Artie Green plays a small, yet notable role in the 1950 noir/drama Sunset Boulevard (1950), which tells the story of writer, Joe Gillis, and his whirlwind relationship with silent movie star Norma Desmond. Artie’s primary role in the film is being Joe Gillis’ best friend, which is challenged throughout the film as Joe begins to grow feelings for his girlfriend, Betty Schaefer. An Assistant Director and stereotypical ‘yes man’, Artie functions as a member of an ensemble in the film. He does not receive much character development, however he plays a key role in Joe’s character development. When Betty approaches Joe and confesses her feelings to him, Joe rejects her due to her relationship with Artie. He tells her that she should go off and marry him instead, and sends her on her way. He pretends that he is rejecting her because he would rather have the wealth that accompanies Norma, but the audience can assume he rejects her because he doesn’t want to take her away from Artie after he already proposed. Ernest Mathijs states in his article for the “Small Parts, Small Players” dossier of Screen that “the members of ensembles play off the received perceptions of themselves held by other cast members and audiences” (90), and as stated multiple times throughout the film by Joe, Artie is an “awful nice guy” (Sunset Boulevard, 1950). This is continuously shown throughout the film, as Artie is the only one who offers to lend Joe money out of the multiple people he contacts at the beginning of the film. Additionally, he offers his couch to Joe as a place to stay for a few weeks. Artie’s kindness is never questioned throughout the film, and he is used as a moral compass for Joe. Mathijs continues to state that “it is important for someone in an ensemble cast to act in the way the audience expects, and to make use of that expectation in their playing with (or off) other cast members.” (90), which is shown through Artie’s actions and his overall reliability as the ‘nice guy’ in Joe’s life. As a member of an ensemble, Artie Green functions as a constant, unchanging character for the protagonist, Joe Gillis, to continuously play off of.
Works Cited
Artie Green. Image. Sunset Boulevard, 1950.
Mathijs, Ernest. “Referential Acting and the Ensemble Cast” Screen. vol. 52, no. 1, 2011.
Wilder, Billy, director. Sunset Boulevard. Paramount Pictures, 1950.
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