First off, I'll be discussing the plot here, and rather than blacking out my entire post, consider this your warning - if you haven't seen
Sunset Blvd., stop reading NOW.
I watched this for the first time at the weekend and was just blown away. I was hooked, and got totally invested in the Gillis character - when he fell in as Norma's gigolo, I wanted to throw things at the TV; when his romance with Betty finally resulted in a kiss, I nearly cheered, even knowing all the time that he'd be dead at the end.
Why was I so caught up with Gillis' fate? Perhaps I identified with the character a little bit, being an aspiring writer myself, but mainly it has to be Holden's performance. I've always liked Holden, and (in his youth, at least) he's the kind of charismatic leading man I watch and think "I wish I was more like that" (alcoholism and untimely death notwithstanding). I've never been a really big fan, however, until now - I thought he was utterly superb in
Sunset Blvd., and I'm looking forward immensely to seeing
The Wild Bunch again in the new year, as well as catching
Stalag 17 for the first time.
But, I digress. My main point was a question - at the climax, after Norma calls up Betty and spills the beans about her and Joe's "arrangement", Betty comes round and, in spite of everything, still wants to be with Joe. He, though, sends her away back to her husband, despite her obviously being in love with him and he (I think?) with her. Then Joe goes and packs, intending to head home to Ohio (before being rather unfortunately shot, of course). To me, this just didn't "click". If Joe is ready to leave Norma there and then, why does he push Betty away? Why doesn't he make plans to leave with her? I know it's all rather academic since Joe ends up dead anyway, but I just didn't understand him throwing away the
chance of happiness with Betty, and because I was so wrapped up in the story, the question keeps buzzing round in my head and won't go away.
Anyway, I also have to say that I found Swanson's performance compelling, though obviously in a very different way to Holden's. Not since Nurse Ratched in
OFOTCN has there been a female character I've wanted to belt with a baseball bat
quite so vehemently, and yet I still smiled for her in the DeMille scene, where she was suddenly the centre of attention again, among all her fans.
Apologies for rambling, but I just had to bring the film up somewhere. I could have mentioned it in the office this morning, but a few blank stares and a "William
Who?" would have been the likely response.
Dave
Linear Mode
