27/01/12

Film Opening Analysis - Sunset Boulevard

Here is the opening to Sunset Boulevard:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQNh_m3YIBc

Contextual Information	Sunset Boulevard is a 1950 American film noir  named after the boulevard that runs through L.A. and Beverly Hills, California. The film stars William Holden as Joe Gillis, an unsuccessful screenwriter, Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond, a faded silent movie star who draws him into her fantasy world where she dreams of making a triumphant return to the screen with Erich von Stroheim as Max Von Mayerling, her butler and ex-husband.
Representation	Within Sunset Boulevard there are many different representations, which would be worth considering when planning our media product. There is the representation of upper class throughout, this is shown by the celebrity status within the film ‘One of those great, big houses you’ll read about it in late editions I’m sure’ There are also the representations of an upper class male, however we also see in reference to the dead man in the pool, the male being described as ‘nobody important really’. This show’s their upper class attitudes within the film.
Mise-En-Scene	Mise-En-Scene is key within any film noir, but is particularly notable within Sunset Boulevard. Costumes are key throughout—police, homicide, squad, detective clothing. The lighting in the film is natural which helps to create a sense of realism.
Camera	There is a birds eye shot used as the police pull up to the house, this helps to show the setting and the surrounding action. There are many different camera movements within Sunset Boulevard, there’s a long distance establishing shot of the road at the start of the film as the homicide squad pass along the road, the camera movement is shakey to make the audience feel asthough they’re part of the scene.
Sound	There is diegetic and non-diegetic sound used throughout the whole of Sunset Boulevard. There is diegetic sound of piercing sirens. Non diegetic music is used within the voice over to keep the audience up to date with what’s happening ‘It’s about 5 o’clock in the morning’. There is also non-diegetic music used within SBV, this is slow paced, deep music that’s in the background.