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.

12 comments:

  1. 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?

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

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

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  4. 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?!

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

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  6. 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!

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  7. 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?

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

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  9. 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*

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  10. 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

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