“Sundown Boulevard” actress recollects costar’s spouse yelling ‘minimize, dammit!’ throughout their infinite kissing scene

Nancy Olson is reflecting on locking lips along with her former costar William Holden and the slight awkwardness that adopted it.

The 97-year-old actress not too long ago recalled taking pictures the 1950 traditional Sunset Boulevard with Holden, saying one romantic scene between them provoked an enormous response from a sure onlooker: Holden's spouse.

Olson, who performed aspiring younger screenwriter Betty Schaefer within the film, defined that the scene in query featured her character atop a balcony with Holden's protagonist Joe Gillis. "Under us have been tables and chairs set for dinner, and there have been individuals having a celebration beneath our love scene," she mentioned in a brand new interview with PEOPLE, noting that Holden's partner, Ardis, and director Billy Wilder's partner, Audrey Wilder, have been sitting among the many crowd. "It gave me a way of being on edge."

The actress remembered the director guiding her and Holden via their onscreen embrace. "Billy would say, 'Okay, at that time, Invoice, take Nancy into your arms, hug very carefully, draw her in, and don’t cease kissing her till I say minimize,'" she advised PEOPLE. "I assumed, 'Oh God.'"

Olson mentioned she had practiced the scene with Holden with out them really smooching. "We rehearsed it very nicely, however we by no means kissed — we received to that time after which that was that," she mentioned. "However now we're enjoying a scene. The digicam is rolling, and we get to the purpose the place he asks me what occurred, and I reply, 'You probably did.' And he takes me into his arms, and he begins to softly kiss me, however pulls me into essentially the most extraordinary embrace. And we stored this kiss going."

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After an extended, uninterrupted snog, somebody broke the silence — but it surely wasn't the director. "Lastly, there was a feminine voice under us who mentioned, 'Reduce, dammit! Reduce!'" Olson mentioned. "And it was Mrs. Holden."

Olson clarified that her onscreen fling with Holden by no means translated to an offscreen affair. "Now, this didn’t lead anyplace — don't misunderstand!" she mentioned. "However there was an exquisite affection and regard for one another, and an understanding of what we have been each going via on the time. So we cherished to kiss!"

Whereas detailing the identical incident in a brand new interview with Deadline, Olson praised her costar's skills. "It was pretty… he knew the way to kiss," she mentioned of Holden. "It's an artwork, by the best way."

The actress additionally spoke extremely of Holden's efficiency to PEOPLE. "He had an understanding of the position of Joe Gillis, who was determined, shedding every part, and he ended promoting his soul for survival, that character," she mentioned of her costar, who went on to win an Oscar for his flip in 1953's Stalag 17. "Invoice understood it, and, completely, I believe it's an excellent efficiency. Anyone who watches [Sunset Boulevard], watch Invoice: Invoice is wonderful."

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Launched in 1950, Sundown Boulevard follows a struggling screenwriter, performed by Holden, who turns into entangled with growing old Hollywood actress Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), who’s determined for a comeback. The movie obtained 11 Oscar nominations and received the awards for Greatest Story and Screenplay, Greatest Artwork Path – Black-and-White, and Greatest Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Image.

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