1. Analysis of Opening Sequence – The Big Combo
Firstly in the opening sequence of ‘The Big Combo’ we are presented in an establishing
aerial shot of the cityscape which is presented to the audience as a labyrinth in which the
characters and engulfed and trapped in successfully engaging the audience into the scene
and furthering the plot. As the camera pans from right to left, the audience are able to get
an in-depth look over the city showing low key lightening as only streetlights and car
headlights can be seen. This successfully engages the audience as connotations of night
suggests criminality can take place.
Additionally as the title sequence comes to an end, so does the pan across the city. The
camera slowly tilts down into a busy and hectic city in night time. Night shots are used
frequently in film noir films as they add mystery to the scene. We later come to realise that
the people were crossing the street to attend a boxing match which was a key event to
attend in the twentieth century. A cutaway is used and the camera shows an enigmatic alley
with a lot of shadows and low key lightening which was used in most film noir scenes.
Because film noir’s are often set in black and white we see a woman run out of the shadows
and is being chased by two men which suggests the femme fatal has been introduced into
the film as the runs a tracking shot is used to track her movement as she attempts an
escape. A match on action adds suspense to the scene as the audience are unaware of why
she is running from these men or if she will be caught.
Furthermore as the men pursue the woman she runs down many different corridors and side streets
which indicates to the audience that the city is like a labyrinth which is very stereotypical of film noir
as the audience can be engulfed by the city and how it feels like a maze. As the corridors come to a
halt to woman, the woman is seen to take charge of the situation as she demands the men take her
for some food. This is unusual for film noir as the woman is more dominant than the men which
were not to be expected of the time this film was realised. I think that this suggests that the men are
there to protect her and ensure she is safe.
In conclusion the opening scene of ‘The Big Combo’ addresses many conventions of film noir and
adheres to the stereotypical themes of film noir. It is an excellent opening scene and leaves lots of
potential storylines to happen in the rest of the film. We are introduced to a female character which
suggests to the audience that she is going to be the main aspect of the film and the film is going to
focus on her making her the theme of the play as she is presented as a femme fatal, a damsel in
distress.
Michael Hutchinson