this be a movie that take a look at the dark side of hollywood and focus on the fringe dweller frantically try to capture ( or retain ) a minute scrap of success by whatever mean necessary . gloria swanson be easily the best thing about this picture . her performance be riddle with theatrics but that exactly what the character call for . the fact that she do not win the best actress oscar for this role beggar belief . swanson and holden and stroheim and olson all receive acting nomination but none take home any hardware and despite fine performance all around . there be a couple of likely reason for the film relatively small haul on oscar night . first of all and the film be up against another classic and all about eve and which have garner a record 14 nomination . then and there be the scathing screenplay author by wilder and brackett and marshman . in particular and the story do a fine job of reflect the amoral quest for success and the narcissism of the famous and hardly the image that hollywood want to convey . billy wild direction here be well handle and there be several moment of greatness and such a the famous end . in that scene wild direction and swanson acting and waxman score combine to produce what be perhaps my favorite end to any movie ever . there a reason ( several and actually ) why this film be consider among the great of all time . see for yourself and you would not be disappoint .