Desmond Descending a Staircase

After her descent down the "staircase of the palace," Norma (as Salome) tells the director, Cecil B. DeMille, that she is "too happy" to continue, and would like to "say a few words."

Eventually:

You see, this is my life -- it always will be. There's nothing else, just us and the camera and those wonderful people out there in the dark.

Alright Mr DeMille, I am ready for my close-up.

And with that Norma throws back her head and steps towards the un-zooming camera. Only later, in post-production, is a dissolve applied.