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Sunset Boulevard

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Australian National University
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Sunset Boulevard Analysis
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Sunset Boulevard Analysis
Camera shots
When Norma Desmond receives an invitation at the Paramount pictures offices while
perceiving that it was the beginning of making her comeback into the Hollywood scene (Wilder,
n.d.), she is warmly received by Cecil B. DeMille, who was her former director, and she finds a
seat. As she comfortably settles down, the camera takes a wide shot of her while from a high
angle shot as a man who knew her tilts the stage lights slowly towards Norma, taking her almost
out of sight. The lights slowly try to bring in the real picture of the light being too bright for her,
so her comeback was. Furthermore, just as Joe decides to tell Norman that he is leaving and
bluntly informs her of not making a comeback and that Max is the one who has been emailing
fan letters, she decides to take her gun and chase after Joe as he lives. After shooting Joe, the
scene shows Norma, and the camera takes a medium shot of her from a hip level angle before
slowly fading away. The image makes viewers see the final moments when she would be last
attached to reality. Finally, just as Norma walks down the staircase, the camera brings her into
full view by taking a full shot of her descending the stairs from a low angle camera shot. The full
shot draws a vivid picture in the minds of viewers of Norma taking a downfall and slowly fading
away as she descends to apprehension.
The Mise en Scene
The scene that involves Joe having a car chase with the car repossession men ends when
he accidentally arrives at an abandoned garage. The location indeed depicts the area to be
abandoned and symbolizes how Norma had gradually faded from being a star in the viewer’s
mind, as her residence resembles how unpopular she had become. The scene gets even more
fascinating when Norman mistakes Joe for an undertaker, and mistakenly calls him in (Wilder,
n.d.). He tries to explain himself and figure out what is happening, but Max keeps urging him on.
In the high confusion when climbing the staircase, a confusion sound effect is also played. The
sound effect also involves the viewers in the state of Joe’s confusion as he is told he dressed
wrongly for the occasion and inquire for help if he needs help carrying the coffin. In the final
moments, the set decorators efficiently defined the famous downfall that Norman would
experience after murdering Joe. The props in the form of descending the staircase slowly and
effectively depict her fading away and make me feel like part of the set witnessing the downfall
of a star.
Personal Significance
The film strongly touches on the topic of illusions in life that will only make one end up
disadvantaged in the end if they continue holding on to them. Illusions have been depicted in all
the primary characters of the film. For instance, Norma had continued to believe that it was a
must for her to make a breakthrough in acting even though it was apparent that she had faded.
She goes to the Paramount pictures offices believing she had been recalled to cast, yet the
production needed her vintage car for hire. Another instance of illusion is portrayed in love
developed by Joe between both Betty and Norma. The entanglement seemed to be futile since

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1 Sunset Boulevard Analysis Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Course Name: Course Code Professor’s Name Due Date 2 Sunset Boulevard Analysis Camera shots When Norma Desmond receives an invitation at the Paramount pictures offices while perceiving that it was the beginning of making her comeback into the Hollywood scene (Wilder, n.d.), she is warmly received by Cecil B. DeMille, who was her former director, and she finds a seat. As she comfortably settles down, the camera takes a wide shot of her while from a high angle shot as a man who knew her tilts the stage lights slowly towards Norma, taking her almost out of sight. The lights slowly try to bring in the real picture of the light being too bright for her, so her comeback was. Furthermore, just as Joe decides to tell Norman that he is leaving and bluntly informs her of not making a comeback and that Max is the one who has been emailing fan letters, she decides to take her gun and chase after Joe as he lives. After shooting Joe, the scene shows Norma, and the camera takes a medium shot of her from a hip level angle before slowly fading away. The image makes viewers see the final moments when she would be last attac ...
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Very useful material for studying!

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