William Holden Movie Recommendation #2

Sunset Boulevard (1950) - 1 hr 55 mins

Joe Gillis (William Holden)- a journalist turned screenwriter- has hit an all-time low. His scripts are being turned down. He’s short on money, and he can’t afford his car. This is where Joe finds himself when he meets the long-forgotten silent film star Norma Desmond (played by real life silent film star Gloria Swanson). Norma takes him in when she realizes he's a screen writer. She wants him to help her fix a script that she has written, a script that she hopes will turn out to be her comeback film. Despite seeing that the script is no good, Gillis complies. It doesn’t take long before their twisted and deceitful relationship threatens both them and those around them.

This dark Hollywood tale is a strange balance of disturbing poignancy and comedy. That’s in large part, I believe, why it is such a classic. This balance manifests itself in the volley between Swanson and Holden, making their relationship a tangled web of perverted love, pity, and hate. Holden makes you feel for Gillis and at the same time blame him for his desperate choices. This is truly one of his gifts as an actor.

Availability: Youtube, Amazon video, Googleplay, DVD, and Blu-ray.

• Purchase DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Sunset-Boulevard-William-Holden/dp/B06XGV9Q7R/ref=tmm_dvd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

• Purchase Blu-ray: https://www.amazon.com/Sunset-Boulevard-Blu-ray-William-Holden/dp/B06XGTFYW5/ref=asc_df_B06XGTFYW5/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312150961364&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11932706603511987455&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003962&hvtargid=pla-451477595188&psc=1