The circling microphone was very symbolic. She never made the transition from silent films to talkies, the microphone annoyed her because she desperately clung to the past.
I just love the tone in De Mille's voice "Turn that back where it belongs" First because he was shooting a movie and got interrupted and second because Norma shouldnt ever be in the spotlight anymore. Amazing movie
This scene is so bittersweet, it shows how fickle the world of showbusiness is. It's quite obvious that at one time Norma was loved, shown by the reaction of the crew who had been there since her time and the cast of the more modern film who remembered her, even DeMille who treated her in a manner that allowed her to save face but also attempting to explain to her how time has moved on. The cast and crews reaction to her and her reaction to them showed that she appriciated her fans and longed to be a part of their world again, if only for a short while. Then the sad realisation where it transpires that the studio only had the interest of hireing her car for a movie, a symbol of a time gone by that she had tried desperately to hold on to along with her career.
01:29: Wilder´s made it so simply clear and framed it PERFECTLY at this point of the Movie: NORMA DESMOND WAS NOT TALKING ACTRESS, SHE WAS AN ACTING ACTRESS who had EYES and FACE! SO brillant catched here with the Microfon behind her and her reaction:"What the HELL is THAT? I NEVER needed it to make me a STAR!"
04:00: Darling , I NEVER work before 10 am and after 4:30pm...Cried seconds before of joy to be back in a studio and flips within seconds back to the DIVA she was ;-)
Amazing at 50 he career in Hollywood was finished - probably 20 years before at 30. Cecil even though he played himself was much older and making bigger and bigger hits. So sad how Hollywood has such double standards and didn't write for any older actors.
He spelled it DeMille, and you ae right to admire his work, particularly his silent films. "The Cheat" with a young Japanese actor Sessue Hayakawa (better known in his old age as the cruel POW camp commandant in "Bridge over the River Kwai") is amazing in its shocking branding scene and sexual scenes between an Asian and a white actress. Advanced for 1915.
I think De Mille missed a trick, he didn't notice how popular she was on her return, you would have though he would have given her a walk on cameo part on the latest picture.
Two things. (1) She was adored by the older members of the Hollywood circle: actors and set workers who remembered the days of the silent era from which she thrived. This wouldn't necessary translate into the modern movie viewer and their evolved expectations. (2) Norma Desmond would never have accepted a cameo. She would have seen it as an insult.
@@logangantner3863 Plus he's sick to death of her! Later on he tells his prop man to find another car. He doesn't care how much it costs, just find another car!!
Sick to death of her?? I didn't read that into the scene at all. He's just angry that the prop man put her into this obviously embarrassing situation.@@waivedwench
De Mille started his director's carrer with silent films but before that he was an actor on stage plays you can see his manerism and diction that he hasn't forgot how to act 🧐
