Screenwriter William Holden (Joe) is in financial difficulty when he encounters lonely washed-up actress Gloria Swanson (Norma) living in her mansion with her butler Erich von Stroheim (Max). There is something not quite right with Swanson as she surrounds herself with pictures of herself, watches only her old movies and generally thinks she is wonderful. She demands that Holden write a film for her so that her adoring public will once again get to admire and realize her talent. Well, basically, she is bonkers and Holden gets sucked in and caught up in her madness.
Swanson makes this film and she can be very funny. My wife liked her. I felt a bit sorry for Holden's friend Jack Webb (Artie) as a relationship develops between his fiancée Nancy Olson (Betty) and Holden and this didn't endear me to either of these parties. I didn't really relate to Holden's character but the film succeeds because of the strong presence of Swanson. You can probably guess, as I did, the whole von Stroheim thing.
If you practice self-delusion for long enough, you will only progress down one particular avenue. It's madness, my friends!
Swanson makes this film and she can be very funny. My wife liked her. I felt a bit sorry for Holden's friend Jack Webb (Artie) as a relationship develops between his fiancée Nancy Olson (Betty) and Holden and this didn't endear me to either of these parties. I didn't really relate to Holden's character but the film succeeds because of the strong presence of Swanson. You can probably guess, as I did, the whole von Stroheim thing.
If you practice self-delusion for long enough, you will only progress down one particular avenue. It's madness, my friends!
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