OVERLAY REPORT

In Billy Wilder’s **Sunset Boulevard (1950)**, the main character is **Joe Gillis** (played by William Holden), a cynical, down-on-his-luck screenwriter. His primary goal evolves from simple financial survival to a desperate attempt at reclaiming his moral and professional independence. ### The Main Character's Goal Joe’s overarching goal is **to achieve success and financial stability as a screenwriter in Hollywood.** 1. **Initial Goal (Survival):** At the start of the film, Joe is purely in survival mode. He is three months behind on his rent and facing the imminent repossession of his car—which he describes as his "legs" in Los Angeles. He is looking for any writing job to pay his debts and avoid being forced back to his old newspaper job in Dayton, Ohio. 2. **Middle Goal (The "Easy Life"):** After stumbling into the mansion of former silent-film star **Norma Desmond**, Joe’s goal shifts toward opportunistic comfort. He agrees to "doctor" her abysmal script, *Salomé*, not because he believes in it, but because she offers him a luxurious lifestyle and a way to hide from his creditors. 3. **Final Goal (Escaping the "Gilded Cage"):** By the third act, after secretly collaborating on a meaningful script with **Betty Schaefer** and falling in love with her, Joe's goal is to break free from Norma’s possessive grip, abandon his role as a "kept man," and return to a life of honest work and integrity. --- ### Specific Obstacles Joe faces a combination of external financial pressures, interpersonal manipulation, and internal moral decay. #### 1. Financial Desperation and Professional Rejection Joe’s most immediate obstacle is the **repo men**. He is literally being chased through the streets of Hollywood when he pulls into Norma’s driveway to hide his car. This financial ruin is fueled by the **indifference of the Hollywood studio system**. Producers at Paramount (like Sheldrake) and script readers (like Betty) reject his work as "trite" or "rehashed," leaving him with no legitimate income. #### 2. Norma Desmond’s Delusion and Obsession Norma herself is the most significant obstacle to Joe's freedom. She does not just hire him; she **imprisons him** through: * **Isolation:** She has his belongings moved into her mansion without his consent, effectively "collecting" him. * **Emotional Manipulation:** She uses suicide threats and expensive gifts (gold cigarette cases, custom suits) to make him feel indebted and powerless. * **Possessiveness:** She creates a "spider’s web" environment where Joe is the only audience for her fading ego. Her jealousy eventually turns lethal when she discovers Joe has been leaving the house at night to see another woman. #### 3. Max von Mayerling’s Enabling Norma’s butler, **Max**, acts as a subtle but firm obstacle. As her former director and first husband, Max spends his life maintaining the illusion that Norma is still a star by writing fake fan mail and shielding her from reality. Max encourages Joe to stay and play along with the fantasy to protect Norma’s fragile psyche, which makes it harder for Joe to leave without feeling like he is destroying a "child." #### 4. Joe’s Own Cynicism and Passivity Joe is often his own worst enemy. His **moral apathy** allows him to become a "gigolo" for the sake of a swimming pool and caviar. He recognizes early on that the situation is "creepy," but his desire for an easy life prevents him from walking away until it is too late. By the time he regains his self-respect, he has become so deeply entwined in Norma’s madness that she sees his departure as a betrayal worthy of death. #### 5. The Tragic Resolution The ultimate obstacle to Joe’s goal of starting over with Betty is **Norma’s violent instability**. When Joe finally packs his bags and tells Norma the brutal truth—that her career is over and the fans have forgotten her—she shoots him three times, ensuring that he never achieves his goal of escaping the "Sunset Boulevard" trap alive.