Overlay: Deaths in the film Sunset Boulevard (1950)

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Errors	Missing	Unverified	Supported
0	1	0	9

How were these counts calculated?

Missing (1)

Specific gunshot wound count: The summary omits the specific line from the voiceomitted-detail

#Q ORIGINAL QUESTION

Regarding the film Sunset Boulevard (1950), who dies in the film, and how do they meet their end?

#M ANNOTATED LLM RESPONSE

In the film Sunset Boulevard (1950), there are two notable deaths that frame the narrative: the protagonist Joe Gillis and Norma Desmond's unnamed pet chimpanzee.

1. Joe Gillis

Joe Gillis (played by William Holden) is the central character whose death is famously revealed in the film's opening shot.

How he dies: Joe is murdered by Norma Desmond. As Joe attempts to leave her mansion for good—after bluntly telling her the truth about her faded stardom and his own lack of feelings for her—a distraught and jealous Norma follows him out to the driveway. She brandishes a revolver and shoots him three times.
Specific Details: The first shot hits him in the back, the second in the stomach, and the third as he stumbles toward the edge of the property. He collapses and falls face-down into the mansion’s swimming pool. The film is unique in that the entire story is narrated by Joe’s ghost (or his "dead" voice) in a long flashback, explaining the six months of events that led to his body floating in the pool.

2. The Pet Chimpanzee

While not a human character, the death of Norma's pet chimp is the narrative catalyst for the entire movie.

How it dies: The chimp dies of natural causes (implied to be old age or illness) shortly before the film’s main events begin.
Specific Details: When Joe Gillis first pulls into Norma's driveway to hide from repossession agents, he is mistaken for an undertaker whom Norma had summoned to arrange a funeral for the animal. Joe is led upstairs to a room where the chimp’s body is lying in state, covered by a white cloth. This bizarre and macabre introduction to Norma’s household establishes her eccentric and delusional state of mind; she even commissions a custom-made, white satin-lined coffin for the animal and holds a private midnight burial for it.

Other "Deaths" and Background

Max von Mayerling: Though some viewers initially assume Norma’s previous husbands might be dead, it is revealed that her butler, Max, was actually her first husband. He is very much alive, having chosen to remain as her servant to protect her from the reality of her decline.
The "Waxworks": Joe refers to Norma’s group of friends (actual silent film stars like Buster Keaton) as "The Waxworks," suggesting they are effectively "dead" to the modern Hollywood industry, though they are physically alive.
Original Opening: In the original (and later deleted) opening of the film, Joe’s body was shown in a morgue alongside several other corpses who talk to one another about how they died. This scene was cut after preview audiences found it unintentionally funny, leading to the now-iconic swimming pool opening.

#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)

[1] Joe Gillis is the protagonist and narrator who dies in the film.

[2] Norma's pet chimpanzee is unnamed and its death occurs just before Joe arrives.

[3] Norma Desmond shoots and kills Joe Gillis.

[4] Joe is shot three times.

[5] The visual sequence matches the description, but the voiceover explicitly states 'two shots in his back and one in his stomach', which differs slightly from the implied '1 back, 1 stomach, 1 stumble' sequence.

[6] Joe falls into the swimming pool after being shot.

[7] The chimp is described as a 'hairy old chimp', implying natural causes.

[8] Joe is mistaken for the undertaker summoned for the chimp.

[9] Max von Mayerling is revealed to be Norma's first husband.

[10] The original deleted opening scene took place in a morgue with talking corpses.

#O MISSED POINTS & OVERSIGHTS

Low

Specific gunshot wound count

The summary omits the specific line from the voiceover: 'two shots in his back and one in his stomach', which provides the exact medical distribution of the wounds.

#C RELATED QUERIES

#01 What was the original opening of Sunset Boulevard?

#02 Who are the 'Waxworks' in Sunset Boulevard?

#03 Does Joe Gillis die in Sunset Boulevard?

#S SOURCES

the-cinematograph.com nsmt.org shmoop.com ihatedblackandwhitemovies.com thehorseshead.blog filmsite.org

#R ORIGINAL AI RESPONSE

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In the film *Sunset Boulevard* (1950), there are two notable deaths that frame the narrative: the protagonist **Joe Gillis** and Norma Desmond's unnamed **pet chimpanzee**. ### 1. Joe Gillis Joe Gillis (played by William Holden) is the central character whose death is famously revealed in the film's opening shot. * **How he dies:** Joe is murdered by **Norma Desmond**. As Joe attempts to leave her mansion for good—after bluntly telling her the truth about her faded stardom and his own lack of feelings for her—a distraught and jealous Norma follows him out to the driveway. She brandishes a revolver and **shoots him three times**. * **Specific Details:** The first shot hits him in the back, the second in the stomach, and the third as he stumbles toward the edge of the property. He collapses and falls face-down into the mansion’s **swimming pool**. The film is unique in that the entire story is narrated by Joe’s ghost (or his "dead" voice) in a long flashback, explaining the six months of events that led to his body floating in the pool. ### 2. The Pet Chimpanzee While not a human character, the death of Norma's pet chimp is the narrative catalyst for the entire movie. * **How it dies:** The chimp dies of **natural causes** (implied to be old age or illness) shortly before the film’s main events begin. * **Specific Details:** When Joe Gillis first pulls into Norma's driveway to hide from repossession agents, he is mistaken for an **undertaker** whom Norma had summoned to arrange a funeral for the animal. Joe is led upstairs to a room where the chimp’s body is lying in state, covered by a white cloth. This bizarre and macabre introduction to Norma’s household establishes her eccentric and delusional state of mind; she even commissions a custom-made, white satin-lined coffin for the animal and holds a private midnight burial for it. ### Other "Deaths" and Background * **Max von Mayerling:** Though some viewers initially assume Norma’s previous husbands might be dead, it is revealed that her butler, Max, was actually her **first husband**. He is very much alive, having chosen to remain as her servant to protect her from the reality of her decline. * **The "Waxworks":** Joe refers to Norma’s group of friends (actual silent film stars like Buster Keaton) as "The Waxworks," suggesting they are effectively "dead" to the modern Hollywood industry, though they are physically alive. * **Original Opening:** In the original (and later deleted) opening of the film, Joe’s body was shown in a **morgue** alongside several other corpses who talk to one another about how they died. This scene was cut after preview audiences found it unintentionally funny, leading to the now-iconic swimming pool opening.

#A DIRECT ANSWER (VERIFIED ANALYSIS)

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In Sunset Boulevard (1950), the primary death is that of the protagonist, Joe Gillis (William Holden). He is shot three times by Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) as he attempts to leave her mansion; the film's narrator (Joe himself) specifies he was hit with "two shots in his back and one in his stomach." He falls into the swimming pool, where his body is found floating. The film also features the death of Norma's pet chimpanzee (unnamed), which occurs just before the story begins and serves as the catalyst for Joe's entry into the mansion (he is mistaken for the undertaker). A deleted opening scene also depicted Joe's body in a morgue conversing with other corpses.

OVERLAY REPORT