And Kirstie Alley has never been the same since "Star Trek II," either: "Sunset Boulevard"

It's always weird to see movies responsible for famous lines after you've heard those lines a million times. Consider "Casablanca." I'm pretty sure I had heard "Play it again, Sam" -- not the actual line, but sue me -- as well as "This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" a good hundred times before I actually saw the movie. Fortunately, the movie was pretty good, and the lines came across naturally even if they were old news.

It's a similar story with "Sunset Boulevard," the Billy Wilder classic I had never seen until a few days ago. TiVoed from TCM, of course, and well worth the time. First, I hadn't seen William Holden in many things -- maybe only "The Wild Bunch" and "Network," which reflects poorly on me -- and he was a pretty good young actor in 1950. But more important, this Gloria Swanson chick was most definitely bonkers, and it was pretty fun to watch.

(As for the famous lines and their influence, just Google "ready for my close-up" and see how that has pervaded pop culture.)

Our story has Holden as a struggling Hollywood screenwriter dodging bill collectors and considering a return to Ohio -- horror of horrors -- when he stumbles into an old mansion occupied by a washed-up actress with an iron grip on delusions of grandeur. His initial agreement to fix a script she thinks will return her to glory becomes something more, as he gives in to the money she showers on him. Meanwhile, she not has only gone off the deep end but is paddling out to the ocean.

Now I know what you're thinking: "Hey, Tom Cruise also gave into the old lady's millions in 'Cocktail!' I detect a theme in this blog, and I don't like it!" You weren't thinking that? Really? Must have just been me. Anyway, it's creepy fun watching Holden wrestle with being a kept man while Swanson devours the role of a woman who can't get over why movies changed from silents to talkies yet wants back in the game. When it comes to actresses who are thisclose to going full-on nuts, she's right up there with Faye Dunaway's Joan Crawford in "Mommie Dearest." (All together now ... "NO WIRE HANGERS ... EVER!!!")

Of course, you know Holden won't sell out completely, and his effort to get out of the relationship at the same time Swanson's character, Norma Desmond, thinks she's getting a comeback role elevates the tension. I'm betraying nothing to say things end badly, since you figure that out from the first scene -- one of the more creative I've seen, especially for an older movie. (The poor dope - he always wanted a pool.) And yes, Norma eventually was ready for her close-up.