Close-up on Sunset Boulevard Billy Wilder, Norma Desmond, and the Dark Hollywood Dream

by Staggs, Sam

• ISBN13: 9780312302542
• ISBN10: 0312302541
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-02-04
• Publisher: Griffin

Summary

Classic storytelling about one of Hollywood's darkest masterpieces,Close-up on Sunset Boulevardgoes behind the scenes to reveal everything about the making of this movie and the larger-than-life personalities of its creators and stars.Close-up on Sunset Boulevardfeatures unforgettable anecdotes about every player: from silent queen Gloria Swanson in her poignant comeback to the cheerful ingenue Nancy Olson (who had never heard of the great and glamorous Gloria), from henpecked, handsome---and hungover---William Holden to the raucous writing team of Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett.Close-up on Sunset Boulevardis a fascinating, unputdownable movie history.

Author Biography

Sam Staggs is the author of All About “All About Eve” and a novel, MMII: The Return of Marilyn Monroe. He lives in Dallas, Texas.

Table of Contents

Voice-Over, 1948	p. 1
A La Recherche de Norma Desmond	p. 4
When Queens Collide	p. 11
The Happiest Couple in Hollywood	p. 15
Chaz	p. 37
Who Is Gloria Swanson?	p. 47
"The Cameras Have Arrived"	p. 71
The Bedroom of Norma Desmond	p. 82
That's Why the Lady Has a Chimp	p. 95
"Ten Thousand Midnights Ago"	p. 101
"All Right, Mr. DeMille, I'm Ready for My Close-up"	p. 118
Chiffon, Velvet, Chinchilla, Tulle, Brocade, Taffeta, Ermine, and Leopard-Printed Crepe	p. 126
If It's a Paramount Picture, It's the Best Show in Town	p. 136
Fiasco	p. 148
The Whole Audience Stood Up and Cheered	p. 154
And the Winner Isn't Gloria Swanson	p. 173
I've Got Nobody Floating in My Pool	p. 188
Boulevard!	p. 202
"Funny How Gentle People Get with You Once You're Dead"	p. 224
Popcorn in Beverly Hills with Nancy	p. 232
"Buttons and Bows"	p. 246
Men in Uniform	p. 252
"We'll Make Another Picture, and Another Picture"	p. 274
Sunset Cul-de-sac	p. 295
Life Upon the Wicked Stage	p. 303
Fifteen Minutes of Close-ups	p. 309
A Dethroned Queen	p. 316
If They Put All the Norma Desmonds on an Island, Which One Would Survive?	p. 354
Billy Wilder from Noir to Blackout	p. 363
Lux Perpetua	p. 374
Acknowledgments	p. 381
Selected Bibliography	p. 385
Notes	p. 389
Index	p. 407
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