Due to the peculiar nature of the project, we ask all our coworkers to. Cinema styleedith head gets gloria swanson ready for her. Gloria may josephine swanson march 27, 1899 april 04, 1983 wis an american actress an producer best lent for her role as norma desmond, a reclusive silent film star, in the critically acclaimed 1950 film sunset boulevard. Stage door records gloria swanson in boulevard stage. William holdens character knows he is stuck in the rip current that is gloria swansons character, but he seems unable, or unwilling, to do much about his situation. Brilliant directed, paced, written, and some great acting from william holden and gloria swanson, come together to it is damn near impossible to say something bad about sunset boulevard. Much like norma herself, who visits demille in the film and believes he is about to star her in a new picture, miss swanson felt she was back on top again while making sunset boulevard. Sunset boulevard is a musical with book and lyrics by don black and christopher hampton, and music by andrew lloyd webber. A classic in every sense of the word, this one shows. Former silent film star desmond may be mad, but there is a grain of truth in what.
Seeing in norma a portal back to the stardom she once commanded as a silent screen superstar, swanson began to envision a musical stage adaptation of the film. In this classic scene, norma desmond gloria swanson gives her final performance as she descends into madness. Gloria swansons greatest role is a warning to our own celebrity culture. With it, swanson transforms herself into norma desmond, one of the most iconic film characters of all time. Sunset boulevard 1950 letterboxd your life in film. Sunset blvd gloria swanson went to public schools in chicago. The eulogy from the carol burnett show full sketch duration. Gloria swanson and william holden in sunset boulevard. Gloria swanson american motionpicture, stage, and television actress who was known primarily as a glamorous hollywood star during the 1920s and as the fading movie queen norma desmond in the 1950 film sunset boulevard. Mayer saw the film and called for wilder to be tarred and feathered. Directed and cowritten by acclaimed filmmaker billy wilder, this mesmerising hollywood classic won three. A bankrupt screenwriter william holden takes refuge in the mansion of a faded star gloria swanson of the silent era, in order to escape the debtcollectors who are chasing after him. William holden, gloria swanson and sunset boulevard at.
This mesmerising hollywood classic won three academy awards. Holden, williamgloria swanson and william holden in sunset boulevard 1950. The performer immortalized the character of norma desmond, sunset boulevard s faded silent movie star. Sunset boulevard is a 1950 american film noir directed and cowritten by billy wilder, and produced and cowritten by charles brackett. Her film debut was as an extra in the fable of elvira and farina and the meal ticket 1915.
Even its costume designwith its deep history between costume designer edith head and star gloria swansonadds to the surrealism. A simply typed warning from wilder and screenwriter charles brackett graces the cover page. The name norma desmond, gloria swanson s character in sunset boulevard 1950, was chosen from a combination of silent film star norma talmadge and silent movie director william desmond taylor. Gloria swanson was born gloria may josephine svensson on march 27, 1899 to joseph svensson and adelaide klanowski in the lake view district of chicago. Mar 27, 2020 hollywood legend and occasional broadway star gloria swanson was born on this day in 1899. Gloria swanson was born gloria may josephine svensson on march 27, 1899 to joseph svensson and adelaide klanowski in. It was much bolder of swanson to accept the role, delivering a performance for the ages as the utterly. Sunset boulevard preliminary draft with original opening scenes and montgomery clift listed on cast sheet, 1948. From the following year on, she had leading roles in pictures for keystone, then a year with triangle, and, in 1919, a contract with cecil b. A screenwriter develops a dangerous relationship with a faded film star determined to make a triumphant return. The performer immortalized the character of norma desmond, sunset boulevard s. William holden, gloria swanson and sunset boulevard at the metropolitan. Her other notable movies included bluebeards 8th wife, sadie thompson, and the trespasser. It was a bold act by director billy wilder to cast former silent screen star gloria swanson as deluded, former silent screen star norma desmond in his superb film sunset boulevard 1950.
Wilder used to tell gloria swanson that her character, norma desmond, was in a sexual relationship with the chimpanzee. At andrew lloyd webbers opening night party for his musical version of sunset boulevard 1950, billy wilder provided that answer to a woman asking about the role of the mysterious dead chimpanzee introduced early in the film. Wilder critiqued hollywoods toxic star machine, its mistreatment of writers a. The film stars william holden as joe gillis, a struggling screenwriter, and gloria swanson as norma desmond, a former silentfilm star who draws him into her demented fantasy world, where she dreams of making a triumphant return to the screen. Mar 08, 2003 gloria swanson s greatest role is a warning to our own celebrity culture. Sunset boulevard is undoubtedly a film noir classic and is considered to be one of the most noteworthy films in american cinema history. Gloria swanson as norma desmond in sunset boulevard 1950. A phenomenal script brought to life with some impressive directing on the part of billy wilder, and spearheaded by some solid performances, the most stand out of which being gloria swanson in her tragic yet haunting role as norma desmond, who may just be one of best characters ever written for the screen. Now, as sunset boulevard is rereleased, the stars daughter, in her. The film stars william holden as joe gillis, a struggling screenwriter, and gloria swanson as norma desmond, a former silentfilm star who draws him into her. Although the contract called for her to make three films per year, she made only one film. Its another detail that makes sunset seem disturbingly close to life, and demille is in on the joke. Norma desmond is definitely gloria swansons best role. Gloria swanson was an american actress and producer who earned fame for portraying the reclusive and faded silent film star norma desmond in the critically acclaimed 1950 film sunset boulevard.
Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. William holden made a new career for himself thanks to sunset boulevard. Sunset boulevard, american film noir, released in 1950, that is often cited as one of hollywoods greatest films, especially noted for gloria swansons portrayal of a fading movie star. Hollywood legend and occasional broadway star gloria swanson was born on this day in 1899. Sunset boulevard was submitted for approval only a few pages at a time and one wonders if its because wilder didnt know where it was going or that he didnt want the producers to know. Because it is tied in with a pseudoexpose of hollywood, the peek behind the scenes undoubtedly will. Billy wilders sunset boulevard is the portrait of a forgotten silent star, living in. The latters stillunsolved murder is one of the great scandals of hollywood history and contributed to the eventual introduction of the hays. May 14, 2015 william holden, gloria swanson and sunset boulevard at the metropolitan. Nominated for eleven academy awards and winning three, the film was selected for perseveration by the national film registry. Joe isnt really in for her return as a big movie star but rather for the money. Sep 08, 2014 even its costume designwith its deep history between costume designer edith head and star gloria swansonadds to the surrealism. Swanson as norma desmond in billy wilders black comedy sunset boulevard 1950. How did chronicle and post critics judge the oscarnominated film at the time.
Costume design is always important in a film, but it is vital in sunset boulevard. Now, as sunset boulevard is rereleased, the stars daughter, in her first interview, remembers her own fear of her. Gloria swanson as norma desmond in sunset boulevard 1950 after greta garbo, norma shearer, and pola negri all declined the role, 44 swanson starred in 1950s sunset boulevard, portraying norma desmond, a faded silent movie star who falls in love with the younger screenwriter joe gillis, played by william holden. And if mrs getty didnt like the pool, the studio would have to remove it. Swanson recreates her iconic role as the faded silent screen star norma desmond. With music and lyrics by dickson hughes and richard stapley under the direction of gloria swanson, this musical never made it to the stage. It would be interesting to see how gloria swanson would be seen today had she not made sunset boulevard. Born today most popular celebs most popular celebs celebrity news. Winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival. Stage door records gloria swanson in boulevard stage 9005. Sunset boulevard was once described by film critic richard corliss as the definitive hollywood horror movie, and it isnt hard to see why. The publicity helped attract people to the cinemas, but in many provincial areas it was considered less than a hit. Swanson in real life was a health nut who fled from the sun, which no doubt protected her skin she was 53 when she made the film, but the point in sunset boulevard is that she has aged not in the flesh but in the mind.
For gloria swanson, the iconic star of sunset boulevard, both the movie and the character of norma desmond provided a renewed spotlight. Her final scene is priceless, and the best shot in the movie. Forget the address given in the movie 10086 sunset boulevard, which would place it west of beverly hills, toward bel air, norma desmonds glorious old renaissancestyle mansion could. Gloria swanson, as norma desmond, an aging silent film queen, and william holden, as the struggling young screenwriter who is held in thrall by her madness, created two of the screens most. Foote it was a bold act by director billy wilder to cast former silent screen star gloria swanson as deluded, former silent screen star norma desmond in his superb film sunset boulevard 1950. On april 25, 2017, paramount home entertainment released sunset boulevard on bluray. The story portrays the ugly side of the movie industry. May 08, 2017 we look at the deeper meaning of billy wilders noir classic sunset boulevard. Intense, enthralling, and unforgettable, sunset boulevard stars gloria swanson as norma desmond, a faded silentmovie star, and william holden stars as joe gillis, a downonhisluck screenwriter whom she enlists to help her make her triumphant return to the screen. It was much bolder of swanson to accept the role, delivering a performance for the ages as the utterly insane actress whose time is long past.
At the time of filming of sunset boulevard, the mansion had passed to mrs j paul getty in a divorce settlement and she, in turn, rented the property out to paramount on condition the film company built her a swimming pool. Gloria swanson, as norma desmond, an aging silentfilm queen, and william holden, as the struggling young screenwriter who is held in thrall. Incisive commentary on the process of filmmaking which extends to the real lives of its cast and crew gloria swanson returning to film as norma desmond returning to film. Intense, enthralling, and unforgettable, sunset boulevard stars gloria swanson as norma desmond, a faded silentmovie star, and william holden as joe gillis, a downonhisluck screenwriter whom she enlists to help her make her triumphant return to the screen. A classic in every sense of the word, this one shows why billy wilders work is so critically acclaimed. Avant gloria swanson, le realisateur billy wilder avait pense a dautres. A troubled screenwriter and a forgotten star are working together for a comeback. Incidentally, she began her own career in the early 1910s with silent films like the danger girl 1916, the sultans wife 1917, and teddy at. As norma desmond, gloria swanson is magnificent, larger than life, and every inch the former silent movie queen she plays in the picture. A screenwriter develops a dangerous relationship with a faded film star determined to.
Add sunset boulevard 1950 to your film collection today. The 2010 film london boulevard was based on the ken bruen novel that was inspired by sunset boulevard and features the same trope of an aging actress as the stranger caught in her web. Gloria swanson signed a contract with irving thalberg at mgm in 1934. Former silent film star desmond may be mad, but there is a. Great performances gloria swanson in sunset boulevard 1950. William holden, gloria swanson and sunset boulevard at the. To promote the film, gloria swanson traveled by train throughout the united states, visiting 33 cities in a few months. What is the significance of the chimp in sunset boulevard. William holdens character knows he is stuck in the rip current that is gloria swanson s character, but he seems unable, or unwilling, to do much about his situation. Sunset boulevard is a backstage melodrama using a filmland, instead of a legit, locale. A young screenwriter ends up being a gigolo to an aging silent film star who is intent on making a comeback. We look at the deeper meaning of billy wilders noir classic sunset boulevard. Ageing silent movie star norma desmond gloria swanson takes in flatbroke screenwriter joe gillis william holden in billy wilders brilliant satire noir.
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