Running from debt collectors, screenwriter Joe (William Holden) stumbles upon the crumbling mansion of former silent-film star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson). As he begins working for Norma, writing a comeback screenplay, their professional relationship evolves into something more. A provocative look inside Hollywood show business, Billy Wilder's classic noir won Academy Awards for Art Direction, Music and Screenplay. (1950)

In case you don't recognize it, this is the movie where Norma Desmond says "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my closeup," and 'I AM big, it's the pictures that got small.'

This DVD, available from Netflix, is a wonderful experience. Some of the older movies on DVD are just the movie and no additional features, and that's okay, but this DVD has wonderful extras like a featurette about making the movie, including interviews with people who worked on the film, an audio commentary, and other background information.

My favorite special feature, aside from the 'making of' was an interactive map where we could click on locations like the mansion and the studio and get information about that location and whether it still exists. I was surprised that Schwab's Drugstore no longer exists. It closed in 1983 and a movie theater is on that site now. But somehow I think there must be a replica of it somewhere.

Anyhow, if you want a nice break from the modern hustle bustle and mixed bag of today's movies, I recommend this DVD version of an all-time classic.

Oh, and Buster Keaton has a small part, playing one of Norma's has-been contemporaries. It's nice to see him mugging for the camera once again.