By incorporating that real failure, 'Sunset Boulevard' twists one more knife into the Hollywood legends being satirized. Their pairing also gave American audiences the first chance to see anything from 'Queen Kelly.' When Norma cozies up with young writer Joe Gillis (William Holden), they watch actual scenes from that mostly-forgotten film. The two share a unique and parasitic relationship. Find trailers, reviews, synopsis, awards and cast information for Sunset Boulevard (1950) - Billy Wilder on AllMovie - Billy Wilders Sunset Boulevard ranks.

Now, he writes fake fan mail for the actress, to whom he was also briefly married. Like Stroheim, Max was once considered one of the very best to do it. Max, it turns out, is far more than a butler he was a silent film director, who, like Norma, has been forgotten in the decades since. And for her butler, Max, he cast Stroheim, pairing the two up for the first time since their disastrous collaboration. From a list of silent film stars, he ended up with one who best epitomized the beautiful and glamorous. Sunset Boulevard by Billy Wilder Buy Study Guide Sunset Boulevard Character List Joe Gillis Joe Gillis is introduced as a dead body floating in the pool of a grotesque mansion, so from the start, the audience is aware of his doomed fate before the main narrativetold in flashbackbegins. And the films wonderful noir cinematography (particularly its lighting).

The film, which turns 70 this year, saw Gloria Swanson play Norma Desmond, an ageing silent film diva now forgotten with the advent of sound.

According to Billy Wilder, many names came up for the part of Norma Desmond in 'Sunset Boulevard' before Swanson's. The script by Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett and D.M. Its antecedent came a decade earlier in Billy Wilder's 1950 classic, Sunset Boulevard.

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