Oral Presentation Part 4 and 5 - Narrative and Film Language

EXTRACT: 1:01:45 - 1:07:27

IV. Narrative-

Sunset Boulevard employs a definite nonlinear narrative style, which begins with the exposition of the death of the main character, Joe. From this point, the film is narrated through voiceover by Joe, until his untimely death and ultimate resolution at the bottom of the pool. This form of nonlinear narration begins by hinting at the end, from which point plot elements are introduced in purely chronological order. Other than pure narration, Sunset Boulevard uses a theme of inescapability by showing the fate of the main character at the beginning of the movie. As Joe recounts the events that lead to his death, the audience has a predicted outcome. This is what hints at the movie being a film noir. Themes of entrapment and mundane life are prevalent in the genre, which are expressed through Joe’s pre established death in Sunset Boulevard. The characters are quite accessible to the audience. Joe’s voiceover helps with this connection between the characters and audience, as Joe’s predicament is understood more easily coming from the source.

V. Film Language and Representation-

EXTRACT: 1:01:45 - 1:07:27

This extract is particularly interesting, as it is a significant display of Hollywood’s human exploitation. In these five minutes, Norma Desmond’s delusions are emphasized, as she prepares to and meets De Mille, supposedly to have a conversation. In this scene in particular, the acting of DeMille is quite realistic, with dialogue that could be actually used by individuals in the film industry. Camera positioning is not quite as significant as the actions by the actors. Often in this scene, the camera is placed at eye level with the characters, and help accentuate their actions. Throughout the scenes in this excerpt, there are often large amounts of people surrounding Norma Desmond and DeMille in the studio. This constant exposure to large concentrations of people show an emphasis on the use of proxemics, or what is seen as an appropriate distance between actors. This develops meaning by showing how despite having adoring fans for a couple seconds, those will dissipate as soon as there is something else to ravish over. The scene is edited to show a progression of events and retaining the misunderstanding between Norma Desmond and DeMille. DeMille does not tell Norma what she was called to Hollywood for (the rental of her car), but instead the sequence shows how Norma remains in her ideal notion that she will be collaborating with DeMille on her screenplay. The lighting of the studio and outside the studio is dark with shadows despite little sun. The only emphasis of light is on the set and actions, and on Norma Desmond when the light technician shines the light on her. Shining the light represents the visual aspect of film as more significant that the audio portion. The music that accompanies DeMille’s walk back towards Norma Desmond is dark and ominous, even if the moment is very reassuring to Desmond, who once again has fans. Demille is seen as a slightly evil character, who calls off the crowd of admirers with his microphone. The sound editor could have decided to incorporate sad music, but by including ominous sounds clearly shows that DeMille knows he is a part of the industry that emotionally hurt Desmond, but does not care. In a part of this excerpt, Norma Desmond is sitting on the director’s chair (DeMille) and has a microphone fly past her and hit the feather on her hat. This specific mis en scene describes the basic understanding that Norma Desmond’s influence in film had deteriorated due to some form of technological or social change that left her “obsolete” and unwanted. While the film does not state a reason for Desmond’s career failure, there are several illusions. The first is a transition into sound. This abrupt technological transition for filmmaking ousted many actors unwilling or able to act in “talkies.” However, Sunset Boulevard does not in any way emphasize this reason as she does not have a distinguishable accent. It simply alludes this with the “microphone and hat” incident in the excerpt. Norma Desmond may also have acted in an unsuccessful picture and forgotten by fans, a potential reason for why Max pities her. Nonetheless, the adoration of the studio actors and designers in the excerpt do not hint towards this possibility in the slightest. Throughout the entirety of the film, in relation to my excerpt, there are several characteristic of Desmond that serve as symbols and metaphors. For example, there is the development of a “Spider woman,” especially on the placement of Desmond’s hands; often in the position of a claw. hand in claws. Norma Desmond’s cigarette holder also contributes to this “Spider woman” idea, which helps keep the audience emotionally “off-kilter.” Another deeply emotional use of symbolism are the vines covering the guest house Joe was first kept it. This is an obvious concept of entrapment, which once again fits with the Film Noir genre.

Oral Presentation Part 2: Historical/Institutional/Socio-Cultural- Context/Factors

II. Historical and Institutional Factors-

Some major institutional factors that are associated to Sunset Boulevard is the end of the second World War. WWII helped develop a push for additional film noir movies, with plotlines that easily criticized human sincerity and integrity. Atrocities experienced during WWII may have lead to an appreciation of these noir films, which may have had a touch of “realism” during this historical context. Perhaps, like the jokes and expressions heard in the film, the realistic qualities of Sunset Boulevard were oriented towards individuals who had felt equally distressed or overwhelmed by life during the second World War. Sunset Boulevard, in particular, deeply examines the truth of Hollywood lifestyles during the 1950s. Each actor, in a sense, is parodying their own lives and influence in the film industry. By contrasting this film to others that followed, it is clear that the film came closest to exposing the reality and delusions behind the film industry. Critics of Sunset Boulevard disliked this realism, and this lead to films which became more lenient on the characters and plot. This film highlights the true effect Hollywood had on the film industry as a whole. It is clear the film industry was highly secretive and difficult to cope with. Audiences demanded perfection, forming a competition between film companies to produce films that would keep the American population away from their televisions and into movie cinemas.

III. Socio-cultural context-

Sunset Boulevard heavily ridiculed the Hollywood necessities to become (and remain) a star. Norma Desmond and Joe both aspire to be successful in Hollywood, and each face large troubles to reach their hopes. The filmmaking culture is not shown as many might believe it to be. The theme of entrapment, the inability to leave the lifestyle that an individual has chosen, not only reflects the “film noir” qualities of Sunset Boulevard. This film takes place in Los Angeles, on Sunset BLVD. Beverly Hills is connected to LA through this road, almost seen as a metaphor between Hollywood and the aspiration to achieve success and live in Beverly Hills. Sunset Boulevard is constructed around the question of what happens to stars when they are forgotten. Norma Desmond is a “case study” of the traumatizing effects of ageism in Hollywood, which has forced many successful actors to lose their fans. Sunset Boulevard therefore examines the effects of being labeled as no longer a star due to age, as parallels it to the mental deterioration of Norma Desmond. Our discussion has surrounded the actual treatment of actors and writers versus the depiction of Hollywood favored by Hollywood; where everyone is able to become a star. Sunset Boulevard criticized the film industry by portraying the “human exploitation” necessary to produce a film. Stars are used until their are no longer favored by their audiences, and writers are not supported until their work is completed and capable of making a profit. Sunset Boulevard, even if highly connoting of film noir, is a parody of the genre. By this point, many film had lead the evolution of the genre through the other evolutionary steps. The film uses this parody form of film noir to highlight social elements exposing the film industry. The film’s parody of film noir also serves as a vehicle to display the “human exploitation” described above. After the second World War, the public favored realistic interpretations of their surroundings, rather than plot lines that “hid” unwanted elements of life. American film noir movies had uncalled-for and sometimes violent endings, a fact that is parodied by Sunset Boulevard in the murder of Joe. By displaying Joe’s corpse at the beginning of the film, the plot is automatically identified as a parody of film noir and a satire of life. This film represents the film industry (obviously), and represents it quite realistically, which was not encouraged at the time by Hollywood or the industry itself. Critics of the film felt it embodied the industry and represented it as a demonic vilification that causes delirium (resulting in Norma Desmond -and Joe’s- fate). In the end, however, the film well represents its role in society, and emphasizes the various characters as representations of specific parts of the industry. Again, the film parodies the film noir aspects of other movies, and does so to emphasize the monotony and exploitative mindset that existed in the film industry during the 1950s. The audiences of the time would have understood the harshness of the industry. The film targets the majority of its criticism at the film industry for exploiting individuals who participate in it.

Oral Presentation Part 1: Genre and Audience

1+2. What tradition or genre is it in? What are the features determining genre or elements that tell us what type of film this is?

The film Sunset Boulevard incorporates several genres. These include film noir and black comedy. Film noir relies on the inescapability from death, which is clearly expressed in Sunset BLVD. By exposing the fate of the main character from the beginning of the movie, Sunset BLVD narrates the life of the main character; who, despite seeming to be in good health, is destined to die. In order to make light of this predestined fate, the movie also has several indications of black comedy, with satirical comments and witty phrases throughout.

3. What other work might it be connected to?

Considering the film's plot, other movies include Singin' in the Rain (1952) and Barton Fink (1991). Singin' in the Rain also looks at the conflict of silent actors with the arrival of sound in cinema. This is the same conflict as faced by Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. Barton Fink is about a playwright to writes a screenplay for Hollywood. Billy Wilder has also directed other movies, which may be interesting to investigate in terms of the auteur theory. In 1938, Wilder directed Ninotchka in collaboration with a fellow German immigrant, Ernst Lubitsch. This connection to German influences-German audiences enjoyed Film Noir- may have begun Wilder's connection to the genre.

4. Who made this? Why?

Sunset Boulevard was directed by Billy Wilder, an Austrian-born American filmmaker. Wilder was also a reporter, and tried to make Sunset Boulevard as closely matched to potentially possible proceedings. The character Norma Desmond's name was inspired from Desmond Taylor, an actor, and Mabel Normand, a close friend of Wilder. This similarity shows that the film may be closely linked to Wilder's life experiences, and may be a potential cause for its production.

5. What can we tell about its’ creators?

Billy Wilder got his Hollywood debut with the production of Ninotchka (1939), a highly popular comedy. His third film Double Indemnity (1944) was his first successful film noir, using the popular genre characteristic of filming the shadows of venetian blinds. This film was also in adamant opposition to the Hollywood censorship, as the plot relies on the theme of adultery. Billy Wilder also directed a propaganda documentary, Death Mills (1945) to educate German audiences about the Nazi regime’s atrocities.

6. How does it fit within the director’s other work?

Sunset BLVD was a film noir piece, therefore a significant amount of theatrical and visual elements that can be compared are those associated to film noir: “low-key (high contrast) lighting; imbalanced lighting; night-for-night; deep focus; wide angle focal length; dissymmetrical mise-en-scène; extreme low and high angles; foreground obstructions” (Schrader, Cook, Hervey, and Blaser).

7. What is the film’s theme?

The film is to highlight the difficulties for “silent-era” actors during the transition to the use of sound in cinema. We have not finished the film as of yet in class, but so far it seems the theme of Sunset Boulevard is that individuals should not expect or rely on unchanging surroundings. Norma Desmond’s career, very much like the careers of actual silent actors, finished abruptly when the movie industry incorporated sound.

8. What is the target audience? How does it address its audience?

The target audience of the film is mainly individuals who understand the implications that occurred during the transition from the “silent” era in film to sound in cinema.

Works Cited:

Schrader, Paul, Pam Cook, Sylvia Hervey, and John Blaser, eds. "The Outer Limits of Film Noir." Film Noir Studies. Film Noir Studies, n.d. Web. 16 Jan 2014. <http://www.filmnoirstudies.com/essays/outer_limits.asp>.