Sunset Boulevard Student Revision Booklet

A Ticking Mind Resource 1
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Table of contents and checklist
Below is a list of revision activities in this booklet. You can also use this as a checklist to keep
track of the revision activities you’ve completed.
☐ Revise key moments in the film …………………………………………………… 3
☐ Prologue
☐ Orientation
☐ Complication
☐ Rising action
☐ Climax
☐ Falling action
☐ Denouement
☐ Revise symbols …………………………………………………… 14
☐ The spotlight
☐ Salome and Miss Havisham
☐ Gates and barriers
☐ Sets and stages
☐ Revise the big ideas …………………………………………………… 17
☐ Create example tables …………………………………………………… 19
☐ Ambition
☐ Deception and delusion
☐ Hollywood
☐ Expectations of gender
☐ Practise writing about the big ideas …………………………………………………… 24
☐ Ambition
☐ Deception and delusion
☐ Hollywood
☐ Expectations of gender
☐ Practise writing about a range of
different essay topics
…………………………………………………… 28
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Key moments from the film
Prologue(0-2.45): Gillis is floating without the fishes
The film begins. We’re treated to an artful shot of a gutter with dead leaves. The gutter reads
“Sunset Blvd” - it’s art-house, it’s gritty, it’s meaningful. Dramatic music plays and we begin to
hear a deep voice telling us we’re going to hear “the truth”. At the end of this scene, the camera
shows us the body of a “young man” floating face down in a pool. It’s dramatic.
Key learnings:
What is the significance of the opening shot? Describe it in one sentence here:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
How does Gillis describe the owner of the mansion? Put one quote here:
1.
How does Gillis describe himself? Put two different quotes here:
1.
2.
What are two key differences between Gillis and Desmond as described in the voice-over?
1.
2.
Practise writing about this section of the film by completing these sentence starters:
The film opens with a camera shot of ____________________________________________________,
emphasising the _______________________________________________________________________.
From the outset, Gillis describes Desmond as _____________________________________________,
so that the audience is primed to see her _________________________________________________.
By describing himself as ______________________________________________ in the opening scene
of the film, Gillis establishes himself as ____________________________________________________.
At the very beginning of the film, Gillis presents himself as being very different from Desmond
because __________________________________________________________________ whereas
_______________________________________________________________________________________.
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Orientation(2.45-26.55): We learn about Gillis’ and Desmond’s situations
We see Gillis writing at his desk, complaining in the voice-over about his lack of success. As he
pointlessly types, debt collectors arrive to claim his car. Gillis lies to them about the car. Next, we
see Gillis meeting Sheldrake and lying to the producer about how great the film he is writing is.
Betty Schaefer comes in and critiques Gillis’ film, calling it a “rehash”. After trying to borrow
money from a range of people, Gillis gets involved in a low-speed car chase and parks his car in
Desmond’s house. When he enters the house, he finds Desmond preparing for a monkey funeral
(as you do). Desmond finds out that Gillis is a movie writer and convinces him to write a movie
about Salome for her. Both Desmond and Gillis think they’re getting a great deal out of each other
- what could possibly go wrong?
Key learnings:
What lies does Gillis tell during these scenes? List them here:
1.
2.
3.
How does Schaefer describe Gillis’ baseball film? Describe it in one sentence here:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
How does Gillis describe Desmond’s house. Describe it in one sentence here, using a quote:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
How does Desmond describe herself during this orientation? Use two quotes:
1.
2.
In the voice-over, how does Gillis describe Desmond and her work? Put a quote here:
1.
How does Max describe Desmond and her work? Put a quote here:
1.
At the end of these scenes, Wilder evokes a sense of decay and ruin, as Gillis provides a
commentary. What are some of the ways this sense is created?
1.
2.
3.
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Gillis misrepresents his writing by ____________________________________________________,
highlighting________________________________________________________________ aspects of
himself.
In contrast to Gillis, Schaefer appears _____________________________________________,
because of her_______________________ _________________________________________________.
When he arrives at Desmond’s mansion for the first time, Gillis describes it as_________________
____________________________, demonstrating ___________________________________________.
While Max describes Desmond’s work as ________________________________________________,
Gillis sees her as________________________________________________________________________.
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Complication (26.56-35.57): Gillis settles in
When Gillis wakes up, Max has moved him into the mansion (and Max plays a spooky song on
the organ). Max is angry and feels controlled, but he stays because he wants the money.
Desmond watches over him while he works, questioning every decision he makes.
Key learnings:
What does Desmond’s decorating style tell us about her as a character?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
When Gillis and Desmond watch films, she sometimes “clutched his arm”. What does this
demonstrate about her character?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
As they watch the film, Desmond declares, “I’ll be up there again, so help me!” When she stands,
she is framed by the spotlight. What does this spotlight symbolise?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
During the bridge party, Gillis’ car is repossessed. When Desmond says, “I thought it was a matter
of life and death,” how does Gillis respond?
Quote:
After his car is repossessed, Gillis stays with Desmond. What does this tell us about the character
and his motivations?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
By focusing on the opulence of Desmond’s mansion, Wilder presents her as __________________
______________, emphasising ____________________________________________________________.
Desmond’s hands are often _____________________________________________________________,
symbolising her _________________________________________________.
Although Gillis says that his car is ______________________________________________, after the
car is repossessed he ____________________________________________________, which suggests
_______________________________________________________________________________________.
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Rising action (35.58-46.40): Gillis and Desmond play happy families
During this scene, Desmond spends both time and money on Gillis, driving him around in her
luxurious car and buying him clothes. Desmond also moves Gillis into her ex-husband’s bedroom;
when Gillis comments that there are no locks on the door, Max tells him that Desmond is a suicide
risk. It is during this scene that Gillis confronts Max about writing her fan letters.
Key learnings:
During the scene when Desmond is buying clothes for Gillis, the salesman tries to upsell Gillis
with a more expensive coat. At the end of this scene, there is a close-up of Gillis looking at the
salesman, what is Wilder trying to imply with this close-up?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
What is one quote that sums up Gillis’ attitude to moving into the house?
1.
Gillis comments on Desmond’s bedroom. What are two quotes he uses?
1.
2.
At New Year’s Gillis finds out how Desmond feels about him. What are two quotes that describe
how he feels about this?
1.
2.
When Gillis tells Desmond not to spend any more money on him, he asks her “has it ever
occurred to you that I might have a life?”. She responds by confronting him and slapping him.
What do these two behaviours reveal about the characters?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
By highlighting the lack of locks on the bedroom door, Wilder creates a sense of foreboding that
______________________________________________________________________________________.
Gillis asks Desmond if she has ever thought he “might have a life”, revealing ___________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Desmond responds by confronting Gillis with what he’s “trying to say”, demonstrating how ______
_______________________________________________________________________________________
As Gillis tries to leave the mansion, his watch chain is caught on the elaborate bars of the gate,
symbolising ____________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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Climax (46.41-1.00.09): Gillis makes his choice
After leaving Desmond’s house in the rain, Gillis heads off to Artie Green’s house to attend a “New
Year’s shindig”. There, he runs into Betty Schaefer again and she encourages him to talk about an
aspect of one of his scripts that she wants to work on with him. Although Gillis arranges to stay
with Green, when he rings Max to ask for his clothes and luggage, Max tells him that Desmond
has attempted suicide. Gillis rushes back to the mansion. Gillis resettles back into life with
Desmond; on the way to a bridge party one night, he runs into Schaefer and Green. Schaefer tells
him that Sheldrake likes the story she pitched to him.
Key learnings:
When Gillis asks Artie Green if he can stay, how does Artie respond?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
What does this demonstrate about Gillis’ choices?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Schaefer wants to discuss writing. What does Gillis want to discuss? Write down one quote that
shows this:
1.
When Gillis speaks to Desmond, he explains why he didn’t want to hurt her. What are two quotes
that describe his reasons?
1.
2.
After Gillis wishes Desmond a happy new year, she reaches for him with clawed hands, as
dramatic music plays. What effect is Wilder trying to create with this directive choice?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
When Schaefer tries to call Gillis, Max tells her that Gillis is “not here”. What does this tell us
about Max’s role in Desmond’s life?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
At Schwab’s, Schaefer tells Gillis that her pitch for the story “can be made into something.” How
does Gillis respond? Write down two quotes that demonstrate his reaction:
1.
2.
Schaefer responds with anger to Gillis’ refusal. What does she say about her own ambitions?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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Artie Green tells Gillis that he can ____________________________________________________,
demonstrating that _____________________________________________________________________.
While Schaefer is interested in discussing _____________________________________________ at
the New Year’s party, Gillis is more concerned with _________________________________________,
highlighting ____________________________________________________________________________.
Desmond’s clawed hands illustrate ______________________________________________, creating
the inescapable sense that _____________________________________________________________.
While Schaefer is driven by ______________________________________________________________,
Gillis is more motivated by______________________________________________________________.
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Falling action (1.00.10-1.26.18): Gillis begins to live a double life
Back in Desmond’s life, Gillis begins to think about Schaefer. Meanwhile, Paramount studios has
contacted Desmond and she begins to be very excited about the prospects of her film. Desmond
visits Paramount studios to meet with Mr DeMille. At Paramount, Desmond is only recognised by
the older staff members, who give her the star treatment she demands. While Gillis is waiting in
the studios, he spots Schaefer and talks to her. She reiterates her desire to work with Gillis and,
although he turns her down, he gives her an idea for the script. As Desmond begins to prepare for
a film that will never be made, Gillis sneaks out each night to work on the script with Schaefer.
Key learnings:
Desmond regularly puts on a series of plays, or “follies” for Gillis. What does this tell us about the
world that she has created?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
DeMille is warned about Desmond’s visit by a man who suggests that “she must be a million
years old.” De Mille defends her. What are three quotes that DeMille provides to defend her?
1.
2.
3.
What does DeMille’s attitude reveal about the world of Hollywood and its treatment of female
stars?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
As Desmond waits for DeMille, the lighting man, Hog-eye, recognises her and puts a spotlight on
her. What does this scene reveal about her?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
While Gillis waits at Paramount studios, Max tells him that a whole row of offices used to be
Desmond’s “dressing rooms”. What does this reveal about Desmond’s past status?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
What are two quotes that Gillis uses to describe Desmond’s preparations for the new film?
1.
2.
Desmond confronts Gillis about going out for a drive at night. Gillis lies and tells her that he hasn’t
“done anything”. What is one quote that Desmond responds with and one action?
Quote:
Action:
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What are two quotes that Gillis uses to describe writing with Schaefer?
1.
2.
As Gillis and Schaefer walk around the studio, Schaefer talks about her past. What are two quotes
that Schaefer uses to describe the world of Hollywood?
1.
2.
One night, Gillis returns home and has a discussion with Max. Gillis critiques their shared
deception of Desmond. What does he say about it?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
In this conversation, Max reveals his past with Desmond. What are three key revelations of his?
1.
2.
3.
What do Max’s revelations demonstrate about the world of Hollywood?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
DeMille defends Desmond by saying ____________________________________________________,
which highlights _______________________________________________________________________.
At Paramount studios, Schaefer describes Hollywood as ____________________________________,
which emphasises ______________________________________________________________________.
While Gillis is working with Schaefer, he lies to Desmond, telling her __________________________
and ______________________________ because he _________________________________________.
Max’s revelations about Desmond show how ______________________________________________,
which reinforces DeMille’s comments that the world of Hollywood is _________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________.
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Denouement (1.26.19-end): The truth is revealed, Gillis and Desmond come to a sticky end
While Gillis sleeps, Desmond discovers the script he has been working on. Meanwhile, Schaefer
reveals that she has fallen in love with Gillis, which forces Gillis to re-evaluate his life with
Desmond. Back at the mansion, Desmond calls Schaefer. Gillis interrupts the phone call and tells
Schaefer to come over. Desmond has a tanty; Schaefer comes over and has a tanty; Gillis sends
Scahefer home and then says he’s leaving home - yes, they’re all behaving like toddlers. It’s high
drama. As if that’s not exciting enough, Gillis tells Desmond the truth about the letters, which
makes her go nuts and shoot him. What a great ending!
Key learnings:
When Betty comes to the mansion, Joe answers the door for the first time, rather than using Max
as a gatekeeper. What does this reveal about a change in his attitude?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
When Joe tells Schaefer about his lifestyle, she refuses to listen and tells Joe a lie for the first
time. What is the lie and what does this reveal?
Lie:
This reveals:
When Gillis starts packing, he confronts Desmond about the “scene” she is creating. Why does he
tell her that her scene is pointless? Use a quote in your analysis:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Gillis urges Max to tell the truth. How does Max respond?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
When Gillis is dead, how does he describe Hollywood’s reaction? Put two quotes here:
1.
2.
What do Gillis words of sympathy for Desmond highlight about the world of Hollywood?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
As Desmond is being arrested, Max steps in and “directs” her down the stairs. How does this
epitomise something fundamental about their relationship?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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By the end of the film, even Schaefer begins to lie by _______________________________________,
emphasising the _______________________________________________________________________.
It is only at the end of the film that Gillis tells Desmond ______________________________________
_______________________________________________, which suggests that he __________________
_________________________________________________.
Gillis describes the people who attend his death as _________________________________________
and _____________________________________ condemning the way __________________________
____________________________________________________.
In the final moments of the film, Desmond relies upon Max to________________________________,
epitomising how the world of Hollywood is _______________________________________________
and___________________________________________________________________________________.
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Symbols
THE SPOTLIGHT
Obviously, the spotlight is an important part of any Hollywood movie - it is a fundamental way of
highlighting the most important characters and focusing the audience’s attention on what is
important. Desmond actively seeks out the spotlight, for obvious reasons. On the other hand, Gillis’
face is often shadowed or hidden, suggesting that his motives are not very admirable. In fact, in the
earlier scenes in the movie, he is shown hiding his face behind his car’s sun visor and quite literally
hiding. Moreover, throughout the film, Gillis’ face is often half shadowed, especially compared with
Desmond and Schaefer’s, as Wilder highlights the transparency of the women’s emotions,
compared with the ambiguous nature of Gillis’.
Building your vocabulary
In the table below are a range of words and phrases that you can use to discuss these symbols, as
well as a number of quotes that might be helpful:
SALOME AND MISS HAVISHAM
In Sunset Boulevard, Desmond is compared to two different women - Gillis compares her to Miss
Havisham, a Dickensian character who was left at the altar by her fiance and subsequently lives
alone in a decaying mansion. However, Desmond thinks of herself more as Salome, a young and
beautiful biblical character who dances before kings and demands the death of John the Baptist.
Each of these representations is a caricature and each suggests only two options for a woman -
young and beautiful or old, forgotten and ridiculous. By presenting only these two options, Wilder
critiques the world of Hollywood and it’s limited representation of women
well as a number of quotes that might be helpful:
spotlight scenes and quotes vocabulary darkness scenes and quotes
“cut away from me?”
“they want to see me”
“I’ll be up there again, so help me!”
bathed in the spotlight at Paramount
studios
the magnifying glass highlighting the
bags under Desmond’s eyes
attention
focus
interest
truth
hiding
secretive
mendacious
untruthful
when Gillis is at Schwabs, he sits in a dark
phone booth, ringing people for money
Gillis hides his car in a dark garage
Desmond wears dark glasses
when Desmond says that the pictures “got
small”, her face is in half shadow
the script Gillis wrote is called “Dark
Window”
Gillis and Schaefer work at night
Max is a shadowy figure
Max in the dark when he tells Gillis about
his past with Desmond
Salome vocabulary Miss Havisham
“Salome - what a woman! What a part”
At New Year’s Desmond wears a veil,
evoking Salome’s dance of the seven
veils
the last time Desmond saw DeMille she
was “dancing on the table”
youth
beauty
future
relevance
age
irrelevance
being obsolete
pitiable
“It was like that old woman in Great
Expectations…in her rotting wedding
dress and her torn veil”
“an older woman”
“Yesterday’s Glamour Queen”
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GATES AND BARRIERS
Throughout the film, Max is presented as a gatekeeper to Desmond’s house, allowing only very
few people in to see her. This is a potent symbol of the cloistered world that he creates and how he
tries to protect her from the outside world. Gillis also allows himself to be shut inside this house,
both a willing prisoner, but also a character who later resents his sense of entrapment.
well as a number of key moments that might be helpful:
SETS AND STAGES
Wilder’s film contains highly staged scenes - Desmond’s house is an evocation of grand mansions
from the Golden Age of Hollywood, creating the sense that she lives in a carefully curated past that
is divorced from the reality of the outside world. In the second half of the film, some of the action
between Gillis and Schaefer takes place on set, where a false world is established, highlighting the
falsity of the world they have created for themselves
well as a number of key moments that might be helpful:
key moments vocabulary
Max first opens the gates for Gillis
Gillis’ watch chain is caught on the gates as he tries to leave
at New Year’s
Desmond is initially refused entry into Paramount studios
Gillis - not Max - lets Schaefer into the mansion
separation
a sense of exclusion
protection
imprisonment
ensnared
trapped
guarded
key moments vocabulary
Desmond’s gloomy mansion that displays only pictures of the
younger star
the pool that evokes the Golden Age of Hollywood
“Whenever she suspected I was getting bored, she would put
on a live show for me”
“Look at this street. All cardboard, all hollow, all phoney”
“It’s the car they want”, not Desmond
wealth
ostentatious
showiness
pageantry
pretency
unreal
artifice
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PRACTISE WRITING
Now it’s time to put these quotes and new vocabulary into sentences. Use the phrases below to
help you write about how Wilder uses these symbols to give his audience important insights:
Introductory phrases Analysis phrases for after a quote
Wilder emphasises…by…
When [character] invokes…, it accentuates
Conjuring images of…, Wilder...
Wilder’s portrayal of....
Wilder depicts...as...
Wilder emphasises the...nature of...through
the image of...
Wilder symbolises Desmond’s…
By placing Gillis in….Wilder creates the
sense that…
By characterising…as…
Through the recurring imagery of..., Wilder....
Through repeated images of..., Wilder...
Scenes that depict...throughout the film….
, highlighting the significance of
, illustrating just how
, evoking the sense that
, underscoring nature of
, stressing the profound
...represents
...underscores
...highlights
...evokes a sense of
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Big Ideas
Throughout Sunset Boulevard, Wilder explores a few key ideas. You’ll need to discuss these in
your essays and develop your vocabulary to write about them in sophisticated ways.
AMBITION
Both Desmond and Gillis are pretty ambitious - Desmond wants to be a great star (again) and Gillis
wants to be a writer. Or does he? In many ways it seems that Wilder is showing Gillis as a greedy
character, rather than an ambitious one. Although he talks about being a writer, most of his concern
is about money. When Schaefer asks him to write with her, her asks her “where’s the money?”,
indicating his values, which are in stark contrast to Schaefer’s. Like Desmond, Schaefer is clear
about her ambitions - she wants to be a writer, not a reader and she’s prepared to work day or
night and pester Gillis into helping her. Wilder’s film shows the many advantages of ambition - it is
ambition that has made Desmond a star in the past and it is ambition that leads Schaefer to work
so hard. But Wilder also illustrates the pitfalls of ambition: in Desmond, ambition has lead to
delusion and to lack of understanding about the real world around her; in Gillis, ambition is
subverted into greed and he can no longer tell the difference between having success as a writer
and financial success.
DECEPTION AND DELUSION
A key idea in Wilder’s film is the deception of self and of others. At the heart of the film is the
deception that Gillis plays upon Desmond, allowing her to believe that her film idea is worthy of
time and effort, but it is also true that Desmond deludes herself into thinking that she still has
legions of fans and that she still has the physicality to play a much younger woman. Max feeds
these fantasies - writing fan letters and pampering her in any way she asks. But although Max is
the main perpetrator of her self-deception, others - like DeMille - foster these false beliefs. It is
important to realise that Gillis also fools himself - he regularly describes himself as a writer,
although he does very little writing in the film itself. Even Schaefer, who is perhaps the most honest
character of all, deludes herself about her love for Gillis. In many ways, Wilder is exploring the idea
that Hollywood fosters and encourages fantasy worlds and day-dreams until people in Hollywood
struggle to sort fact from fiction.
ambition greed hard work
aspirations
dreams
hopes
desires
goals
logging for recognition
indulgence
weakness
loss of focus
reaching for money, rather than
materialism
labouring
working
striving
effort
taking short cuts
laziness
deception delusion lies truth
duplicity
hypocrisy
deceit
pretence
betrayal
manipulation
fantasy
illusion
dreams
self-deception
denial of reality
refusal to accept
warped perception
mendacity
misleading
falsifying
inventing
distortion
fabrication
reality
facts
veracity
authenticity
honesty
trustworthy
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HOLLYWOOD
At its heart, Wilder’s film is a story about Hollywood - the people who create films and the ways in
which their lives are shaped by the industry. Hollywood is a world that encourages people to
believe in fantasies and fictions; it is a world where women can only ever be young and beautiful or
they are ridiculed and ostracised. The ambitions of his characters and the deceptions that they
enact on themselves and each other are, in many ways, created by the world of Hollywood. When
discussing the idea of Hollywood, you will need to draw upon the earlier ideas in this section, but
you can also use the words in the table below:
EXPECTATIONS OF GENDER
One of the many ways that Hollywood is a distorting force is in its different treatment of men and
women. DeMille, although much older than Desmond, still has a thriving career, as do many of the
male producers that Gillis speaks to in the earlier scenes. Of course, this is partly because they
work behind the scenes, whereas Desmond, whose career is effectively over, worked in front of the
cameras. However, Wilder also demonstrates that Hollywood (and the audience) view older
women differently even when they are not in front of the camera. Even before Gillis recognises
Desmond as a movie star, he has compared her to Miss Havisham, whereas his views on Schaefer
are entirely positive - at least from a personal stand-point. Gillis admires and flirts with Schaefer,
but is extremely reluctant to work with her and she, having internalised the misogynistic messaging
of Hollywood, believes that she can’t write a script on her own.
Hollywood false influences
showbusiness
the film industry
in the studio
on set
Hollywood culture
entertainment industry
“phony”
misleading
fictitious
fanciful
ersatz
constructed
manufactured
inspires
affects
induces
spurs
guides
motivates
determines
men women
can work into older age
can be impatient about their clothes and
appearance
admire younger women and pity older women
can be “protectors”
can be entrapped by older women
are allowed professional ambition into middle age
are admired for their youth and beauty
are objects of pity or contempt as they age
are in need of protection
need to be complimented and admired
become femmes fatale as they age
are seen as emotional and unstable
lose social value as they lose physical beauty
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Example tables
On the next few pages are a series of tables about each of the big ideas in Sunset Boulevard.
These tables will help you collect and organise notes and examples. You can then use the tables
as a kind of cheat sheet to help plan responses to essay topics. For instance, if you’re planning a
response to a topic focusing on the idea of fate, you use that table as a cheat sheet to help you
plan.
When you fill out the tables, keep these things in mind:
1. Vocabulary is really, really, REALLY important. You need to show you understand the ideas
in the play by being able to use a range of words to discuss them. Use some of the
suggested vocabulary from the Big Ideas section to fill in this part of the table. BUT also
use words that you’ve discussed in class or written in previous essays.
2. Remember, ideas have many facets. When coming up with ideas about hubris, for
example, make sure you are also listing examples of humility and selfishness.
3. In each of the columns you should make notes about what about what a character is like
(i.e Desmond behaves arrogantly but is insecure about other peoples’ admiration and love
for her), the things they do (i.e early in the film Gillis describes himself as a “poor schmuck”)
and quotes.
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GENDER Vocabulary:
Character: What does this character do to show this
idea?
How does this idea motivate the character
during the film?
At the end of the film, what happens to
the character because of this idea?
What message is Wilder giving about this
idea?
Gillis
Desmond
Schaefer
Max
Other, minor
characters
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DECEPTION Vocabulary:
idea?
during the film?
idea?
Gillis
Desmond
Schaefer
Max
Other, minor
characters
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AMBITION Vocabulary:
idea?
during the film?
idea?
Gillis
Desmond
Schaefer
Max
Other, minor
characters
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WORLD OF
HOLLYWOOD
Vocabulary:
idea?
during the film?
idea?
Gillis
Desmond
Schaefer
Max
Other, minor
characters
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Extended writing about deception
A typical essay task about deception looks like this:
‘Wilder explores the consequences of deception in Sunset Boulevard.’ To what extent do
you think this is true?
Use the notes and examples from your DECEPTION table to practise writing a paragraph in
response to this topic. The paragraph outline below gives you a structure and sentence starters to
follow:
Now, try writing another paragraph. This time, use the table below to make notes about examples
you can use to write about the topic sentence provided. Find an example of a quote and a symbol
to go in each of the rows where you need to provide evidence.
Topic sentence By framing his film with an unreliable narrator, Wilder invites his audience to
investigate the tragic consequences of making lifestyle choices based on
insincerity and duplicitousness.
Initial examples As the audience looks at his body floating in the pool, Gillis declares..., focusing
on...
His commentary suggests that people in Hollywood…
Link Throughout the opening of the film, Gillis’ narrative belies the actions that he
takes, talking about himself as a writer, but almost never sitting down at the
typewriter.
Further
examples
When Gillis speaks to Sheldrake, he asserts that… , demonstrating his…
Even when Gillis reads through Desmond’s script for the first time, his own
voiceover discloses…. This admission of duplicity foreshadows the eventual…
Synthesising
sentence
Wilder’s choice of dubious narrator highlights how ... ,which….
Topic sentence Although Wilder’s protagonist is unequivocally punished for his deception of
others, the film also shows that those who deceive themselves must face the
consequences of their self delusion.
Initial examples
Link
Further
examples
Synthesising
sentence
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Extended writing about ambition
The two tasks below ask you to unpack an essay topic about this key idea and write a
paragraph in response to the topic.
‘In Sunset Boulevard, ambitions cause unhappiness.’ Discuss.
An important skill you’ll need in your essays is to respond to the key words in a topic with a
range of vocabulary. Brainstorm as many words as you can to address each part of the
topic.
When you organise your examples for an essay, you will want to think about sub-ideas that can be
the basis for body paragraphs.
1. Look at the list below and choose one sub-idea that will help you write a paragraph
responding to the topic.
2. Use your table on ambition to find examples to go with this sub idea and then write the
paragraph:
☐ ambition leads to characters betraying others
☐ mistaking ambition for greed creates unhappiness
☐ having unrealistic ambitions results in stagnation and a failure to achieve
☐ ambition is admirable in youth but pathetic in older characters
☐ Hollywood only rewards some aims - others are doomed to failure
☐ large goals have equally large failures, smaller ambitions are more likely to provide contentment
Wilder shows how those in Hollywood pursue their ambitions at great costs to others.
Discuss.
1. Circle key words in the topic above and brainstorm an alternative vocabulary for them.
2. After this, choose one sub idea from below. Using your brainstormed vocabulary and
examples you have collected in your ambition table write a whole paragraph to support this
idea.
☐ characters exploit the talents of others
☐ for some to rise to the top others must fail
☐ in the world of Hollywood, some people are more expendable than others
☐ even the most innocent of characters use others to achieve their aims
☐ while characters might sympathise with each other, they ultimately act with self-interest
☐ older characters exploit the youth and talent of younger characters
☐ the men in Hollywood rise to power on the talent of the women they use
ambitions cause unhappiness
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Extended writing about Hollywood
A typical essay task about Hollywood looks like this:
‘“There’s nothing tragic about being 50, not unless you try to be 25.” In Sunset Boulevard,
how does Wilder portray Hollywood’s infatuation with youth?’
There are two parts to this essay topic:
1. it’s okay to be old;
2. Hollywood expects you to be young.
Use the table below to brainstorm vocabulary and examples to respond to each part of the topic:
Now, write two paragraphs - one about how it’s okay to be old and one about how difficult it is to be
old in Hollywood.
Let’s look at another topic that frames the idea of Hollywood in a slightly different way.
‘Hollywood creates fantasies and destroys them. To what extent do you think this is true?’
Just as for the last activity, use the table below to brainstorm vocabulary and examples to respond
to each part of the topic. Then write a paragraph responding to each part of the topic.
Ways the text explores how ageing is okay Ways the text presents Hollywood’s interest in
youth
Vocabulary: Vocabulary:
Examples: Examples:
How does Hollywood create fantasies? How does Hollywood destroy fantasies?
Vocabulary: Vocabulary:
Examples: Examples:
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Extended writing about gender
In the box below are a range of essay tasks about the idea of gender. Respond to at least
two of these topics following this process:
1. Circle key words in the topic
2. Brainstorm alternative vocabulary
3. Refer back to the tables you have created to brainstorm examples to respond to the
topic
4. Sort examples into 3-4 groups which can be the basis for 3-4 body paragraphs in
your essay
5. Plan the topic sentence for each group of examples
6. Write the essay
• Wilder’s Hollywood is more difficult for women than for men. To what extent do you
think this is true?
• In Sunset Boulevard, Wilder both upholds gender stereotypes and critiques them.
Discuss.
• Sunset Boulevard both challenges and reinforces traditional gender expectations.
Discuss.
• For the women in Sunset Boulevard, age and beauty are central concerns. Do you
agree.
• In the world of Sunset Boulevard, gender determines power.
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Responding to different types of essay topics
Essay topics about Sunset Boulevard can direct you to write about the big ideas in three
broad ways. To be prepared for your exam, make sure you’ve done essay tasks from each
of these three categories below:
Things are difficult or dangerous
• ‘Sunset Boulevard shows that the pursuit of fame is a perilous journey.’ Discuss.
• ‘“There was a time when this business had the eyes of the whole wide world. But that
wasn’t good enough…they wanted the ears too.”
Sunset Boulevard examines the destructive consequences of ambition.’ Discuss.
Actions have consequences
• ‘How does Sunset Boulevard explore the destructive consequences of deception?’
• ‘Sunset Boulevard is a tragedy because characters cause their own destruction.’ To
what extent do you agree?
Wilder has a message about Hollywood
• ‘“Look at this street. All cardboard, all hollow, all phoney, all done with mirrors. You
know, I like it better than any street in the whole world.” How does Wilder convey that
Hollywood is both hollow and alluring?’
• ‘How does Wilder critique the world of Hollywood in Sunset Boulevard?’
• ‘Individuals are not responsible for the tragic events in Sunset Boulevard, they are only
responding to the demands of Hollywood.’ To what extent is this true?
• ‘In Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood creates dreams and nightmares.’ Do you agree?
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Sunset Boulevard Student Revision Booklet

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Sunset Boulevard Student Revision Booklet