The opening title sequence of The Graduate introduces the protagonist as he sits alone on a plane with a blank, expressionless face, looking as if he has something on his mind. As the camera zooms out, it reveals he is isolated amongst the other passengers. He then walks silently on a moving walkway at the airport, overhearing a recording instruct instructions to hold the handrail and stand to the right. The soundtrack plays "The Sounds of Silence", reinforcing his feeling of emptiness. In the final shot, he sits staring blankly ahead in a room with an aquarium containing a model diver at the bottom, symbolizing his mental state of "drowning".

1. The Graduate (1967)
Brief analysis of ‘The Graduate’ Opening
Title Sequence

2. • The opening title sequence starts with a Close Up,
creates Enigma codes:
- Who is he?
- Where is he?
- What is he looking at?
- Is he sad/worried? (facial expressions)
• It appears that he is alone and isolated.
• The camera zooms out to a long shot, this helps the
audience establish where he is. it reveals that he is on
a plane filled with passengers of various ages.
• The audiences sees him on a aeroplane, as the
camera zooms out his facial expressions stay the
same- his face has a blank and expressionless, this
gives the viewer an impression that he has something
on his mind.

3. • The viewer sees the protagonist walks onto a automated,
moving walkway while the camera tracks him.
• While standing mute by himself, a monotonous recording
begins… "Please hold the handrail, and stand to the right. If
you wish to pass, please do so on the left"
• The first title appear, the font is very bold a common
convection of the genre comedy.
• The audience see couple of people walk past him.
• The camera stops tracking the protagonists and it cuts to a
close up of his luggage.
• ‘The Sounds of Silence’ is heard on the soundtrack,
reinforcing the theme of his emptiness and alienation from
his surroundings.

4. • The shot revers shot establishes his journey is
over.
• We see a different font appear.
• His facial expressions has changed from the
beginning.

5. • We see a match on action, he sits staring
blankly ahead, positioned in a room in front of
his aquarium tank.
• At the bottom of the aquarium tank is a model
of a diver - symbolizing the protagonist
"drowning" and foreshadowing the scenes yet
to come.