Sunset Blvd.
Directed by Billy Wilder (1950)
Sometimes I watch an old “classic” film, especially an old Hollywood studio picture, out of sense of obligation. I know it’s supposed to be great, wonderful, etc., but there are just so many new things to see. (I often have the same feeling with books.) So it was with a whiff of obligation that I finally watched Sunset Blvd., Billy Wilder’s canonical 1950 film about life in Hollywood. And as is the case with most films I see out of my cinephilic sense of duty, I was not disappointed. It seems there is a reason these films have been deemed classics.
In short, it was great. I didn’t know much about the story before seeing it and I think that’s best (avoid the plot summaries on IMDB). Just know that the writing is first rate; the story sucks you in and the dialogue is sharp and funny. (Take protagonist Joe Gills’ voiceover description of a decrepit Hollywood mansion: “It was a big white elephant of a place. The kind crazy movie people built in the crazy twenties.” For some reason I just love that line.) It’s murder mystery, a critique of celebrity, and a time capsule reminder of the fate of the aging actress in old Hollywood (”Norma, you’re a woman of fifty!”).
If you’ve never seen it before it’s also a treat to realize, as you’re watching, that this is one of those films that has been referenced by many subsequent filmmakers. You’ll notice settings, characters, props and even dialogue that have re-appeared in everything from Barton Fink to Brazil. (I think I first heard the line “I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille” from Bugs Bunny.)
I’ll be delving deeper into Mr. Wilder’s catalog on Netflix.
October 1st, 2005 at 12:34 am
Oneofmy favorites. Dovetails nicely with “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?”
October 1st, 2005 at 4:02 am
I have a similar problem with watching old movies instead of keeping up with new releases but I never, ever had this dilemma with books. I don’t know, I just don’t find in new books the superb quality that you find in classics. I have my theory as to why this is so but if you know of any outstanding new fiction writing, please let me know. The only new “classic” I have read in the last many years is Frazer’s “The Corrections”. Everything else it’s been a waste of time for me. Looking forward to being contradicted on this one.
October 4th, 2005 at 8:42 pm
This is on my list ov movies to see!!! I have grown to love Turner Classic Movies. If I ever have a few minutes in the evening (when I’m actually home), I switch it to that channel to see what’s on. Since we finally discovered the Video Hound catalog of movies, that makes it easy figure out who is in it, the director and suggestions for other movies to see. For my current play, we are supposed to watch 5 old movies because they are referenced or spoofed in the play (12 total are referenced, but the authors only recommend we watch these 5): All About Eve, The Bad Seed, The Women, Gypsy and Valley of the Dolls.
I don’t read much anymore, so I can’t say I have the book problem that you and Clea have. I was in a book club briefly, so stayed up on the newest-hottest-books-of-the-moments, but not many stuck out as exceptional to me. One of the girls always recommended older books and like Clea noted, those were usually the best.
October 6th, 2005 at 12:37 am
More classic film recs, thank you!
And hey, people, don’t give up on modern fiction. Great writing still exists! Off the top of my head, let’s see. . . Don DeLillo, Phillip Roth, Jose Saramago, Paul Auster, Kundera, Michael Chabon. All living, breathing writers of damn fine fiction. I’ll have to think more about this one… it may be blog-worthy.
October 19th, 2005 at 11:47 pm
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