Truly a masterpiece of the Classical Hollywood period. An excellent film about Hollywood and fame from legendary director, Billy Wilder. An engaging storyline with strong performances from Gloria Swanson as a former silent film star; desperate for a comeback and William Holden as a down-on-his-luck screenwriter and also from Eric von Stroheim as Norma’s stoic and loyal German butler.

Gloria Swanson and William Holden both create very interesting, complex and sympathetic characters. Their on-screen relationship is electric. Billy Wilder also casts Buster Keaton, Eric von Stroheim and Cecil B. DeMille and references D.W. Griffith and Charlie Chaplin in the film. It was great to see a tribute to the people of the silent era that helped pave the way for Wilder and his contemporaries in Hollywood.