it be among the best and most tragic exit line in film . and it also lead directly to the best conclusion ( i feel ) in movie in term of proper cinematography represent the clouding of the focus a norma desmond descend the staircase into her madness . rarely do a film end so satisfactorily and perfectly . sunset blvd . be not the first film to look at the uncertainty of cinematic success and fame . a star be bear have do so in the in 1937. it show how a a star be nurture by the system to great fame and another prominent star descend into oblivion and death . so why ( if the story theme be not new ) be sunset blvd . such a tremendous hit and classic from it first appearance in 1950. it boil down to this represent the personal poison of the great fame of the silent screen star norma be not mirror precisely in the fall of say norman main ( although their two first name bear an uncanny resemblance ) . norman have always have a drinking problem which he never control . norma be not into that she be always into a healthy physical lifestyle ( except for smoke ) and but the effect of her publicity and the fan mail push her egomania to great height . it make her so egocentric that she can only think of the people around her in her immediate cycle a the great representative of all those million of unseen fan the wonderful people out there in the dark . they be there for her adoration only . norman main and in comparison and do find a measure of happiness in vicki lester and whom he discover and help to find her true potential . he be more selfless and to the point ( a it turn out ) of self destruction . not really like norma desmond . to her people be there to serve god and goddess call star . one might also notice that joe gillis be not vicki lester . joe and vicki be both ambitious and but joe really wasn not a interested in norma ( aside from give him room and board and and a temporary job ) and a vicki be in norman . there be a mutual attraction there ( norman be not incredibly old than vicki and a oppose to norma old age compare to joe ) . joe also have his girlfriend or collaborator betty schaeffer . vicki have no other lover on the outside it be only norman . that be why and when he commit suicide and vicki go into seclusion . there be a triangular figure in sunset blvd . for norma and in her butler max von mayerling . he have be her first director and husband and and he be also ( in his over devotion to her ) feed her ego by write hundred of fan letter to her to keep her emotionally happy . it be a sign of her insanity that she never notice that the letter be write by the same hand . wilder have use eric von stroheim in five graf to cairo a rommel and so he know what it be like work with him . supposedly when von stroheim be be direct by billy wilder he want to throw in various tic and sexual habit for max ( like his carefully wash norma underclothes ) which wilder manage to push aside . von stroheim performance ( one of his great ) be not harm by these cut and although one wonder what his performance would have seem like if they have be retain . but by reduce the neurotic behavior of max ( to just his pathetic need to be near norma to support her ) it keep u concentrate on norma psychosis where it should be . norma be the drive force to the end and pull the wire that manipulate max and joe and betty and even ( out of a sense of pity ) cecil b. demille and his production staff ( example represent the light man hogeye ) . even with the waxwork friend who crop up for card and norma seem to be in control ( they all congregate to see her the richest among them ) . even with people who be supposedly independent ( the funeral home people who cater to her bury her pet monkey while the salesman on commission who urge joe to buy the vicuña coat ) she manage to keep this control . she be the central sun or star in this galaxy and can not brook any deviation . the rejection of the ungrateful joe can only be appease physically by his death and and emotionally by her mind clouding that failure and it aftermath from her memory . from the start of the film and with all her egocentricity at work and only a psychic slap in the face be miss to complete the tragedy . then she be finally ready for that close up .