New York City
In her mansion on Sunset Boulevard, former silent-screen goddess Norma Desmond lives in a fantasy world. Impoverished screenwriter Joe Gillis stumbles upon her reclusive abode while on the run from debt collectors. Persuaded to work on Norma’s “masterpiece,” a film script that she believes will put her back in front of the cameras, he is seduced by her and her luxurious lifestyle. Joe becomes trapped in a claustrophobic world until his love for another woman leads him to try and break free. The consequences are dramatic.
Sunset Boulevard swells with a lush score by the acclaimed composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Its songs include “With One Look,” “As If We Never Said Goodbye,” and “Perfect Year.”