 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Sunset Boulevard
- Review Date: July 14, 2003
- NR
- Genre: Classic
- 1950
Common Sense Media says
A must for fans of ruthless black comedy.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie is one of the finest American films ever made, and a must for fans of ruthless black comedy. The humor is too sophisticated and the mood too dark to offer preteens much entertainment, but mature teens will appreciate this cinematic treasure. Some mature themes to discuss after viewing: suicide, fame, the desire to hold on to the past.
What's the story?
SUNSET BOULEVARD reveals the fickleness of movie fans and the cruelty of Hollywood. In her creepy rundown mansion on Sunset Boulevard, aging silent screen star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) dreams of reviving her long-gone film career. Enter screenwriter Joe Gillis (William Holden), who owes a lot of money. When the two meet, Gloria sees her opportunity and asks Joe to help her finish a script that will put her back in the spotlight. Young and handsome Joe merely sees a hefty paycheck, and the opportunist eventually becomes Norma's lover. Watching the farce unfold is Norma's chauffer Max (Erich von Stroheim).
Is it any good?
A monkey's funeral. Wind whistling through the organ pipes. Mansion doors stripped of their locks because of the suicide attempts. The details are all so wonderfully morbid; they melt together into a kind of hardboiled Hollywood gothic narrated by a dead man. While it's likely to scare little ones out of their pajama bottoms, a more mature teen and adult audience will find Sunset Boulevard a spectacular and hair-raising movie experience. In addition to being nominated for eleven Academy Awards (three of which it won, including Best Screenplay), writer-director Billy Wilder's film rated a twelve on the American Film Institute's list of America's 100 Greatest Movies.
The performances do justice to the ruthlessly witty script. William Holden is a perfect deadpan to Gloria Swanson's Hollywood fright show. Erich von Stroheim is stoically tragic as the butler with an unthinkable secret. Nancy Olson is so sweetly ambitious as the love interest who gets tangled in their sticky web that you'll want to cry out to her, "Run! Run for your life!" All four received Academy Award nominations.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the themes in this film that give a dark depiction of Hollywood and the entertainment industry.
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
great movie
Fantastic!! I loved this movie! Bill Holden was great as well as Gloria Swanson and Erich von Stroheim. Tweens and teens will enjoy it most.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
A Brilliant Performance by Gloria Swanson...
SUNSET BOULEVARD is a cinematic treasure. The breathtaking performance by Gloria Swanson in the leading role elevates this engaging melodrama to a truly superior level. The story, riveting and filled to the brim with passion and over-the-top drama, is completely riveting.
Violence is the only issue in the film. After Joe tries to walk out on Norma, she attempts suicide by slitting her wrists (offscreen; all we are bandages around her arms). A few fatal shots are fired: a man is shot twice in the back and once in the stomach (it isn't gory) and his body is shown floating in the pool.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
great noir fim
very excellent example of noir film from the 1950's
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | Billy Wilder |
| Cast: | Gloria Swanson, Nancy Olson, William Holden |
| Genre: | Classic |
| Run time: | 110 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | August 10, 1950 |
| DVD release date: | November 26, 2001 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
