Sunset Boulevard Summary

• Sunset Boulevard is a classic film noir directed by Billy Wilder, examining the dark side of Hollywood and the price of fame.
• The film opens with the shocking image of Joe Gillis's dead body floating in a swimming pool.
• The story unfolds through a series of flashbacks narrated by Joe's ghost.
• Joe is a down-on-his-luck screenwriter unable to find work in Hollywood, desperate for money, and stumbles upon the decaying mansion of Norma Desmond.
• Norma, once a renowned silent film star, is cared for by her loyal Butler Max and writes fan letters to herself, maintaining the illusion of her continued fame.
• Norma and Joe help each other edit a screenplay, a comeback vehicle she hopes will restore her to stardom.
• Joe meets a young aspiring writer named Betty Shafer who works at the studio and is engaged to his friend Artie Green.
• Joe becomes increasingly uncomfortable with Norma's possessiveness and refusal to accept the reality of her fading career.
• Betty is impressed with Joe's writing and encourages him to collaborate on a screenplay with her.
• Joe attracted to Betty and wanting to escape Norma's oppressive grip begins to work with Betty secretly at night.
• Norma becomes increasingly suspicious and jealous when she discovers Joe's secret collaboration with Betty and calls Betty, revealing the truth about their living arrangement.
• Betty disillusioned by Joe's deception leaves him.
• Joe finally realizing the hopelessness of his situation decides to abandon Norma and return to his hometown.
• Norma having learned of Joe's plan to leave her shoots him as he attempts to walk away.
• Joe falls into the swimming pool and the scene returns to the opening image of his lifeless body floating in the water.
• The police and news media descend upon Norma's mansion drawn by the sensational murder in her delusional state.
• Norma mistakes the cameras for those of a film crew and delivers a final chilling performance as she descends her grand staircase.
• The film ends with Norma's famous line, "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."