When one talks about Hollywood classics, most people will think first of Breakfast at Tiffany (1961) or The Sound of Music (1965).  But here we have Sunset Boulevard, one of the greatest movies ever made.

Sunset Boulevard is a 1950 American film that is named after a real street in the centre of Hollywood.  It is located in an area known for its luxurious homes and grandeur during the 1920s onwards.

The film tells a story about a struggling screenwriter, Joe Gillis, and a former silent film star, Norma Desmond, who pulls him into her demented world where she dreams of making a triumphant return to the screen.  It starts with a murder scene where the body of Joe Gillis is discovered by a group of police officers and photographers, floating in the swimming pool of a mansion.  The narrator is the deceased himself as the events leading to his demise unfold through a flashback.

The film was praised by many critics when it was first released and was nominated for 11 Academy Awards.  As it was said to be “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”, Sunset Boulevard was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

Norma Desmond gained a huge reputation of empathy as her character mirrors several real-life faded silent film stars.  Although it is regarded as a fictional character, Norma was inspired by several different people, including those suffering from mental disorders.

Sunset Boulevard is quite similar to A Star Is Born (1937), which was remade three times in 1954, 1976 and 2018.  Both movies share a story about the journey of an artist’s career which progresses and declines, except that Sunset Boulevard did not have a remake.  However, it would probably be extraordinary if it were to be remade.  With many A-listers nowadays, who do you think would be most suited to play Norma Desmond?

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Pearl is currently a student studying theatre.  She aspires to become an actress who brings joy to her audience through films and drama.  She also hopes to write and cast her own original stories.