Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by rico (A) on December 11, 2007 at 09:47:25

In Reply to: RE: Billy Wilder's, "Sunset Boulevard:" sensational! posted by tinear on December 11, 2007 at 04:54:50

The film originally had a different beginning, one in which the Holden character's dead body was in a morgue talking with other dead bodies. When Wilder took it to three test screenings, the audiences laughed so he withdrew it and reshot the beginning to start the action in the swimming pool.

The silent footage is from the aborted "Queen Kelly", a failed joint venture between Swanson and Joe Kennedy (they were an item).

Stroheim didn't drive so they had to tow the big car and make it look as if he were doing the driving.

I have always felt that this film, and not "All About Eve", should have won the Oscar for Best Picture" that year.