Mary Astor IS Norma Desmond

[Danny]

O.k. this TV Movie may not belong in the "Silent" list, but the question does.

I had the pleasure of seeing Mary Astor in "Sunset Boulevard", an episode of a 1956 Robert Montgomery Theater program. Astor's performance made me squirm in the beginning, and I didn't think I could watch it all, but I stuck through the whole 56 minutes anyway. I realize that she was constrained by what she could do with the role. Gloria Swanson's portrayal is so deeply ingrained into the popular culture. Once I admitted to this, I could go along with it.

My question is: What Mary Astor silent film was she and Darren McGavin watching together (in the tradition of Swanson's "Queen Kelly")? I cannot find the answer to this on imdb, or any other source I tried.

Now my thoughts rush to the Miriam Hopkins version of "Sunset Boulevard" telecast only a year earlier. And I wonder what kind of silent movie clip they could have show starring Hopkins? But maybe this version no longer exists.

Thanks

Danny

[drednm]

The production values and acting were so wretched I never paid much attention to the specifics like what film they were watching. It looked like a high school production.

[rudyfan]

The production values and acting were so wretched I never paid much attention to the specifics like what film they were watching. It looked like a high school production.

Well, it was early TV. Frankly, I was impressed with the pool!

I can't answer your question about the film they were watching, and I'll have to take a look. I posted a piece on my blog in June when I watched this. It's here: http://strictly-vintage-hollywood.blogs ... smond.html