Sunset Boulevard (feat. Izzy from Be Kind Rewind)
Kevin is pleased to welcome Izzy, the voice behind the wonderful Oscar-obsessed YouTube channel Be Kind Rewind, to talk about Billy Wilder’s ‘Sunset Boulevard,’ the likely runner-up in the 1950 Oscar race that lost to ‘All About Eve.’
0:00 – 1:18 – Introduction
1:19 – 43:30 – ‘Sunset Boulevard’ review
43:31 – 1:31:28 – Why ‘Sunset Boulevard’ lost Best Picture
1:31:29 – 1:54:54 – Shoulda been a contender
1:54:55 – 1:58:31 – Did ‘Sunset Boulevard’ deserve to win?
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Theme/End Music is “The Virtue” by Jonathan Adamich
One Reply to “Sunset Boulevard (feat. Izzy from Be Kind Rewind)”
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Best film of all time! Gloria Swanson is superb!
Swanson was only 20 years from her own peak of stardom (as was Norma). Swanson had scored major hits in the silent SADIE THOMPSON and her talkie debut in THE TRESPASSER in the late 20s. Swanson won Oscar nominations for both of these roles. When SB came out in 1950, silent films were still remembered and many of the current actors in films had worked in silents films.
It’s also interesting to look at SHOW PEOPLE (1928) as another look at the film industry. While the film is a comedy is has a rather jaded view of stardom. The fabulous Marion Davies plays a character loosely based on … you guessed it, Gloria Swanson. The Davies character starts out in comedy but moves up to grand dramas. As the drama diva, Davies is demanding and delusional about her own powers as artiste. It’s an interesting take on what Hollywood may have thought of Swanson at the time. Swanson refused to see the film.
It’s also notable that Davies’ co-star in SHOW PEOPLE is William Haines, whom Swanson had invited to be one of SB’s “waxworks.” As Izzy mentions, yes WHAT PRICE HOLLYWOOD and A STAR IS BORN were early looks at inside Hollywood, but don’t forget SHOW PEOPLE’s comic look at the industry. It’s one of Mariond Davies’ masterpieces.