Quotes
"I am big. It's the pictures that got small."
Who said this quote?
Norma Desmond.
What is a protagonist and who is it in Sunset Boulevard?
And is there an antagonist?
The leading character or one of the major characters in a text.
Joe Gillis.
Maybe Norma, Max - or Hollywood
What camera shot is used to film Joe's body in the pool?
Worm's eye view
In what year was "Sunset Boulevard" released?
1950
What does Norma’s mansion symbolize?
The decaying grandeur of old Hollywood
"Alright Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."
By whom and when is this quote said?
Norma & the resolution of the film
Explain the concept of "unreliable narrator."
A narrator whose credibility is compromised, leading the audience to question the truth of the narrative.
Ala Joe Gillis narrating his own life.
What lighting is used predominantly in the interior of Norma's mansion?
Low-key lighting
What is the make of Norma's car?
Isotta-Fraschini
What does Norma's frequent wearing of leopard print symbolise?
Her glamorous yet predatory nature
"Audiences don't know somebody sits down and writes a picture; they think the actors make it up as they go along."
Who said this quote?
Joe Gillis
What is "mise-en-scène"?
The arrangement of everything that appears in the framing – actors, lighting, décor, props, costume – and how it contributes to the visual storytelling.
What kind of shot is used in the montage of Norma's cosmetic procedures to provide a sense of discomfort, grotesqueness and vulnerability?
Extreme close up
Which actress plays Norma Desmond?
Gloria Swanson
What does the chimpanzee funeral at the beginning symbolise?
Her detachment from reality.
Her yearning for affections.
I'm sure your teacher will be flexible on this answer.
"I just think that pictures should say a little something."
Who said this quote?
Betty Schaefer
Define "allegory" and provide an example related to Sunset Boulevard.
"Sunset Boulevard" can be seen as an allegory for the decline of the old Hollywood system and the harsh realities of the entertainment industry.
What camera technique is used to show Norma’s descent into madness during the final scene?
Close-up shots
Who is the character Norma wants to play in the screenplay she is writing?
Salome
What does Joe's dream of the monkey symbolise?
He has replaced the dead chimpanzee, he is now Norma's 'pet' to make him dance like and organ-grinder's monkey
"Perhaps the reason I hated "Bases Loaded" is that I knew your name. I'd always heard you had some talent."
Who said this quote?
Betty Schaefer.
Explain the term "diegetic sound."
Sound that originates from a source within the film’s world, such as dialogue or sound effects that characters can hear.
What is the purpose of the "establishing shot" used at the beginning of the film?
The establishing shot sets the scene for the audience, providing context and location, such as the opening shot of Sunset Boulevard, the boulevard, itself.
Name the silent comedic star who is one of Norma's 'waxworks' friends
Buster Keaton
What does Joe Gillis’ car symbolise?
His failing career and financial desperation.
His aspirations for material wealth and affluence.
"You don't yell at a sleepwalker - he may fall and break his neck. That's it: she was still sleepwalking along the giddy heights of a lost career."
Who said this quote?
Joe Gillis
What is "non-diegetic sound"?
Sound that is added for dramatic effect and not heard by the characters, such as the film’s score or background music.
What camera angle is used when filming the gutter shot in the film's title sequence?
Low camera angle
Which silent comedic star does Norma dress up as for Joe?
Charlie Chaplin
What does the final scene where Norma descends the staircase symbolise?
Her complete break from reality and final descent into madness.
"It was I who asked to come back, as humiliating as it may seem. I could have continued my career; only I found everything unendurable after she'd left me. You see, I was her first husband."
Who said this quote?
Max Von Mayerling.
What is a term that describes a text that is marked by or makes reference to its own artificiality or contrivance, providing an examination of itself and its own context?
Self-reflexive
What lighting technique is used to emphasise Norma Desmond’s dramatic features?
High-contrast lighting (chiaroscuro double points if you learnt this one).
Who did Norma's mansion belong to in real life?
John Paul Getty
How is the swimming pool used symbolically in the film?
It represents the hollow allure of Hollywood luxury and is also the site of Joe’s death, framing the story.
"Thirty million fans have given her the brush. Isn't that enough?"
Who said this quote?
Cecil B. DeMille.
What does "dramatic irony" mean?
A situation in which the audience knows something that the characters do not, creating tension or humor.
Such as when Norma Desmond believes she is on the verge of a successful comeback, while the audience knows that her hopes are unrealistic and that the industry has moved on from silent film stars like her.
How is framing and composition used to show the relationship between Max, Norma and Joe?
Max is often at the outer edge of the frame, watching Joe and Norma at the centre.
Why does Norma say to the guard "Without me there wouldn't be any Paramount Studio"?
Gloria Swanson was Paramount Studios' top star for six years in a row.
What does Norma’s old car, an Isotta-Fraschini, symbolise within the film?
The luxurious but outdated car symbolizes Norma’s own status: once grand and glamorous but now obsolete and forgotten.
"You didn't know Norma Desmond as a lovely little girl of 17 - with more courage and wit and *heart*, that ever came together in one youngster."
Who said this quote?
Cecil B. DeMille.
What is a negative character arc and who best exemplifies this in the film?
When a protagonist fails rather than ultimately succeeds. By the end, they are worse off than when they started. The change or growth that has occurred to or within them is inherently negative.
What kind of shot is used to evoke a sense of intimacy between characters?
A medium or close-up two shot
What was the name of the 1929 silent film directed by Erich von Stroheim (Max) and starring Gloria Swanson (Norma), and which Norma watches with Joe in one scene?
Why was it never finished?
Queen Kelly - it was considered too racy for the Hays Code censors of the time
What does the lack of door handles on all but the front door symbolise?
The control Max has over who is allowed into Norma's delusion.
"I am. Now, get off. This is more important. Times City Desk? Hedda Hopper speaking. I'm talking from the bedroom of Norma Desmond. Don't bother with a rewrite man, take it direct! Ready? As day breaks..."
When does this quote occur?
After the murder to Joe and downfall of Norma.
Identify and explain an allusion in "Sunset Boulevard."
One significant allusion in "Sunset Boulevard" is the reference to the biblical story of Salome.
What is the term used to describe how clear the background focus of a shot is? How is it used in some examples of mise-en-scene?
Depth of field - deep or shallow. The deeper the more in focus the background is - for example to show Max watching Norma and Joe, or Joe gazing from the window as they bury the chimpanzee.
What did Wilder have to disguise to have Sunset Boulevard produced?
He had to publish small parts of Sunset Boulevard under the pseudonym of "A Can of Beans" to hide the films excessive criticism of Hollywood.
What does Hog Eye's placing the light on Norma momentarily symbolise in "Sunset Boulevard"?
It represents a fleeting acknowledgment of her past stardom. However, it is also a stark reminder of the transience of fame and how quickly the spotlight moves on in Hollywood.
This moment highlights the ephemeral nature of celebrity and Norma’s inability to accept her fall from the limelight.