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Billy Wilder's noir-comic classic about death and decay in Hollywood remains as pungent as ever in its power to provoke shock, laughter, and gasps of astonishment. Joe Gillis (William Holden), a broke and cynical young screenwriter, is attempting to ditch a pair of repo men late one afternoon when he pulls off L.A.'s storied Sunset Boulevard and into the driveway of a seedy mansion belonging to Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), a forgotten silent movie luminary whose brilliant acting career withered with the coming of talkies. The demented old movie queen lives in the past, assisted by her devoted (but intimidating) butler, Max (played by Erich von Stroheim, the legendary director of Greed and Swanson's own lost epic, Queen Kelly). Norma dreams of making a comeback in a remake of Salome to be directed by her old colleague Cecil B. DeMille (as himself), and Joe becomes her literary and romantic gigolo. Sunset Blvd. is one of those great movies that has become a part of popular culture (the line "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up," has entered the language)--but it's no relic. Wow, does it ever hold up. --Jim Emerson
Special Features
The highlights of the Sunset Boulevard DVD are a standout transfer and three 2002 documentaries. In "Sunset Boulevard: A Look Back" (26 min.), author Ed Sikov, actress Nancy Olson (who played Betty Schaefer), critic Andrew Sarris, and producer A.C. Lyles discuss the perfect cast, the alternate opening, and various anecdotes. "Edith Head: The Paramount Years" (13 min.) and "Franz Waxman and the Music of Sunset Boulevard" (14.5 min.) provide retrospectives on the legendary costume designer and composer. Sikov, the author of On Sunset Boulevard: The Life and Times of Billy Wilder, also provides a very informative if rather dry commentary track. Other features include a map spotlighting the Hollywood locations in the film, photo galleries, and two versions of the script for the original morgue opening, one of which is supplemented with silent footage cut from the picture. --David Horiuchi
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
Swanson deserved the Academy Award for this picture. The ending shot alone shows this.
A superb film all the way around except for the casting of Nancy Olson. Inexplicably, Olson won a supporting actress nomination from the academy that year, but I fail to see why. Her character gets on my nerves, especially making goo eyes at William Holden. But this is just a little quirk I have.
The film succeeds brilliantly mainly because of Swanson. It has an effecting score, great cinematography and great acting from the principle characters (Olson notwithstanding).
You will not be disappointed with this one!
By Otm Shank
Format:DVD
This is one of the best American movies of all time, undoubtedly, and you won't be disappointed by this transfer to DVD: gorgeous, crisp black and white, with little pixelation.
I was slightly disappointed by the commentary track. The commentator, although knowledgeable in his subject, doesn't appreciate that most people watching the movie with commentary aren't seeing it for the first time. He will say things like, "And then Norma states a classic line," and will pause, and we wait to hear her say the classic line. Okay... but what's the point? This isn't the first time we've seen the movie, after all. I listen to commentaries to find out things I don't know, and in this respect the dvd is lacking.
Overall, though, every movie lover will want 'Sunset Boulevard' in his or her collection, and there is no reason to pass on this edition.
By ptilyn
Format:DVD
A classic. If you ever heard the line " I'm ready for my close up Mr. Deville" and wondered what it meant or where it came from. It's the famous line said in this movie.
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4.8 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
I'm shocked it didn't win Best Picture
Sunset Blvd. is often overlooked as first-tier Hollywood filmmaking in light of other classics such as Citizen Kane, Casablanca or It's a Wonderful Life. Read more
Published on July 5 2007 by Rob Larmer
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Back at that pool again. The one I always wanted"
I watched "Sunset Boulevard" (1950) for the first time a few days ago, after a friend lent it to me. Read more
Published on Jan 7 2007 by M. B. Alcat
5.0 out of 5 stars
A movie for lover of movies
"Life which can be so minuscule had taken pity on Norma Desmond. The dream she had clung to so desperately had enfolded her. Read more
Published on July 9 2006 by bernie
5.0 out of 5 stars
FULL AND WIDE
While widescreen films date back as early as 1930 (The Bat Whispers), Sunset Boulvard is not a widescreen DVD because Sunset Boulevard is not a widescreen film.
Published on July 8 2004 by J. Poling
5.0 out of 5 stars
A supreme film: a ltrue andmark in the american cinema.
This movie belongs to the legend from its release. Never before Wilder got down to the deepest regions of the soul, like in this one. Read more
Published on Jun 4 2004 by Hiram Gomez Pardo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not Sure Widescreen existed in 1950
In response to the reviewer who is complaining that this movie is "...only a fullscreen version" I would challenge them to find anything pre 1954-55 that was actually... Read more
Published on May 31 2004 by Mr. M. W. Davey
4.0 out of 5 stars
Format is FULL SCREEN
I didn't notice when I bought Sunset Boulevard on dvd, but am sure other cinephiles would like to know that, this is a full screen version of the film. Read more
Published on May 19 2004 by A
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific Tinseltown classic
Gloria Swanson, William Holden and Erich von Stroheim are all stellar in their performances in Billy Wilder's superb microcosm of a decadent Hollywood, "Sunset... Read more
Published on May 16 2004 by Cory D. Slipman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Holds Up Beautifully
It's always been fashionable to believe that the old Hollywood films were greatly superior to those of today. Read more
Published on April 28 2004 by Inspector2211
5.0 out of 5 stars
GREATEST FILM EVER MADE
I AM A HUGE FILM FANATIC AND IM VERY DISSAPOINTED IN WHAT IV SEEN FILM TURN INTO. WE GET THESE FILMS NOW DAYS THAT HAVE NO REAL STORY OR IMAGINATION LIKE "AMERICAN PIE"... Read more
Published on April 18 2004
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