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IMDbPro

Sunset Blvd.

  • 19501950
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
224K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,224
245
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
DramaFilm-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
224K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,224
245
    • Billy Wilder
    • Charles Brackett
    • Billy Wilder
    • D.M. Marshman Jr.
  • Stars
    • William Holden
    • Gloria Swanson
    • Erich von Stroheim
    • Billy Wilder
    • Charles Brackett
    • Billy Wilder
    • D.M. Marshman Jr.
  • Stars
    • William Holden
    • Gloria Swanson
    • Erich von Stroheim
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 699User reviews
    • 196Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #59
    • Won 3 Oscars

    Videos3

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

    Photos156

    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 Gillis
    Gloria Swanson
    Gloria Swanson
    • Norma Desmond
    Erich von Stroheim
    Erich von Stroheim
    • Max Von Mayerling
    Nancy Olson
    Nancy Olson
    • Betty Schaefer
    Fred Clark
    Fred Clark
    • Sheldrake
    Lloyd Gough
    Lloyd Gough
    • Morino
    Jack Webb
    Jack Webb
    • Artie Green
    Franklyn Farnum
    Franklyn Farnum
    • Undertaker
    Larry J. Blake
    Larry J. Blake
    • 1st Finance Man
    • (as Larry Blake)
    Charles Dayton
    • 2nd Finance Man
    Cecil B. DeMille
    Cecil B. DeMille
    • Cecil B. DeMille
    Hedda Hopper
    Hedda Hopper
    • Hedda Hopper
    Buster Keaton
    Buster Keaton
    • Buster Keaton
    Anna Q. Nilsson
    Anna Q. Nilsson
    • Anna Q. Nilsson
    H.B. Warner
    H.B. Warner
    • H. B. Warner
    Ray Evans
    • Ray Evans
    Jay Livingston
    • Jay Livingston
    Fred Aldrich
    Fred Aldrich
    • Cop Who Drags Joe's Body from Pool
    • (uncredited)
      • Billy Wilder
      • Charles Brackett
      • Billy Wilder
      • D.M. Marshman Jr.
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When Norma Desmond says to the guard at the "Paramount Studio" gates, "Without me there wouldn't be any 'Paramount Studio'" the words could apply to Gloria Swanson herself, as she was the studio's top star for six years running.
    • 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 reviews699

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    very special look at Hollywood
    Not a romanticised view of Tinseltown at all, this Billy Wilder movie was more or less ignored on release - the year that All About Eve took all the awards and the kudos. It is a bitter pill to swallow since it takes a kick at Hollywood's guts and has one of the bleakest endings in the whole of cinema.

    Joe Gillis, a struggling writer, finds himself in the drive of a Hollywood palazzo when he wants somewhere to hide his car. The house belongs to Norma Desmond, who 'used to be big' in pictures, and Joe gets drawn to Norma and drawn into her weird world of flickering shadows.

    The acting honours in this movie go squarely to Gloria Swanson, herself a 'star of yesteryear' as Norma, who is superb as the actress living in the past. Not that she plays Norma as exclusively tragic(the scene where she impersonates Chaplin is priceless) but perhaps no one could get to grips with the demands of this part better. William Holden plays Joe, his breakthrough role, and he does the part very well, while Erich von Stroheim plays faded Hollywood director Max von Mayerling (naturally a reflection of himself), and newcomer Nancy Olson plays Betty, a girl too nice to become submerged just yet in dreamland's poison.

    The script is its moments of OTT-ness, but it is never less than interesting and draws in the viewer to the point when you are with Norma when she visits her old studio and talks of the joy of coming home; you are with Joe and Nancy as they fall in love among the cardboard settings of movie sets; and you are in the hall with Hedda Hopper watching Norma's last descent into madness.

    The musical version which appeared in the 1990s had the heart and soul of this movie in mind, and was an excellent tribute to it.
    helpful•4
    0
    • didi-5
    • Mar 21, 2004

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    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)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • 10060 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 50 minutes
      • Black and White

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