Saul Bass first started out as a graphic designer, but felt there was time for a change in the way we view titles to a film. He wanted to make the symbols for films move and tell a story. Saul Bass says that the titles are the first interaction with the film, in being the first thing they see it has to draw the audience in keep them wanting to see the film that follows. The titles are the "climate for the story to unfold", in watching the titles you can get an idea in how the film will be, the titles normally reflect the film.
The man with the golden arm, was publicised first with just the picture or the arm. The image of the arm tells a bit about the story, the film is about a drug addiction and with the rough edges and its "jagged form" suggest the feeling of unstable. However when put into a title sequence the motion and sound adds to the image to make it that just bit more dramatic.
The man with the golden arm, was publicised first with just the picture or the arm. The image of the arm tells a bit about the story, the film is about a drug addiction and with the rough edges and its "jagged form" suggest the feeling of unstable. However when put into a title sequence the motion and sound adds to the image to make it that just bit more dramatic.
The titles for the man with the golden arm are very simple. A black background with white stripes, the stripes appear different places on the page and the titles adjust to appear around the stripes. Again the music is dramatic which adds to the viewing, in this sequence i don't think much is given away its plain however at the same time wants you to carry on watching.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eGnpJ_KdqZE
Soul bass wanted to change his titles even more and make it more realistic, where the movement is live action and natural. This was the next evolutionary step, to move a graphic image to piece together the film.
One of my favourite titles sequence by Soul Bass and one of my favourite musicals is West Side Story. The whole setting for the titles is on the street which reflects the story as the main setting is the streets. It is like a virtue map of the setting, like you are exploring the places. The names are written in like a graphite way to keep the urban theme but again allows us to explore freely rather that a bold name appearing in front of the image to distort us from the film behind. Another reason why i like it written on the wall is that it is so busy with lots of writing but slowly you find yourself being drawn in to the text that is slightly getting bolder to catch out attention. The camera is so smooth and relaxing which goes with the pleasant but at the same time dramatic music over the top.
Soul bass wanted to change his titles even more and make it more realistic, where the movement is live action and natural. This was the next evolutionary step, to move a graphic image to piece together the film.
One of my favourite titles sequence by Soul Bass and one of my favourite musicals is West Side Story. The whole setting for the titles is on the street which reflects the story as the main setting is the streets. It is like a virtue map of the setting, like you are exploring the places. The names are written in like a graphite way to keep the urban theme but again allows us to explore freely rather that a bold name appearing in front of the image to distort us from the film behind. Another reason why i like it written on the wall is that it is so busy with lots of writing but slowly you find yourself being drawn in to the text that is slightly getting bolder to catch out attention. The camera is so smooth and relaxing which goes with the pleasant but at the same time dramatic music over the top.
The last title sequence i looked at was North By Northwest, i have never seen the film so couldn't tell if the title reflected the film. However just by watching the you get a sense it is set in a busy uptown place. The titles are very clear and bold and are placed over the top if a minty green lined back ground. Everything seems to have its placed, like it has been measured perfectly so everything is in time and so straight. Compared to The Man With The Golden Arm where the lines are slant, you can clearly see the difference in the two films that maybe the characters are more stable in North By Northwest by just the simple lines on the titles. Towards the end the background dissolves and revels a backdrop of a glass building which has a reflection of a New York street. Even though the background has changed the line that were previously there are perfect fit the line on the building, again suggesting order. The film starts while the titles are still appearing, like the two have intertwined. Also North By Northwest being an Alfred Hitchcock film has himself appearing waiting for a bus.
Soul Bass has done many title sequences for Alfred Hitchcock and other big hollywood film directors which proves he is one of the best.
