Comments on: It’s the Pictures that Got Smaller

By: sherrie

sherrie — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 19:21:35 +0000

Don’t forget Adaptation!

By: Will Campbell

Will Campbell — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 22:41:45 +0000

Michele, I’d add “Sullivan’s Travels” (1941; directed by Preston Sturges) to your list.

By: sean bonner

sean bonner — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 20:54:46 +0000

And don’t overlooke “Swimming With Sharks”

By: zee

zee — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 20:54:39 +0000

Lucinda, try the film “Network” which is the movie industry making an artistic statement about the television industry in the context of the times in which is was made. (Interestingly enough, many of the points made still stand.) Any version of “A Star is Born” is extremely Hollywood self-referential; I prefer the Judy Garland version myself.

“Singin’ in the Rain” superfically appears to be a bit of fluff but is actually one of the funniest self-referential skewerings of the process of fame within the entertainment industry ever filmed.

By: Fred

Fred — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 20:49:04 +0000

If you want commentary on Hollywood in a more modern version, nothing beats Robert Altman’s “The Player”.

By: lucinda michele

lucinda michele — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 20:41:52 +0000

Good discussion of the film as art object…what other films seem to do the same (that is, comment on their own role, comment on their time, the “Industry”)? I need a few good films to watch.

By: sherrie

sherrie — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 18:54:07 +0000

I love spotting the references in Sunset Boulevard – the film inside the film they watch in Norma’s house is a clip from the film QUEEN KELLY, which was indeed directed by Mr. Erich Von Stroheim himself AND also stars Ms. Gloria Swanson in an earlier & lovelier incarnation.

(Sidenote: In David Lynch’s MULHOLLAND DRIVE, you can spot what appears to be Norma Desmond’s car and driver waiting behind the Paramount Studio gates.)

The famous ‘wax works’ playing cards together (Buster Keaton’s great deadpan face always gets a audience reaction) were INDEED actual wax works and considered Hollywood relics at that point in their careers – William Holden himself was starting to be considered a twee over the hill when Sunset Boulevard was made.

Um, nothing is better than that burial scene. SO Michael Jackson yet decades ahead of his weirdness!

By: David Markland

David Markland — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 18:07:44 +0000

They screened this at Hollywood Forever last year – creepiest way ever to see it.
I have a few friends who live at the Alto Nido – where William Holden’s character is afraid of being evicted from in Sunset Blvd., and was also used as a location for the upcoming Black Dahlia… cool place. Would make for great blog fodder to go and make a tour of all the locations from the movie!