UNCUT | Sunset Boulevard (1950) Movie Reaction | FIRST TIME WATCHING

Wonderful reaction, Marty, thank you! This is one of my top 5 films of all time, so it is always fun to see someone watch it for the first time. A big part of what makes it so fascinating is that it is Hollywood critiquing itself, at a time when one wouldn't have thought that would have happened. The fact that it is so 'meta' is what makes for the reams of trivia about it. Gloria Swanson's early career was essentially Norma Desmond's early career. She was one of the absolute biggest stars of the silent era. I think it is to her great credit that she decided to take on this role and do such a spectacular job with it. I think you would find it fascinating to read more about her career, even if just on Wikipedia. Likewise the career of Cecil B. DeMille was enormous, as he is considered the father of American moviemaking and was the most commercially successful filmmaker of all time. It's amazing that he even agreed to play a cameo role in this film at all, and unsurprising that Wilder had to basically throw money and Cadillacs at him to get him to do it. Even Erich von Stroheim, who played Max, was a very important silent-era film director. Other notable cameos: Norma's three card-playing buddies were all major silent-era screen stars, the most well-known of the three being Buster Keaton. Hedda Hopper, who was also a silent film star, and who went on to become the biggest Hollywood gossip columnist of the Golden Age, plays herself as the gossip columnist dictating a story over the phone after Norma shoots Joe. I could go on, but as you saw, the trivia on this film and the people involved in it is endless. Good call on predicting that Max was one of Norma's husbands! And you are far from the only one, myself being another, who, on first viewing, had completely forgotten about the body in the pool by the time we get to the scene where Norma shoots Joe. Finally, thanks so much for reacting to these fabulous classics! I know you want to keep some diversity on your channel and react to newer stuff as well, and that's great! But you do a such a fantastic job on your reactions to the classics that I hope you'll always keep doing them. Not that you need more suggestions, based on the list you have already, but I do have a couple more in mind for you. I'll spring them on you at some point! Hope all is well--take care!

Scott aka Blue62