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by Brody Wilder 07/03/2019, 11:57am PDT |
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I always assumed Norma was acting the whole time. Her exaggerated emotions, her suicide attempts, even her very theatrical madness at the climax - all a put-on. Once she realizes she's lost Joe for good, before she confronts him with the gun, she literally stops to practice her crazy face in the mirror - the same crazy face she's wearing as she descends the staircase for the news cameras at the end. I got the impression she decided to kill Joe because she knew what a titanic scandal it would make, and in the absence of fame she was willing to settle for infamy. I figured Joe's narration accepted the madness at face value because he died without ever realizing what a sap he'd been the whole time. Maybe only Max knew, the way Rhett knew Scarlett? Or maybe he didn't, I don't know.
There's nothing about any of this on the Wikipedia page, or in the IMDb FAQ. Was it all a product of my overactive imagination / innate suspicion of women? It's hard to tell how much artifice is intentional when you're watching an actress play an actress (play a madwoman?), especially if it turns out the actress wasn't as great at her job as I thought. |
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Did I misinterpret the ending of Sunset Blvd.? (SPOILERS) by Brody Wilder 07/03/2019, 11:57am PDT 
This is the best opening post to a thread in days NT by Thank you 07/03/2019, 8:21pm PDT
IMDB’s forums used to be the place to discuss theories like this by Blackwater 07/04/2019, 10:09pm PDT
Come on, it's not like I asked about Ace in the Hole! (Which is also great, btw) by Brody Wilder 07/05/2019, 1:23am PDT
I forget if I watched this or not. by blackwater 07/07/2019, 10:57pm PDT
Good news! It's easier to see old movies now than ever before. by Brody Wilder 07/08/2019, 3:25am PDT
Thanks for that. I tried to watch some old monster movies and got berated for it NT by Ice Cream Jonsey 07/08/2019, 9:49am PDT
That ain't over. You think that ended? Eat shit, mummy boy! NT by GUY WHO REMEMBERS ALL 07/08/2019, 3:37pm PDT
I remember that thread! I made the best pun. by Brody Wilder 07/08/2019, 3:43pm PDT
Since this post, I've seen virtually every horror talkie made in the Hollywood by studio system. 09/27/2021, 4:36pm PDT
Where is Val Lewton by Vested Id 09/27/2021, 4:55pm PDT
Only Angels Have Wings is... Talespin by Mr. EO 07/08/2019, 4:11pm PDT
Re: Only Angels Have Wings is... Talespin by laudablepuss 07/10/2019, 9:18am PDT
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