Wednesday, August 18, 2010

A Synopsis Of The Great Film Sunset Blvd

By Cristina Adams

Sunset Blvd was produced in 1950 and tells the tale of an aging Hollywood star and her lost youth and career.

It was directed by Billy Wilder who made many other classic movies and its name provides the basis for its setting. The title is the famous Boulevard in Los Angeles and the playground of the rich and famous movie stars.

Lead man William Holden is the little know screenplay writer and Norma Desmond, played by Gloria Swanson is the faded, jaded movie star with a forgotten career.

Holden's character, Joe Gillis is a young writer and when we first meet him he is virtually bankrupt. His car is getting towed away and everyone is hankering after him for debts they want to collect. His encounter with Desmond gives him financial options as she ask him to write a screenplay that will return her to the screen.

Desmond is deluded. She is much older now and the silent movie industry is long gone. Gillis exploits this to his advantage though and moves in to her mansion and her heart. She is in love with him and when she feels him slipping away then she tries to take her life.

Desmond believes that her career will flourish again, but she is more mature in years now and the film company has no interest in her script.

However, unbeknown to Norma he is working on a private script with young writer Betty and he falls for her. When he tries to leave Norma the dramatic climax of the film sees a shot fired and Gillis floating in a swimming pool with sirens all around.

The famous line arrives at the end with Desmond weaving down the steps and saying; "I'm ready for my close up" sealing her fate and showing how mentally unstable she has become.

The film is tragic, timeless and unique and presents the challenges of growing old gracefully in the movie industry.

Norma's character is pitiful and self deluded and it is hard not to feel sympathy for her. The film industry has made her into a star, but now she is forgotten by many and lives a reclusive life in her mansion on Sunset Boulevard.

Her servants reinforce how important her look are to her and are always complimentary. They have learned to be this way. Youth and beauty are given priority over age and experience and they are a sad reminder of the values of our time. This gives the film a timeless perspective that will appeal to all.

Sunset Boulevard is suitable for all ages and is a thought provoking look at the lives of the rich and famous. Desmond's lavish mansion, swimming pool and servants are things that are associated with making it in life, but her mental instability arising from her lost youth makes all these material possessions meaningless.

Gillis is greedy and heartless and shows how people can exploit others to get what they want. The film, Sunset Blvd, is well worth watching and ultimately evokes sympathy for the characters. - 40729

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