The film, upon its release, sparked endless discussions, some claiming to have understood everything, others, absolutely nothing. Almost everyone, on the other hand, shared the same enthusiasm. The death of director David Lynch, announced yesterday, has once again shone the spotlight on Mulholland Drivehis cult images quickly flooding social networks alongside others, taken from his no less legendary series Twin Peaks.
In the collective unconscious, “Mulholland Drive” is today above all the title of a Lynch film, which explores the links that dreams and reality weave. If many had fun delivering their own interpretation of the feature film, the main person involved, who nevertheless won the screenplay for best director for it, has never confirmed his “official version”. One truth nevertheless remains: Mulholland Drive, which gave its name to the film, is initially that of a road in Los Angeles, which has become a Hollywood symbol thanks to its wild setting and its breathtaking views.
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A legendary road in Los Angeles
Backtracking. The history of Mulholland Drive begins at the beginning of the 20th century, under the leadership of William Mulholland, an American engineer of Irish origin. A major figure in the water supply of Los Angeles, he dreamed of a road to connect the city, then in full expansion, to its surrounding hills, and to allow residents to reach both the beaches and the heights. A self-taught engineer, William Mulholland was notably at the origin of the Owens Valley Aqueduct, which made it possible to transport water from the verdant Owens Valley.
Built in the 1920s, Mulholland Drive takes its name in homage to its determining role in the development of the region. A few years later, the story would have been different: the man also oversaw the construction of the St. Francis Dam, northwest of Los Angeles. The building collapsed in 1928, causing massive flooding and the deaths of at least 450 people.
-Eucalyptus and celebrities
But back to Mulholland Drive. For a century, the road has snaked from east to west through the hills of Los Angeles. To cover its 34 kilometers, it takes about an hour.
The route starts at Cahuenga Boulevard, near Universal Studios. It then climbs the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains, overlooking the city of Los Angeles to the south and the San Fernando Valley to the north. The road undulates through the canyons (Laurel Canyon, Coldwater Canyon) and gives the curious a glimpse of opulent villas, surrounded by lush gardens. It also crosses wooded and wild areas, where shrubs and native plants typical of the southern California region flourish: coastal oaks, eucalyptus, palm trees and cacti.
On several occasions, Mulholland Drive offers visitors spectacular views of Los Angeles and its remarkable features such as the Griffith Observatory, the famous Hollywood sign, the film studios, etc. Popular with athletes, it also serves several hiking departures.
Mulholland Drive, finally, is known for its illustrious residents, who have acquired vast properties there, some of which are among the most expensive on the planet. The neighbors' party, thus, would have brought together Jack Nicholson, Denzel Washington, Eddie Murphy, Marlon Brando or Warren Beatty… And David Lynch, of course. If several versions conflict (some asserting that the director lived on Mulholland Drive, others that he lived nearby), the man in any case knew this legendary axis perfectly. Of the latter, he further said that one could feel all “Hollywood History”. Double punishment therefore: the man disappears this month, while this story is violently impacted by the fires. The fires, moreover, destroyed areas not far from the road. Mentioning Mulholland Drive, Le Monde spoke last week of“a legendary avenue cut by flames”…
