"Sunset Boulevard" Oral Presentation Part 2: Historical and Institutional Factors

"Sunset Boulevard" was produced by Paramount Pictures, a famous production company that has produced countless other critically-acclaimed films.  Since it's such a successful production company, it has the juice to produce some awesome films with great casting and settings. Interestingly enough, Paramount was also mentioned many times in the film, and ends up being a focal point for Norma and Joe.

Joe attempts to pitch his film to a head guy at Paramount, but gets shot down.  Although, he meets Betty Schaefer there, a relationship that will be revisited in-depth and made a very apparent part of the film. Paramount seems to symbolize where everyone wants to go, and what everyone wants. Norma desperately wants her film to be accepted and filmed, Joe desperately needs money from them, and Betty desperately wants Joe to work with her on his film idea.  This makes it a coveted item, and symbolizes how people will do anything to get big in Hollywood, even if it means hurting others.

Hollywood was as big as ever in the 1950's, consisting of all the glitz and glamor it does today.  They all had mansions, swimming pools, and all the money anyone ever wanted, and more. But this film showed something different than many others: the dark side of Hollywood. Most films of the time showcased how great Hollywood was, how everyone was happy and nothing ever went wrong, so this picture shattered that into little pieces. Norma was the example of what was wrong with Hollywood. She was filthy rich, and could get any material item she wanted, but was never satisfied. She wanted to be back in the limelight of Hollywood, and most of all she wanted to be loved.

She showed the masses that even people who have it all can break, just like anyone else. The "love" that she had for Joe was completely empty. All she wanted was somebody to adore her, just like they had in the golden days, but her selfishness showed through, along with the fact that she was unable to express any love besides showering him in gifts. "Sunset Boulevard" showed the harsh truth of Hollywood, a side that people needed to see.

"Sunset Boulevard" Oral Presenation Part 1: Genre and Audience

"Sunset Boulevard" is critically acclaimed, controversial, and wrapped up in a bunch of dark humor that pokes fun at Hollywood as a whole. Sounds great, right? It was a Noir film that premiered in 1950, starring Gloria Swanson as the creepy and eccentric fallen star: Norma Desmond.  The late 40's and early 50's was Noir film's peak, but also during the transition from silent films to films with sound, which knocked many actors out of the business, including the fictional Norma Desmond.

Everything about this film screams Noir, from the femme fatale to the controversial topics discussed and portrayed all throughout the film.  This picture was like no other, but has some connections to Beauty and the Beast (1946).  The gender roles are reversed, as Norma seems to be the beast in film, while Joe is Beauty.  It's an interesting film to be connected to, as the movies are like a paralleled same: one has a hard life and runs away from something, only to find themselves in a seemingly abandoned mansion inhabited by a misunderstood millionaire.

This film was brilliantly directed by Billy Wilder, who seemed to do everything right.  From the casting, the locations, and the hidden meaning sprinkled throughout.  It's apparent Wilder really wanted this picture to be as perfect as possible in every way, and that he loves to stir up controversies through his pictures, which he successfully did with "Sunset Boulevard". This was a film you either loved or hated, no in between. Wilder seemed to bask in the criticism, as he always had a witty reply for any shots fired at his film.

This film has many themes, varying from the how Hollywood makes you corrupt and lonely, how money doesn't buy happiness, and how there's a difference between the right thing and the thing you want to do. These were ground-breaking and controversial at the time. And, as previously stated, Wilder took lots of criticism for revealing some truths about how Hollywood actually works. The film could've reached out to many audiences, pretty much anyone who wasn't a member of Hollywood and didn't have any secrets to hide could enjoy this legendary noir film.