Sunset Boulevard is a classic 1950 film starring Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond, a faded silent-film star living in her decaying mansion on Sunset Boulevard. The film also stars William Holden as Joe Gillis, a struggling screenwriter who becomes entangled in Norma's fantasy world. Swanson's character is often referred to as 'the Swan' or 'the Swan Song, ' and her full name is Gloria Swanson.