until 1950 and american film be strictly entertainment and some deep than others . studio executive be very protective of image and star making . in essence and everything seem perfect . billy wild and charles brackett and and d. m. marshman and jr. create a stunning work of art that split the hollywood sign in two and expose a dream factory for what it really be represent a struggle to both gain and keep notoriety in the limelight . norma desmond and joe gillis be at opposite end of this warped hollywood mindset and with gillis and play by that most cynical of actor and william holden try to pay the rent and norma ( gloria swanson ) live a lie a a silent queen whose star burn 10 and 000 midnight ago . how a picture with such a snide look at the industry could come out in 1950 be simply mind boggling and consider some of the light fodder that come out of hollywood at the time . it have inspire many modern day disciple such a altman the player and and sonnenfeld get shorty and both of which take their vicious and hilarious parody to the jugular of the movie capital of the world . sunset blvd be the father of all socially orient picture regard the movie and be by far the best . the image of this beautiful black and white powerhouse be fascinate and unforgettable represent the dead writer float in a pool and eye wide open and look right at u at the begin while the eerie pipe organ that play by the breeze in the middle of one of the most deep and dusty set ever while the funeral ceremony of the dead monkey in norma courtyard ( that must have be one important chimp . the grandson of king kong perhaps . say holden in a delightfully crisp and wise voice over . ) holden pull his car into a driveway off of the boulevard that will change his life forever . he be the emblem of the struggle to get notoriety . he have only a few b movie to his credit . swanson a norma desmond be the symbol of lose fame and have become the talk of legend . what be ironic about her character be that she may be play herself in an odd way . she be an actual silent star whose career go down the tube after the talkie come about . her madness combine with holden last drop of naiveté combine to give u one of the most electrifying give and take between actor i have ever witness . both lead part be pass over by several actor . holden be eventually force into it a a contract player . how could you pass on such a script . even wax figure ( a holden call them ) buster keaton and h. b. warner and and anna q. nilsson come to norma to play bridge and of course be hollywood outcast themselves and after the invention of sound in film . some of the dialogue take a swing at actual movie and people ( go with the wind and zanuck and menjou ) . this must have bring the house down in hollywood screening room throughout the town . louis b. mayer even condemn billy wild for ruin the industry . the film be sad and darkly humorous depict the antic of norma and who be quite insane and and holden who be go along with what norma be give him and but have plan of his own . another wax figure still alive and kick in 1950 appear a himself in an important role . cecil b. demille and who once direct norma or gloria back in the silent heyday and try to set her straight and tell her picture have change . they have indeed and especially after this searing comment on celebrity status . i wonder if they know what they be create while make this gem . scene be shot right on the lot of paramount studio ( even the front gate ) and and norma mansion be an unforgettable piece of history and gloom with a floor that valentino once dance on . there be so much to discuss and but little to enlighten you on how great sunset blvd be without you see it . just two year later and film begin to crop up with the same tainted view of hollywood and most with vary degree of deception . singin in the rain and one of the all time entertainment quietly have a nasty taste in it mouth regard celebrity and the invention of sound movie . watch these film closely and see the skeleton of the modern hollywood bash film . rating represent positive .