Bryant Park’s Reading Room Hosts Reel Talks: The Making of Sunset Boulevard

Join us at Bryant Park’s Reading Room on Monday, June 22 from 12:30–1:30 PM for a special Reel Talks conversation celebrating the making and legacy of Sunset Boulevard. On select weekdays from 12:30–1:30 PM, Reel Talks invites audiences behind the scenes of cinema, exploring iconic films, genres, and the stories that continue to captivate audiences. This free event features acclaimed film historian and cultural critic David M. Lubin in conversation with novelist and critic Scott Adlerberg for an engaging discussion of Billy Wilder’s Hollywood masterpiece in honor of its 75th anniversary. Drawing from Lubin’s book Ready for My Close-up, the conversation will trace the film’s origins, production, and enduring influence, while examining its timely reflections on fame, ambition, technological change, and the pursuit of immortality. Discover why Sunset Boulevard remains one of the most celebrated and prescient films in American cinema.

The Reading Room at Bryant Park is a free, open-air literary oasis in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Open daily from 11 AM to 7 PM through October, it offers a thoughtfully curated selection of books, newspapers, and magazines for visitors to enjoy on the lawn beneath its signature yellow umbrellas or shaded trees. Now through September, the Reading Room offers a lineup of weekly literary programming, including author talks, poetry readings, film discussions, book clubs, and children’s StoryTime.