WAIM #118: Film Scholar David Lubin on 'Sunset Blvd.' and the Underbelly of Hollywood

Sunset Blvd. is a shining example of greatness in American cinema. The story revolves around Norma Desmond, a faded star of Hollywood’s silent era who has been reduced to living the life of a recluse. Norma’s world is shattered open one day when a budding young screen writer named Joe Gillis pulls his limping vehicle into her garage. Thus begins one of the most tragic, and terrific tales that Hollywood has ever conjured for the screen.David Lubin’s new book, Ready For My Closeup, is a behind the scenes look at Sunset Blvd.. However, this tale is far more than just the machinations behind one classic film. When one tells the story of Sunset Blvd. they are digging into the darker corners of American culture. The book hits upon the mass pathology of modern fame, and shows us example after example of the disposable nature of our society. Whether we’re tossing away old cell phones or faded Hollywood stars, nothing is designed to last long in our modern life.While our chat centers around David’s tremendous new book, and the making of Sunset Blvd., it is a window into the way that Hollywood worked 75 years ago, and in many cases how it still operates today. David and I talk deeply about the personal baggage each of the films stars brought to the set, with Gloria Swanson, William Holden, and Erich Von Stroheim all playing heightened versions of their own selves. Sunset Blvd. is a film fueled by the personal anxieties of its major players, and its creator.In addition to a deep dive into one of my favorite films of all time, David and I discuss the massive power of cinema, and the sometimes troubling beliefs behind the people who helped to build the artform in its nascent years. We also explore the blurred lines of fiction and reality that permeate Sunset Blvd. and so much of what came out of Hollywood’s Golden Era.David shares stories of his film students reactions to Sunset Blvd. and a host of other movies that he teaches at Wake Forest University. He explains that way that his younger female students react and empathize with Norma Desmond, Sunset Blvd’s ersatz heroine. We also discuss the brilliant and subtle ways in which this film talks about age in our modern culture, despite being made three quarters of a century ago.This is a fascinating discussion about movies and art centered not just on our culture, but our own daily lives.Cheers,Matty C Get full access to What Am I Making at whatamimaking.substack.com/subscribe