Definitely earned its status as an unrivalled classic. What mesmerizing amount of self-consciousness, what clairvoyance! Layers upon layers. And I'm absolutely enamoured by Gloria Swanson's acting in this.
Only minus, from my point of view and perhaps somewhat from film history's too is the trite old Hollywood hetero love subplot mixed with misogyny.
Much to unpack, with that the movie being either messy or rich with its exploration of themes. What is the movie critiquing and what is it not, is the movie even to begin with lesbian by nature or not, is it transgressive or not, are the many contradicting sensibilities because of fears of censoring, indecisiveness or even by ignorance of the filmmakers?
I'd say there indeed is something profoundly gay in this movie, be it the sinful sense of shame…
