It's hard to think of a film more iconic than Sunset Boulevard, or a more iconic scene than "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my closeup." 11 Academy Award nominations doesn't happen every day. It really defined Film Noir.
One of the Oscars it won was for the musical score. Franz Waxman was German, driven to America by the Nazis in the 1930s. Already known for his composition work from Germany, we was offered the job of scoring Bride of Frankenstein in 1935. He never looked back. He wrote 150 film scores and ended up with 12 Academy Award nominations. This one won.
Music we have heretofore taken for granted required a lot of skill and timing to synchronize with the film. A lot more to it than meets the eye, so to speak.
ReplyDeleteI doubt I would watch Sunset Boulevard though. That scene was a little too much for me.
I guess we are lucky so many talented Germans came to this country in the 1930s. Dr. Einstein, you are ready for your closeup.
Libertyman, you should absolutely watch that movie. This is the final scene, and the Madness has taken over. But the build up to this scene is nothing short of brilliant.
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