Gloria Swanson

Gloria Swanson (March 27, 1897 – April 4, 1983) was an American actress.

Comeback in Sunset Boulevard

After several other former silent screen actresses (including Mary Pickford, Pola Negri and Mae West) turned down the role, Swanson starred in 1950's Sunset Boulevard and it is scenes from Queen Kelly that her character Norma Desmond watches with von Stroheim, who plays her butler. Swanson was nominated for her 3rd Best Actress Oscar but lost to Judy Holliday (who was photographed sitting next to Swanson in New York during the telecast), but Swanson was gracious in defeat.

Related Topics:
Mary Pickford - Pola Negri - Mae West - Sunset Boulevard - Judy Holliday

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She received several subsequent acting offers but turned most of them down, saying they tended to be pale imitations of Norma Desmond.

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Her last serious, respectable Hollywood motion picture was Three for Bedroom C (her first color film) in 1952. Swanson played an aging movie star who, along with her precocious daughter, hides out in the compartment of a scientist (Warren) during a cross-country rail journey from New York to Los Angeles. Shot exclusively aboard Super Chief passenger cars loaned to the production company by the Santa Fe Railway, the film met with lukewarm reviews and did not, as had been hoped, revitalize Swanson's career.

Related Topics:
Three for Bedroom C - Super Chief - Passenger car - Santa Fe Railway

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Swanson subsequently appeared in the Italian production of Mio figlio Nerone.

Related Topics:
Italian - Mio figlio Nerone

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