US Release date: 10 August 1950
First Melbourne Saturday Suburban: 23 December 1950
Genre: Crime
Country: USA
Running time: 110 minutes
Director: Billy Wilder
Cast: William Holden, Gloria Swanson & Erich von Stroheim
Australian Distributor: Paramount
Melbourne Premiere Venue: Union’s State theatre for three weeks from 29 September 1950 as a feature only presentation.
Suburban Release Type: Union 8-W-1
Rankings
| Rank | ||
| EF Points | 369 | 26 |
| EF PPE | 8.39 | 10 |
| Metres Travelled | 492,092 | 143 |
| Average MT | 11,184 | 47 |
| Engagements | 44 | 195 |
| Slots | 86 | 18 |
| Weeks | 34 | 24 |
| Weeks as % of engagements | 77.27% | 21 |
| Saturdays | 7 | 273 |
| Sats as % of engagements | 15.91% | 313 |
| Tuesdays | 3 | 299 |
| Tues as % of engagements | 6.82% | 330 |
| First billed | 40 | 98 |
| Second billed | 0 | 293* |
| Feature only | 4 | 9 |
Independent ratios
| Engagements weeks 1-10 | 42 |
| Ratio | 95.45% |
| Difference to chain ratio | 8.78% |
| Eng weeks 11-26 | 1 |
| Ratio | 2.27% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -5.35% |
| Eng weeks 27-52 | 1 |
| Ratio | 2.27% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -3.44% |
| Hoyts eng | 0 |
| Ratio | 0.00% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -0.84% |
| Independent eng | 33 |
| Ratio | 75.00% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -2.11% |
| Suburban eng | 11 |
| Ratio | 25.00% |
| Difference to chain ratio | 2.95% |
Notes: With 369 EF points and a 26th placing, this film was a genuine success for Paramount over the Christmas period. However, Billy Wilder’s caustic Hollywood noir was one of the genuine classics of 1950 and is one that has endured as a popular favourite of the period. So with that in mind, the ranking seems just a little underwhelming? In any case top 10 for PPE and feature only and with respectable showings elsewhere. A grab-bag of supports across the board.
Sunset Boulevard engagements
| SUBURB | VENUE | CHAIN | DATE | W | D | B | CO-FEATURE |
| Collingwood | Austral | Suburban | 23/12/1950 | 1 | T | 1 | Post Office Investigator |
| Albert Park | Kinema | Independent | 23/12/1950 | 1 | W | FO | FO |
| Burnley | Burnley | Independent | 23/12/1950 | 1 | W | 1 | This Gun for Hire |
| North Carlton | Adelphi | Independent | 23/12/1950 | 1 | W | 1 | The Devil’s Henchmen |
| Richmond | National | Independent | 23/12/1950 | 1 | W | 1 | This Gun for Hire |
| St. Kilda | Astor | Independent | 23/12/1950 | 1 | W | 1 | Grand Jury Secrets |
| Toorak | Village | Independent | 23/12/1950 | 1 | W | FO | FO |
| St. Kilda | Palais | Suburban | 23/12/1950 | 1 | W | 1 | When Willie Comes Marching Home |
| Newmarket | Newmarket | Suburban | 30/12/1950 | 2 | T | 1 | Post Office Investigator |
| Brunswick | Empire | Independent | 30/12/1950 | 2 | W | 1 | Disbarred |
| Caulfield | Camden | Independent | 30/12/1950 | 2 | W | 1 | Say it in French |
| Elsternwick | Esquire | Independent | 30/12/1950 | 2 | W | 1 | Undercover Doctor |
| Moonee Ponds | Moonee | Independent | 30/12/1950 | 2 | W | FO | FO |
| West Brunswick | Western | Independent | 30/12/1950 | 2 | W | 1 | Mississippi |
| Westgarth | Westgarth | Independent | 30/12/1950 | 2 | W | 1 | Isn’t it Romantic? |
| Preston | Planet | Suburban | 30/12/1950 | 2 | W | 1 | If I Had a Million |
| Brunswick East | Liberty | Independent | 6/01/1951 | 3 | W | 1 | Lucky Jordan |
| East Malvern | Waverley | Independent | 3/01/1951 | 3 | W | 1 | Daredevils of the Clouds |
| Essendon | Regal | Independent | 6/01/1951 | 3 | W | 1 | Undercover Doctor |
| Glenferrie | Glen | Independent | 6/01/1951 | 3 | W | 1 | The Ghost Breakers |
| Hawthorn | Vogue | Independent | 6/01/1951 | 3 | W | 1 | The Ghost Breakers |
| Balwyn | Balwyn | Suburban | 6/01/1951 | 3 | W | 1 | My Favorite Blonde |
| Camberwell | Rivoli | Suburban | 6/01/1951 | 3 | W | 1 | Heart of Virginia |
| Ormond | Plaza | Suburban | 6/01/1951 | 3 | W | 1 | Caged Fury |
| Preston | St. James | Suburban | 6/01/1951 | 3 | W | 1 | If I Had a Million |
| North Brighton | Gardenvale | Independent | 13/01/1951 | 4 | S | 1 | Gambler’s Choice |
| Fairfield | Fairfield | Suburban | 13/01/1951 | 4 | T | 1 | Post Office Investigator |
| Ashburton | Civic | Independent | 13/01/1951 | 4 | W | 1 | The Ghost Breakers |
| Middle Brighton | Dendy | Independent | 13/01/1951 | 4 | W | FO | FO |
| Footscray | Grand | Independent | 13/01/1951 | 4 | W | 1 | Big Town Scandal |
| Sandringham | Roxy | Independent | 13/01/1951 | 4 | W | 1 | Rusty Saves a Life |
| Newport | Plaza | Independent | 20/01/1951 | 5 | S | 1 | A Night in New Orleans |
| Williamstown | Empress | Independent | 20/01/1951 | 5 | S | 1 | A Night in New Orleans |
| Coburg | Plaza | Independent | 20/01/1951 | 5 | W | 1 | Illegal Traffic |
| Heidelberg | Orient | Independent | 20/01/1951 | 5 | W | 1 | Dr Broadway |
| Surrey Hills | Surrey | Independent | 20/01/1951 | 5 | W | 1 | Kazan |
| Yarraville | Sun | Independent | 20/01/1951 | 5 | W | 1 | Big Town Scandal |
| North Melbourne | Central | Independent | 27/01/1951 | 6 | S | 1 | If I Had a Million |
| Oakleigh | Plaza | Independent | 27/01/1951 | 6 | S | 1 | Some Like it Hot |
| Port Melbourne | Port | Independent | 27/01/1951 | 6 | W | 1 | The Devil’s Henchmen |
| Box Hill | Regent | Suburban | 3/02/1951 | 7 | W | 1 | The Lady Has Plans |
| Murrumbeena | Argosy | Suburban | 10/02/1951 | 8 | S | 1 | Night Plane From Chungking |
| Chelsea | Plaza | Independent | 14/04/1951 | 17 | W | 1 | Hideout |
| Elwood | Broadway | Independent | 1/09/1951 | 37 | S | 1 | Peggy |
The 1950 Project 