This sleep-inducing by-the-numbers programmer offers a few mildly interesting glimpses of Charlie Chaplin's old studio and pleasant cameos by some silent film stars, notably Francis X Bushman.
Other than that, there's just nothing here. The story is boring and predictable, the narration by Jim Backus is unnecessary and overdone, and there's zero suspense. The directing is particularly uninspired; for example, a scene where our hero gets conked on the head is filmed in the most boring way possible, as a static medium long shot with flat lighting. Even the old Perry Mason show would've come up with something better than that.
Richard Conte is always good, and it's interesting to see Julie Adams before she went swimming with the Creature from the Black Lagoon, but a decent cast can't save a movie that's so lifeless and dull. Sunset Boulevard it most definitely is not.
Other than that, there's just nothing here. The story is boring and predictable, the narration by Jim Backus is unnecessary and overdone, and there's zero suspense. The directing is particularly uninspired; for example, a scene where our hero gets conked on the head is filmed in the most boring way possible, as a static medium long shot with flat lighting. Even the old Perry Mason show would've come up with something better than that.
Richard Conte is always good, and it's interesting to see Julie Adams before she went swimming with the Creature from the Black Lagoon, but a decent cast can't save a movie that's so lifeless and dull. Sunset Boulevard it most definitely is not.