Overview

"Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard, a classic film noir and also a damning dissection of the Hollywood dream factory, evokes the glamour and ruin of the stars who subsist on that dream. It's also one long in-joke about the movie industry and those who made it great--and who were, in turn, destroyed by it. One of the most critically admired films of the twentieth century, Sunset Boulevard is also famous as silent-star Gloria Swanson's comeback picture. Sam Staggs's Close-Up on Sunset Boulevard tells the story of this extravagant work, from the writing, casting, and filming to the disastrous previews that made Paramount consider shelving it. It's about the writing team of Billy Wilder and Charles Bracket--sardonically called ""the happiest couple in Hollywood""--and their raucous professional relationship. It's about the art direction and the sets, the costumes, the props, the lights and cameras, and the personalities who used those tools to create a cinematic work of art. Staggs goes behind the scenes to reveal: William Holden, endlessly attacked by his bitter wife and drinking too much; Nancy Olson, the cheerful ingenue who had never heard of the great Gloria Swanson; the dark genius Erich von Stroheim; the once famous but long-forgotten ""Waxworks;"" and of course Swanson herself, who--just like Norma Desmond--had once been ""the greatest star of them all."" But the story of Sunset Boulevard doesn't end with the movie's success and acclaim at its release in 1950. There's much more, and Staggs layers this stylish book with fascinating detail, following the actors and Wilder into their post-Sunset careers and revealing Gloria Swanson's never-ending struggle to free herself from the clutches of Norma Desmond. Close-Up on Sunset Boulevard also chronicles the making of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical production of Sunset Boulevard and the explosive diva controversies that dogged it. The book ends with a shocking example of Hollywood life imitating Hollywood art. By the last page of this rich narrative, listeners will conclude: we are those ""wonderful people out there in the dark."""

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9781665034197

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Reviews

A fun read, and Staggs knows his material. -- Library Journal Highly enjoyable...Staggs's research is impressive...The intrepid reporting results in little-known film facts...There are also plenty of edifying sidebars on topics such as the history of Norma Desmond's exotic car...Staggs has succeeded in presenting another remarkable film study. -- Publishers Weekly If this doesn't make you go rent the Sunset Boulevard DVD, nothing will...Staggs uses his considerable knowledge of the film industry to highlight the many fascinating stories behind the making of the movie. -- Instinct magazine Probes deep into the black heart of Wilder's noir masterwork. -- Tribune and Times (Tampa) Staggs delivers the dish. -- New York Daily News Staggs leaves no stone unturned. -- Dallas Voice

Author Information

Sam Staggs is the author of seven books on Hollywood and its stars. He has written for publications including Vanity Fair, Architectural Digest, and Opera News. Donald Corren is an audiobook narrator and a New York actor with leading credits on and Off-Broadway, as well as numerous television appearances. On Broadway, he costarred with Judy Kaye in the critically acclaimed production of Souvenir, and replaced Harvey Fierstein in the seminal production of Torch Song Trilogy. His Off-Broadway appearances include The Soap Myth, Dietrich & Chevalier, The Last Sunday in June, Stephen Sondheim's Saturday Night, and the original New York production of Tomfoolery. His television credits include eight seasons as forensic tech Medill on NBC's Law & Order, as well as his current role as Dr. Kurian on Syfy's Z Nation.

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