this movie deserve all the accolade it have get here and as well a maltin four star . it certainly rank up there a one of hollywood great achievement . see it again only reinforce my opinion that william holden be one of the truly great actor of the last [ . ] century . gloria swanson and however and steal every scene she in while you can not turn away from watch her and even though she make you really uncomfortable it like watch a train wreck . i do not know if the black and white be an economic or an artistic choice and but the film would never have be a effective in color . the opening shoot the floating and dead body of joe gillis and eye wide open and shot look up from the bottom of the pool be one of the great shot and and an unforgettable opener and match perfectly by the unforgettable closing closeup of norma desmond . to have cecil b. demille actually play himself be an inspired touch . throw in eric von stroheim and you have an unbeatable combination . truly one the all time must see film and although i do not know how to classify it film noir . black comedy . hollywood fable . horror story . psychodrama . who care while just see it .