Sunday, September 4, 2011

Pictures of the limousine used in the film Sunset Boulevard(1950)..


The antique car used as Norma Desmond's limousine is an Isotta-Fraschini, and once belonged to 1920s socialite Peggy Hopkins Joyce. It was a gift from her lover, automobile magnate Walter Chrysler.



Even though Erich von Stroheim, plays a butler/chauffeur, he could not drive in real life. During the scenes in which he drove, the car was towed by another car. In the scene in which he drives Norma Desmond to Paramount Pictures, it was rumoured he crashed into the Paramount gate. According to the DVD commentary by Wilder biographer Ed Sikov, this story was most likely invented/exaggerated by Billy Wilder.



Please click here to read Robby Cress, amazing vintage car article from his, Dear Old Hollywood Blogspot.
Posted by at
Labels: ,

12 comments:

  1. FlickChickSeptember 4, 2011 at 5:56 PM

    Thanks for this, Dawn. I love anything SSB-related, and the car was indeed a character in the film. I love it when Joe "sneaks" away at night in it. Just how do you sneak around town in that car?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Irene PalfySeptember 4, 2011 at 11:07 PM

    Oh - I love Erich von Stroheim.. and it's great that he wasn't able to drive.. very likeable.. ;")

    ReplyDelete
  3. AlessandraSeptember 5, 2011 at 3:30 AM

    Hi Dawn!!! I love vintage cars!! Such a great post!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Robby CressSeptember 5, 2011 at 7:01 AM

    I love that car! If you are in the Los Angeles area you should visit the Nethercutt collection - so many classic cars just like that one in one spot. I have picture of Fatty Arbuckle's and Cecil B. Demille's cars in a post I did a while back from my visit:

    http://dearoldhollywood.blogspot.com/2010/12/nethercutt-collection-antiques-vintage.html

    It's definitely worth the visit. How classy would it be to be driven around in one of those cars everyday?!

    ReplyDelete
  5. ClassicfilmboySeptember 5, 2011 at 7:59 AM

    Fun post on a tidbit from a favorite movie of mine. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Gilby37September 5, 2011 at 8:06 AM

    Great picture Dawn. I saw the musical version of Sunset Blvd on Broadway with Betty Buckley as Norma. When they drove the Isotta-Fraschini car on the stage, that in itself often got applause!Apparently Andrew Lloyd Webber had them build one for the show!

    ReplyDelete
  7. DawnSeptember 5, 2011 at 8:12 AM

    FlickChick, I could watch the film, SSB, once a month and never get bored of it. I would also, love to "sneak" around town in that car. Let's grab the keys and go. :)

    Irene Palfy, I'm always suprised when I read that a actor or actress never learned to drive.

    Hey!! Bella. Thank you. I love to look for vintage cars in all the classic films I watch.

    Robby Cress, I will stop by your blog and check out your classic car post. You are right it would be awesome to own one of those vintage classic car.. Hop in, the girls and I are going for a joy ride around town. :)

    Gilby, Thank you. What a wonderful experience, you lucky girl. I would love to see the musical version of SSB. It is so great to see you after all this time!! Where have you been?

    ReplyDelete
  8. DawnSeptember 5, 2011 at 8:16 AM

    Classicfilmboy, Thank you. SSB, is also a favorite movie of mine. Can you believe I saw it for the first time, two years ago?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Irene PalfySeptember 5, 2011 at 9:27 AM

    well.. my point of view is that of a person who isn't able to drive either.. so I always go "Yay for Hollywood pedestrians!" - mhm.. great idea for a post.. *think, think, think*

    ReplyDelete
  10. DawnSeptember 5, 2011 at 12:12 PM

    That would be a great post..

    ReplyDelete
  11. Irene PalfySeptember 5, 2011 at 10:04 PM

    thank you very much, Dawn..

    ReplyDelete
  12. theoncominghopeSeptember 13, 2011 at 2:51 AM

    Thanks! Just rewatched Sunset Blvd. the other day! But it occurred to me that perhaps Joe is the villain and Norma is the hero of the piece?

    I go into a lengthy explanation why here:
    http://theoncominghope.blogspot.com/2011/09/on-shower-philosophy-and-sunset.html

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)