Sunset Boulevard is a film noir from 1950, directed by Billy Wilder. The film revolves around a screenwriter named Joe Gillis (played by William Holden), who is struggling to find work in Hollywood. One day, Gillis stumbles upon the mansion of Norma Desmond (played by Gloria Swanson), a former silent film star who has faded into obscurity.
Desmond hires Gillis to help her write a comeback script, but he soon becomes her live-in companion. Their relationship becomes complicated when Gillis falls in love with a young script reader named Betty Schaefer (played by Nancy Olson).
As Gillis becomes more enmeshed in Desmond's world, he discovers that she is delusional and dangerously unstable. She believes that she is still a famous star and is convinced that she will make a triumphant return to the screen.
Sunset Boulevard is a scathing commentary on the film industry, and particularly on the way that Hollywood chews up and spits out its stars. The film has been praised for its surreal visuals, its biting satire of the movie business, and its outstanding performances from the lead actors.