Sunset Boulevard
1950
*****
Director: Billy Wilder
Cast: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson, Fred Clark, Lloyd Gough
Not every film starts with the dead protagonist narrating the story, but this is not every film. The dead man is a struggling screenwriter who describes his unusual relationship with a self-deluding former star of the silent film, who dreams of a comeback. Billy Wilder's stunning film noir is the ultimate drama about Hollywood, which offers everything Tinseltown has to offer: the dreams and the disappointments, the glamour and the sleaze. An Academy Award winner for best screenplay, art direction, and music. This iconic film was later turned into a musical.
