hack screenwriter joe gillis ( william holden ) accidentally fall in with faded screen legend norma desmond ( gloria swanson ) . she live in a crumbling old mansion with her butler max ( erich von stroheim ) . she refuse to believe that she no longer remember and will never make another movie . she get gillis to stay with her and rewrite salome which she think will be her comeback . gillis have no other choice and thing slowly get out of hand . a very cynical view of hollywood especially for 1950. it show what hollywood do to people like norma it make them star and tell them that theyre great and dump them coldly when theyre no longer need . it also take swipe at director and agent and screenwriter and even entire studio . it have a tight quick script and be appropriately film in gloomy black and white and be masterfully direct by billy wild . everybody think this be a bad idea when it be be make . it be believe to be too cold and vicious for the public . also holden be warn it would ruin his career by play a young man keep by an old woman . but it turn out great and be now rightfully consider a classic . the acting be almost all good . i never think nancy olson be that good . her character be too pure and sweet to be believable . everybody else be right on target though . holden be just great in his role . you see the pity and anger and helplessness on his face when he realize norma be fall in love with him and he trap . von stroheim be equally good a max who encourage norma delusion . swanson however be just magnificent . she have a very showy role and could have overplay it but she doesn not . she mad for sure but you only see it peek through every once in a while . when she lose it completely at the end it frighten . if she have play it like that all through the movie it never would have work . how she lose the oscar that year to judy holliday for bear yesterday be beyond me . this be a must see and a true hollywood classic but very cold and cynical . a 10 all the way . i be big it the picture that get small . all right mr. demille i be ready for my closeup .