Probably my favorite noir film. So many of the scenes are so classically dark and spooky it almost makes you shiver. It almost didn't get made because it attacked the culture of Hollywood and its stars. It's amazing that many of the themes of ego and self-worth are just as relevant in the movie industry today as they were when it was made. Gloria Swanson gives a chilling performance that is downright scary and William Holden with Erich von Stroheim rounding out a stellar cast.

Another amazing side story of this movie was just how closely the movie script matched the actors and the real life situations they had been through. Holden plays a struggling writer and in reality was at his wits end as a career actor. Swanson was a faded star at that point and had effectively left her movie career behind with many of her mannerisms and extreme behavior matching her character. Even DeMille who plays himself had directed Swanson numerous times at Paramount and even referred to Norma Desmond in the movie as "young fella" which was the same nickname he always called Swanson. In my years of watching cinema I've never come across a movie that mirrored the life behind the actors so completely, no doubt it is a factor in the wild success and quality of the movie.

I wasn't expecting the film to be this good, pleasant surprise! Almost seemed modern at times with its frank references to murder and suicide.

For a movie from the 50's it's immensely creepy in a subtle way. Not many modern movies can emulate this style.