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Quiz about Sunset Boulevard Behind the Scenes
Quiz about Sunset Boulevard Behind the Scenes

"Sunset Boulevard" Behind the Scenes Quiz


"She was the greatest star of them all," says Max to Joe Gillis. Test your knowledge of behind-the-scenes trivia about the production of this all-time Hollywood classic.

A multiple-choice quiz by robertogee. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
robertogee
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
201,446
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
8 / 15
Plays
554
- -
Question 1 of 15
1. Gloria Swanson was the only actress to audition for the role of Norma Desmond.


Question 2 of 15
2. Filming began on April 11, 1949. How long did shooting continue, through to completion? Hint


Question 3 of 15
3. "Sunset Boulevard" was Billy Wilder's and Charles Brackett's final collaboration.


Question 4 of 15
4. Two weeks before shooting began, William Holden replaced what other actor, originally signed to play Joe Gillis? Hint


Question 5 of 15
5. Erich von Stoheim, who played Norma Desmond's butler/chauffeur, did not know how to drive. The Isotta-Fraschini had to be towed during his "driving" scenes.


Question 6 of 15
6. "Sunset Boulevard" originally had another title, to conceal the nature of the story from Hollywood brass who, Billy Wilder knew, would severely censor the plot. What was the working title? Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. Cecil B. DeMille agreed to waive his fee to appear in "Sunset Boulevard" as a favor to Gloria Swanson, whom he'd directed to international stardom in silent films.


Question 8 of 15
8. Erich von Stroheim suggested to Billy Wilder that a closeup of Gloria Swanson from Stroheim's "Greed" be used in the scene where Norma Desmond and Joe Gillis screen one of her silent films in her living room.


Question 9 of 15
9. Where was the mansion used in "Sunset Boulevard" actually located? Hint


Question 10 of 15
10. Billy Wilder was appalled when the opening scene of "Sunset Boulevard" elicited laughter in preview screenings. He and Charles Brackett changed it.


Question 11 of 15
11. "Sunset Boulevard" was nominated for Academy Awards in how many categories? Hint


Question 12 of 15
12. How many Academy Awards did "Sunset Boulevard" win? Hint


Question 13 of 15
13. What famous film composer scored "Sunset Boulevard"? Hint


Question 14 of 15
14. Where is Joe Gillis from? Hint


Question 15 of 15
15. How did Gloria Swanson play Norma Desmond's final mad descent down the staircase? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Gloria Swanson was the only actress to audition for the role of Norma Desmond.

Answer: True

Mae West, Pola Negri and Mary Pickford were approached for the role of Norma Desmond before Gloria Swanson. Swanson was the only one who screen-tested. Her friend, director George Cukor, phoned Swanson in New York to convince her to audition for "Sunset Boulevard". He sold her by telling her it would be the role for which she would be best remembered.
2. Filming began on April 11, 1949. How long did shooting continue, through to completion?

Answer: Nine weeks

Filming was completed on June 18th, 1949. Production went remarkably smoothly.
3. "Sunset Boulevard" was Billy Wilder's and Charles Brackett's final collaboration.

Answer: True

Previously, they collaborated on such classics as "Ninotchka", "Ball of Fire" and "The Lost Weekend". They had a falling-out over a disagreement about a montage sequence in "Sunset Boulevard" and Wilder swore never to work with Brackett again. He never did.
4. Two weeks before shooting began, William Holden replaced what other actor, originally signed to play Joe Gillis?

Answer: Montgomery Clift

Montgomery Clift had won a Best Actor nomination for his first role, in the previous year's "The Search". Two weeks before the first day of scheduled shoot, Clift backed out saying, "I don't think I can be convincing making love to a woman twice my age." Wilder was outraged. He said, "If he's any kind of actor, he could be convincing making love to any woman!"
5. Erich von Stoheim, who played Norma Desmond's butler/chauffeur, did not know how to drive. The Isotta-Fraschini had to be towed during his "driving" scenes.

Answer: True

Despite the car's being towed slowly through the Paramount Studio gates for Norma's "return," by men pulling ropes off camera, von Stoheim's coordination was so poor that he still managed to collide with the famous gated entrance.
6. "Sunset Boulevard" originally had another title, to conceal the nature of the story from Hollywood brass who, Billy Wilder knew, would severely censor the plot. What was the working title?

Answer: A Can of Beans

Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett actually began filming "Sunset Boulevard" without a final shooting script. Wilder wanted to conceal the nature of the story, which was an exposé of Hollywood's dark side, from the studios, and chose the innocuous shooting title.
7. Cecil B. DeMille agreed to waive his fee to appear in "Sunset Boulevard" as a favor to Gloria Swanson, whom he'd directed to international stardom in silent films.

Answer: False

Cecil B. DeMille was paid $10,000 for his scenes in "Sunset Boulevard". When Billy Wilder later needed an additional closeup, DeMille agreed. "That will be another $10,000." he demanded.
8. Erich von Stroheim suggested to Billy Wilder that a closeup of Gloria Swanson from Stroheim's "Greed" be used in the scene where Norma Desmond and Joe Gillis screen one of her silent films in her living room.

Answer: False

The film was "Queen Kelly," which was financed for Gloria Swanson by Joseph P. Kennedy, reputed to be her paramour at the time. The film was never completed. Kennedy pulled financing due to Erich von Stroheim's extravagance and the salacious direction of certain scenes, to which Miss Swanson objected.

Zasu Pitts, not Gloria Swanson, starred in von Stoheim's "Greed".
9. Where was the mansion used in "Sunset Boulevard" actually located?

Answer: 3810 Wilshire Boulevard

The mansion was built in 1924 for William Jenkins. It was part of a divorce settlement for the second Mrs. J. Paul Getty. It was also used for the climax of "Rebel Without a Cause" in 1955, and demolished in 1957.
10. Billy Wilder was appalled when the opening scene of "Sunset Boulevard" elicited laughter in preview screenings. He and Charles Brackett changed it.

Answer: True

"Sunset Boulevard" originally opened in a morgue. Corpses beneath the sheets suddenly sat up and talked about how they had died. The opening was subsequently changed to the now-classic opening with Joe Gillis floating face-down in the swimming pool.
11. "Sunset Boulevard" was nominated for Academy Awards in how many categories?

Answer: 11

Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Director, Best Story and Screenplay, Best Art Direction/Best Set Decoration (Black and White), Best Cinematography (Black and White), Best Film Editing, Best Musical Score.
12. How many Academy Awards did "Sunset Boulevard" win?

Answer: 3

It won for Best Story and Screenplay, Best Art Direction/Best Set Decoration (Black and White) and Best Musical Score.
13. What famous film composer scored "Sunset Boulevard"?

Answer: Franz Waxman

He also scored "Rebecca", "Peyton Place", "Love in the Afternoon", "Rear Window", "Elephant Walk", "A Place in the Sun", "Bride of Frankenstein", "Mr. Skeffington" and many others. He is credited with almost 300 film scores in his long and distinguished career.
14. Where is Joe Gillis from?

Answer: Dayton, Ohio

Joe concludes it's time to "wrap up the whole Hollywood deal and go home" on a bus back to Dayton, Ohio - to a $35 a week job behind the copy desk of the "Dayton Evening Post", if it was still open - "back to the smirking delight of the whole office."
15. How did Gloria Swanson play Norma Desmond's final mad descent down the staircase?

Answer: barefoot

Swanson recalled, "The final mad scene raised problems. I had to descend a grand staircase crowded with extras and a few people like Hedda Hopper in a state of derangement, and Billy Wilder wanted me to come down on the side of the stairway where the steps were narrowest. On high heels I would have tripped for sure. I played the scene barefoot. I imagined a steel ramrod in me from head to toe holding me together and descended as if in a trance."

Swanson, a thorough professional, submitted to costuming and makeup to "age" her throughout filming. A health advocate, she rarely consumed alcohol, and never on set.
Source: Author robertogee

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