All 4 deconstructions
- 2. Before we are visually introduced to anything we are introduced to the sound of the theme track of this movie (composed by Ennio Morricone). This track is very strongly associated with the old western film genre throughout the public’s opinion. Shortly after the music is played we see animated patches of blood splattering onto a white background with horses and what looks to be outlaws riding them. This connotes that this film is going to contain dangerous violent men.
- 3. The first glimpse of text (showing us the production splash) reads ‘United Arts Presents’ this company distributed the film. Untied Arts was and still is a massive company founded by the likes of Charlie Chaplin, straight away we know that this film is going to be big. This text is only on screen for seconds until the name of the producer appears in large bold text, Alberto Grimaldi was associated with producing some of the most famous films in history and to produce this film reiterates the fact that this is going to be a big film.
- 4. We still have not seen any real footage but only pictures and names, a gunshot is fired and the name of the main actor ‘Clint Eastwood’ is now on screen for a few seconds. Another gunshot is fired and there is another image of ‘The Man with no Name’ Clint Eastwood, looking angry with a cigar in his mouth. These gunshots could connote that this man is very dangerous and is definitely the star of this film as he is shown various other times in the opening credits. The colour scheme of red is used a lot, one of the first things we think of when the colour red is shown is blood or anger. The symbol of red actually stands for war so this could connote that the viewer will know what will happen before the film has even started.
- 5. We still have not been shown the name of the director who is arguably one of the most important names of the credits. The names of Clint Eastwood’s supporting actors and other cast members are now on screen in bigger more alarming font and colour than the previous, producer and distributer names. This connotes that the actors are the biggest part of the films as their names are on screen for longer. Throughout the first two minutes of this film we do not see any camera footage, only names and pictures. This could connote there is a big build up to the screenplay engaging the viewers to what they already believe will be a great film.
- 7. We as the audience firstly see some text which is a quote ‘the wicked flee when no man pursueth’ this means that the evil run when nobody follows. This could connote something in the film that has or will happen along this reference. We now hear a very smooth piano melody playing alongside this quote, these kind of tunes are sometimes played alongside images or voiceovers which are bad to give the audience a sense of emotion in the film.
- 8. The camera is now zooming in to what looks like a blurry candle in a dark environment. A voice of one of the characters is narrating a story to do with her life and her father. This girl’s voice mentions how a man called Cheney had shot her father.
- 9. The camera is now in focus and we can see that there is a body lying on the floor outside of a house (The blur we thought was the candle). As soon as the word Cheney is mentioned snow starts to fall from the sky and the murder of this girl’s father is said, this could connote that this man Cheney is cold blooded as we now know that Cheney has obviously killed the man in this picture. The voice now mentions about this man Cheney fleeing which instantly reminds us as the viewer of the quote a few seconds ago relating to evil.
- 10. The music is now slowly fading out as the camera cuts to a new scene where a child is looking out through the glass window of a train showing us the reflection of the town she is arriving at. You could now assume that this little girl was the narrative in her adult voice just before (as we now recognise that she was telling a story) and we know she is nervous or worried through her expressions. This connotes she is scared as she may be going to see her father at the local cemetery etc
- 12. The establishing shot shows us a man, on his own in a field with a horse smoking a cigarette. This connotes that he is dangerous due to the bandolier ammunition around is waist and two handguns in his holsters next to both trouser pockets, we associate these items with outlaws in the old western times. This also connotes that this film is going to definitely have aspects of gun fighting in it. The following mid shot as the man stands up and steps towards us gives us a wider picture of his image until he steps towards the camera, this makes the audience focus on his facial expressions and we can pick up that he is smoking without hands. This gives off the impression that he is quite rebellious and persuades us that he may be a bad guy in this film.
- 13. There is a cut to an extreme long shot and the first text appears containing the production company of this film, being Stanley Kramer and stating that it is a United arts release. This is significant as the Director/Producer are not mentioned first, it may have been different 50 years ago but now the Producer or Director will most certainly be mentioned first. The camera shot is still the same as we see the next bit of text, it being the star Gary Cooper in big bold letters, after his name appears the film title High Noon comes up. Because the name of the actor came up before the actual film name this is significant as it portrays the actor to be more important than the film and the director/producer. Even the supporting actors come before the director in the opening sequence
- 14. We now see three characters in shot all arrived from different directions as if they have planned something secret and have split up to become less suspicious. They are all carrying guns and then hustle up and ride out of the field they are currently in towards the nearest town. We usually associate horses with cowboy/outlaws and the first two minutes of this film are no different as they are looking around checking their not being watched and are generally acting suspicious.
- 16. Before anything else is shown we see the names of developers and distributers of this film with no sound in big bold text upon a black background. This connotes the importance of the names shown. The next image shows us who is associated with this film. The font of the company is in fact bigger than the font introducing it, connoting importance.
- 17. The camera cuts and we are now introduced to a canyon type wasteland (stereotypically associated with westerns). The camera looks to be in a fixed position with no movement at all. This could connote that there is no life in this wasteland. After a few seconds the name of the Director appears in text very hard to read in the colour white upon the image shown by the fixed camera position. The camera starts to pan taking our attention off of the names shown to give us a wider interpretation of what is happening. This could connote a metaphorical hierarchy chart between members of the film. (The director is one of the main people so the camera is staying lifeless to focus attention on his name, the actors names are shown while panning, keeping focus on the names but also attracting attention to the film itself.)
- 18. We are now introduced to the main character played by Daniel Craig. Throughout the first few minutes of his appearance there is no dialogue to be said be him and his expressions make him look dazed and confused. This makes us believe that he may be from another planet because of what looks to be alien wrist band technology. We now see him trying to break the wristband off with a rock, so we know that he doesn’t want it on his wrist connoting that he isn’t an alien but we are still in the dark onto what he is doing and how he got there.
- 19. In the shot where the 3 men on horseback and the sniffer dog come towards this man, we can see that he does not move in attempt to flee or communicate. We can see the he instinctively thinks these men are a threat and through body posture connotes confidence, as these men carry dangerous weapons.