Sunset Boulevard

8.5

43,634

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Original title: Sunset Blvd. (Sunset Boulevard)
Year: 1950
Running time: 110 min.
Country: United States
Director: Billy Wilder
Screenwriter: Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, D.M. Marshman Jr.
Music: Franz Waxman
Cinematography: John F. Seitz (B&W)
Cast: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson, Lloyd Gough, Jack Webb, Fred Clark, Cecil B. DeMille, Buster Keaton, Anna Q. Nilsson, Hedda Hopper, H.B. Warner, Franklyn Farnum, Julia Faye, Ruth Clifford
Producer: Paramount Pictures
Genre: Film noir. Drama | Film In Film. Literature. Old Age
Synopsis / Plot: 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 debt-collectors who are chasing after him. What he begins to realize however, is that Norma's psyche is no less of a dangerous place. A brillant comment on the meaning of fame.

Awards: 1950: 3 Oscar: Best Screenplay, Art Direction B&W, OST Drama. 11 Nominations

1950: 4 Golden Globes, including Best Movie - Drama. 7 nominations

1950: National Board of Review: Best Film, Actress & Top Ten Films

1950: New York Film Critics Circle: 3 Nominations

1950: Directors Guild of America (DGA): Nominated for Best Director

1950: Writers Guild of America (WGA): Best Drama Screenplay

Critics' reviews

"Still [September 2005] the best Hollywood movie ever made about Hollywood."

Andrew Sarris: The New York Observer
"'Sunset Boulevard' remains the best drama ever made about the movies because it sees through the illusions (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 4)"

Roger Ebert: rogerebert.com
"An all-around filmmaking job that, disregarding the unpleasant subject matter, is a standout."

William Brogdon: Variety
"A powerful story of the ambitions and frustrations that combine to make life in the cardboard city so fascinating to the outside world."

The New York Times
"Wilder adds tremendous personal depth to this tar-black comic conceit through his casting (…) Rating: ★★★★½ (out of 5)"

Chris Cabin: Slant
"Perfect (...) a melancholy pleasure - but one you return to again and again (…) Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)"

Marc Lee: Telegraph
"Subtle, savage and insightful but with such a big heart it is as moving as it is informative about the value of making art that moves (…) Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)"

Colin Kennedy: Empire
"'Sunset Boulevard' is both a savage indictment of the star system (and the monsters it produces), and an all-too-knowing depiction of a writer's impotence in Hollywood (…) Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)"

Adrian Hennigan: BBC

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Ranking Lists Position

6 Movies with a Great Female Lead (119)
19 My Favorite Noir Movies (216)
30 Movies with the Best Beginnings (not including opening credits) (45)
39 Movies with Great Screenplays (66)
41 Movies I Want to Watch (old releases) (3061)
42 My Favorite Dramas (215)
58 My 10 favorite Film Directors and my favorite movie of each one of them (81)
73 Movies with the Best Endings (112)
75 Best Directed Movies (23)
82 Movies I Want to Own (100)

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