Sunset Boulevard: The Culture Of Hollywood Film

The Culture of Hollywood
Overview
A new edition to the course lineup, this week's film classic, Sunset Boulevard. This film will focus on the culture and environment of the Hollywood studio system that produces the kind of motion pictures that the whole world recognizes as "Hollywood movies." There have been many movies from the silent era to the present that either glamorize or vilify the culture of Hollywood, typically focusing on the celebrities (both in front of and behind the camera) who populate the "dream factories" of Hollywood. But we cannot completely understand the culture of Hollywood unless we recognize that motion pictures are big business as well as entertainment, and that Hollywood necessarily includes both creative and commercial

interests, which are sometimes in direct conflict with one another.
One of the first film to address both sides of the culture of Hollywood is Sunset Boulevard (1950), directed by Billy Wilder and starring Gloria Swanson and William Holden. Sunset Boulevard is a commentary on Hollywood of the past (silent film) meets Hollywood of the future (sound filmmaking). The main character Norma Desmond represents a dark iconic figure of silent films eager for continued recognition in Hollywood. Director Billy Wilder's take on Hollywood, himself a former journalist and screenwriter, draws controversy in his depiction of Hollywood as he illustrates his sympathy for actors who failed to make the transition to sound filmmaking while simultaneously shredding the myth of the “magic of the movies” sparkle that the industry wanted to preserve. Sunset Boulevard is a Hollywood film about Hollywood.
The film’s visual form takes on the style of film noir. Film noir is considered an aesthetic movement and often described as a genre, includes heavily shadowy, low-key lighting, wide-angle lenses, a femme fatale and a complex narrative structure, characterized by flashbacks and/or complex sequences of events. In addition, Sunset Boulevard uses first-person narration which reminds us that the story is told from the perspective of Joe Gillis’ relationship with Norma Desmond. The structure constantly reminds us through the use of voiceover that we have a mystery to solve. This early film also switches the dominant sexual role from male, as often seen in Hollywood films to Norma Desmond as she latches on to screenwriter, Joe Gillis, the man destined to revive her and her acting career. Sunset Boulevard is a great reflection on the economic value of Hollywood, the artistry of Hollywood and the actors, writers, directors and producers who define it.
While screening Sunset Boulevard, reflect on some of the most famous one-liners, and how they may inform the culture of Hollywood then and now:
"I am big, it’s the pictures that got small.” Norma Desmond (culture)
“Audiences don't know somebody sits down and writes a picture; they think the actors make it up as they go along.” Joe Gillis (screenwriters)
“We didn't need dialogue.

We had faces!” Norma Desmond (acting)
Learning Outcomes
After completing this lesson you should be able to:

• Access online film reviews and critiques.
• Recognize that the "Culture of Hollywood" is based on motion pictures as big business as well as entertainment.
• Describe some ways in which business values and artistic values in Hollywood contend with one another.
• Identify specific elements of a motion picture that film studios look for in a successful movie.
• Use the Film Glossary to learn the meaning of cinematic terms and to use them appropriately in discussions about movies.
• Analyze a film shot or scene to explain how filmmakers use cinematic techniques to tell a story, develop characters, create atmosphere, and evoke emotions.
• Write the introductory paragraph for an analytical essay that includes a well-defined thesis statement.
Readings
• Read the online reviews and essays of Sunset Boulevard attached as MATERIALS on this session's Timeline.

Screenings
Sunset Boulevard. Dir. Billy Wilder, 1950.
Discussion Questions
DQ1: Comment on the overall tone, dialogue and characters portrayed in the film. What attitudes do they express toward Hollywood and the movie industry? What about the film caused actors and screenwriters to admire it greatly and studio executives to hate it?
DQ2: The silent era of Hollywood filmmaking had only been over for about 25 years when Sunset Boulevard was made. Gloria Swanson had actually been a silent film superstar, although she retired from the screen voluntarily after making several sound films. Erich von Stroheim, who plays her butler, had actually been one of the greatest and most temperamental (as well as controversial) actor-directors of the 1920s, and was forced to turn strictly to acting after much-publicized extravagance on his productions and personality conflicts with his stars and producers. The movie they screen in her mansion was actually a never-completed epic he directed her in, and its disaster helped to end his directing career. How does knowing this information affect your reaction to the story of Sunset Boulevard? How do you think it affected viewers at the time (especially Hollywood personnel) who could still remember their earlier careers?
DQ3: If you had to pinpoint the specific moment when Norma loses her grip on reality, when would it be?
DQ4: Joe Gillis and Max, the butler, contribute to the web of lies that ultimately cause Norma’s downfall. How could they have avoided the tragic ending of the picture? At what point in the film is there no turning back?
Assignment
Write the introductory paragraph for an essay on the following topic: How does Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard comment on the culture of Hollywood? (What does the film say about the people who want to be successful in Hollywood?)
You do not have to write the entire essay, only the first paragraph. But this paragraph must set up the essay effectively and include a thoughtful, well-defined thesis statement that takes an arguable position on the question posed. The thesis statement must be detailed and specific enough to serve as a blueprint for the body of the essay.
An empty generalization like the following is not an acceptable thesis: "Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard provides a controversial observation of Hollywood movies and stardom." This statement needs to be fleshed out by defining more specifically what "controversial observation" means.

One way to do this is to mind map and then list or itemize several specific comments that Sunset Boulevard makes on Hollywood. For example: "Sunset Boulevard reveals the complexity of the movie business by dramatizing how important X, Y, and Z are to the movies that Hollywood creates." X, Y, and Z would then be developed in more depth in the body of the paper. You could also use the film technique, style and/or dialogue to talk more specifically to Wilder’s intent in storytelling. Or, balance comparisons in your explanations, sample ideas could be based on failure and success, or opportunity and

exploitation.
What is important is that your thesis statement take a position on the essay question that can be explained, illustrated, and argued in the body of the paper. Read about thesis statements in an English grammar handbook if you would like more examples and explanations, or view the uploaded pdf taken from Writing About Movies, W.W. Norton & Company, 3rd edition, October 2012.
When you have written your introductory paragraph for this assignment, post it as an ASSIGNMENT to the instructor. Due Monday, September 21.
Writing a well-focused thesis statement for the essays assigned in this class is the single best thing you can do to get good grades on these papers!