Sunset Boulevard Themes

The film Sunset Boulevard, made in 1950 is a black and white film. The film is about Norma Desmond an old actor, who has issues accepting that she is becoming old. The movie was good with the setting, costumes, lighting, music, and being presented in black and white color. The film presented in white and black color explains the movie will be mysterious and have many secrets hidden. The main character in the film beginning with Gloria Swanson, as Norma Desmond, suffers accepting that she is aging. Desmond has issues in her life regarding her age and does not accept that Hollywood does not want her anymore. Next, the character William Holden, as Joe Gillis, has financial problems and turns himself into a gigolo. The dilemma is Joe became a gigolo and does not want Betty to know that because he knows that it will cause a problem. In thirdly, Nancy Olson, as Betty Schaffer is the one who falls in love with Gillis despite being engaged to his friend. In lastly, Erich Van, as Max the mysterious servant. Max will make …show more content…
The costumes represent the rank in society for these characters. An example is Desmond, who wears extravagant clothing showing she has money. Mostly, throughout the film, she wears black clothing, which represented her sadness, and anger of accepting her time in Hollywood that ended many years back. Another example, Gillis who in the beginning wears lower class clothes because he cannot afford anything else. Eventually, he becomes a gigolo and ends up wearing expensive suits that many people cannot afford. For the setting, Desmond’s mansion looks creepy and old. Desmond’s mansion is torn down and looks scary which explains Desmond issues in changing. In addition, inside her house, she has many pictures of herself when she was young and famous. The setting inside her house explains she cannot move on and keeps believing that she will be young for