Plot Points
What is the profession of the main character, Joe Gillis?
Screenwriter
Who plays the role of Norma Desmond?
Gloria Swanson
"I am big. It's the ________ that got small"
pictures
What year was Sunset Boulevard released?
1950?
What does Norma Desmond’s mansion symbolize in the film?
the decay of old Hollywood
Where does Joe first meet Norma Desmond?
What is in her mansion?
Who is Joe's love interest, other than Norma, in the movie?
Betty Schaefer
Who says, "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up"?
Norma Desmond
Which film studio produced Sunset Boulevard?
Paramount Studios
The dead monkey at the beginning of the film symbolizes what?
Norma's delusion and detachment from reality?
What does Norma believe Joe will help her do?
write her comeback screenplay?
What is the name of Norma Desmond's loyal servant?
Max Von Mayerling
"You see, this is my life! It always will be! There's nothing else—just us, and the cameras, and those wonderful people out there in the dark."
Norma Desmond
Who composed the score for Sunset Boulevard?
Franz Waxman
What theme is represented by Joe Gillis's struggle to succeed in Hollywood?
the destructive nature of fame and ambition
How does the movie Sunset Boulevard end?
Norma Desmond being arrested after killing Joe
What is the relationship between Norma Desmond and Max von Mayerling?
Former husband and director
"You're Norma Desmond. You used to be in silent pictures. You used to be big."
Joe Gillis
How many Academy Awards did Sunset Boulevard win?
3
The movie is narrated from the perspective of a dead man. What theme does this narrative choice reinforce?
the inevitability of fate and the consequences of choices?
What is the name of the film that Norma Desmond believes will be her comeback?
Salome
Who directed Sunset Boulevard?
Billy Wilder
"I am big. It's the pictures that got small." What does this quote signify about Norma Desmond?
What is her inability to accept the end of her stardom and the transition from silent films to talkies?
Who were the screenwriters for Sunset Boulevard?
Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett, and D.M. Marshman Jr.
What does the final scene, where Norma descends the staircase, symbolize?
her complete descent into madness and her final performance?