Read the good book:: Close-up on Sunset Boulevard: Billy Wilder, Norma Desmond, and the Dark Hollywood Dream

So many amazing performances in this film...I thought Miles's reaction to hearing about Victoria's pregnancy was oscar-worthy by itself: you can see on his face and hear in his voice the realization that the last thing he had left to hold onto, after a week of disappointments and disasters, some "hope" about "maybe" getting back with his ex-wife, is irretrievably gone. It just flows across Giamatti's face and we can feel the crushing final blow as if it was hitting us ourselves.

The one observation I might add is as a kid I didn't understand the point of Quint smashing the radio. All I registered was the tension it added to an already unbearably tense situation, with Brody now blowing up at Quint, calling him 'certifiable' and waving a bat. But as I saw more and more movies and TV I kept noticing screenwriters prolonging the running time by having an accident or some other coincidence ruining plans just when it looks like the hero is sailing smoothly toward their goal. I get now that breaking the radio is a way to keep the heroes stranded, but the fact that it doesn't happen by accident is wildly important: Quint smashes it by CHOICE. Plotwise this action accomplishes the same function as have it broken by accident, but accident doesn't reveal character! Others have probably been aware of this ages ago but that was a huge lesson for me.

"When you have to shoot, shoot, don't talk.”

The contrast between the new matrix film from what we got in the original is crazy. Artists can be geniuses until they succumb to greed and stupidity.

The last great noire film of the 1900s. It starts with Jack, who sees the world as a crooked joke. He sees the world as Grey and couldn't give a shit about it. Then we come to Edmund, who sees the world a point blank, black and white, but walks between worlds. Come to Bud, who walks straight and only sees red, but he's literally Bud White, the hero of story. Every story needs a hero. Find a tall man looking down at a tall man. Edmund doesn't fire blindly. He finally sees the world he's in.

Get the fuck outta here shitbird before I call you're wife to come get ya.

One interesting tidbit in the script that I didn’t notice until after many viewings: when Victor asks Rick why he won’t give him the letters of transit, Rick tells him to “ask his wife.” Although Victor does not react visibly, this must have been a bit of a shock to him, as their marriage was a very closely held secret. Rick understood that, so it comes off as a bit of a power play - “I know more about what’s going on than you think I do.” The point is reinforced later when Victor relates the story to Ilsa. He doesn’t just say that Rick told him to ask her; he pointedly clarifies, “He told me to ask… my wife.” It’s Victor’s own little power play, showing that he knows that only Ilsa could have revealed their secret, and thus her relationship with Rick must be very intimate and trusting, more than she had let on.

Great video. Surprised the channel isn’t more popular. I subscribed

Well done, it is almost as if each one shared a little bit of themselves with us as the play goes on. Hopefully, I would never be in a situation (in the defendants place) of that nature but sadly now of days we are guilty until proven innocent. Thanks for bring it full circle. It is nice to know that one person in a jury can see beyond see beyond the bias and can make a difference. JSYK the Court System in France set this way....

The books are also amazing reads

Masterpiece❤

It works, because the 2, stay loyal to one another 😅

This film has more great lines than any other film I've seen. If I could have dinner with any director it would be Wilder.

Amazing tips. Thanks 🙏

Well constructed analysis 👍🏾.

My entire life I heard about the film being a message against racism but when I watched it I was surprised that the accused appears to be an Italian white young man. Not a color of any kind. Is that correct?

I hate these ads at the middle of the video. Greed is something, huh

I just watched the film and was absolutely amazed by it. The entire time I was wanting to read the screenplay. Absolutely phenomenal film by every aspect!

greatest movie ever

SCRIPT SLEUTH: Your title betrays the fact that not once did you mention Casey Robinson. His name is ghosted on CASABLANCA, but it is a presence not to be denied. It was he who wrote the love theme which compelled the entire script. He set down all the elements driving Rick, Ilsa, and Victor, and wove them into this captivating story. He got not one word of credit onscreen, and when the Epstein boys and Koch picked up their Oscars, he said no, he didn't feel cheated--that when he wins for screenwriting he doesn't want other guys' names on that Oscar with his.

Great vid! Only one thing: The viliain, Doe, didn't have the 'Tracy' motivation until half way through the film. Tracy wasn't at stake originally. She and David became a thought to him only after Mills runs him off from the crime scene...specifically giving him his name! "Hey I got a right to be here man!"

No going to the Dark Side.

About 20 of the cast were actual refugees from Germany, 12 with screen credits 😊

I was a kiddo when I watched this film in bluemoon theatre in Bangalore City India😊😊😊

Such an outstanding film. Thank you for the film breakdown. Such wonder development of characters that drive this film.

Michael Corleone's arc in The Godfather is the greatest character arc in film history

I've seen this movie many times and am amazed how it all fits together. (The fruitcake from an old girlfriend becomes the hint that Fran is planning a long-term relationship with Baxter.) But there seems to be a missing scene near the end, on New Year's Eve. Fran is at the bar with Sheldrake but she's got this blank look on her face. Why? She's gotten her man and is out in public with him. Does she realize that now that she's caught him, it feels empty? They're at the same bar in the same booth. But there's no explanation for the blank stare. Something should trigger it, but we don't see what it is.

The Apartment still holds up well almost 70 years after it was released. It is a great and funny film!

excellent video

Great analysis! Thank you

Thanks!

I've seen The Godfather, Casablanca, Psycho, Singing in the Rain, Barry Lyndon, and a few others that people regard as the best. And I was completely blown away by 12 Angry Men and believe that this is the greatest film I've ever seen. It's rather unusual with its premise and the way it is carried out, but everything is done so perfectly.

Is "The Good The Bad and The Ugly" the best WESTERN of all time? It might be the best MOVIE of all time if you ask me!

No, its not. Its very good though.

Excellent analysis - next time I watch the movie I’ll enjoy it even more!

Your channel is great my friend

Considering that this movie came out in 1942... and that the many quotes are still known, "hill of beans", "here's looking at you kid" and " beginning of a beautiful friendship", among others, makes it damn great!

Certainly a thousand times the modern marvel, we see the heart of china symbolized by the wielding of a weapon. The symbolism here is who ever holds the main force of china, the emperor, the military, controls the destiny, hence the green jade destiny.

Great video. I just rewatched the movie after several years and I am reminded of how good it is.

Very interesting content.

Very interesting content.

One feature is the reversal of the normal and of audience expectation: The protagonists Andy and Red are not handsome, whereas the bad men are: The blond prison guard, the blond abuser prisoner and the Warden.

fantastic video, great movie.

Only now do I realize why officer White started to partake in the violence after his mother was insulted.

EG Marshall wears his coat the whole movie. I only noticed this on my most recent watching. 😅

Very insightful video. Thank you for all the work that went into this. Now will you please stop making KZbin videos and go write a screenplay for Disney (or any other studio) so that those of us who like good movies can have something decent to go see.

The classiest classic. Excellent narration, rugged terrain and down-to-earth characters, no words to describe the beauty of this film. Thanks for introducing us to the wonderful nuances of the film which I missed

I loved the tips about answering with some other phrase instead of yes or no, and building tension by having characters not answer questions. Thanks a million Script Sleuth!

Very...very well said, lots of interesting and well articulated points about what goes into the writing of this film. One minor nit pick, 9:22, that technically isn't conflict, that's a negotiation, think about it, no one is negating another person's goal, therefor it can't be conflict. If he had asked for the horse and his wife had said no, then that motivated why he needed the horse and what's at stake if he didn't have a horse, but in the next scene, we experience the necessary context, the reason they are using the horse it to look for tracks - show, don't tell, and we already know the stakes. The motel owner, the taxi driver isn't conflict either, technically speaking, they aren't outright saying "no, i wont do that" the reason it isn't is because we already know the context of why he doesn't want to be there and the stakes by way of him seeing Anton's car. Conflict is there when essential context needs to be conveyed via back and forth between two characters, well not always, it depends.