensive failure that had ended von Stoheim's career. Wilder said he could not believe his luck in being able to bring the star, the director and the film together for the scene. Cecil B. De Mille, often credited as the person most responsible for making Swanson a star, agreed to play himself, and was filmed on the set of his current film Samson and Delilah at Paramount Studios. In the film he calls Norma "young fellow", which was the name he had always called Swanson, a tiny detail of authenticity suggested by de Mille, which many in the audience would not have recognised, but which pleased Wilder. In another scene, Norma Desmond performs a pantomime for Joe Gillis as a Mack Sennett "Bathing Beauty" (one of Swanson's earliest film roles), and she also performed a Charles Chaplin impersonation, which was identical to one she performed in Masquerade (1924). Norma's friends, though not named in the film as anything more than "The Waxworks", who came to play bridge with her, were played by Swanson's contemporaries Buster Keaton, Anna Q. Nilsson and H. B. Warner. Even the scenes of Joe Gillis and Betty Schaefer on Paramount's backlot, were filmed on the actual backlot. Finally, as Norma plays her dramatic final scene, it is witnessed by the notable gossip columnist, Hedda Hopper, playing herself. Wilder later disclosed that he had written a humorous scene to be played by Hopper and her rival Louella Parsons as they battled for the "scoop" at the end of the film, however Parsons refused to appear in any film which included Hopper, and Wilder was forced to revise the scene. screenshot of Erich von Stroheim and William Holden from the film Sunset Boulevard (movie) This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... screenshot of Erich von Stroheim and William Holden from the film Sunset Boulevard (movie) This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... Erich Von Stroheim (September 22, 1885 - May 12, 1957) was a filmmaker and actor, noted for his arrogant Teutonic character parts. ... Samson and Delilah is a 1949 film directed by Cecil B. DeMille, starring Victor Mature and Hedy Lamarr as the title characters. ... Pantomime may refer to two different types of performing arts. ... Michael (or Micheal) Sinnott (January 17, 1880 - November 5, 1960), better known as Mack Sennett, was an innovator of slapstick comedy in film. ... For the Jamaican musician named Charlie Chaplin, see Charlie Chaplin (singer). ... The word masquerade has a number of meanings: A masquerade ball is a ball, dance, or party; in which, participants wear elaborate costumes and hide their true identity. ... Joseph Francis Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966), always known as Buster Keaton, was a popular and influential American silent_film comic actor and filmmaker. ... Anna Quirentia Nilsson (March 30, 1888 – February 11, 1974) was a Swedish actress who achieved success in American silent movies. ... H. B. Warner (26 October 1875, London - 21 December 1958, Woodland Hills, California) was a British actor, born Henry B. Warner. ... Hedda Hopper (May 2, 1885 – February 1, 1966) was an American actress and newspaper gossip columnist. ... Louella Parsons (August 6, 1881 – December 9, 1972) was an American gossip columnist. ...

Reaction to the film

Nervous about a major screening in Hollywood, they elected to have the film preview in Evanston, Illinois. In its original edit it opened with a scene that was one of the few ideas carried right through the project from its beginnings as a Mae West comedy. It took place inside a morgue with the assembled corpses discussing how they had come to this place. Joe Gillis was one of the corpses and began telling about his murder. The crowd reacted with roars of laughter, and then sat silent when the scene finished and the flashback main storyline began, seemingly unsure how to view it. They tried it again in New York with the same reaction, and Wilder decided the scene had to go and began organise for a new opening sequence to be filmed. Finally it was taken to Poughkeepsie, New York for a screening which proved highly successful. The Arch, the main entrance to the Evanston campus of Northwestern University Evanston (elevation 600 ft. ... A morgue is a building or room (as in a hospital) used for the storage of human remains. ... Poughkeepsie is a name referring to two locations in Dutchess County, New York. ...

In Hollywood, Paramount arranged a private screening for the heads of the various studios and specially invited guests. The reaction was overwhelming. Barbara Stanwyck bowed to kiss the hem of Gloria Swanson's skirt, Edith Head told Swanson "you should never have left". Mary Pickford disappeared into the ladies room, and Edith Head explained to Swanson "she can't speak. She's too moved". The only dissenting voice came from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer executive Louis B. Mayer who loudly berated Wilder before the crowd of celebrities with "You have disgraced the industry that made and fed you. You should be tarred and feathered and run out of Hollywood". The actress Mae Murray, a contemporary of Swanson's, was offended by the film and commented "None of us floozies was that nuts". Paramount Studios mounted a promotional campaign which included positive quotes from many popular stars of the day. Barbara Stanwyck in Stella Dallas (1937 Barbara Stanwyck (born Ruby Katherine Stevens) (July 16, 1907 - January 20, 1990) was an American film and television actress. ... Edith Head (October 28, 1897 - October 24, 1981) was an American costume designer who had a long career in Hollywood that garnered more Academy Awards than any other woman in history. ... Mary Pickford Mary Pickford (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979) was a motion picture star, known as Americas Sweetheart and the girl with the curl. ... For alternate meanings of MGM, see MGM (disambiguation). ... Louis B. Mayer (July 4, 1885–October 29, 1957) was an American film producer. ... Mae Murray (May 10, 1889 - March 23, 1965) was an American actress and dancer, known as The Girl with the Bee-Stung Lips and The Gardenia of the Screen. Born Marie Adrienne Koenig in Portsmouth, Virginia, she got her start in acting on Broadway with dancer Vernon Castle in 1906. ...

After Sunset Boulevard

Sunset Boulevard was the last collaboration between Wilder and Brackett, their relationship reported damaged by disputes over filming the montage scenes of Norma preparing to return to the screen. It marked the approximate midpoint of the years of Wilder's greatest success, and despite the lasting critical acclaim given to several Wilder films, it is widely considered his masterpiece.

Charles Brackett's Hollywood career declined rapidly after his split with Wilder. He wrote Niagara (film), which was the breakthrough film for Marilyn Monroe as a dramatic actress. It would be Wilder, however, who would realize her comedic abilities in The Seven Year Itch and Some Like it Hot. Niagara (1953) 1953 Technicolor film noir motion picture directed by Henry Hathaway. ... Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe (June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962) was an American actress of the 20th century. ... The Seven Year Itch is a 1955 movie starring Marilyn Monroe and directed by Billy Wilder. ... Some Like It Hot is a 1959 comedy film by Billy Wilder. ...

William Holden, after a decade languishing in unrewarding roles, finally began to receive more important parts and his career rose. In 1953, he won the Best Actor Oscar for Stalag 17 (also directed by Wilder), and in 1956 he was the number one box office attraction in the United States. 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Stalag 17 is a 1953 film which tells the story of a group of Allied soldiers held in a German World War II prisoner of war camp, who come to believe that one of their number is a traitor. ... 1956 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Gloria Swanson, who had achieved a unique comeback, was not able to sustain the renewed level of enthusiasm. Although offered scripts, she felt they all were poor imitations of Norma Desmond. Imagining a career that would eventually result in her playing "a parody of a parody," she quit, appearing in only four more films. She picked up her life in New York where she had left off, becoming a respected painter.

In the late 1950s, Swanson seriously considered using Sunset Boulevard as the basis for a new musical. In her version, the romance between Gillis and Shaefer was allowed to blossom, and rather than shoot Gillis at the end, Norma gave the couple her blessing and sent them on their way to live "happily ever after." Several songs were written, and Paramount Studios, who owned the copyright, appeared willing to allow the project to go ahead.

The studio ultimately withdrew its consent in 1957, saying that it would not permit an interpretation that would damage the existing and future reputation of the film. The studio did allowed television productions to be made for Lux Radio Theatre in 1955 with Miriam Hopkins, and Robert Montgomery Presents with Mary Astor and Darren McGavin because the storyline remained faithful to the original. 1957 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1955 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Miriam Hopkins (October 18, 1902–October 9, 1972) was an American actress. ... Robert Montgomery Presents was a dramatic television series which was produced by NBC from January 30, 1950 until June 24, 1957. ... Mary Astor (May 3, 1906 – September 25, 1987) was an American actress. ... Categories: People stubs | 1922 births | American actors | Cinema actors | Television actors ...

In 1960, the film was shown in New York City, drawing such a positive response that Paramount arranged for a limited release in theatres throughout the United States. 1960 was a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the largest city and largest metropolitan area, by population, in the United States. ...

Awards

Nancy Olson and William Holden. All four principal cast members were nominated for Academy Awards for their roles.

It won Academy Awards for : Download high resolution version (1278x948, 119 KB)screenshot of actors Nancy Olson and William Holden from the film Sunset Boulevard (movie) This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... Download high resolution version (1278x948, 119 KB)screenshot of actors Nancy Olson and William Holden from the film Sunset Boulevard (movie) This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ...

• Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White (Hans Dreier, John Meehan, Sam Comer and Ray Moyer.
• Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture (Franz Waxman)
• Best Writing, Story and Screenplay (Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder and D. M. Marshman Jr.)

It was nominated for: The Academy Awards are the oldest awards ceremony for achievements in motion pictures. ... From Rule Sixteen of the Special Rules for The Music Awards Original Score: An original score is a substantial body of music in the form of dramatic underscoring written specifically for the film by the submitting composer. ... Franz Waxman (December 24, 1906 - February 24, 1967), born Franz Wachsmann, was a German-American composer of music for films. ... The Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay is one of the Academy Awards, the most prominent film awards in the United States. ... Charles Brackett (November 26, 1892-March 9, 1969) was an accomplished movie screenwriter and movie producer. ... Billy Wilder (June 22, 1906–March 27, 2002) had a career as a screenwriter, film director and producer that spanned more than 50 years and more than 60 films. ...

• Best Picture
• Best Director (Billy Wilder)
• Best Actor in a Leading Role (William Holden)
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Erich von Stroheim)
• Best Actress in a Leading Role (Gloria Swanson)
• Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Nancy Olson)
• Best Cinematography, Black-and-White (John F. Seitz)
• Best Film Editing (Arthur P. Schmidt and Doane Harrison)

It also won Golden Globe awards for Best Motion Picture, Best Motion Picture Actress (Swanson), Best Motion Picture Director, and Best Motion Picture Score. Wilder and Brackett won a Writer's Guild of America Award for Best Written American Drama, while the Director's Guild of America nominated Wilder for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures. The National Board of Review voted it Best Picture and Swanson Best Actress. The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; the awards are voted on by other people within the industry. ... The Academy Award for Directing is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; the awards are voted on by other people within the industry. ... The Academy Award for Best Actor is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ... For the North Carolina Governor by this name, please see William Woods Holden. ... The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ... Erich Von Stroheim (September 22, 1885 - May 12, 1957) was a filmmaker and actor, noted for his arrogant Teutonic character parts. ... The Academy Award for Best Actress is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ... Gloria Swanson (March 27, 1897 - April 4, 1983) was an American actress. ... The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ... Nancy Olson and William Holden in Sunset Boulevard Nancy Olson (born July 14, 1928 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an American actress. ... The Academy Award for Best Cinematography is awarded each year to a cinematographer for his work in one particular motion picture. ... The Academy Award for Film Editing was first given for films issued in 1934. ... The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ... The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is the collective bargaining representative, or labor union, for writers in the motion picture and television industries. ... Directors Guild of America (DGA) is the labor union which represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry. ... The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures was founded in 1909 in New York City, just 13 years after the birth of cinema, to protest New York City Mayor George McClennans revocation of moving-picture exhibition licenses on Christmas Eve 1908. ...

In 1989, the film was among the first group of 25 films deemed "culturally significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. 1989 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Library of Congress, Jefferson building The Library of Congress is the unofficial national library of the United States. ... The National Film Registry is the registry of films selected by the United States National Film Preservation Board for preservation in the Library of Congress. ...

References

• Swanson, Gloria: Swanson on Swanson, The Making of a Hollywood Legend. Hamlyn, 1981. ISBN 0600204960
• Perry, George: Sunset Boulevard, From Movie to Musical. Pavilion, 1994. ISBN 1857932080
• Wiley, Mason and Bona, Damien: Inside Oscar, The Unofficial History of the Academy Awards. Ballantine Books, 1987. ISBN 0345344537
• Sunset Boulevard (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043014/) at the Internet Movie Database