Sweeney Todd - Opening Sequence Analysis

Sweeney Todd - Opening Sequence Analysis

The title sequence to Sweeney Todd is excellently made and exquisitely directed. From the cartoonish blood to the dramatic music everything screams Tim Burton. This sequence really nails the bloody nature of the film yet the cartoonish style in which everything is presented. This is, in my opinion, one of the more well-made opening sequence to a thriller in recent years.

The font used for the titles is simplistic yet edgy and stands out. The titles do not move or fly onto the screen they simply fade in and fade out. The speed at which the titles appear on the screen increases as it nears the end and the position of the titles depends on the importance. For example Tim Burton's directorial credit appears largely in the center of the screen whilst someone arguable less important, like Director Of Photography Dariusz Wolski, ASC, appears to the left of the screen.

I believe watching and analyzing this opening sequence has helped me understand what I need to include in mine because I now have a better knowledge of what credits to include to make mine more authentic and believable. 

 

Camera:

The camera pans through the streets of London, the image is slightly cartoonish which suggests an element of fantasy. From this we can gather that the film doesn’t take its self too seriously, yet suggesting the dark subject nature and violent themes. Tim Burton has decided to do this because it is his niche, it also works very well with the story of Sweeney Todd.

The camera looks through a window at the infamous Sweeney Todd chair when a drop of blood falls onto the window. Suggests violence and also gives the chair negative connotations as we instantly associate the chair with blood. However you could intrepet this particular scene as the blood representing Sweeney Todds blood, perphaps giving the audience an insight into the finale of the film before the credits have even ended.

Sound:

During the opening sequence the distinct sound of an organ can be heard throughout the majority of the sequence. Whilst an organ is typical of the era in which the film is set, it also has a timeless, eerie sound that chills most people to the bones, therefore perfectly suitable for such a violent thriller.

Towards the ending of the opening sequence the music begins to intensify. It quickly picks up pace and becomes louder, quicker and scarier before rounding off for an imense finale. The intention of this technique is to get the audience of the edge of their seats before they have even started the main portion of the film.

Editing:

There is a shot of a river that clearly appears to be flowing completely with blood. Editing has been used in this shot to make the blood to appear cartoonish, yet whilst making the surroundings seem lifelike. However it is clear to the audience that the surroundings are not physical sets either, rather computer animation. Yet they have deliberatley decided to make the flowing river of blood look more fake than anything else in the shot.

Mise-En-Scene:

Black shadows are a prodominant feature throughout the opening sequence. Tim Burton has decided to dominate the whole portion of the opening sequence with dark, eerie shadows. These have a negative effect on the audience, in terms of mental state. They fill the audiences mind with dread and tension so the fact he has used this technique straight away from the beginning shows us this is something he wants intends to happen.

Red is also a dominant colour, like black, that fills the entirty of the opening seuqence with fear. The main use for the colour red is for blood, which creates negative connatations for anything related to the colour red and also creates fear in the audience as most people do not like to see violence in movies. However is Tim Burtons case he can make the blood look fake which helps him keep the film not too disturbing.

List of titles used (in order):

Dreamworks Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures Presents

A Parkes/MacDonald Production

A Zanuck Company Production

A Tim Burton Film

Johnny Depp

Helena Bonham Carter

Alan Rickman

Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

Timothy Spall

And Sacha Baron Cohen

Casting By Susie Figgis

Music And Lyrics By Stephen Sondheim

Based On The Musical By Stephen Sondheim And Hugh Wheeler

Originally Staged By Harold Prince

From An Adaptation By Christopher Bond                                    

Music Supervised And Conducted By Paul Gemignani

Orchestrated By Jonathan Tunick

Music Producer Mike Highim

Co-Producer Katterli Frauenfelder

Costume Designer Colleen Atwood

Edited By Chris Lebenzon, A.C.E

Production Designed By Dante Ferretti

Director Of Photography Dariusz Wolski, ASC

Executive Producer Patrick McCormick

Produced By Walter Parkes, Laurie MacDonald, John Logan

Produced By Richard D. Zanuck

Screenplay By John Logan

Directed By Tim Burton