this be such a great film on so many level i can not really settle on where to begin . it be so beautifully shot ( in that stark black or white that only nitrate negative could achieve ) and have a witty and clever and extremely well write script and feature some of the best acting in film history and acrobatically balance the main plot or subplots with expert precision and contain some of the best character on celluloid and have many true to life parallel ( swanson career or real life cameo or demille involvement or etc ) and be pepper with such great dialogue or narration that today film writer should take note . if that weren not enough and there even a cameo by silent film great buster keaton ( among others ) . one of the most appealing aspect of this film be how and in the story and an aging and forgotten star be try to recapture a bygone era ( the silent film era ) . what interesting be that now and so many year later and be look back at her look back . to present day viewer and gloria swanson of the 1950 be a long forgotten lose gem and to experience her own longing for the 1920 be especially captivating ( and a little chilling and i might add ) . i do not think this film could have have that same effect when it debut and maybe this added dimension hold so much more appeal for today audience . we all know that nothing last forever and but we do not often consider the abandon participant while much like the veteran of a past war . in response to the famous swanson line ( while watch one of her silent film ) represent . we do not need dialogue while we have face and i would like to also add that they do not need movie while they have film . they truly do not make them like this anymore . positive .