How many husbands did Norma Desmond have?
three times
While it is noted by her butler and first ex-husband Max (Erich von Stroheim) that Norma has been “married” three times, we never learn what became of the husbands between Max and the present.
Is Norma Desmond based on a real person?
The name Norma Desmond was a combination of early Hollywood’s comedy star Mabel Normand and her lover, silent film director William Desmond Taylor. Normand was the last person known to have seen Taylor alive and she was grilled by the Los Angeles Police Department as a result.
How old is Norma Desmond?
Its antecedent came a decade earlier in Billy Wilder’s 1950 classic, Sunset Boulevard. The film, which turns 70 this year, saw Gloria Swanson play Norma Desmond, an ageing silent film diva now forgotten with the advent of sound.
Is Norma Desmond still alive?
After her death on 4 April 1983, the New York Times called her ‘the last great star’. The ghost of Norma Desmond continues to haunt her even now.
Who was the inspiration for Norma Desmond?
The character of “Norma Desmond” is a fictional composite inspired by several real-life faded silent-film stars, such as the reclusive existence of Mary Pickford, the mental disorders of Mae Murray and Clara Bow and the grotesque, and even predatory acting style of Norma Talmadge.
What was Gloria Swanson’s real name?
Gloria May Josephine Swanso
Gloria Swanson/Full name
Gloria Swanson, original name Gloria May Josephine Svensson, (born March 17, 1899, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.—died April 4, 1983, New York, New York), American motion-picture, stage, and television actress who was known primarily as a glamorous Hollywood star during the 1920s and as the fading movie queen Norma Desmond in …
What happens to Norma Desmond?
The dead man has narrated the story of his own tragic demise from beginning to end, when the cops are fishing him out of Norma Desmond’s pool. (She’s murdered him to prevent him from leaving her.) After killing Joe, Norma suffers a total break with reality.
Was Norma Desmond a real actress?
Gloria Swanson, original name Gloria May Josephine Svensson, (born March 17, 1899, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.—died April 4, 1983, New York, New York), American motion-picture, stage, and television actress who was known primarily as a glamorous Hollywood star during the 1920s and as the fading movie queen Norma Desmond in …
Who were Gloria’s husbands?
William Duftym. 1976–1983
William Daveym. 1945–1946Michael Farmerm. 1931–1934Henry de La Falaisem. 1925–1931Wallace Beerym. 1916–1919
Gloria Swanson/Spouse
Who was Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd?
Norma Desmond is one of the central characters in Billy Wilder’s 1950 noir classic Sunset Blvd. and portrayed in the film by Gloria Swanson. Desmond was once a giant of the silver screen’s silent era, but the proliferation of talking pictures marked the end of her career as a big time Hollywood star.
Where did the name Norma Desmond come from?
The name Norma Desmond is thought to be a combination of two well-known figures from the silent film period: actress Norma Talmadge and director William Desmond Taylor. According to Gloria Swanson’s daughter, her mother stayed in character throughout the entire shoot.
Who was supposed to play Norma Desmond in the movie?
The role of Norma Desmond was initially offered to Mae West (who also kept monkeys as pets), Mary Pickford (who demanded Wilder make too many script changes), and Pola Negri (who also lived in seclusion and, like Mae West, rejected the role) before it was accepted by Gloria Swanson.
How did Gloria Swanson get the role of Norma Desmond?
Director George Cukor reportedly suggested Gloria Swanson for the role of Norma Desmond. He told her, “If they want you to do ten screen tests, do ten screen tests. If you don’t, I will personally shoot you.” Swanson reluctantly agreed to the test, and got the role.