“Boulevard! A Hollywood Story” (Festival Review)
When Gloria Swanson took on the role of Norma Desmond in Billy Wilder's 1950 film "Sunset Boulevard," it was the epitome of perfect casting.
The iconic character, much like the woman who was playing her, had been a superstar in the world of silent film. The advent of "talkies" really ruined both of their careers, but Swanson would have the last laugh.
https://youtu.be/_dY0SVxnHjQ
The performance found her, yet again, in the good graces of Hollywood (at least temporarily) when she was nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards. The film was such a lifesaver for Swanson that she wanted to find a way to extend its power.
She turned to Dickson Hughes and Richard Stapley, two young songwriters who just so happened to be lovers at a time when that had to be kept tightly un...