The opening sequence of Casino Royale is analyzed in detail. It begins with establishing shots setting the scene in Prague. Bond is then shown fighting a man in a toilet, portrayed through techniques like low key lighting and positioning to depict Bond's grittier nature. Props like his gun and the antagonist's hat are used to characterize the characters. Through editing, mise-en-scene, and sound, the sequence conveys tension and violence to immerse the viewer in the action-thriller genre. Flashbacks and limited dialogue maintain an aura of mystery around Bond's mission.

1. CASINO ROYALE OPENING
SEQUENCE IN-DEPTH
ANALYSIS
By: Caxie Dagupen

2. TITLES
In the titles we can see that the background and the subjects (e.g
patterns) are very bold with the colour schemes and complex, which
contrasts with Bond’s black and white figures and plain white text.

3. INSTITUTIONS
Both MGM and Columbia are big names in the
media industry and have previously released
films that the general public accepted and
enjoyed.
Seeing this at the beginning of a film carries
that expectancy for how Casino Royale would
have been distributed by. The audience, at this
point would be expecting quality entertainment.

4. MISE EN SCENE - SETTING
The pre-title sequence starts with an establishing (exterior) shot of an office
block and plain white text saying ‘Prague’. We are then introduced to the
inside of the building with a full camera shot portraying the desk, chairs and
other normal office setting with one single light source from a lamp. These
early shots follows conventions of a thriller specially as the character is
alone in a deserted setting and is therefore more prone to danger.
The next major setting in this opening sequence is the
toilet setting which is opened with a cut to a fighting
scene between Bond and another man. There is more
white than black in terms of colours which greatly
contrasts with the scene in Prague. This could suggest
two sides of Bond, one in brawn while the other brain –
both equally chilling.

5. MISE EN SCENE - PROPS
The Gun –
One major object that was used in this opening sequence was the
Walther PPK gun, showing Bond as a superior character and giving him his double 0
status. An alternate gun such as a western gun would not have been able to serve the
same purpose as the Walther PPK gun as Bond is now a remade character who is
more gritty.
The black hat -
Another object which Dryden wears – the antagonist, portraying that he is not the
good guy. This is one typical convention of villains.

6. MISE EN SCENE - POSITIONING
Bond Dryden
Dryden is on the right hand side at a higher level while Bond is on the left showing that they are in conflict. However,
usually the protagonist would be on the right hand side where the audience can normally relate to. Maybe this time,
the positioning was done like this to break conventions, show a darker side of James Bond and to deceive the audience
to think that Dryden has the upper hand. Exemplifying that Dryden was actually outwitted by Bond, making this more
significant as the audience soon realises as well.

7. MISE EN SCENE - POSITIONING
In this part of the opening sequence on the other hand, Bond is more obviously positioned on top or higher
compared to the man whom Bond is fighting throughout. This just reiterates Bond’s superiority, strength and force
as he brutally fights and ultimately kills the man with his bare hands by drowning him.

8. MISE EN SCENE – COSTUME, HAIR &
MAKE-UP
Bond has no tie and has his top
button undone, portraying his
dauntlessness.
His make up is natural and realistic, they
also emphasised his very angular face.
Again, to highlight this new image of
grittiness.
His hair is sleek, following
previous Bonds and looks
natural. His hair colour
however – again- defies
conventional Bonds as his
hair colour is blonde.
He’s wearing a blazer, not a suit, which is significant as it shows a different side to Bond. Telling the
audience that he isn’t always the clean, sleek man in a suit, but still deadly.

9. MISE EN SCENE – LIGHTING
AND COLOUR
Low key lighting is used for the opening of the bond film. Parts of bonds face are lit up
whilst the other half is dark. This is part of representation of the character in the film. In
this opening sequence we see a much darker side to bond and this is a great example of
how the producers of the film exaggerated this through use of the lighting. This signifies
that bond has two sides.
This is also a great way to engage the audience early. When they see this representation
they will be eager to see what he does in the film and how he is represented throughout.
Low key lighting is also used throughout the opening sequence as the scene is set at
night. Night time is generally the time that people perceive bad things can and are about
to happen which builds tension.

10. MISE EN SCENE – LIGHTING AND
COLOUR
This opening sequence was edited into black and white
and uses a contrast of black and white colours. High key
lighting is used later in the public toilet scene helping the
viewer see the shots are in daytime. Using high key
lighting to represent daytime makes it more realistic for
the audience to watch.

11. MISE EN SCENE – EXPRESSION AND
BODY LANGUAGE
When drowning the man in the
sink, Bond shows no remorse or
moral responsibility. He looks
down at the dead body .At the
end of the flashback fight scene
when Bond’s back is turned to
his opponent he still senses
danger and turns and shoots.
We then take the place of the
victim, emphasising Bond’s
power to the audience.
Whenever the camera is on Bond his face it is never in the
centre of the frame, or the angle is not straight on,
implying that there are many sides to his character. Also
whenever his face is shown it is lit from the side so that
one side of his face is in shadow which gives Bond a
sinister look.
This shot is a close up, allowing the audience to see the emotion of Bond
as he looks down on his victim. It is slightly low angle, which creates the
impression of dominance.

12. EDITING – CAMERA SHOTS, ANGLES
AND MOVEMENTS
There was a point at the beginning of the pre-
credit sequence where a shot of the lift numbers
increasing appears; the numbers only increase
until number 6. This could be connected to James
Bond as he’s trying to obtain his 007 position and
adds irony to the scene.
This shot is also interesting as a tilt is used
with a low angle shot, creating a sense of
unease for the audience letting them know
that there is something iffy with the person
that the audience is following.

13. EDITING – SHOT DURATION, PACE
AND RHYTHM
Looking specifically at this scene, it has
a fast pace as it’s fighting scene full of
violence and brute, contrasting to the
scene with Bond and Dryden having a
conversation which is calm and
controlled (slow pace).
The duration in this particular shot is long to – again-
emphasise on Bond’s strength. This shot is followed on
with a close up of Bond’s facial expression which shows
another side to him: an acceptance of what he is doing,
which is something vicious – but he has to do it.

14. TRANSITIONS
Flashbacks
At the start of Casino Royale the whole first clip is in black and white. The
original footage would have been shot in colour and later changed into
black and white. This clip with no colour helps the audience realise that
what they are seeing is a flashback of Bond’s first ordered kills, which he
had to make. Showing this at the beginning of the film gives explanation
for what will happen later on and adds curiosity for the audience as to what
the current situation is as these scenes were from the past.

15. MUSIC AND SOUND
When showing the fight scene the music increases in pace,
volume and tempo showing there is a lot of action
happening. The non diegetic sound of high pitched violins
indicates a threatening situation while later the diegetic
sound of punches as the characters exchange blows is
another code of the genre. It emphasises the reality of the
violence to the audience. The opening sequence finishes
with the ominous sound of a click of a gun, an action code
which keeps the audience watching.
Films consist of two types of sound, diegetic and
non-diegetic. Diegetic sound includes things such
as dialogue, sound effects and any sound that
you would hear if you where in that scene
yourself.
Non-diegetic sound is sound that is put over the
top of a clip to help reinforce feeling and moods.
Non-diegetic sound is very important in Casino
Royale as it helps set the pace for the high energy
chase scenes.
When the man falls to the floor we hear the
sound of water gushing over him and also
hear Bond’s heavy breathing after the
exertion of the fight. Both are diegetic
sounds.

16. NARRATIVE CODES
The narrative is introduced using flashback techniques. We
hear Bond and the man (Dryden an M16 chief of
something ) discussing how someone died and then
flashback to Bond killing a man in a public bathroom. A
bird’s eye shot shows them battling it out in the bathroom
and the images are deliberately blurry.
Bond taunts the antagonist but Dryden doesn’t believe
anything that Bond is saying. To the point of mocking
Bond about how he isn’t a 007 agent and would not have
been qualified to be sent by ‘M’.
The irony is that it’s later revealed at the end of this
opening sequence that Dryden is another ordered kill that
would complete Bond’s requirements to be a 007 agent.

17. HOW GENRE IS CONVEYED
 The codes indicate that this will be an action film, we
see plenty of shots : of guns, overhead single sources
of light, fighting and violence.
 The music is dramatic and high pitched and builds
suspense in the audience.
 The close up of the gun in the drawer establishes the
action genre in the opening sequence although there
are plenty of graphics of guns and use of the colour red
in the detailed opening credit sequence.
 This sequence also features symbols from cards, fight
scenes and victims that prepare us for what is to come.
 The movie seems a combination of action, thriller and
adventure crossing several genres.

18. HOW IS ENIGMA CREATED
• We follow the steps of an unknown man into the offices
and wonder who he is and where he is going.
• There is little dialogue between the characters and they
do not give away much information.
• As we follow the steps of the man to the dark and
impersonal office we wonder who he is and what his
job is.
• Why does Bond kill the other guy in the bathroom?
• The fact that we have so little information
adds mystery to the opening of the film and
makes us want to keep watching.
• The screen fills with the colour red again
and a shot of Bond framed within the lens of
a camera, pointing a gun directly at us.
• The music builds.
All these aspects of the opening sequence hooks the
audience in and reinforces the enigma and action codes
already established in the opening sequence.