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The Best Opening Credits

posted 7 years ago by R_Kane (15828)
39 replies | jump to latest

Opening credits in movies, and in TV shows, are a dying art. They once were a much-anticipated small show in themselves. The opening credits for the original Hawaii 5-0, or Have Gun, Will Travel, or Star Trek, or The Twilight Zone, or the Maurice Binder-designed credits for the early Bond films were part of the show! In today's ADD world, the credits are usually treated as necessary, but a nuisance, and are superimposed, sans compelling anthemic theme (today, more like Muzak) over the Act 1 action. What opening credits speak to you?

For me:

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. A re-imagining of Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song that is much more heavy on the bass than the guitar, but nonetheless an anthem about Vikings for a story set in Sweden, with graphical accompaniment that's a combination of Hellraiser and Event Horizon. I love it.

Goldfinger. Best Bond theme song EVER! Shirley Bassey! Those brash trombones that hark back and tie into Monty Wolley's original Bond theme, plus those spectacular nude women whose best nude parts were denied to us.

Conan the Barbarian (the real one). "Let me tell you of the days of High Adventure!" then we segue into a Wagnerian soundtrack and images of the forging of The Sword.

How about for you?

[–] Culburn (3638) 7 years ago

"Devil's Due"

"you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come."

[–] Culburn (3638) 7 years ago

"El Dorado"

I've always enjoyed Paramounts opening credits starting with the music over their boiler plate. Here we're privy to beautiful hand painted plates as the movie's theme is presented. Great lyrics with the promise of an adventure to come. Finally Mitchum strides down the town's street, just before he speaks Spanish to a citizen the music stops, then proceeds just for a few more seconds before he spots Wayne's horse in front of the saloon.

Two hours later Mitchum & Wayne are "crutching" thru the same street and walk thru the moving frame. I God's. Whenever this comes on the Cable, be it TCM, or, another worthy channel, I get up offin' my Lazy Boy and I stand for those credits & that ending. The wife rolls her eyes, but, I don't give a damn.

[–] PeteRose (2893) 7 years ago

Ditto on Conan the Barbarian
Se7en
Bad Education

[–] Culburn (3638) 7 years ago

Yep, on "Conan the Barbarian." The wisdom of the production to acquire the services of Von Sydow and set him down into it. He settles the story, gives it legitimacy & heart. He talks of his child's attempt to assassinate himself. We are at once centered-we ease on back into our seats be it at the theater, or, the living room. It's not a comic book, it's a film.

[–] MIchiganJFrogg (-35) 7 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Culburn (3638) 7 years ago

MF, layin' it down precisely as it happened.

MF, with the direct hit.

MF

[–] thewaitress (1616) 7 years ago

The Shield
Sopranos
Game Of Thrones - I get so PUMPED for the episode when I hear the theme song
The O.C.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 7 years ago

Regarding Game Of Thrones intro: Notice how the music score begins with a solo cello, and gradually builds to a full-on symphony orchestra. Music scholars agree that the cello is the most beautiful musical instrument, followed by the pianoforte. This is inspired arranging. Not for nothing: the guy who wrote this anthem also wrote the music for Westworld.

[–] Culburn (3638) 7 years ago

Opening credits to "The Shootist"

The use of tight clips of B&W footage from several of Wayne's films are intensely set in with voice over by Ron Howard. The B/W film then gives way to full color of a mountain range. They used footage of Johnny Crawford getting gut shot by Wayne in "El Dorado." They sent him a check for $3,000.00 for that use. He had it photographed, framed the photo and cashed the check. LOL.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

Bullitt (1968)

[–] RussellNash (2087) 7 years ago

The intro to Mulholland Drive might not be the best but it's defintely among the weirdest. Which btw fits the rest of the movie quite well!