1. Micro Analysis Of Big Combo
As the credits start to roll at the beginning of the film there is a
scenic establishing shot that captures the New York skyline that is
filmed from a helicopter. As the credits are rolling with the backdrop
of New York there is a non-diegetic sound track playing throughout.
The sound track as you can imagine is jazz music, which involves a
lot of trumpets, saxophones and a double bass. This all helps to
create the film Noir genre that the film is based on.
As the film comes to the end of the credits the camera comes down
in to the street where it captures how busy the city is, the many cars
passing and the many lights that are dotted around the street create
a feeling of how crowded the streets are during all parts of the day.
There is then a cut away to a tilt where the camera then captures an
iconic image of the film noir genre, a neon sign that says “STADIUM.
This choice of shot introduces the audience to how the film will be
set out and what sort of period it is set in. Throughout the scene the
non-diegetic jazz music that is playing in the first scene continues
through, which once again adds to the Noir feel that is being drilled
through the opening of the film.

2. Once the credits have went off screen there is then an elliptical edit in
to the stadium that has been previously been filmed from the
exterior. When the camera enters the boxing match it is filmed from a
long shot, which is made to feel more realistic by the synchronous,
diegetic sounds of the crowed clapping and cheering at the boxing
match. There is then another elliptical edit to a corridor in the
stadium that has where a stereotypical film Noir women comes
running through the corridor with two men chasing, who are also
dressed in stereotypical costumes that fit the times i.e. suits, over
coats and trilbies. As the chase develops through the winding corridor
there are several match on action shots which a shot through several
pans, this combination allows the chase scene to show the emotions
of the women being chased much more clearly and allows the
audience to get a grip on how the film will pan out and what the film
will involve.
When the men finally catch the women and stop her from running
away the audience gets a good look at the costumes that the three
characters are wearing, they are very stereotypical of the genre and
make the genre of the film even more clear if anyone has not caught
on to the other characteristics of the genre that have already been
shown. Throughout this scene and the opening whole sequence there
is low lighting in every shot. This is particularly effective in the scene
where the two men and women have conversation as it makes the
situation feel dangerous and unsettled.

3. After this scene the camera then pans round to a show a man
standing at a stall in the stadium, the audience gets to see the
man slightly in one of the earlier scenes, but this time he is fully
brought in to the shot. To capture the man he slowly walks
towards the camera, gradually changing the shot from a long
shot to an extreme close up, which also makes the characters
roll seem much more important. There is then a fade away and
piece of elliptical editing to the street outside, where a taxi
pulls up at the side of the road. As these scenes merge the jazz
music is introduced again, starting a steady pace and gradually
increasing.
As the taxi pulls up to the building (which is also fitting with the
genre and the period) the opening sequence ends. I feel that
the opening sequence was very successful as it does two
things, the first one being it sets the story and the genre up for
the rest of the film very well through the costumes, characters,
lighting etc. But it also draws the viewer in as it introduces a
fast pace and action pact scenes right from the word go.