Sunset Boulevard (1950) – Film-Noir

Posted on July 1, 2013 by 4 Star Films

This is a great film-noir but more importantly it serves as a biting picture of the Hollywood lifestyle . Billy Wilder created a very interesting film that is well worth watching. It puts a very contrasting pair together and delivers the tale with a exceptional style of storytelling.

*May Contain Spoilers

In this film starring William Holden and Gloria Swanson (real-life silent film star) a down-on-his-luck writer, strictly by chance, finds himself living with a forgotten film actress. From the very beginning he finds her eccentric and her mansion chilling. All the same he agrees to live there in order to edit her movie script and earn some much needed money. Soon she grows accustomed and dependent on him since her only other companion is a butler. Hoping to make a comeback she goes to director Cecil B. Demille but it becomes evident to those around her that things will not work out. At the same time the young writer begins to distance himself as he begins to fall for a young woman writer he has been working for. In a chilling ending someone dies and another goes seemingly mad because the tension has grown too great. This film is very well done from the flashback and narration at the beginning to its critique of Hollywood and the parallelism with real events.

5/5 Stars

The Lost Weekend (1945)

Posted on June 13, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Starring Ray Milland and Jane Wyman, the film follows a former alcoholic writer as he goes on a binge, sinking into the depths of despair. With his brother gone and his girlfriend tied up with work, he finds himself frequenting bars across town and then wandering home to sleep it off. Amid the flashbacks of his past, nightmares, and a stay at the hospital, he finds his state becoming increasingly worse. His brother has given up on him and his often faithful girlfriend is on the verge. Finally, he decides to end it one way or another. Ultimately, with the support of his girlfriend he resolves to put “The Lost Weekend” down on paper so he can over come it. Director Billy Wilder does a wonderful job with this somber if not shocking story. Milland and Wyman both give very good performances which make this drama hit hard. The unearthly-sounding theremin is also very effective in the film’s soundtrack.

4.5/5 Stars

Stalag 17 (1953)

Posted on April 3, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Headlined by William Holden and directed by Billy Wilder, this is a great POW World War II film with its dramatic and comedic moments. Holden is the cynical camp scrounger Sefton and after some men are killed following an elaborate escape. everyone believes he is an informant. Tempers rise when two new prisoners arrive and one is questioned for his part in sabotage. Again the camp believes Sefton squealed and eventually they beat him up for being a traitor. However, Sefton himself finally figures out who the real informant is and tips off the barracks before another escape attempt. Sefton goes along and ironically the spy is used as their diversion so they can escape. This film has a lot of great characters including Cookie, Animal, Harry, and don’t forget Schultz who is reminiscent of To Be or Not to Be and a predecessor to Hogan’s Heroes own. Along with the Great Escape and the Bridge on the River Kwai, this is one of the best POW films.

4.5/5 Stars

Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

Posted on February 12, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Starring Charles Laughton, Tyrone Power, and Marlene Dietrich with direction by Billy Wilder, this courtroom drama follows the trial of a man accused of murder. Laughton is an English defense attorney just recovering from a heart attack. However, soon he gets so intrigued by Power’s case that he agrees to defend him. Power’s character Vole seems to be falsely accused for the murder of a widowed woman he hardly knew. He does have an alibi in his wife (Dietrich) but she seems to refute Vole’s words and the case takes a bad turn. Through a flashback we see into their complicated past. The befuddled Laughton finally catches a break and is able to prove Dietrich is lying. He has been victorious in defending Vole but then the plot takes a cruel twist. What was reality before now seems to be completely false. Adapted from a story by Agatha Christie, this film has good characters and a brilliant climax.

4.5/5 Stars

The Apartment (1960)

Posted on August 29, 2012 by 4 Star Films

Starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley Maclaine, and Fred McMurray, with director Billy Wilder, the film follows C. C. Baxter (Lemmon). He is a young man working in a large corporation that is very difficult to get ahead in. His only chance of moving up is through loaning his apartment to company executives so they can entertain their lady friends. This set up causes him constant inconveniences and leads to complaints from neighbors. One of these complications involves a elevator girl from work (Maclaine) who was left sleeping in his bed. Soon Baxter must figure out how to nurse her to health and cover for the executive who left her. During the process he slowly feels himself falling in love but it all ends there when she is to be married to the recently-divorced executive. Finally, finding his backbone, Baxter quits his new high-level job and eventually reunites with his love. Wilder and Lemmon teamed up again following Some Like it Hot and this one is pretty good movie-wise!