"Sunset Boulevard" Oral Presentation Part 3: Socio-Cultural Context

The film "Sunset Boulevard" is such an interesting film because it doesn't relate to the culture that it was released in. Back in the late 40's/early 50's, Hollywood tried its hardest to cover up it's dark secrets that lie behind the scenes. It discussed many controversial topics, such as how the transition from the silent age to the sound era ruined many actors careers. A famous scene where this is gone over is when Joe references them as the "waxworks" when Norma has a few has-been actors and actresses over to play a game of bridge.

There is a sort of an eerie tone to the scene, as don't talk much, and seem to have a look of discontent painted onto their faces. The fact that director Billy Wilder was able to get those actors on board to be in that scene, playing themselves as a few has-been actors, seems to solidify the fact that they've accepted their roles, and their falls from being on the big screen as big actors and actresses. This film was knocked by many critics and Hollywood folk who didn't want the truth about how Hollywood really worked. This made this film in-between genres: made in the era of classics, but paving new ground towards films of the future. The fact that it addresses so many controversial subjects makes it a great movie for anyone who wasn't easily offended back in the day.

This film shows how much the industry has changed since its release. It stirred up loads of controversy in its release, but a movie like this released today would have little effect on the audience. In the 50's, it was huge to create a movie that shows the dark sides of anything, but now-a-days it's normal protocol. Showing something that goes against the flow is almost something that has to be done in order for your film to be successful. People want to see something that unsettles them, something that could talk about. Hey, look at me now for example: I'm writing a long blog post about how much this movie was a little crazy.

"Sunset Boulevard" was made to show the world that it's not all good, a truth that needed to be said sooner or later. It opened up quite a few eyes, and made them say "could that really happen to someone so well-known and rich?" and sadly, yes it can. Norma was the face of the dark side of the business: showing how an angel can fall and become someone so desperate, even though they have it all.