Sunset Boulevard (1950) - Critical Reviews

Synopsis

In Hollywood of the 50's, the obscure screenplay writer Joe Gillis is not able to sell his work to the studios, is full of debts and is thinking in returning to his hometown to work in an office. While trying to escape from his creditors, he has a flat tire and parks his car in a decadent mansion in Sunset Boulevard. He meets the owner and former silent-movie star Norma Desmond, who lives alone with her butler and driver Max Von Mayerling. Norma is demented and believes she will return to the cinema industry, and is protected and isolated from the world by Max, who was her director and husband in the past and still loves her. Norma proposes Joe to move to the mansion and help her in writing a screenplay for her comeback to the cinema, and the small-time writer becomes her lover and gigolo. When Joe falls in love for the young aspirant writer Betty Schaefer, Norma becomes jealous and completely insane and her madness leads to a tragic end.

Critical Acclaim

Upon its release in 1950, Sunset Boulevard was met with widespread critical acclaim, recognized immediately for its daring narrative and incisive critique of Hollywood's darker underbelly. The film, directed by Billy Wilder and co-written with Charles Brackett, was praised for its sharp, witty script and the haunting performances of its leads, particularly Gloria Swanson as the faded silent film star, Norma Desmond, and William Holden as the struggling screenwriter, Joe Gillis. Critics admired its noir aesthetic and its unflinching look at the industry's treatment of aging stars.

Contemporary reviews highlighted the film's unique approach and powerful storytelling. Bosley Crowther of The New York Times described it as "a masterly blend of pathos, bitterness, and cynicism," lauding Swanson's portrayal as both "fascinating" and "frightening." Modern evaluations have remained equally enthusiastic; Sunset Boulevard holds an impressive 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating its enduring significance. Roger Ebert later referred to it as "one of the darkest and most compelling films ever made about Hollywood," underscoring its timeless appeal and influence.

The film's legacy has been profound, earning eleven Academy Award nominations and winning three, including Best Writing, Story and Screenplay. It has been consistently featured on the American Film Institute's lists of greatest films, and its iconic lines and scenes have permeated popular culture. Sunset Boulevard is often regarded as one of the greatest films in cinematic history, heralded for its bold storytelling and its unflinching portrayal of ambition, madness, and the ephemeral nature of fame.