Coincidence?

It's been a week of luck and coincidence; or has it?

Coincidence #1, Gretchen and I really wanted to see the special member's only screening of "Sunset Boulevard" that the Film Society was presenting last Tuesday at the Broadway. So I was a little disappointed last Monday when I picked up a second day on "Guide to Life" a.k.a., "Good Luck Charlie: The Movie". But, money is money and I was enjoying the work as well as seeing friends I hadn't worked with in over a year. Four o'clock rolled around, I called Gretchen and told her it looked like another full twelve or thirteen hour day. Imagine my surprise when we were wrapped only forty –five minutes later, I was able to make it to "Sunset Boulevard" after all.

Coincidence #2, we have season tickets at Pioneer Memorial Theatre and the next show on our program is Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Sunset Boulevard". Before the movie started, the Film Society emcee, stated that the Film Society's screening and PMT's presentation of the musical were not, as I assumed, brilliant cross promotion, but strictly coincidence.

Coincidence #3, on this day in 2002, the brilliant writer and director of "Sunset Boulevard" Billy Wilder, died at the age of 95.

Coincidence #4, Gloria Swanson died at the age of 84 on my birthday in 1983.

Before last Tuesday, I'd never seen "Sunset Boulevard". I probably saw bits and pieces of it on KSL's "Big Money Movie" or KUTV's "2 on the Aisle" but I'd never rented it or watched it from beginning to end. The Film Society found a pretty good print and what a treat to see such a classic on the big screen at the Broadway. Eleven Oscar nominations and three wins, I've never seen the 1950 Best Picture or Best Actress winners, after Tuesday I don't know how they could have beat "Sunset Boulevard".

The writing, music, the performances of the other actors all pale when compared to the performance of Gloria Swanson. Its Swanson's acting and performance in "Sunset Boulevard" that I would like to concentrate on. I've been called a physical actor; Swanson's performance could be a Master's thesis in physicality. Although Swanson was one of the few actors who successfully made the transition to "talkies" her career declined soon after and based on "Sunset Boulevard" I have no idea why. Perhaps then as now, even for a highly skilled actress, having birthdays is a career killer. The ability to convey emotions strictly through physicality and expressions demonstrates, I believe, a truly skilled and talented actor. The looks, the body movements, even the way Swanson grabbed William Holden's arm, fingers gripping him in claw like fashion, was classic. The emotional arc of Swanson's character was wide, dramatic and, when needed, subtle. If you're an actor or director whose only seen Gloria Swanson in "Airport 1975" or in the 1966 episode of "The Beverly Hillbillies" that bears her name, I'd urge you to get a copy of "Sunset Boulevard" (I've added it to my Amazon Wish List) and study not only some great performances, but the work of a truly great writer and director in the person of Billy Wilder.

Without the ability to show emotion through speech patterns, silent film actors, were probably better actors. I wonder if acting schools or workshops ever assign modern actors to study these incredibly talented people and their performances.

Everything fell into place so I could see "Sunset Boulevard" last Tuesday, I learned a lot from the movie and it was entertaining as well. So until next week, I'll see you on location, on set or in the studio, "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."