1968B2 Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Well, today's a great day on the TCM Message Board, because finally we have a discussion going on what you think and believe, hands down, is the greatest opening credits to any film, ever. Period. Which will it be? There are many. You may state, and change your mind later, as discussion variously engenders. Ok, I'll start, and invariably state: "Breakfast At Tiffany's," credits brilliantly directed by the heart-tugging Blake Edwards, as he turns the European Audrey Hepburn into his Valentine of an American girl at heart, draped in Givenchy and an Oscar-winning Henry Mancini theme song, all at once, wordlessly. I think so! Enjoy, and can't wait to hear about your faves! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredCDobbs Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I like the walking cat in "Walk on the Wild Side". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1968B2 Posted March 12, 2011 Author Share Posted March 12, 2011 Ooh, good one! Walking along w/the theme! Love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Edwards' PINK PANTHER stuff, and a few Hitchcocks (e.g., NORTH BY NORTHWEST) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VP19 Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 The 1936 "My Man Godfrey" -- quintessential Art Deco! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredbaetz Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 Always loved the opening credits "Of Mice and Men" 1939... Shot of George and Lennie running through fields with armed mob chasing them and leaping aboard a box car on a moving train and slide the door close and credits are printed on door...Wonderful opening ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Spaulding Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 So far...*To Kill a Mockingbird* gets my vote! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred4638 Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 I agree with Dobbs. Walk on the Wild Side has the best opening credits I have ever seen with the walking cat choreographed with the Elmer Bernstein score. Movie was so-so....fb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrroberts Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 *Gunight At The O. K. Corral* with great visual sequence and the singing of Frankie Laine. Mel Brooks did a similar opening for his "epic" *Blazing Saddles* and got Frankie Laine to sing that one as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredCDobbs Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 "Walk on the Wild Side" opening titles: (Sorry, but this particular copy has the main title spoken in Spanish, and the Spanish title seems to be "The Black Cat". The voice is not in the English version.) This was hypnotic the first time I saw it on the big screen in 1962: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audreyforever Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Captains Courageous all the way!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefCostello Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Vertigo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misswonderly3 Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Yeah, *Vertigo* has great opening credits. So does *Kiss Me Deadly*, with the credit titles going in reverse, making us feel vaguely uneasy (which we should , given the subject matter ) before the film even begins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasaCinema Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Dunno if it's the best ever, but certainly one of my favorites is the opening to A Hard Day's Night. It was on today, so it's fresh on my mind. The mad, frantic pace goes perfectly with the fast tempo of the song and lets you know you are in for a fun, irreverent ride of a movie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phroso Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Saul Bass was king of the opening credit titles. He did *WALK ON THE WILD SIDE*, many of Hitchcock's best openings, several United Artists blockbusters, well, you get the idea. Here's a few others that I like that, as far as I know, Saul Bass had nothing to do with, but are just as good as his: *THE YOUNG SAVAGES* *DR. STRANGELOVE* *A THOUSAND CLOWNS* *EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT SEX BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK* *THE MOUSE THAT ROARED* *A SHOT IN THE DARK* *SUNSET BLVD.* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lzcutter Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 As much as I love *Mockingbird*, I think *Sunset Blvd* might tie it in terms of opening credits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traceyk65 Posted March 20, 2011 Share Posted March 20, 2011 The Awful Truth has nifty opening credits: http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/186357/Awful-Truth-The-Movie-Clip-Opening-Credits.html And isn;t there a film with embroidered pillowcases or something as credits? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traceyk65 Posted March 20, 2011 Share Posted March 20, 2011 Alice in Wonderland (2010) has good end credits So does The Prisoner of Azkaban, but I couldn't find video of that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1968B2 Posted March 27, 2011 Author Share Posted March 27, 2011 Good reminder! Loved it too, especially the forward-right of the camera pan! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1968B2 Posted March 27, 2011 Author Share Posted March 27, 2011 It was either "The Awful Truth" or "My Favorite Wife," and it had embroidered handkerchiefs being lifted from the center to bring on the next board of credits. That was wonderful, too; thanks for the remembrance! I feel bad I can't remember; both are super faves of mine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnm001 Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 SUPERMAN - 1978 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesJazGuitar Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Touch of Evil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CineMaven Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 The opening and closing credits of Ann-Margret in "BYE BYE BIRDIE." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casablancalover Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 Thumbs up for Bye Bye Birdie! Yeah! Also, The Lady Eve (love the snake cartoon) The Pink Panther (ditto for the cool cat) Also, may I mention: Patton The Sound of Music Which both start the story first, then launch the credits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1968B2 Posted March 29, 2011 Author Share Posted March 29, 2011 Yes, Bye Bye Birdie! Immediately, I am on my feet and belting out w/the best of Ann-Margret! Minus the fan! Is that just about the happiest place on earth, where she's coming from? Quel excitement! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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