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?
The leading character or one of the major characters in a text.
Joe Gillis.
This common shot frames a subject’s face to emphasise emotion and reaction.
Close-up
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.
Norma Desmond insists she is not this, saying instead that “the pictures got” this.
Small
"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.
The arrangement of everything that appears in the framing – actors, lighting, décor, props, costume – and how it contributes to the visual storytelling.
What is "mise-en-scène"?
By pushing key characters or actions further away in the shot—or visually minimising them—directors use this technique to reduce their prominence, making them seem less important or overshadowed.
Backgrounding
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
Max, Norma’s butler, has this surprising past connection to her.
he was her first husband and former director
"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.
Sound that originates from a source within the film’s world, such as dialogue or sound effects that characters can hear.
Diegetic sound
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.
Max explains why Norma continues to receive “fan letters” even though she is forgotten by Hollywood.
he writes them himself
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.
Sound that is added for dramatic effect and not heard by the characters, such as the film’s score or background music.
Non-diegetic sound
By placing a key object or character closest to the camera—or isolating it with focus or lighting—a director uses this technique to make it stand out as thematically significant.
Foregrounding
Joe Gillis describes Norma’s mansion as this type of setting, comparing it to decay and ruin.
funeral or mausoleum
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.
In Norma’s mansion, Wilder uses this lighting technique—characterised by deep shadows and sharp contrasts—to evoke entrapment and decay.
low-key lighting (or chiaroscuro for double points)
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.
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.
Dramatic irony
Joe Gillis frames the story through this filmic technique, speaking from beyond the grave to guide the audience’s perspective.
Voiceover narration (or non-diegetic narration)
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.
Joe Gillis contrasts Betty Schaefer’s aspirations with Norma’s delusions, showing the clash between these two Hollywood “types.”
youthful optimism and faded stardom
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.
A canted camera tilt that slants the horizon to suggest imbalance or unease.
Dutch angle
What did Wilder have to disguise to have Sunset Boulevard produced?
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.