Category One: Music

The music in this short 3 minute opening for "The Pink Panther" is used to create a comical tone and atmosphere with the repetitive tune through out the scene and the use of dynamics also adds a mysterious edge to it.

The music opens with the piano playing the main tune, then a saxophone joins the piano as the credits appear on the screen, now with the sax. playing the main tune. String intruments are then used to create a tango feel to the scene along with castanets and piano, the tempo is also slowed down and the tune is slightly altered to make it a tango.

The main sound is the soundtrack because there is no talking, only mime. The music helps to emphasise the emotions on the characters faces. Such as when Inspector Clouseau steps on what he thinks is a burning emeber, his facial expression changes to one that looks like he thinks he is outsmarting the flame. but it changes to shock when his foot falls through the ground. The music slows down in anticipation of the inspector's fall, building a comical suspense as opposed to in a horror or thriller film the volume builds up gradually and the pace quickens. The music is also used as the characters voices and emotions, an example would be when the music changes to a tango to show the love interest in the film, this shows how the  inspector feels about the love interest.

Because there is no talking in this scene the opening also relies on diegetic sound, such as the click of a gun, and the rustling of paper in the breeze. This is to add a more realistic touch to the scene because the opening is a cartoon, and with only music the opening would appear almost dull, and unreal.
The "Pink Panther Theme" helps show us (the viewer) the different personalities of the characters, Inspector Clouseau and the Pink Panther. The music shows us that the pink panther is sneaky and cunning. I said earlier that the music gives a mysterious feeling, it also gives the panther a feeling of cleverness, because you are seeing it continually outsmarting the inspector the music adds to that. The inspector however, is portrayed as a clumsy and stupid character. This is shown to the audience by having the saxophone slide off the end of some of their notes whenever he stumbles or falls.

 The "Pink Panther Theme" is a world famous song, used as school orchestra pieces and even ballet dances, just think if it wasn't for the music in this film, it would have never existed. Henry Macini wrote this theme for the 1963 film of "The Pink Panther" and it was released as a single by RCA Records in 1964, it reached the Top 10 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart and won three Grammy Awards. I think this theme is world famous because it was used in the opening and closing credits for all the films of "The Pink Panther" except  for "A Shot in the Dark" and "Inspector Clouseau". So the use of the theme became popular around the world for teens and others who watched it.

Genre/Atmosphere - The Pink Panther

What is the tone?
The opening of "The Pink Panther" is a comedic and secretive tone. This is created through the music the "Pink Panther Theme" and the panthers actions, this adds an extra feeling to the opening, like someone is continually sneaking up on you, which is what Inspector Clouseau is doing to the "Pink Panther".  The comedic tone is shown several times throughout the film when Inspector Clouseau attempts to capture the diamond. For example, when Clouseau gets out of his little car and gets his foot stuck in the window,

Or his facial expression when his foot falls through the floor while putting out an ember....

He thinks he is being smart by stamping out the last flame....

But then his foot falls through the floor and ends up falling two stories.

Mood of the opening?

The mood of the opening is funny and comedic at the beginning, it made me laugh when he karate chopped the credits, when the "Pink Panther" did the tango with Inspector Clouseau the mood changed to sassy or almost seductive but in a humorous way, because the inspector doesn't want to dane  especially with an imaginary thing.

How is it created?

The comedic tone and mood are created by the actions performed by the inspector and the pink panther, these actions are neither sad, nor serious nor scary. These actions show everyday things, like listening to music, but because it is a cartoon Inspector Clouseau gets tangled in long music sheet and cannot free himself this is funny because it isn't possible in real-life.



Preparation: Reason for selection - The Pink Panther

Briefly describe the opening

The Pink Panther begins with a diamond, which supposedly contains a flaw that looks like a "leaping panther" when held to the light a certain way, this flaw is zoomed up on and turns into the "pink panther", then throughout the opening scene it shows the "pink panther" continually avoiding and outsmarting Inspector Clouseau, a not-too-bright inspector who is stuggling to find the "pink panther" diamond while evading assassins from all over the world.

How does it fit into the film as a whole?

It shows how Inspector Clouseau is not able to catch the "pink panther" and when he thinks he has it, it gets away from him. It shows that the "pink panther" is smarter than the inspector although it is a priceless diamond.

Why did it appeal to you?

It appealled to me beacause of the music, "Pink Panther Theme" and the comedic side to it, "The Pink Panther" is a well known film by all ages and ethnics. And it also has a lot to write about, from music to transitions+length of takes.  "the Pink Panther" is a well written film with an amusing opening scene that captures your attention and invites you to watch through to the end.

Pink Panther

I have changed my opening title to The Pink Panther directed by Robert Simonds. This is because it has a lot more to write about in general compared to Scott Pilgrim vs. The World 's opening title.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pKPxHZ5OcQ
^ Pink Panther (youtube)

Links...

http://www.artofthetitle.com/2011/01/03/scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world/
           Scott Pilgrim vs. The World ^

http://www.artofthetitle.com/2008/12/26/edward-scissorhands/
          Edward Scissorhands ^

http://www.artofthetitle.com/2008/03/19/mission-impossible/
          Mission Impossible ^


this is it so far, i haven't been able to watch "Edward Scissorhands" or "Mission Impossible" yet but will at home. they don't work on school computers :P

I think I'm gonna do...

I quite like "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World"s opening title. It's full of colour and I think I could write a lot about it. It has a good use of colour, soundtrack and shot (or photo (?)) changes.
It turns out that "The Matrix"s opening title isn't that good, it's just numbers/code scrolling down the screen, and I think it's safer to not use "Juno" because someone will almost definately be doing it.

Keep ya posted, 5857