Sunset Boulevard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sunset Boulevard is a 1950 film noir film directed by Billy Wilder, starring William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim. It drew a wide audience and shaped its genre.
Plot
Sunset Boulevard is a 1950 American black comedy film noir directed by Billy Wilder and co-written by Wilder, Charles Brackett, and D. M. Marshman Jr. It is named after a major street that runs through Hollywood and western Los Angeles.
The film stars William Holden as Joe Gillis, a struggling screenwriter, and Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond, a former silent film star who draws him into her deranged fantasy world, where she dreams of making a triumphant return to the screen. Erich von Stroheim plays Max von Mayerling, her devoted butler, and Nancy Olson, Jack Webb, Lloyd Gough, and Fred Clark appear in supporting roles.
Production
Written by Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder, the film was produced by Paramount Pictures. Franz Waxman composed the score. John F. Seitz handled the cinematography. The film runs 110 minutes. The crew and editing refined every shot.
Reception
On a budget of $1,752,000, Sunset Boulevard grossed $5,000,000 worldwide at the box office. A critic consensus praised its screenplay and score.
Legacy
Its legacy endures through a remake, a sequel and a lasting franchise; later cinema cites its influence and symbolism.
See also
References
- "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time". topfilms100. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- Ebert, Roger. The Great Movies. Broadway Books.
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