SUNSET Story Question (Contains Spoilers)

[Bwayfan12092]

Posted: 2/21/25 at 8:29am

Saw SUNSET for the very first time last night and WOW!!

Had a few questions about the storyline, just because I was so immersed in the spectacle that I may have missed some details. SPOILERS AHEAD!!! 

Thanks for your help! 

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The moment in Act II, obviously, when Max comes clean about who he is...  Is there a moment in Act I where he hints that he's the one signing the fan letters? The synopsis on Wikipedia (I know) says that this information comes earlier, but I am listening to "The Greatest Star of All" and cannot find anything. Am I missing something? 

 

Also, after Joe spills the beans to Norma, there's a scene where Max is in the background screaming and crying, and then rips off his mic and exits. He's screaming and crying BECAUSE Joe spilled the beans, yes? And now the illusion is shattered? Just want to make sure I'm correct in my assumptions. Such a beautifully haunting piece!!  

 

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 2/21/25 at 8:42am

Yes, there is a moment in Act 1 when Max is telling Joe about Norma's "moments of melancholy." Joe says "She's done well enough, look at all the fanmail she gets every week." Max replies "I would not look too closely at the postmarks if I were you."

 

I highly recommend the (brilliant, unmatched) original film to get a fuller version of the story itself. I enjoyed this production but it's not necessarily the clearest. 

[ttocs330]

Posted: 2/21/25 at 9:37am

For question 2

 

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I took his breakdown more as of a realization that she just shot and killed a man and now her life is over.  His essentially would be too- he’s living off her money (I assume?) and living in her house and with her getting arrested that’s all gone. She finally broke down and the usual status quo and life as they know it is no more.

He's also spent his entire life making sure she's ok.  Now things are not ok and there's not much he can do to protect her.

Updated On: 2/21/25 at 09:37 AM

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 2/21/25 at 1:57pm

For question 2 I think there can be different interpretations of why Max is acting like that.  Though this is how I've come to see it after my fourth viewing:

 

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I think Max was the one that called the police on Norma in this specific production.  The way that he shouts "lights camera action" with both rage and sadness makes me think he was part of her final undoing, and his last insistence that she's the greatest star of all.  Her being the center of a homicide story kind of cements her as an infamous Hollywood star rather than a forgotten one, and her being in the spotlight (regardless of why she's there) also in a way keeps him relevant because of his association with her.  I've understood the Max in this production to kind of be one where he wants to keep Norma's fame alive because that's also his way of proving that he had accomplished something, so this is sort of his final effort.

Also we know from the beginning that the call came at 5am and I assume Norma's house is somewhat isolated so who else could've called the police but Max?