The Greatest Star

1950 was a seminal year for filmmaking: All About Eve, Born Yesterday, Father of the Bride, and more. But one movie stands above the rest: Sunset Boulevard, Billy Wilder’s searing look at—and indictment of—the studio industry at one of its most influential and powerful times of its reign. The story of Joe Gillis, a down-on-his-luck writer who falls in with Norma Desmond, a faded star of the silent screen who is trying to scramble back into the limelight, is considered by many to be the greatest movie about Hollywood ever produced. Now, fans can step behind the camera with this commemorative celebration of the making of this classic. Featuring rare materials from the Paramount archives, The Greatest Star includes extraordinary production and behind-the-scenes stills, posters, and more, which are all used to illustrate Billy Wilder’s original shooting script for the movie. Also featuring a fascinating essay about the movie from noted film historian Jeffrey Vance and a preface looking back at her time on the film by cast member Nancy Olson Livingston (Betty Schaefer), The Greatest Star is a fitting tribute to one of the greatest films of our time. ©2025 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. NEVER BEFORE SEEN: Enjoy behind-the-scenes stills, production stills, posters, and more from Paramount’s archives. OFFICIAL ACCOUNT: The Greatest Star is made in collaboration with Paramount and offers readers a definitive look at the art and making of one of history’s greatest films.