Sunset Boulevard

No dream is greater than consciousness, the celluloid canvas on which the dream of life is played out. And that no more so than in Billy Wilder's arresting evocation o... more >

No dream is greater than consciousness, the celluloid canvas on which the dream of life is played out. And that no more so than in Billy Wilder's arresting evocation of megalomania, the delusion of grandeur, in which Gloria Swanson's Norma Desmond rails against the inferiority of the talking pictures. Faces, we had faces then, she cries out to William Holden's unwitting and failed writer, who is crushing under the avalanche of the silent film star's affection. A timeless performance by one of the true stars form cinema's golden age, Swanson is brilliantly supported by Erich von Stroheim as her butler. No actress has ever portrayed herself in such an incredible light, and hearts will burst when the veil is finally lifted from her eyes, with von Stroheim crying in his sadness, "Madame is the greatest star of them all." < less

View all 38 of Wolfram Parge’s reviews

A frightening film. Anyone whose been in a relationship from which they feel entrapped will relate to this. Far superior to Robert Altman's The Player. more >

A frightening film. Anyone whose been in a relationship from which they feel entrapped will relate to this. Far superior to Robert Altman's The Player. < less

View all 30 of Clinton Morgan’s reviews

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DVD Extras

• Audio commentary
• Theatrical Trailer
• Hollywood Location Map
• Featurettes - The making of Sunset Boulevard, The Paramount Years
• Original Morgue Prologue Script Pages.

Film Details

Cast

Erich Von Stroheim, William Holden, Gloria Swanson

Technical Details

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