The opening title sequence of the 1966 film Grand Prix establishes suspense through its use of heavy orchestral hits and cymbals during the fading in and out of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer logo. This creates an unsettled feeling without revealing the genre. The music then takes on a more upbeat tempo as the formal title is shown, implying that something dramatic may occur in the storyline, while also emphasizing the significant role of the distributing studio.

1. Incorporating an opening title
sequence.
The analysis of how an opening title can establish a
character, scenario, genre or atmosphere.

2. Film: Grand Prix
 Released: 1966
 Director: John Frankenheimer
 Produced by: Edward Lewis
 Starring: James Garner, Eva Marie Saint, Yves
Montand
 Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
 Budget: $9 mill.
 Studio: Cherokee Productions

3. Brief Synopsis
 Grand Prix follows the fate of four Formula One
drivers in a fictionalized version of the 1966 F1
season.
 It also focuses on the lives of the wives throughout the
film; who have to suffer living with their husbands
dangerous lives.

4. Atmospheric and textual analysis
• Straight away, we are introduced to an orchestral hit, with the strongest
instruments of the orchestra leading into the distributer’s logo, to
emphasize power and strength of the logo. The renown roaring lion of the
internationally-recognized distributer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer adds to the
suspense now built with the aid of the heavy timpani’s and cymbals.
• This scene has faded in from full-blackout and fades out into full black out.
The music accompanying this also seems to be disjunct. This creates a
climax of suspense and an unestablished sense of them and genre.
• Then, we are reintroduced to the distributor’s title; in formal sans serif
style, in white font colour and in all capitals. This tells the audience that the
distributing company had played a great part in the overall film project.
• Moreover, the music has now formed a somewhat upbeat and less sinister
tempo (similar to that of a civil march or sporting event with snares), which
allows the brief beginning to overshadow and give the audience an eerie
implication that something bad may happen as the film’s storyline unfolds.