You’ve heard it everywhere… “All right Mr. De Mille, I’m ready for my close-up.”
Faded silent-film star Norma Desmond, played brilliantly by Gloria Swanson, is slowly slipping into insanity, as she dreams of a triumphant return to the silver screen. The film follows the story of unsuccessful Hollywood screenwriter Joseph Gillis, played by William Holden, who’s body is floating face-down in the opening scenes. The plot for the movie involves how he is entangled in Norma Desmond’s descent into madness, resulting in his untimely death.
This is a fabulous example of American film-noir… with guest appearances by Cecil B. DeMille and gossip columnist Hedda Harper playing themselves. Sunset Boulevard also stars Erich von Stroheim as Desmond’s butler, and Nancy Olson as Joe’s love interest. It was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, and won three of them. In 1998, it was ranked No.12 on the American Film Institute’s list of the hundred best American films of the 20th century, and in 2007 it was 16th on their tenth anniversary list.
This film was based on the 1943 book of the same name, written by American author Betty Smith. It is a coming of age film; the main character is Francie Nolan, who lives with her parents in a tenement in Brooklyn NY at the turn of the 20th century. Francie is played in her teenager years by Peggy Ann Garner- the book covers her life from birth until after she is 16 years old- the movie however focuses on her life between 14-15.
Dorothy McGuire plays Francie’s mother Katie, and James Dunn plays her well meaning, but impoverished father. His drinking and inability to maintain steady employment only compounds every issue that arises.
Phenomenal acting by the young Peggy Ann Garner, it’s a story about trying to keep it together, and learning to make something when life hands you lemons.
This from IMDB.com ” In Brooklyn circa 1900, the Nolans manage to enjoy life on pennies despite great poverty and Papa’s alcoholism. We come to know these people well through big and little troubles: Aunt Sissy’s scandalous succession of “husbands”; the removal of the one tree visible from their tenement; and young Francie’s desire to transfer to a better school…if irresponsible Papa can get his act together.”
This 1932 film, set at Berlin’s upscale, opulent art-deco Grand Hotel, tells the multiple-narrative story of the crossing of the lives of its five guests, whose lives intertwine for a two-day period at the hotel. Starring the creme de la creme of Hollywood, the cast included such heavy-hitters as Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Joan Crawford, and Lionel Barrymore.
This movie quote, by Lewis Stone, portraying Dr.Otternschlag, sums up the true nature of the hotel:
“What do you do in the Grand Hotel? Eat. Sleep. Loaf around. Flirt a little. Dance a little. A hundred doors leading to one hall, and no one knows anything about the person next to them. And when you leave, someone occupies your room, lies in your bed, and that’s the end.”
This is the movie, for you trivia fans, where the Russian accented “I want to be alone” comes from- Greta Garbo plays an aging, lonely Russian ballerina confronted by another guest professing his love for her. This line gave Garbo a reputation for being a recluse.
The final scene, the doctor also delivers this line “The Grand Hotel. Always the same. People come. People go…nothing ever happens.” as the driver of an arriving bus calls out “Grand Hotel.”
I’m not here to tell you what happens in the movie- I’m here to tell you that it’s one that should be on your list! Grand Hotel is a soap opera shortened into a 112 minute film. Beautiful monochrome photography… this movie was the turning point for several famous stars, and won the 1932 Oscar for Best Picture.
