"And I promise you I'll never desert you again because after 'Salome' we'll make another picture and another picture. You see, this is my life! It always will be! Nothing else! Just us, the cameras, and those wonderful people out there in the dark!... All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up." The end of Sunset Boulevard features one of the most famous lines in film history - even though it does tend to be misquoted most of the time. Throughout the movie, we see struggling screenwriter Joe take care of an aging, delusional silent film star with a strange combination of pity, revulsion, and sometimes even genuine affection. There's a certain squickiness to their relationship, the sexual nature of which is only hinted at, thanks to the production codes of the time. But by this point in the proceedings, that's all over - Joe is floating dead in a swimming pool and Norma Desmond has completely lost touch with reality. She descends a staircase in theatrical slow motion, believing the news reporters and policemen to be part of the hustle and bustle of a film set. It's a tragic ending for such a pitiable, miserable creature as Norma Desmond.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
