imt206

Truly heartbreaking story about the concentration camps through the children's perspective. The beginning alone is enough to bring one to tears.

Clift is absolutely magnetic as the American G.I. who finds the young boy and takes him in. Jarmilia Novotna gives an emotional performance as the mother who never gives up hope that her son is still alive.

Special kudos should be given to the young boy who plays the lost son. His role would be difficult for an adult to perform, and he gives an amazing performance. Especially the scene where he tells Monty that if he knows his mother is still alive, and if he were his friend, he would help him find her.

Overall, excellent - the screenplay, acting and directing. I felt enriched by watching it. It's not out on video, so if you see it on TCM, spend the time to watch it, it's worth it.

As someone who works in this industry, I know what it does to a person, and also what people will do to make it. That is the story of Norma Desmond and Joe Gillis, one who has reached the pinnacle of success in Hollywood, only to have to have lost her youth and beauty and forgotten; and another who is struggling at the bottom to make it and will do just about anything to achieve that.

That parallel is what makes this movie so genius. Norma Desmond is one of the great characters in cinematic history, and Gloria Swanson does a phenomenal job portraying her. I had only seen Gloria in silent films previous to this, and was doubtful of her "speaking" abilities, but she just absolutely nails this role. I cannot imagine anyone who could have done this better than her. Especially that end scene, where she does that eerie dance down the stairs and raises her eyebrows and walks into the camera. Absolutely Fantastic!

Although William Holden was amazing, I kinda would have liked to have seen how Montgomery Clift would have pulled it off. I think what was appealing about Monty was that sensitivity and vulnerability he portrayed, and I think that would have worked very well in this role.

Other than that, the casting was perfect. Erich von Stronheim was excellent, and what is scary is that he used to be a up and coming director in the 20s. Nancy Olson had that innocent, wholesome look that was perfect for Betty, the only character in this movie that gives this industry any redemption. For that reason alone, I would have given her the oscar over Josephine Hull.

I know that Billy Wilder was one of the people who wrote this script, and if he came up with that line, "I'm still big, it's the pictures that got small," on top of his direction of this movie, he is absolute genius.

One of the ten greatest movies ever made.

I recently saw this movie, and I'm suprised it came out in 1975. Pacino is absolutely fantastic in this role, I would rate it a close second to his performance in the first Godfather. Chris Sarandon is also great in his very risque role.