She was supposed to be 50 years old ??? - Sunset Boulevard (1950) Discussion

[–] PrometheusTree64 10 years ago

By the standards of the 1950s, Swanson was indeed very young looking (in fact, she resisted the suggestion that the make-up artists apply lines to her face).

But it's her gothic quality which makes her seem "older."

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Non-sequiturs are delicious.

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[–] cartesianthought 8 years ago

This is true. It wasn't so much her looks as her just being jaded, cranky, snobby, old-fashioned and so in general.

I know plenty of 50 year old women who are sexier than 20 year old girls. I'm quite fond of cougars. In many cases, age is an attitude. And she had an attitude of a 60+ year old.

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[–] westal_sage 10 years ago

Not only was she supposed to be 50, but also she was 50.

You think she looks 80? I disagree. Maybe it's just that to you, 80 is a whole lot different looking.

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[–] rtw416 10 years ago

She was born in 1899-so she was 51 or 52 while filming
Same age Demi Moore is now-so,Norma Desmond was the original cougar.
At the time,I think it wouldnt of been such a nightmare for Holdens character to service her needs-the return would be worth it.

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[–] PrometheusTree64 10 years ago

She was born in 1899. The movie was shot in 1949. She was 50.

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Non-sequiturs are delicious.

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[–] rtw416 10 years ago

does one year plus or minus matter in the context of this thread?
The point being-she was not so much of a old hag as made out to be-I'd be her kept man any day if I was Joe Gilles-
"what does it matter if the top coat is more exspensive? The woman is paying,yes??"

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[–] PrometheusTree64 10 years ago

does one year plus or minus matter in the context of this thread?

Apparently, it did to you, when you said:

She was born in 1899-so she was 51 or 52 while filming

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Non-sequiturs are delicious.

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[–] LetThemEatCake01 9 years ago

I seriously do not understand the implication in your post and all over this board, that it was somehow gross for Gilles to be with Norma. Gloria Swanson looks absolutely gorgeous in this movie, seriously she looks amazing, and the movie doesn't imply in any way that he is repulsed by her or doesn't like her, he is obviously ashamed that he is being supported by a woman, not because she is old.

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[–] Stirchley 9 years ago

the movie doesn't imply in any way that he is repulsed by her or doesn't like her, he is obviously ashamed that he is being supported by a woman, not because she is old.

You're right, that is a nuance that is sometimes lost on the viewer. Holden's character thinks Norma is nuts, most likely, especially with her antics with the dead chimp, the lavish party where only the two of them attend, etc., etc. But I don't think he was repulsed by her age at all. I love the scene when she is twirling the umbrella and then falls on top of him on the sofa. You could see how amusing he thought she was.

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[–] tightspotkilo 8 years ago

He did as narrator comment as he was leaving for the New Years Eve party that he wanted to be with people his "own age."

Get the facts first - you can distort them later!

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[–] Evertts3 10 years ago

I also disagree. She looked 100% age-appropriate; some scenes better than others.

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[–] rtw416 10 years ago

Prometheus....
are you bored? I dont understand all the attention given to a couple of years plus or minus-which has been my point all along.

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[–] PrometheusTree64 10 years ago

Prometheus....
are you bored? I dont understand all the attention given to a couple of years plus or minus-which has been my point all along.

Because you are -- which has been my point all along.

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Non-sequiturs are delicious.

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[–] Trax-3 10 years ago

She looked her age, maybe even couple of years younger.

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[–] PrometheusTree64 10 years ago

Yes, by 1950 standards, Swanson was considered "very young looking" for 50.

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Non-sequiturs are delicious.

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[–] GuyOnTheLeft 10 years ago

I agree. And I think the same is true of today. I mean, look at how few wrinkles she had, and what a good "figure" as well.

I think the OP is just thrown by her hairstyles and so on. You could take a 50 year old today (who would have been in high school and college in the '80s) and put her in a beehive haircut and people like the OP would think she is 70.

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See a list of my favourite films here: http://www.flickchart.com/slackerinc

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[–] Stirchley 9 years ago

I think the OP is just thrown by her hairstyles and so on.

That's exactly right. Norma still dressed the way she had dressed in her heyday; her makeup and hair also reflected an earlier era; all of which made her look older than she was.

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[–] LetThemEatCake01 9 years ago

Yet the clothes she wears in the film were Christian Dior's historic New Look of 1949. So your point is kinda wrong. Norma Desmond is not Miss Havisham. Not clotheswise anyway.

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[–] velcronewsletter 9 years ago

great point. there are some really ageing hairstyles out there. like the ubiquitous cauliflower curls so many women over 70 sport. they would look younger with a different hairstyle. i think you're right on that

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[–] lizcarlo87 10 years ago

She does not look 80. I think she looks a little younger.

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