It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Sunset Boulevard (1950 film). (Discuss)

"All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."

Norma Desmond is a main character and femme fatale in Billy Wilder's film Sunset Boulevard. She was played on screen by Gloria Swanson, and in an Andrew Lloyd Webber stage musical by Patti LuPone (in London's West End), Elaine Paige (in London's West End and on Broadway), Glenn Close (in Los Angeles and on Broadway), Betty Buckley (in London's West End and on Broadway), Rita Moreno (in London's West End), Diahann Carroll (in Toronto), Faith Brown in a 2001 UK tour revival, Debra Byrne and Judi Connelli in the two separate Australian productions and Helen Schneider and Daniela Ziegler in the German version of the musical. Petula Clark, who appeared in the London production and took the show on a lengthy tour throughout the US, has played the role more often than any other actress, with more than 2500 performances to her credit. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... It has been suggested that Norma Desmond be merged into this article or section. ... Download high resolution version (1278x954, 103 KB)screenshot of actress Gloria Swanson from the film Sunset Boulevard (movie) This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... Download high resolution version (1278x954, 103 KB)screenshot of actress Gloria Swanson from the film Sunset Boulevard (movie) This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... Convicted spy Mata Hari made her name synonymous with femme fatale during WWI. A femme fatale (plural: femmes fatales) is an alluring and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous and deadly situations. ... Billy Wilder (June 22, 1906 – March 27, 2002) was an Austrian-born, Jewish-American journalist, screenwriter, film director, and producer whose career spanned more than 50 years and 60 films. ... It has been suggested that Norma Desmond be merged into this article or section. ... Gloria Swanson (March 27, 1899 - April 4, 1983), was an Academy Award-nominated, Golden Globe-winning American Hollywood actress. ... Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber (born 22 March 1948) is a highly successful English composer of musical theatre, the elder brother of Julian Lloyd Webber. ... Show logo Sunset Boulevard is a musical with book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. ... Patti LuPone in her Tony Award winning role as Eva Perón in the Broadway musical Evita. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... // West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre in London, or sometimes more specifically for shows staged in the large theatres of Londons Theatreland . Along with New Yorks Broadway Theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of theatre in the... On the cover of Elaine Paige Tour Programme 2004 Elaine Paige OBE (born Elaine Bickerstaff on 5 March 1948 in Barnet, Hertfordshire) is a world-renowned English singer and actor, primarily in musicals. ... Broadway theatre[1] is the most prestigious form of professional theatre in the U.S., as well as the most well known to the general public and most lucrative for the performers, technicians and others involved in putting on the shows. ... Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is a five time Academy Award-nominated American film and stage actress. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... Broadway theatre[1] is the most prestigious form of professional theatre in the U.S., as well as the most well known to the general public and most lucrative for the performers, technicians and others involved in putting on the shows. ... Betty Lynn Buckley (born July 3, 1947) is an American theater, film, and television actress. ... Rita Moreno on the 1962 album cover for Academy Award Winner Rita Moreno Sings Rita Moreno (born December 11, 1931 in Humacao, Puerto Rico) is an Academy Award-winning actress and the first and only Puerto Rican actress in history (as well as one of only nine people) to have... Diahann Carroll, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1955 Diahann Carroll (born July 17, 1935) is an American actress and singer. ... Faith Brown (born 28 May 1944 in Liverpool, England) is a British actress, comedienne and impressionist noted for her extremely large bonanzas. ... Debra Byrne, born in Melbourne, Australia on 30 March, 1957, is an Australian entertainer. ... Judi Connelli (born 20 July 1947 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) is an actress. ... Helen Schneider (born december 23, 1952 in Brooklyn, New York City) is an american singer and actress working mainly in Germany. ... Petula Clark, CBE (born November 15, 1932), is a British singer, actress and composer of Welsh and English parentage, best known for her upbeat popular international hits of the 1960s. ...

An aging former star of silent movies, Desmond is recluse in her Gothic Beverly Hills mansion, off Sunset Boulevard nursing dreams of returning to stardom while her grip on reality grows ever more tenuous over the years. Her one companion is Max (Erich von Stroheim), her butler, former director and we later learn, first husband, who serves as her protector and shields from the outside world. Because he is still in love with her, he tells her she is still a star, and cuts her off from the news media (television, newspapers, etc) to keep her from realizing that she has been completely forgotten by her beloved public. This article is about the comedy film. ... Victoria Tower at the Palace of Westminster, London: Gothic details provided by A.W.N. Pugin The Gothic Revival was an architectural movement which originated in mid-18th century England. ... Erich von Stroheim (September 22, 1885 – May 12, 1957) was a filmmaker and actor, noted for his arrogant Teutonic character parts. ... News media satellite up-link trucks and photojournalists gathered outside the Prudential Financial headquarters in Newark, New Jersey in August, 2004 following the announcement of evidence of a terrorist threat to it and to buildings in New York City. ...

One day, a young, unemployed screenwriter Joe Gillis (William Holden) arrives at Desmond's after being chased by two repo men after his 1946 Plymouth, with a flat tire. He parks the car inside the garage of the mansion when he is summoned by Norma to the front door. She confuses him for an undertaker for her just deceased pet monkey. William Holden (April 17, 1918 – ca. ...

Norma finds out that Joe Gillis is in fact a writer and asks him to take a look at a manuscript she has been working for a while. It is the story of Salome, and she plans to star in it, though she is way past her prime.

Joe quickly sees a chance to milk money out of the delusional star; he promises to fix her a script for a star vehicle, and Norma agrees as she wants to send the manuscript to Paramount Pictures' famed director Cecil B. DeMille, with whom Desmond once worked. Desmond is elated; she sees in Gillis the chance to regain her youthful promise, and sets him up in style, buying his clothes and paying all his expenses. Max sees through Gillis immediately, but puts up with the charade because it makes his beloved "madame" happy. As time passes, however, Desmond becomes increasingly unstable when it becomes clear that there is no hit movie for her in the works, and increasingly jealous of and dependent upon Gillis. She professes her love for him at a New Year's Eve party, but he rejects her and leaves, quickly taking up with a young woman named Betty (Nancy Olson). Meanwhile, DeMille's office calls Max and asks if Desmond can meet with her old director so he can use her vintage car in a film; Max lies to her and tells her DeMille wants to work with her again, and DeMille himself takes pity on her and tells her what she wants to hear. Cecil B. DeMille on August 27, 1934 cover of Time Magazine Cecil Blount DeMille (August 12, 1881 – January 21, 1959) was one of the most successful filmmakers during the first half of the 20th century. ... The quality of this article or section may be compromised by peacock terms. You can help Wikipedia by removing peacock terms. ... Nancy Olson and William Holden in Sunset Boulevard Nancy Olson (born July 14, 1928 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an American actress. ...

Feeling some remorse for taking advantage of Desmond, Gillis returns briefly to explain his actions, but Desmond misinterprets his actions as seduction and makes another pass at him. When Gillis rejects her again and tries to leave, Desmond snaps and shoots him to death, obliviously leaving his body floating in her pool. When the police arrive, she thinks they are merely her adoring fans and the production crew for her movie. Elegantly striding toward a news camera, she utters the iconic line, "Alright, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up." People feel remorse when reflecting on their actions that they believe are wrong. ... Look up icon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Quotes

Joe: "I know you. You're Norma Desmond! You used to be in silent pictures. You used to be big!"
Norma: "I am big! It's the pictures that got small!"

Norma (to newsreel cameras): "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."

Norma: "We didn't need dialogue. We had faces!"