TWO ON THE AISLE – Sunset Blvd.
By Joe Kirkish
Running from debt collectors, screenwriter Joe Gillis (William Holden) stumbles upon the crumbling mansion of former silent-film star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson). As he begins penning
a comeback screenplay for her, their professional relationship evolves into something more grotesque.
That's it in a nutshell, but thanks to writer/director Billy Wilder (“Some Like it Hot,” “Stalag 17,” Sabrina,” “The Apartment,” etc.), what might have become just another morbid melodrama has been
turned into what the Academy of Arts has listed as the second greatest movie ever made in Hollywood. (“Citizen Kane” is first.)
“Sunset Boulevard” is the portrait of a forgotten silent star, living in exile in her historically antique mansion, screening her old films, dreaming of a comeback. But it's also a love story of
sorts, and the love keeps it from becoming simply a freak show.
Gloria Swanson gives her greatest performance as Norma Desmond, with her grasping talons,
her theatrical mannerisms, her grandiose delusions; while William Holden tactfully inhabits the
tricky role of the writer half her age, who allows himself to be kept by her. But the performance
that holds the film together, that gives it emotional resonance and makes it real in spite of its
gothic flamboyance, is by Erich von Stroheim, a once famous director, now Norma's faithful butler
Max. It's a trio never to be forgotten.
What makes the film so interesting beyond the plot is the fact that it parallels so much of the true
history of the silent film era – with Stroheim, who had actually directed Swanson in the 1928
“Queen Kelly,” and with the introduction of cameo parts played by Buster Keaton, Cecil B. DeMille
and others from out of Hollywood's silent past.
As one critic wrote: “Sunset Boulevard” is a skillful and seamless mixture of seemingly disparate
genres and plot elements – comedy, tragedy, duplicity, pathos, suspense, horror, self deception,
struggling artist, blind devotions, sadness, insanity, delusion, friendship, romance, and on and on
and on. The screen writing and the directing were absolute genius to craft together an extremely
entertaining – and highly original – film from what outwardly looks like a cinematic grab basket.”
He continued, “All performances were top notch, but Ms. Swanson delivered one of the best performances that I've ever seen, as she portrays a middle-aged actress well past her prime, righ
enough to maintain a facade of the fame and glory of her heyday as she slowly goes insane and
is utterly mad by the end of the film.”
And finally, “In my experience the term 'classic' is thrown around a lot to describe things that are
not really classic at all but maybe 'stylish' or 'in vogue' instead. However, in this case, I think the
word 'classic' was invented to describe this film and films of its rare caliber. You have to see it to
realize that it is truly a Classic of Cinema Art.”
Friday, July 17, at 7:15pm. At 6pm, a buffet precedes the film. Food and film, $21; film alone, $6. A discount
for kids 10 an under. For the buffet, be sure to call at least a day in advance to assure seating.