Sunset Boulevard 75th Anniversary
A classic Hollywood tale of love, ambition, and delusion is set to mesmerise audiences once again, as the 75th anniversary 4K restoration of Sunset Boulevard comes to the Duke of York's Picturehouse. This iconic film noir, directed by Billy Wilder, tells the story of a struggling screenwriter who becomes entangled in a doomed relationship with a faded silent film star.
Dir: Billy Wilder
Cast: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson, Fred Clark, Lloyd Gough, Jack Webb, Franklyn Farnum
110 mins · 1950 · United States of America · Cert PG · English
IMDb 8.4/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 98% · Metacritic 94/100 · TMDB 8.3/10 · Trakt 82%
Awards: Won 3 Oscars. 21 wins & 20 nominations total
Sunset Boulevard (75th Anniversary 4K Restoration)
22 Nov 2026
Duke of York's Picturehouse (Brighton)
In the city of dreams, a screenwriter's desperate bid for success leads him down a perilous path, as he becomes embroiled in a toxic relationship with a former silent film star, Norma Desmond, who refuses to accept her fading stardom.
What kind of film is Sunset Boulevard? It is a drama film, directed by Billy Wilder, with a runtime of 110 minutes, rated PG, and featuring a cast that includes William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, and Nancy Olson.
How was the film received? Sunset Boulevard has garnered widespread critical acclaim, with impressive scores from IMDb (8.4/10), Rotten Tomatoes (98%), Metacritic (94/100), TMDB (8.3/10), and Trakt (82%). The film won three Oscars and has been recognised as one of the greatest films of all time, with the US Library of Congress deeming it "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" in 1989.
What can audiences expect from this screening? The Duke of York's Picturehouse in Brighton will be hosting the 75th anniversary 4K restoration of Sunset Boulevard on Sunday, 22 November 2026. Tickets are on sale with the button beside the article.
Stills
What viewers say
Wynter02 · 9/10
Gloria Swanson is a treat to watch in Sunset Blvd. In any other film she would have come off as overly dramatic, but as a washed-up silent era diva she is absolutely perfect with all of the accompanying hand-wringing, dramatic head angles, and intense eye glares. It's old school acting, where theatre was more of an influence than realism. William Holden's Joe is a typical macho hero of the Golden age: sounding grumpy and slightly shouty, but…
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SkinnyFilmBuff · 8/10
They say Hollywood loves movies about Hollywood, but when the movie's are this good, can you blame them? Compelling story, interesting character dynamics, iconic dialogue, and fantastic performances make this one easy to recommend. Now, with respect to performances, I will say that Gloria Swanson's portrayal of Norma Desmond was a bit hard for me to swallow. I'm sure it was all intentional, playing into her character's backstory, but it still…
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siggi963 · 8/10
This movie holds up a mirror in front of the Hollywood movie business from different perspectives. It shows how cruel it is to former stars, especially women, but also towards writers or newcomers who want to succeed in the business. It also shows how a former star does not want to admit that she cannot get back to her former glory. One line that sums up this tragedy is: “There is nothing tragic about being 50. Unless you try to be 25.”. An…
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manicure · 10/10
"Sunset Boulevard" has a special place in my heart as one of the first classics that interested me in cinema. It still works great after 70 years as it's a simple, straightforward, but focused film that manages to deal with timeless themes with sarcasm and intelligence without having no arthouse pretentiousness or making no life-changing statements. Video quality aside, there is nothing I would change about it. The characters are iconic thanks…
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2016moonlight · 8/10
This was so fun to watch, the story is so meta and some of the dialogues are just delicious. It doesn't hold up as well as some other classics I've watched, but it is still a great movie.
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nmahoney416 · 8/10
Delusional Old Lady: The Movie But seriously, Gloria Swanson was fantastic. Her performance is something special. The dialogue was snappy and quick. A classic for a reason.
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moonkodi · 7/10
The intriguing and myserious characters add tension. That with the setting creates a good atmosphere. The story was about hollywood. Each character has intense needs and dreams, which revolve around hollywood. A web is weaved. Shot very well. Some good dialogue.
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valleyankee_97b2a6 · 10/10
Wow, what a film! Gloria Swanson was absolutely perfect as the faded Hollywood star whose world revolves around her own lost glory. The acting is wonderfully over the top, and that’s exactly what makes this film so captivating. The story pulls you in and refuses to let go, leaving you completely caught up in the madness. And that old Hollywood mansion? I could move right in tomorrow! A fabulous slice of Hollywood at its most glamorous,…
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