The story of a musical adaptation that never was, Boulevard! A Hollywood Story blends glamour and rigorous research to provide a sympathetic and endlessly engaging portrayal of three people’s creative and personal passions.
★★★★✰
When you think of the musical Sunset Boulevard, you immediately think of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s award-winning, world famous adaptation of Billy Wilder’s silver screen classic. You could be mistaken for thinking that this is the only time anyone has ever tried to migrate this amazing story from the screen to the stage. Not so—it just happens to be the first successful attempt. Boulevard! A Hollywood Story uncovers the first true attempt to bring the 1950 film to theatres, an effort led by none other than Gloria Swanson herself. The resulting creative process is an almost unbelievable story of love, artistry and passion, one that points the spotlight firmly on one of tinsel town’s most fascinating anecdotes.
Director Jeffrey Schwarz, who himself stars in the documentary and offers a candid insight into his research process, introduces you to two budding songwriters; Richard Stapley, who at one time had been considered MGM’s star of the future, and Dickson Hughes. The pair become romantically involved (which, needless to say, would have been the subject of outcry and disdain had their relationship become public knowledge), and then get a call they never would have been expecting. Gloria Swanson, whose career looked to be on the wane until her sensational turn in Wilder’s film, sweeps up Stapley and Hughes into her plan to write a musical adaptation of the movie. Swanson’s exuberant personality however, and her unavoidable attraction to Stapley, threatens the project, as does a growing rift between the two lovers.
If this sounds like a story that itself would fit the bill for a golden era classic, it is not a coincidence. ‘A Hollywood Story’ is far more than a title; it’s a guarantee. Throughout the documentary, the truths and revelations of the story prove as gripping as any fictional caper, with a vastness of detail unearthed courtesy of some meticulously kept archives. In one scene, it is described how Swanson used to love surrounding herself with old photos from her glory days whenever friends came to visit. Suitably, old photos form a large part of Boulevard!, capturing Swanson’s glamour and attitude with a glorious sense of historical refinement. In a simple but deeply affecting manner, Swanson’s immediate impact and influence is told with little fanfare or ceremony. The facts alone dazzle.
Swanson’s story is front and centre of a film that is sympathetic to her throughout, managing to unearth details of her life without ever completely shattering the enigma that makes her such an intoxicating cinematic figure. The story of Stapley and Hughes, however, is where the film excels, with a breathless depiction of their relationship that captures all the passion and tension of a love being hidden away by necessity. The intimacy of their relationship is captured with wonderful detail and sensitivity. The exploration of Stapley’s career in particular could make for a film all on its own, the final moments of his story proving to be enough to move you to tears. Hughes arguably doesn’t quite get the same extent of attention, but the intricacies of his involvement in trying to bring this musical to life are hardly skipped over. Stapley and Hughes’ love is a source of empathy and tension that offers a more grounded perspective compared to the ever-fantastical Swanson.
The most eye-catching moments come in scenes captured in a simple but vivid animation style. Swanson’s character in these moments is animated in a way that illuminates her larger than life being, For an actress over whom so many audiences fawned and aspired to look like, these vignettes exaggerate Swanson’s physical features precisely to prove that her character is more than skin deep. With next to no words, you feel her excitement and pain, observed almost constantly by Stapley and Hughes who by comparison retain a more periphery visual presence. Yet their love is also tenderly explored through the illustrations, with subtle moments of physical contact and unspoken adoration vividly brought to life. Coupling the black and white photos of the past with these gloriously colourful sequences gives Boulevard a texture and variety that proves endlessly inviting. This is a story begging to be told.
Boulevard! doesn’t fall into the trap of trying to account for everything happening in Hollywood at the time. Its joy resides in the hidden details that Schwarz uncovers, details that are drip fed in such a way as to keep you engaged for every second of the film. This model documentary is as sympathetic and light-footed as it is fascinating and thorough; a story fit for the wonders of the silver screen itself.
The Verdict
This is about more than an ultimately unrealised dream. Boulevard! is about the importance of charade, self-worth and identity in an era where they can be ripped up from underneath you. Worse still, they can be recycled and replayed without your knowledge, permission or endorsement.
Words by James Hanton
This film screened as part of this 2022’s BFI Flare Film Festival, find the rest of our coverage here
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