It's new to me...
La Voz Weekly reporter Valentina Carrillo shares her passion for film noir, glamour
Valentina Carrillo
Issue date: 11/2/09 Section: A&E
Lack of satisfaction with modern Hollywood films has driven this girl to the archives of cinema, and specifically, to the classics from an era most film historians now call the Golden Age of Hollywood.
We've all seen the popular and familiar films from this glorious time, such as "Wizard of Oz," "Vertigo," "Singing in the Rain," "Gone With the Wind" and "Casablanca." But it's the more serious vintage film buffs that have watched the essential film noir, "Sunset Boulevard."
"Sunset Boulevard" was co-written and directed by Billy Wilder in 1950 and stars William Holden, Gloria Swanson and Erich Von Stroheim. The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, winning 3 awards for Best Story and Screenplay, Best Black and White Art Direction and Best Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.
Filmed in classic and glamorous black and white, it humorously mirrors the dark reality of Hollywood's everlasting obsession with fame.
Gloria Swanson plays Norma Desmond, an aged and deluded silent film star who wants nothing more but to "return to the millions of people who have never forgiven me for deserting the screen." William Holden plays Joe Gillis, an unemployed screenplay writer who is three months behind in rent and running from the repo-man. Last but not least, Erich Von Stroheim plays Norma's butler, former director/discoverer, and ex-husband, Max Von Mayerling.
Joe finds himself at an abandoned mansion, or so he thought. It's actually owned by the silent film star Norma Desmond and her butler, preparing to bury her dead monkey.
Desmond is determined to have her comeback and Joe is strapped for cash, so he agrees to work for her as an editor for a script she wrote. After being spoiled by the "silent movie queen," Joe starts to realize his desperate decisions will cost him more than what he owed any creditor that was on his tail.
Remarkable acting, creatively realistic yet dramatized story line and great cinematography make this film great. If you like the line "All right Mr. De Mille, I'm ready for my close up," then you've ready for "Sunset Boulevard." This classic comes highly recommended to fans of twisted and dramatic classics.
We've all seen the popular and familiar films from this glorious time, such as "Wizard of Oz," "Vertigo," "Singing in the Rain," "Gone With the Wind" and "Casablanca." But it's the more serious vintage film buffs that have watched the essential film noir, "Sunset Boulevard."
"Sunset Boulevard" was co-written and directed by Billy Wilder in 1950 and stars William Holden, Gloria Swanson and Erich Von Stroheim. The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, winning 3 awards for Best Story and Screenplay, Best Black and White Art Direction and Best Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.
Filmed in classic and glamorous black and white, it humorously mirrors the dark reality of Hollywood's everlasting obsession with fame.
Gloria Swanson plays Norma Desmond, an aged and deluded silent film star who wants nothing more but to "return to the millions of people who have never forgiven me for deserting the screen." William Holden plays Joe Gillis, an unemployed screenplay writer who is three months behind in rent and running from the repo-man. Last but not least, Erich Von Stroheim plays Norma's butler, former director/discoverer, and ex-husband, Max Von Mayerling.
Joe finds himself at an abandoned mansion, or so he thought. It's actually owned by the silent film star Norma Desmond and her butler, preparing to bury her dead monkey.
Desmond is determined to have her comeback and Joe is strapped for cash, so he agrees to work for her as an editor for a script she wrote. After being spoiled by the "silent movie queen," Joe starts to realize his desperate decisions will cost him more than what he owed any creditor that was on his tail.
Remarkable acting, creatively realistic yet dramatized story line and great cinematography make this film great. If you like the line "All right Mr. De Mille, I'm ready for my close up," then you've ready for "Sunset Boulevard." This classic comes highly recommended to fans of twisted and dramatic classics.
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