The Symbolism Of Sound In The Film Sunset Boulevard

Sound within the movie Sunset Boulevard (1950) was a critical part of setting the mood, while also holding a deeper connection to Norma Desmond. It was the introduction of sound into a films form, that had alienated her from Hollywood. Within the context of the movies own form, sound was often used to portray a feeling for those viewing the film. As an active viewer, I discovered that each sound had a purpose within the content of the film. For example, when Joe Gillis first encountered Norma and Max Von Mayerling in her decaying, but extravagant, mansion the eerie echo’s, representing the uneasiness of the films protagonist. It allows the view to feel something isn’t quite right, that there is a hidden threat lying beneath the glam of the
1920s mansions. There are multiple other examples throughout the film highlighting it’s use of sound, even the dialogue itself sometimes feeling heavy handed, as if the character were reading out of a book, but within the content of the film it highlights the dying world of silent films and their actors/actresses.