Sunset Boulevard opens in typical Noir style with a long title sequence followed by a voice over explaining that there has been a murder at a big house. The opening sequence concludes with the Voice over telling the audience that this is not the beginning of the story; the story then continues in flashback.
The technical aspects of Film Noir are also present in Sunset Boulevard, for example, Gloria Swanson's character, Norma Desmond, is softly lit and slightly blurred so as to disguise her age which is commonly seen on the women featured in a Film Noir movie (see below).
Film Noir is also noted for it's classically witty lines and for that Sunset Boulevard doesn't disappoint:
[Norma has killed Mr Gills, when the police arrive she is in such a state of shock that she has become delusional, Max convinces her that she is on the set of her new film]
Norma Desmond: "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up "
Joe Gillis: [narrating] The poor dope - he always wanted a pool. Well, in the end, he got himself a pool.
Norma Desmond: We didn't need dialogue. We had faces!
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