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Sunset Blvd.

  • 19501950
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
218K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,507
21
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
William Holden, Nancy Olson, and Gloria Swanson in Sunset Blvd. (1950)
Trailer for the classic film Sunset Blvd., starring William Holden, Gloria Swanson, and Erich von Stroheim
Play trailer3:14
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Film-Noir

A screenwriter develops a dangerous relationship with a faded film star determined to make a triumphant return.A screenwriter develops a dangerous relationship with a faded film star determined to make a triumphant return.A screenwriter develops a dangerous relationship with a faded film star determined to make a triumphant return.

IMDb RATING
8.4/10
218K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,507
21
  • Director
    • Billy Wilder
  • Writers
    • Charles Brackett
    • Billy Wilder
    • D.M. Marshman Jr.
  • Stars
    • William Holden
    • Gloria Swanson
    • Erich von Stroheim
Top credits
  • Director
    • Billy Wilder
  • Writers
    • Charles Brackett
    • Billy Wilder
    • D.M. Marshman Jr.
  • Stars
    • William Holden
    • Gloria Swanson
    • Erich von Stroheim
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 679User reviews
    • 195Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #60
    • Won 3 Oscars
      • 18 wins & 20 nominations total

    Videos3

    Sunset Blvd.
    Trailer 3:14
    Sunset Blvd.
    'Sunset Blvd.' | Annivesary Mashup
    Clip 1:36
    'Sunset Blvd.' | Annivesary Mashup
    Sunset Boulevard: Centennial Collection
    Clip 1:25
    Sunset Boulevard: Centennial Collection

    Photos157

    Gloria Swanson in Sunset Blvd. (1950)
    Gloria Swanson in Sunset Blvd. (1950)
    Gloria Swanson in Sunset Blvd. (1950)
    Gloria Swanson in Sunset Blvd. (1950)
    Gloria Swanson in Sunset Blvd. (1950)
    William Holden, Erich von Stroheim, and Gloria Swanson in Sunset Blvd. (1950)
    "Sunset Boulevard" William Holden 1950 Paramount
    "Sunset Boulevard" William Holden 1950 Paramount
    "Sunset Boulevard" Eric Von Stroheim and William Holden 1950 Paramount
    Gloria Swanson in "Sunset Blvd," 1950 Paramount / MPTV
    "Sunset Boulevard" Gloria Swanson and William Holden 1950 Paramount / MPTV
    "Sunset Boulevard" Gloria Swanson and William Holden 1950 Paramount

    Top cast

    Edit
    William Holden
    William Holden
    • Joe Gillisas Joe Gillis
    Gloria Swanson
    Gloria Swanson
    • Norma Desmondas Norma Desmond
    Erich von Stroheim
    Erich von Stroheim
    • Max Von Mayerlingas Max Von Mayerling
    Nancy Olson
    Nancy Olson
    • Betty Schaeferas Betty Schaefer
    Fred Clark
    Fred Clark
    • Sheldrakeas Sheldrake
    Lloyd Gough
    Lloyd Gough
    • Morinoas Morino
    Jack Webb
    Jack Webb
    • Artie Greenas Artie Green
    Franklyn Farnum
    Franklyn Farnum
    • Undertakeras Undertaker
    Larry J. Blake
    Larry J. Blake
    • 1st Finance Manas 1st Finance Man
    • (as Larry Blake)
    Charles Dayton
    • 2nd Finance Manas 2nd Finance Man
    Cecil B. DeMille
    Cecil B. DeMille
    • Cecil B. DeMilleas Cecil B. DeMille
    Hedda Hopper
    Hedda Hopper
    • Hedda Hopperas Hedda Hopper
    Buster Keaton
    Buster Keaton
    • Buster Keatonas Buster Keaton
    Anna Q. Nilsson
    Anna Q. Nilsson
    • Anna Q. Nilssonas Anna Q. Nilsson
    H.B. Warner
    H.B. Warner
    • H. B. Warneras H. B. Warner
    Ray Evans
    • Ray Evansas Ray Evans
    Jay Livingston
    • Jay Livingstonas Jay Livingston
    Fred Aldrich
    Fred Aldrich
    • Cop Who Drags Joe's Body from Poolas Cop Who Drags Joe's Body from Pool
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Billy Wilder
    • Writers
      • Charles Brackett
      • Billy Wilder
      • D.M. Marshman Jr.
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In Hollywood of the 50's, the obscure screenplay writer Joe Gillis is not able to sell his work to the studios, is full of debts and is thinking in returning to his hometown to work in an office. While trying to escape from his creditors, he has a flat tire and parks his car in a decadent mansion in Sunset Boulevard. He meets the owner and former silent-movie star Norma Desmond, who lives alone with her butler and driver Max Von Mayerling. Norma is demented and believes she will return to the cinema industry, and is protected and isolated from the world by Max, who was her director and husband in the past and still loves her. Norma proposes Joe to move to the mansion and help her in writing a screenplay for her comeback to the cinema, and the small-time writer becomes her lover and gigolo. When Joe falls in love for the young aspirant writer Betty Schaefer, Norma becomes jealous and completely insane and her madness leads to a tragic end. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    • silent film star
    • butler
    • hollywood california
    • narrated from the grave
    • jealousy
    • 460 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • A Hollywood Story
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Film-Noir
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Unlike the character she played, Gloria Swanson had accepted the fact that the movies didn't want her anymore and had moved to New York, where she worked on radio and, later, television. Although she had long before ruled out the possibility of a movie comeback, she was nevertheless highly intrigued when she got the offer to play the lead.
    • Goofs
      When Max is telling Joe about directing Madam's first pictures, there is a bad dub of the word "sixteen". After the Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle trial and the subsequent establishment of the Hays Office to enforce the new Production Code, the producers were concerned that the original age of 14 would be considered child porn and had the line changed in post.
    • Quotes

      Joe Gillis: Wait a minute, haven't I seen you before? I know your face.

      Norma Desmond: Get out! Or shall I call my servant?

      Joe Gillis: You're Norma Desmond. You used to be in silent pictures. You used to be big.

      Norma Desmond: I *am* big. It's the *pictures* that got small.

    • Crazy credits
      The Paramount logo appears as a transparency over the opening shot. The words "Sunset Blvd." are shown stenciled on the curb of that street.
    • Connections
      Edited into Les Amoureux du cinéma (1987)
    • Soundtracks
      The Paramount-Don't-Want-Me Blues
      (1950) (uncredited)

      Written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans

      Performed by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans at Artie's party

    User reviews679

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    They Don't Make 'Em Like This Anymore
    This is such a great film on so many levels I can't really settle on where to begin. It is so beautifully shot (in that stark black/white that only nitrate negative could achieve), has a witty, clever and extremely well-written script, features some of the best acting in film's history, acrobatically balances the main plot/subplots with expert precision, contains some of the best characters on celluloid, has many true-to-life parallels (Swanson's career/real life cameos/DeMille's involvement/etc) and is peppered with such great dialogue/narration that today's film writers should take note. If that weren't enough, there's even a cameo by silent film great Buster Keaton (among others).

    One of the most appealing aspects of this film is how, in the story, an aging, forgotten star is trying to recapture a bygone era (the silent film era). What's interesting is that now, so many years later, we're looking back at her looking back. To present day viewers, Gloria Swanson of the 1950's is a long forgotten lost gem and to experience her own longing for the 1920's is especially captivating (and a little chilling, I might add). I don't think this film could have had that same effect when it debuted and maybe this added dimension holds so much more appeal for today's audiences. We all know that nothing lasts forever, but we don't often consider the abandoned participants; much like the veterans of a past war.

    In response to the famous Swanson line (while watching one of her silent films): "...we didn't need dialogue; we had faces", I'd like to also add that they "didn't need movies; they had films."

    They truly don't make them like this anymore. 10/10
    helpful•217
    57
    • belikemichaeldotcom
    • Jul 2, 2004

    FAQ7

    • A NOTE REGARDING SPOILERS
    • What is the correct title - "Blvd." or "Boulevard"?
    • What is the movie Joe and Norma watch?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 4, 1950 (Turkey)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Sunset Boulevard
    • Filming locations
      • 10060 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,752,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $299,645
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $169,067
      • May 13, 2018
    • Gross worldwide
      • $300,073
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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