Gloria Swanson and the Curse of Norma Desmond (Sunset Boulevard 1950)

#classicmovies #classichollywood #oldmovies In 1983, Gloria Swanson passed away leaving behind a legacy as one of the biggest and most glamorous stars of the silent movie era. With nearly 70 films and short subjects under her belt, she set the fashion trends and hair styles for women everywhere, and was named the most fashionable woman in the world. But it was her role as Norma Desmond in the 1950 film Sunset Boulevard that cemented her status as a Hollywood icon.

Although Gloria Swanson was able to weather the shift from silent to talking pictures, her film career was dead by the mid-1930s. However, her unforgettable performance as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard brought her back into the spotlight.

But while Gloria Swanson's performance of Norma Desmond is iconic, it also had an effect of altering the public's perception of her life and career. In essence, Gloria Swanson and Norma Desmond became one person in the eyes of audiences, with many confusing the delusional, stuck-in-the-past Norma Desmond with the real-life Gloria Swanson.

In reality, Swanson was an astute businesswoman who founded her own production company and was able to negotiate for herself creative control over her projects.

You can watch some of Gloria Swanson's classic silents here
🍿MALE AND FEMALE 1919 (directed by C. B. Demille)

🍿MANHANDLED 1924 (directed by Allan Dwan)

🍿ZAZA 1923 (directed by Allan Dwan)

🍿PERFECT UNDERSTANDING (this one is kind of a mess story wise but it co stars a young Laurence Olivier who is rather rakish and charming. Plus, Gloria sings! Since she wanted to be a singer more than an actress it's treat to watch!)

🎙️Also, heres the full 1957 Mike Wallace interviews. He absolutely boorish in his manner and questioning but Gloria shows how much of a class act she is.

🎙️And her interview with Barbara Walters on 20/20 from 1980

subscribe to the free cinema cities newsletter

If you're loving these videos consider supporting the channel at:

🎵Like the music? Find my playlist with the music I've used here:
And, if you sign up to Epidemic Sound through the playlist link, you'll get 1 month for free!

I hang out on Twitter so come on over and say hi!

Disclosure: This video description may contain affiliate links and referral codes, which means I may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or sign-ups made through my links. I am a participant in multiple affiliate and referral programs, including Amazon and Epidemic Sound.

[CinemaCities]

I realize there may be some confusion when I say Gloria left acting and never looked back. I meant she stopped chasing leading roles. She did continue to make sporadic guest appearances on TV shows and was a frequent talk show guest. She also continued to work on the stage and she appeared in the disaster flick AIRPORT 1975.

Also, if you're curious, I've linked some of Gloria's silent films and her interviews in the video description.

[stevenwymor]

I think the best line from Sunset Boulevard has got to be, “I am still big, it’s the pictures that got small.” She should have won an Oscar for that role.

[troybirch]

I was lucky enough to have lunch with Gloria Swanson in 1979. She was passionate about everything. Most of all she was adamant that we were ruining our health by consuming too much sugar and needed to be aware that we needed to eat more natural healthy foods. Believe it or not very, very few people agreed and this played into the Norma Desmond “crazy” label. Time has shown she was right. I hope that somehow she knows that the world adapt her way of thinking. She’s have loved it!

[llandrin]

The most heartbreaking scene in Sunset Boulevard was when she went to the studio because they asked her to come in. She was thinking it was going to be her come back film only to learn they just wanted to use her car.

[bunkyman]

Sunset Boulevard is my favorite movie of all time. That house, the costumes and Gloria Swanson, OMG, it doesn't get better!

[DanielOrme]

One actor I always think of as being cursed by his defining performance is Anthony Perkins in Psycho. The role broke the public of thinking of him as the nice boy characters he'd played before then, but he was never free of it afterwards.

[ladyredl]

I absolutely love this film, it’s incredibly dark, and critiques Hollywood as it was. Swanson’s performance was amazing.

[leanneblake]

Gloria Swanson, the whole Production and Cast of "Sunset Boulevard" is Absolutely Fantastic. One of my Top 10 Films. Thank you

[miapdx]

The role of her husband/director/turned servant was breathtaking. He was perfect. Still adoring her while being codependent with her sickness, feeding it, nurturing her madness. Just, wow.

[LambentOrt]

The movie is amazing, and her performance is transcendent. It's one of the best Hollywood movies ever made.

[timsmith]

My grandparents said that Gloria Swanson was definitely NOT Norma Desmond but Swanson's portrayal of Desmond was a masterpiece! They felt anyone who thought Swanson was Desmond was silly or stupid or both.- Zoomer

[angelcitygirl]

She was a true movie star. She was amazing. 🌟🌟

[poetcomic]

She was always quick to mix with the hip, new, interesting crowds and had a wide range of interests that were NOT about herself and was a health food fan decades before others. She was a daring and rather advanced fashion icon well into old age..

[kurtschlarb]

Documentaries like this are rare. And in this medium, this was well-done.

[jimnewl]

I had never seen the movie before but watched it a week ago on a whim and was completely won over by Swanson. From the bits and pieces I'd seen, I was expecting her character to be an over-the-top parody, but somehow she managed to walk that tightrope waaay up there near the clouds without slipping. Truly one of the greatest performances I've ever seen. Unforgettable.

[Moosetta]

Let's just stop a moment and say Gloria Swanson was utterly stunning.

[rosemaryfranzese]

It’s amazing to think that if Mae West had not been insulted by being offered the role of Norma Desmond, we would have miss a treat. Swanson was not first choice for the part by when she accepted it, Billy Wilder quickly realised he’d hit the jackpot. Gloria was unlucky to be up against Bette Davies in All about Eve for the best actress Oscar in 1951. The two great titans cancelled each other out and neither won. Gloria was not Norma but she knew former stars who were, the film meant a great deal to her. To me, the most shocking thing was that Gloria was about 51 when she made the film and Norma was the same age, it’s horrifyingly to think that women of that age were considered ancient. Of course, even today there are few good roles for middle aged women and just a few actresses seem to get them all

[agnesblack]

I thought it funny when Gloria Swanson appeared with Carol Burnett, honoring Carol's impression of Swanson. It was a really amazing moment. I never knew Swanson had such an amazing personality until I saw that moment.

[SlimNX]

It was a fascinating film. Not only from the view of the retired recluse actress waiting for the right moment to make her come back, but also from a down on his luck writer, as well as his new found contact at Paramount pictures, the script reader, Betty. Who she herself, gave up on the dream of acting even after surgery to fix her nose. Plus the butler, her ex husband and director, all kind of enabling each other along the way. And in the end the only way to brake the triangle was for him to leave. And like a true narcissistic person she had to have him leave .... her way!
Great commentary and writing on your part! Subscribed !

[LawrenceMartinez-fbtt]

In Gloria Swanson ‘s autobiography she wrote that at the height of her fame during silent pictures a huge crowd of fans descended on her home and tried to break down an enormous iron gate to get to the star that they worshipped and instead of feeling happy about her fame she said that she felt sad because the only way her fame could go now was down hill because she had reached the top. I saw the uncompleted film Queen Kelly (there is a clip of it in Sunset Blvd.) at the Castro Theatre and the story was ended with still shots that had been done for the film and an added written ending.