spence Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 Think other TCM-ITE'S did something like this over the yrs just in case what are your top 5-10 [ersonal choices for Hollywoods all-time ultimate beginnings and endings> For the record & man, these are not only hard to do but close calls My vote for cinema history;s all-time greatest opening 1st place *The Godfather 2nd Apocalypse Now 3rd Kane 4th Saving Pvt. Ryan & 5th pick by myself 200l & so many others ^& grand finales 1st *Casablanca 2nd City Lights 3rd choice Modern Times 4th *The Godfather, Part II 5th The Searchers & Angels With Dirty Faces Link to post Share on other sites
thomasterryjr Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 I believe one of the best beginning and endings in Cinema history is in one movie. I shall describe through memory. After the opening credits and such you see a black screen. Then a door opens and you see a porch from inside the home, the inside of the home serves as a black borderline as you look out at the colorful brown land leading up to picturesque mountains. The ending of the movie shows John Wayne standing in the doorway on the porch, turning and slowly walking away. The inside of the house serves as a black border as you look out at the brown land and picturesque mountains. The door closes and everything is black. The beginning and ending I am describing is from "The Searchers". In between the door opening in the beginning and closing at the end is a great adventure which holds the attention of the viewer for nearly two hours. If I schedule my day to see "The Searchers" I always try to see the beginning and stay for the ending because this is one of the greatest thought out beginning and ending shots in cinema history. Also a well-deserved mention to my other favorite ending which I spoke of in another thread, Charlie Chaplin's "City Lights". 1 Link to post Share on other sites
sagebrush Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 18 minutes ago, thomasterryjr said: Also a well-deserved mention to my other favorite ending which I spoke of in another thread, Charlie Chaplin's "City Lights". One of my favorite endings to a film, for sure! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
spence Posted December 8, 2019 Author Share Posted December 8, 2019 3 hours ago, JakeHolman said: I w3as gonna inlude the legendary SHANE Link to post Share on other sites
spence Posted December 8, 2019 Author Share Posted December 8, 2019 Thanks to al, but what about beginnings as well? Link to post Share on other sites
spence Posted December 8, 2019 Author Share Posted December 8, 2019 Vertigo also has a heavyweight finale Link to post Share on other sites
spence Posted December 8, 2019 Author Share Posted December 8, 2019 8 hours ago, spence said: Think other TCM-ITE'S did something like this over the yrs just in case what are your top 5-10 [ersonal choices for Hollywoods all-time ultimate beginnings and endings> For the record & man, these are not only hard to do but close calls My vote for cinema history;s all-time greatest opening 1st place *The Godfather 2nd Apocalypse Now 3rd Kane 4th Saving Pvt. Ryan & 5th pick by myself 200l ^& grand finales 1st *Casablanca 2nd City Lights 3rd choice Modern Times 4th *The Godfather, Part II 5th The Searchers & Angels With Dirty Faces How could I leave it the phenomenal beginning of Raging Bull? Link to post Share on other sites
SansFin Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 These movies have both wonderful opening scenes and closing scenes: Sunset Blvd. (1950) Opening: "Yes, this is Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, California. It's about 5 o'clock in the morning. That's the homicide squad, complete with detectives and newspaper men." while the narrator is floating face-down in a swimming pool. Closing: "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up." while the police wait behind the camera to arrest her for the murder. The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) Opening: A mousy little man enters a seedy motel room and is made an offer for unspecified work in an unspecified crime on an unspecified date. We know all that is happening and we yet know that we know nothing of what is to happen. Closing: An elegant man in an elegant setting is staying true to his persona. We knew the ending would go one of two ways. This is neither of those. The Usual Suspects (1995) Opening: The final moments of a brutal battle between criminals. The movie introduces us to the characters seen in the opening and recounts what led to that battle. Closing: All we have learned is a lie. A Boy and His Dog (1975) Opening: Nuclear explosions with over-saturated mushroom clouds. "World War IV lasted five days. Politicians had finally solved the problem of urban blight." Closing: The hero walks off into the sunrise after proving how much a boy loves his dog. 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites
TomJH Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 One of the most intriguing and bizarre opening sequences for any film, certainly from the early '30s: CRIME WITHOUT PASSION. I defy anyone to view the following two and a half minute opening and say they don't want to see more. 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Dargo Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 And then of course there's always this film... ...in both the memorable one-continuous-shot opening sequence, and the closing scene featuring Dietrich's short 'eulogy'... 4 Link to post Share on other sites
EricJ Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 I've always had a soft spot for "Superman III" (the beginning, not the whole movie): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9BwmdEfrDk (Hey, how do we embed? Tom?) Link to post Share on other sites
jamesjazzguitar Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 Here is one of my favorite beginnings: Link to post Share on other sites
jamesjazzguitar Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 Here is one of my favorites endings; 2 Link to post Share on other sites
spence Posted December 8, 2019 Author Share Posted December 8, 2019 54 minutes ago, SansFin said: These movies have both wonderful opening scenes and closing scenes: Sunset Blvd. (1950) Opening: "Yes, this is Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, California. It's about 5 o'clock in the morning. That's the homicide squad, complete with detectives and newspaper men." while the narrator is floating face-down in a swimming pool. Closing: "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up." while the police wait behind the camera to arrest her for the murder. The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) Opening: A mousy little man enters a seedy motel room and is made an offer for unspecified work in an unspecified crime on an unspecified date. We know all that is happening and we yet know that we know nothing of what is to happen. Closing: An elegant man in an elegant setting is staying true to his persona. We knew the ending would go one of two ways. This is neither of those. The Usual Suspects (1995) Opening: The final moments of a brutal battle between criminals. The movie introduces us to the characters seen in the opening and recounts what led to that battle. Closing: All we have learned is a lie. A Boy and His Dog (1975) Opening: Nuclear explosions with over-saturated mushroom clouds. "World War IV lasted five days. Politicians had finally solved the problem of urban blight." Closing: The hero walks off into the sunrise after proving how much a boy loves his dog. thanx KEYZER SOUSA 1 Link to post Share on other sites
spence Posted December 8, 2019 Author Share Posted December 8, 2019 3 minutes ago, jamesjazzguitar said: Here is one of my favorite beginnings: COOL & who could ever gorget the ending of TREASURE SIERRA MADRE either, or WHITE HEAT, or KONG-(l933) Link to post Share on other sites
spence Posted December 8, 2019 Author Share Posted December 8, 2019 30 minutes ago, Dargo said: And then of course there's always this film... ...in both the memorable one-continuous-shot opening sequence, and the closing scene featuring Dietrich's short 'eulogy'... now a legendary tracking shot of course filmed in Venice Beach 1 Link to post Share on other sites
spence Posted December 8, 2019 Author Share Posted December 8, 2019 I sound old at 55, but when are their closings like these noawadsys Link to post Share on other sites
Dargo Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 18 minutes ago, spence said: now a legendary tracking shot of course filmed in Venice Beach Yep spence, and back when Venice Beach was still awash with oil derricks everywhere, and as can especially be seen in this closing sequence as Dietrich walks away from the camera... (...having grown up not far from there, I vaguely remember seeing them as a kid, and before the price of L.A. beachfront property would skyrocket to the point that millions could be made by repurposing the land for housing) Link to post Share on other sites
Bethluvsfilms Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 THE ROARING TWENTIES had a great beginning and a very satisfying (if downbeat) ending with a great closing line from Gladys George....."He used to be a big shot." TITANIC 97 had me in tears by the end of the movie. And of course GONE WITH THE WIND has the ending of all endings and THE ultimate film line from Clark Gable as Rhett Butler...."Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." Link to post Share on other sites
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