English
SUNSET BOULEVARD Synopsis Hollywood at the beginning of the 1950s.
his infatuation from Norma, who has herself
Debt-ridden screenwriter Joe Gillis is flee-
fallen in love with Joe. Norma urges the
ing his creditors and happens to hide in the
young man to move in with her and pampers
driveway of an old, dilapidated Hollywood
him with money and gifts. Finally she takes
mansion on Sunset Boulevard. There he gains
him with her to Paramount Studios, where
access to a surrealistic world inhabited by
Joe realises that the film studio is only inter-
a former star of the silent movies Norma
ested in renting her vintage car. He hides
Desmond and her butler Max von Mayerling.
this fact from Norma as the truth would
Norma is briefly irritated, but then grows
destroy her. Mayerling reveals to Joe that
excited to find that Joe is a screenwriter. She
he is Norma’s ex-husband and her first film
hires him to edit a script she has written,
director, and that he writes all her fan letters
which is to be her triumphant comeback.
himself to keep up the illusion that she is still
Reluctantly Joe begins working on it, but
admired all over the world. When Norma dis-
doubts that it will ever reach a movie screen.
covers Joe’s affair with Betty, she shoots him.
At the same time he falls in love with the as-
When the police arrive, Max stages a grand
piring producer Betty Schaefer. He conceals
finale for Norma.
RIGOLETTO Synopsis
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The Duke of Mantova holds a banquet
sional assassin Sparafucile to kill the Duke.
where his court jester Rigoletto makes jokes
Sparafucile’s sister coaxes the Duke out to a
at the expense of Count Monterone, who
secluded tavern. However, she too is in love
reacts by cursing Rigoletto. Later we find
with the Duke and begs Sparafucile to spare
out that despite Rigoletto’s attempt to pro-
his life, to which Sparafucile agrees – but
tect his daughter Gilda, she has neverthe-
only if someone knocks at the door of the
less fallen in love with the licentious Duke.
tavern; then Sparafucile will kill that person
The courtiers kidnap Gilda, and Rigoletto
instead. Gilda overhears this, and since she
despairs. The next day, when he finds out
is still in love with the Duke, she sacrifices
that the Duke has had his way with Gilda,
herself for him. Rigoletto discovers that
he becomes obsessed with thoughts of
Gilda is dead and realizes that Monterone’s
revenge. He therefore hires the profes-
curse has come to fruition.
