Great Film openings

There's every chance I was sitting behind you at the time, and agree completely. Utterly changed the game in all kinds of ways, and I genuinely love the original trilogy for all kinds of reasons.

I was 5 going on 6 when I first saw it. Dad had died suddenly the previous year, and I only appreciated later how badly I/we as a family must have needed something, anything, to show us it was ok to just have any kind of fun again. Mum, still grieving, must have been desperate to find something that might make us smile again, and take us out of ourselves, and Star Wars provided that most unexpected of opportunities. I remember how she later queued round the block with me in Sheffield to see the original (for the umpteenth time) and various sequels, and how she too seemed thrilled by what she was seeing on screen; I particularly remember seeing Empire Strikes Back at the Anvil, and her cheering as loud as anyone each time an AT-AT was brought down in that opening battle on Hoth. Then again, even if she'd hated every frame she'd still have loved them, just because of the effect they had on me.

However, I digress.

The greatest film opening of all time probably has to be Superman. Pretty much the greatest opening credits of all time coupled with pretty much the greatest score of all time (another John Williams masterclass) must surely amount to the greatest opening to a film ever. I recall reading somewhere how some American audiences in cinemas had given standing ovations at the time, just for those opening credits.

However.

If I had to be film-snobby about it, I might nominate Once Upon a Time in the West. Probably one of a handful of films that might legitimately have a claim to be the greatest movie of all time, and that opening 10/15 minutes, which unfolds almost with any dialogue at all, is stunning. Pure cinema.

 

Sharon Stone’s legs in Basic Instinct

 

Splash.

A young Freddy dropping coins on the boat deck in order to look up passengers skirts.

Inspirational.