Screenwriter Joe Gillis (William Holden) tells us about the very busy events of his recent life from a unique position (face-down in the pool). It involves stumbling across the decaying mansion of a faded silent-film star, Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), and getting seduced into her macabre universe. You can see the film as a drama with plenty of acidic humor, or as a jet-black comedy . . . it works either way. 

Introduced by UVM students Kiera Skuntz and Daniella Sanson Copatti as part of their “Lynch Before Lynch” series.