Iconic Noir Film Sunset Boulevard, Directed By Billy Wilder

Delving into the duplicitous world of 1950s America, Billy Wilder’s iconic noir film Sunset Boulevard chronicles the downfall of down-and-out screenwriter Joe Gillis and an obsolete sweetheart of the bygone silent era, Norma Desmond. By infusing the harsh reality behind the film industry, the film embraces the despair behind Hollywood’s pseudo-glamour, portraying it as a force taking advantage of innocent dreams of success using fame as a bait. Through disclosing the entanglement of deceit and control, Wilder further contends that fame is deceptive in that it is often perceived as everlasting, contrary to the faded stardom of celebrities and ultimately postulates how in positing self-worth on admiration by others, it makes individuals vulnerable

Wilder explores this idea through the initial portrayal of life in Hollywood, renowned for the stardom and glamour of celebrities. Contradicting such an image, Joe’s apartment appears dishevelled, papers strewn over the ruffled bed and unemptied cigarette tray, with Joe engrossed in “grinding out.two original stories a week.” Joe’s dejected life reflects many of the hopefuls helplessly “waiting for the gravy train” and the fanciful success Hollywood seemed to have promised for them. Although Joe was once a “well known screenwriter”, his lacklustre career demonstrates his enslavement to the Hollywood machine, being forced to merely churn out what could “sell” demeaning his value as a writer. This is further amplified through Betty, who is illuminated by bright lighting in contrast to Joe standing in discontent in the shade of Sheldrake’s office. Wilder uses Betty’s optimistic and impassioned persona to represent writers who “first hit Hollywood.itching with ambition”. While Betty is resolute about writing about “threadbare lives of teachers,” Joe’s jaded career in Hollywood leaves him to ridicule such passion for storytelling as an innocent hope of “one of those message kids,” highlighting just how Hollywood’s callous prioritisation of fame and success in writers have blinded them from writing for purpose. Wilder hence underscores how fame of writers glorified by Hollywood is what eventually destroys dreams and values of talents, as eventually Betty begins to become subjected to the dog-eat-dog nature of the industry. Her desperate eagerness to make it in Hollywood results in her persuading Joe to collaborate with her, pleading that “[she’s] just not good enough by [herself]” and that her piece is “half sold.” Her love of storytelling gradually becomes restrained to the standards of Hollywood, such as appreciation from