Gloria Swanson, as Norma Desmond, an aging silent-film queen, and William Holden, as the struggling young screenwriter who is held in thrall by her madness, created two of the screen's most memorable characters in "Sunset Boulevard." Director Billy Wilder's powerful orchestration of the bizarre tale is a true cinematic classic. From the unforgettable opening sequence - a body found floating in a decayed mansion's swimming pool - through the inevitable unfolding of tragic destiny, "Sunset Boulevard" is the definitive statement on the dark and desperate side of Hollywood. Erich von Stroheim as Desmond's discoverer, ex-husband and butler, and Nancy Olson as the bright spot amidst unrelenting ominousness, are equally celebrated for their masterful performances.

• 1 hr 51 min
• Directed by

  Billy Wilder
• Written by Billy Wilder, Charles M. Brackett, D.M. Marshman

• Starring

  William Holden

  ,

  Gloria Swanson

  ,

  Erich Von Stroheim

  ,

  Nancy Olson

  ,

  Fred Clark

  ,

  Lloyd Gough

  ,

  Franklin Farnum

  ,

  Larry Blake

  ,

  Charles Dayton

  ,

  Cecil B. De Mille

  ,

  Gertrude Astor

  ,

  Ken Christy

  ,

  Ruth Clifford

  ,

  Eddie Dew

  ,

  Julia Faye

  ,

  Al Ferguson

  ,

  Kenneth Gibson

  ,

  Tommy Ivo

  ,

  Ottola Nesmith

  ,

  Eva Novak

  ,

  Robert Emmett O'connor

  ,

  Jack Webb

  ,

  Howard J. Negley

  ,

  John Miller