FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (2025)

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FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (22)Posted:Sep 22, 2007-3:08 PM
By: Wedge(Member)

The Sand Pebbles' main title sequence never fails to have a harrowing effect on me. No fancy camerawork from director Robert Wise; just a simple, stark image, treated to subtle gradations of light and color. Goldsmith's subtly mounting, agonized threnody of a Main Title lends a sense of deep foreboding, giving an incredible layer of dimension to the image of the overshadowed American gunboat. Stunningly realized, in my opinion.

Another "main title sequence" accolade belongs to Shirley Walker and the Willard remake. Her demented chorus of accordions and brilliant orchestrations -- conjuring up evocative scritchings and scrabblings over portentous darkling movements -- fits the creepy stop-motion animation to a "T", and succeeds in setting the ideal tone for the picture (whether or not you think the film lived up to that tone).

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FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (27)Posted:Sep 23, 2007-12:19 AM
By: joffa(Member)

[...] I'm also extremely fond of 'Alien' (an un-credited Saul Bass according to an unsubstantiated rumour on imdb

According to Ridley Scott in the audio commentary of the "Quadrilogy" edition, he had encouraged the designers of the title logo for the advertising poster (which had been planned very early on) to think of an hieroglyphic appearance of the logo for the screen. What we see, according to Scott, is essentially their concept. Saul Bass's name was not mentioned in this context.

Thanks for clearing that up for me I'd always doubted the truth of that rumour.

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FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (33)Posted:Sep 23, 2007-12:38 AM
By: Dr. Lao(Member)

CUTTHROAT ISLAND
LIFEFORCE
CONAN

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FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (39)Posted:Sep 23, 2007-9:49 AM
By: scottthompson(Member)

CAPRICORN ONE- This explosive sequence is what got me in to film music!

SCOTT

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FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (45)Posted:Sep 23, 2007-9:57 AM
By: Josh(Member)

Hands down, best main titles ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqYpyzCfLJU&mode=related&search=

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FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (50)Posted:Sep 23, 2007-11:08 AM
By: Thor(Member)

Hands down, best main titles ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqYpyzCfLJU&mode=related&search=

He, he....

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FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (56)Posted:Sep 23, 2007-11:24 AM
By: Tom Maguire(Member)

Maybe I am old fashioned but I feel that the Main Title sequences that I like the most is when the credits is in white/yellow and the background is black.

Most John Carpenter movies feature white letters on black background, which with his movies is effective because his music sets the tone so freakin' good. Unfortunately any time I see a movie now with white letters on black background all I can think of is something Carpenter says in one of his commentaries about how it's a sure sign you're watching a movie with no budget. Of course he was being self deprecating but it's still pretty much true.

And the first one that ALWAYS comes to mind when I think of Best Main Title Sequence - Total Recal. Before I owned the score I used to wear that tape out playing the opening theme.

Tom (Servo)

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FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (61)Posted:Sep 24, 2007-8:41 PM
By: floyd(Member)

I meant to post this days ago....one that sticks out in my mind is the main titles to "Delicatessen", by directors Jeunet & Caro...really fun, kinetic titles on items as the camera pans through the room.
in fact, the bedsprings musical sequence is awesome as well.
and the cow toy number.
actually, I guess the whole film is great fun,
even ends with a rooftop duet on musical saws!

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FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (66)Posted:Nov 9, 2007-1:22 PM
By: Bond1965(Member)

Here's some great Maurice Binder titles (in addition to the aforementioned CHARADE one):

ARABESQUE

TWO FOR THE ROAD

BILLION DOLLAR BRAIN

James

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FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (71)Posted:Nov 9, 2007-2:37 PM
By: CinemaScope(Member)

Just finished watching "Cross Of Iron", great title seq. & could someone please release a CD of the soundtrack album.

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FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (76)Posted:Nov 9, 2007-4:26 PM
By: 32B(Member)

How about The Molly Maguires?

32B

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FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (82)Posted:Nov 9, 2007-8:18 PM
By: danbeck(Member)

For me few can top the big bang opening of STAR WARS - the theme exploding with the "STAR WARS" titles fading into distance is a great effect.

I also love the opening to JAWS, the suspense building of the theme matching the letters over a black screen and then the shark's POV putting you immediately in the presence of the film villain was one of the most effective.

On the already mentioned VERTIGO and SUPERMAN are great also.

I also love the FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE opening, with the shots on the screen.

For music reasons, mostly, I also love the STAR TREK TMP, STAR TREK VI, CONAN and RED SONJA opening

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FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (87)Posted:Nov 9, 2007-9:49 PM
By: Corbyn Pellonpaa(Member)

"The Palm Beach Story". The opening sequence doesn't make any sense until the end of the movie. Brilliant. Just brilliant.

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FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (92)Posted:Nov 16, 2007-12:08 PM
By: clipton(Member)

Lawrence of Arabia -- Jarre's marvelous "English" theme (and "Lawrence" theme interjections) combined with the fascinating high-angle camera shot of the motorcycle on the flagstones (which were actually made of plywood; and the sequence was shot in Spain). Plus, the filmic "audacity" of Lawrence walking off the screen for several moments, and then walking back on again: I knew at that point that I was in for something truly special . . . my favorite film of all time!

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FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (97)Posted:Nov 16, 2007-7:05 PM
By: Don Norman(Member)

It is certainly one of my choices as the best main title cue that I've ever heard and is maybe my all-time favorite. It's dramatic, propulsive, has very memorable themes that evoke appropriate emotions, and is just right for the epic movie that follows.

I love that "Englsh" ("Home"?) theme too and the way the main title alternates between it and the beautiful "Desert" theme. It somewhat parallels the events in the movie too.

Danny Elfman's opinion of the score in general:

Citizen Kane and Lawrence of Arabia are tied on Elfman's list of "greatest of the greats."

<http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15224102>

If I had to choose one film as the greatest ever, "Lawrence of Arabia" would be that choice. No other epic film comes closer to perfection, IMHO.

Lawrence of Arabia -- Jarre's marvelous "English" theme (and "Lawrence" theme interjections) combined with the fascinating high-angle camera shot of the motorcycle on the flagstones (which were actually made of plywood; and the sequence was shot in Spain). Plus, the filmic "audacity" of Lawrence walking off the screen for several moments, and then walking back on again: I knew at that point that I was in for something truly special . . . my favorite film of all time!

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FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (102)Posted:Nov 17, 2007-5:52 AM
By: John Bender(Member)

One of my favorites of all time

ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE

A great driving John Barry Tune and a title sequence that helps bridge the gap between the past bond films and OHMSS in a very clever and exciting way.

It's too bad that they never did this again, it would be a great way to kick off a "New Bond" taking over..

Oh well.

Ford A. Thaxton


Ford, I totally agree. So many years ago now when I first sat in a darkened theatre and watched Binder's magnificent visuals, and supported by Barry's awe-inspiring music, I was thoroughly blown away, stunned, breathless. It all was so perfect; the new Bond was being ushered into cultural immortality with all the verve and sophistication that any 007 fan could have hoped for! OHMSS is still probably my favorite Bond film, and the titles sequence is certainly part of this passion. - John Bender

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FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (107)Posted:Jun 20, 2009-12:21 AM
By: Bond1965(Member)

Bumping this thread up from way back now that the YouTube function works.

Feel free to edit your messages so that the videos are visible now.

Looks like a couple of my links are gone now. :-(

James

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FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (112)Posted:Jun 20, 2009-2:36 AM
By: manderley(Member)

Here are some more.....

CLEOPATRA (1934)
TRAIL OF THE LONESOME PINE (1935)
SHOW BOAT (1936)
MY MAN GODFREY (1936)
THE GREAT ZIEGFELD (1936)
MAYTIME (1937)
THE FIREFLY (1937)
WALTER WANGER'S VOGUES OF 1938 (1938)
CAREFREE (1938)
IRENE (1940)
CITIZEN KANE (1941) FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (113)
TAKE A LETTER, DARLING (1943)
ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES (1943)
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? (1945)
ROAD TO RIO (1947)
THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH (1955)
ANYTHING GOES (1956)
SILK STOCKINGS (1957)
COWBOY (1957)
PSYCHO (1960)
WEST SIDE STORY (1961)
BUNNY LAKE IS MISSING (1965)

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FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (118)Posted:Jun 20, 2009-5:41 AM
By: vorlonb4(Member)

I've got three that I really like.

As a previous poster said Superman the Movie just takes you into orbit with those sweeping titles, and that John Williams score.

A little bit half and a half here, but something has to go in and I would have to say Shore's epic Fellowship of the Ring prologue, what a start. However if we're splitting hairs, I'll put in the first titles to Two Towers,majestic strings over those mountains. Still moves me today...

STTMP, main title, Ilia's theme, then the main theme, then a Klingon Battle. Does it really get any better than that.

And if I am pushed for a fourth, Bladerunner, Vangelis coupled with Ridley Scott visuals coupled with that landscape, still wow today.

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FSM Board: Best Main Title Sequences (123)Posted:Jun 20, 2009-5:41 AM
By: vorlonb4(Member)

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