Gilda (1946)
Charles Vidor

Just arrived in Argentina, small-time crooked gambler Johnny Farrell is saved from a gunman by sinister Ballin Mundson, who later makes Johnny his right-hand man. But their friendship based on mutual lack of scruples is strained when Mundson returns from a trip with a wife: the supremely desirable Gilda, whom Johnny once knew and learned to hate. The relationship of Johnny and Gilda, a battlefield of warring emotions, becomes even more bizarre after Mundson disappears...

Related: Real Life Reference - Rita Hayworth

Thread: Third Viewing: New Facts!New theory! - (margotchanning)

Review: www.filmsite.org/gild.html

Sunset Blvd. (1950)
Billy Wilder

Joe Gillis, bankrupt screenwriter, hides from car repossessors in the garage of a deserted-looking mansion which proves to be the grotesque home of Norma Desmond, retired silent screen star. Joe takes refuge there, with a nominal job of rewriting Norma's hopeless 'comeback' screenplay. Weeks pass; feeling more and more like a kept man, Joe grasps at reality in the form of a clandestine friendship with script reader Betty Schaefer. by Rod Crawford on IMDb

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Sunset Blvd. as problem solver?

Film Commentary: Ten Parallels Between 'Sunset Blvd.' and 'Mulholland Dr.'

Threads:
Sunset blvd. - (unc84steve)
Lynch/Sunset Blvd connection. - (eel)
Lynch pays homage to sunset blvd? - (MustaFaH)
Detectives? What Detectives? - (blu)

Vertigo (1958)
Alfred Hitchcock

Traumatized by a fatal incident while on the job, San Francisco police detective Scottie Fergusson finds himself spending his retirement days in peace and conversing with a female friend of his. An old friend of his hires him to follow his wife Madeleine whom he feels is doing things behind his back that he doesn't know about. But things take a turn for the bizarre when he falls for her...or so he thinks.

Related: 
Rita seeing the corpse
Betty's dress reference

Thread:
Brilliant Intertextual Film References In Md - (ASCOTT)

Le Mépris/Contempt (1963)
Jean-Luc Godard

Paul Javal, a writer, is hired to work out a script for the new movie about Ulysses, directed by Fritz Lang and produced by Prokosch. Because he let his wife Camille drive with Prokosch, and he is late, she believes, that he uses her as a sort of "present" for Prokosch to get a better payment. So the relation breaks up. by Stephan Eichenberg on IMDb

Related: "Contempt" references in Mulholland Dr.

Persona (1966)
Ingmar Bergman

Elizabeth Vogler is a well known actress that, for the last three months has been silent, from unknown reasons. Sister Alma is an inexperienced nurse that is taking care of her. As they spend time together, Alma speaks to Elisabeth constantly, never receiving any answer. Alma eventually confesses her secrets to a seemingly sympathetic Elisabeth and finds that her own personality is being submerged into Elisabeth's persona.

Threads:
Brilliant Intertextual Film References In Md - (ASCOTT)
The abortion theory - (Rochas)

L'Appartement (1996)
Gilles Mimouni

Max is a successful, young executive, engaged to be married, who catches a fleeting glimpse of an ex-lover, Lisa, and immediately drops plans to travel to Tokyo, in order to find her. But, instead, he finds another woman, bearing a resemblance to Lisa, with whom he starts an affair. As we later learn Max's best friend, Lucien has fallen for this girl who turns out to be Lisa's pal Alice, who unbeknownst to him has always pined for Max.

The Wizard Of Oz (1939)
V. Fleming, R. Thorpe

Because of a tornado, 12 year old Dorothy, along her beloved dog and farm house as well, finds herself in the fantastic Land of Oz, over the rainbow far from her Kansas farm, about to encounter adventure, a wicked witch, and dear friends that help her on her quest to find a way home.

Related:
"The Wizard Of Oz" references in Mulholland Dr.
Extensive Analysis: MD - Wizard of Oz - Reference

Thread:
Brilliant Intertextual Film References In Md - (ASCOTT)

Alice In Wonderland(1951)
Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske 

Alice becomes bored and her mind starts to wander. She sees a white rabbit who appears to be in a hurry. She chases it into its burrow and then a most bizarre series of adventures begins.

Threads:
MD vs. ALICE IN WONDERLAND - (JimKrueger)
Alice in Mulhol Land - (ctyankee)

Mon Oncle (1958)
Jacques Tati

Monsieur Hulot visits the technology-driven world of his sister, brother-in-law, and nephew, but he can't quite fit into the surroundings.

Psycho (1960)
Alfred Hitchcock

A young woman steals $40,000 from her employer's client, and subsequently encounters a young motel proprietor too long under the domination of his mother.

Threads: 
"Psycho" little similarities - (kary82)

MD References - Psycho (1960) - (ctyankee)