Best opening scene from a movie ever!

[Pete J.]

I was going through my video library last night watching a few classics and realized that the movies I have enjoyed long term have great opening scenes to set the story up. I was discussing this with some friends and my thoughts are the two best opening scenes are 1- Top Gun and 2- Gran Prix. Top Gun because the music and the photography is so vicereral. Gran Prix for the shear art of the photography. Music is a bit dated but the cut shots of all the bits and pieces is still amazing even after 45+ years. What is your favorite?

[bigphoto]

One of the cool things about Gran Prix is the track camera car was a GT40!

[disabled modeler]

The opening chase scene from the movie(Mad Max...the first one) and who couldn't love the black interceptor towards the end.

[george 53]

Pete, if your talking about at the very opening of the movie, where the picture splits then splits again, and again, then YES THAT was some very creative cinematography! I saw Gran Prix at a surround cinema theatre(a BIG thing in the 60's)and it was pretty cool. Always been among my favorite car movies

Edited October 28, 2011 by george 53

[Junkman]

Speed Trap - in the opening scene a Jensen Interceptor is nixed.

The original Herbie movie - it starts with a figure of 8 race. What gets trashed is heart breaking.

Pas de Probleme - it starts with a very tongue-in-cheek but brilliantly choreographed car chase with superb south of France Gipsy music.

[Jordan White]

For me it's Christine. The vintage looking factory line and all...of course there's also the fact that Christine let us know what she was like before ever leaving the assembly line.

You know, I've always wondered about that...since it was the only red Fury, was it a special order? (I don't remember if they mentioned it or not.) If not, how was it sprayed red (was the paint sprayer evil?) If it was special ordered, was the red paint evil? Maybe it was like the made for TV Herbie movie where an evil picture was dropped in the paint mix. Of course if it was the paint, then wouldn't all the other Belvederes that used that red be evil?

[Junkman]

You know, I've always wondered about that...since it was the only red Fury, was it a special order? (I don't remember if they mentioned it or not.) If not, how was it sprayed red (was the paint sprayer evil?) If it was special ordered, was the red paint evil? Maybe it was like the made for TV Herbie movie where an evil picture was dropped in the paint mix. Of course if it was the paint, then wouldn't all the other Belvederes that used that red be evil?

It is explained in the book that the car was built to special order. I think this was omitted from the film.

Edited October 28, 2011 by Junkman

[Aaronw]

Mad Max and the Road Warrior both jump right in with some great car chases.

Star Wars would probably be my number 1 though. I was 10 or 11 when I saw that, and the opening with the rebel ship and the star destroyer basically flying right over your head made a huge impression on me.

The beginning of Alien is pretty good too, although on the opposite end as far as action goes. Just kind of a creepy tour through a silent space ship, it really helps set the tone for the rest of the movie.

The Right Stuff, it just starts with a scene of high speed flight with a voice over talking about breaking the sound barrier and the demon that is waiting for the pilots that try to break it, and then it cuts away to a smoking plane crash.

[kelson]

The opening of the original Italian job was good and a heartbreaker at the same time.

[Pete J.]

Pete, if your talking about at the very opening of the movie, where the picture splits then splits again, and again, then YES THAT was some very creative cinematography! I saw Gran Prix at a surround cinema theatre(a BIG thing in the 60's)and it was pretty cool. Always been among my favorite car movies

George - I also saw it in Cinerama and was just totally blown away by it. I am talking about the first bit where they start with black screen and slowly pull back and you realize you have been looking down the exhaust of a F1 car. Then you get the bits like Phill Hill putting his helmet on, someone putting in sparkplugs, a shot of the carbs, the sound of a heart beat as one of the actors puts cotton in his ears and it all culminates with the start of the Monaco Gran Prix. Just a montage of European racing of that era. Love it.

[Junkman]

I can't remember what the movie is called, but the entire opening scene, i.e. when the opening credits are scrolling, is filmed under water. There are dozens of dead bodies with their feet cast in concrete blocks, in every stage of decompostion imaginable.

If anybody out there knows the film, I'd love to know it's title.

[DavidChampagne]

The first "Cannonball Run"

"Vanishing Point"

[57peppershaker]

Mad Max 2 & Cannonball Run !

[Joe Handley]

All three cannonball runs.

[drball]

The original Longest Yard with Bert Reynolds.

[Jairus]

"Almost Famous" which was Cameron Crowe's homage to "One flew over the cuckoos nest".

[Lunajammer]

George Lucas, in his fight to refuse opening credits at the beginning of Star Wars, said if you don't wow the audience with the first shot, it will take the next half hour to reel them in.

Top Gun is right up there. This is my second, the opening to Spielberg's "Always."

[Moparkid13]

I can't remember what the movie is called, but the entire opening scene, i.e. when the opening credits are scrolling, is filmed under water. There are dozens of dead bodies with their feet cast in concrete blocks, in every stage of decompostion imaginable.

If anybody out there knows the film, I'd love to know it's title.

It seems like I remember this movie playing on tv a long time ago. But I can't remember the name or really much of the movie but I think it was a serial killer that put all of his bodies at the bottom of this lake. Right?

I would really like to know the name of this as well.

[Skydime]

I was reminded last night of the opening to the original Halloween where the camera went all the way through the house and followed the childhood Michael Myers. Non-car related, that was a pretty cool scene. BTW, has anyone here seen the deleted scene in Halloween Resurrection where Michael gets out of an old Camaro and sets his alarm? Considering he chased a kid around in another movie in a 68 Camaro (I think it was 68) kinda makes me wander.

Edited October 29, 2011 by Skydime

[mr cheap]

a cabin in the woods ?????a lake in the woods????

[sjordan2]

I also agree with Grand Prix, and was fortunate to see it on a giant, curved screen in the Super Panavision 70 process that replaced Cinerama. Saul Bass was a genius and did many of the best titles of the 50s, 60s and 70s, He was no slouch at basic graphic design, either, having designed the Exxon logo and stations, along with much more. Here's the entire opening of Grand Prix:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cADL_gjDim4

[Ben]

I can't remember what the movie is called, but the entire opening scene, i.e. when the opening credits are scrolling, is filmed under water. There are dozens of dead bodies with their feet cast in concrete blocks, in every stage of decompostion imaginable.

If anybody out there knows the film, I'd love to know it's title.

I think that was "The Lake"

[Junkman]

No, it is an old movie, I think even black and white. It is set in 1930s gangland ad it's one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Later in the film the mobsters cast the police chief into the foundation of the new police headquarters.

Edited October 29, 2011 by Junkman

[plasticbutcher]

My vote would be "heart like a wheel" where "Cha-Cha" is riding with her Dad down the old country road,

[Moparkid13]

"The cabin by the Lake"

I think that is what I was thinkin of I might have to go rent or buy that dependin on which ones cheaper lol