Joe Gillis, played by William Holden

Description

Joe Gillis is a struggling young writer in Hollywood. Although he aspires to write wonderful screenplays, he has not yet managed to make a name for himself. Joe is having financial difficulties and creditors are chasing him down in an attempt to repossess his car. Joe successfully evades them by pulling into an empty-looking house on Sunset Boulevard. However, the house is not empty; it is occupied by a former silent film star, Norma Desmond, who hires him to help her revise her screenplay.

At first, Joe loves the life of luxury he enjoys while working for Norma. However, he meets a beautiful young woman named Betty, who also wants him to help her write a screenplay. He covertly works with Betty; in the process, the two fall in love. After Betty learns about Joe's decadent life with Norma and leaves him...