I decided to watch and analyze the title sequence from the 1981 James Bond film, For Your Eyes Only. The sequence utilizes multiple design techniques that we learned about in class last week. As the typical James Bond music begins, the scene starts out with a white circle on the screen and then another white circle appears out of the first one to the right, creating a rippling line of repetition of the white points. The rolling circles move in a line across the screen to the right, and there are only two white dots seen at one time. This visual design is playing on the ideas of point, the relationship between multiple points, and lines with repetition. This scene is leading your eyes to the right of the screen where the last dot enlarges in size and becomes the lens of a telescope or camera. Inside the circled opening is the figure of a man to the left side of the screen. This sort of back and forth movement makes you wonder what is going on beyond the sides of the screen because the person has magically walked into the scene. The man, aka James Bond 007, suddenly stops in the middle of the screen and points/shoots his gun at the viewer. This is Bond’s signature move, which is paused in action on the black and white background. After the shot is fired and the image paused, red liquid begins to fall from the top of the screen and ooze over the image. This creates interest and is a great way of displaying blood through the rising and falling technique along with an emphasis on color. Through the red color, one can still see Bond in the circled eye opening. The telescope begins trucking back and forth, and Bond disappears as the circled opening turns white.
The circle then moves to the bottom right of the screen and drags up a new image that turns into a wide shot that fills the entire screen. The whole screen is now blue and is layered in front of Bond’s silhouette. Bubbles begin to appear, showing that Bond is underwater. The names of the actors begin to emerge to the side of Bond’s silhouette in bold, white lettering. The lettering is easy to read and stands out against the dark blue background of the swirling water. Suddenly, bubbles begin to rise upward and an image of a woman shows up in front of Bond’s silhouette. Underneath her, the title of the movie, For Your Eyes Only, comes into view in all capital lettering. The camera then zooms into the image, focusing the viewer’s attention on the woman’s mouth, which is singing the words of the title. This blue image then turns into the inside of Bond’s silhouette of him shooting a gun to the left side of the screen. This image allows the viewer to now read the names of the actor’s starring in the film, while simultaneously playing a visual game. The silhouette provides a frame for the next image of a close up facial shot of the woman singing the theme song. The close up of her eyes gives the perfect visual because it ties into the main title and theme song.
As the title sequence continues, the screen is then filled up with the blue water and bubbles. Another close up shot of the woman appears to the left of the screen and Bond’s silhouette of him shooting a gun at her appears to the right. Her heartfelt look combined with music makes the viewer feel sympathetic to her relationship with Bond that seems close but at a distance. The sequence ends with Bond’s silhouette being slid out of the screen to the right. Overall, the film’s opening title sequence is appealing to the audience because it does a good job of utilizing design techniques that create visual interest and draw the audience into the film’s plot.
For more information about the 1981 James Bond For Your Eyes Only film check out this website!
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