Saul Bass | Famous title sequences from Preminger to Scorsese

Some of the most remarkable opening titles designed by Saul Bass, sometimes in collaboration with his wife Elaine Bass. From “The Man with the Golden Arm” (1955) to “Casino” (1995), this video represents a substantial part of his creative legacy in chronological order.

A NOTE ON COPYRIGHT: My only purpose in creating this video was to share these sequences with other cinephiles. This is material that is hard to come by commercially: To my knowledge, no DVD edition of Saul Bass opening titles exists. If you have a problem with this, please let me know, but do it the civilized way: Instead of complaining to YouTube, please send me a little note. I will then take down this video ASAP. Thanks!

The ‘The Man with the Golden Arm’ title sequence is designed by Saul Bass and has become a landmark in title design. When the reels of film for “The Man With the Golden Arm” arrived at US movie theatres in 1955, a note was stuck on the cans — “Projectionists — pull curtain before titles”. Saul Bass: “My initial thoughts about what a title can do was to set mood and the prime underlying core of the film’s story, to express the story in some metaphorical way. I saw the title as a way of conditioning the audience, so that when the film actually began, viewers would already have an emotional resonance with it” This movie used to be in “Public domain hell” but has been restored by Martin Scorsese’s Film Foundation. The Man with the Golden Arm is currently available as part of the Frank Sinatra – The Golden Years Collection box set: http://amzn.to/ManWithTheGoldenArm Title sequences designed by Saul Bass: CARMEN JONES (1954) – “Titles designed by Saul Bass” http://youtu.be/IaZEfNJAgM4 THE BIG KNIFE (1955) – “Titles designed by Saul Bass” http://youtu.be/dPxYi_HWvo4 THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM (1955) – “Titles designed by Saul Bass” http://youtu.be/sS76whmt5Yc ATTACK! (1956) http://youtu.be/uZ_s4JFOwmU STORM CENTER (1956) – “Titles designed by Saul Bass” http://youtu.be/IzLJowl7-t4 TRAPEZE (1956) – Uncredited http://youtu.be/YhV_sY8XXUI SAINT JOAN (1957) – “Titles Saul Bass” http://youtu.be/SXqeCnTr9MY THE FACTS OF LIFE (1960) – “Titles designed by Saul Bass and Associates” http://youtu.be/tzdU_4b1hRE OCEAN’S ELEVEN (1960) – “Title design by Saul Bass” http://youtu.be/xnG3OjIcN8M?hd=1 WALK ON THE WILD SIDE (1962) – “titles designed by Saul Bass” http://youtu.be/1jVRePj1Iq0 GRAND PRIX (1966) – “Visual consultant; montages and titles by Saul Bass” http://youtu.be/cADL_gjDim4 NOT WITH MY WIFE YOU DON’T (1966) – “Visual consultation and titles by Saul Bass and Associates” http://youtu.be/bH-UFUcd0fc SECONDS (1966) – “Titles by Saul Bass” http://youtu.be/vDgIGRuLdPk THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT, PART II (1976) http://youtu.be/X___GvMYqOQ GOODFELLAS (1990) – “Titles by Elaine & Saul Bass” http://youtu.be/s8pQJOeTkFs?hd=1 CAPE FEAR (1991) – “Titles designed by Elaine & Saul Bass” http://youtu.be/xoO0ZsQ7tBg THE AGE OF INNOCENCE – “Title sequence by Elaine & Saul Bass” http://youtu.be/0MZDtoIZZWE A PERSONAL JOURNEY WITH MARTIN SCORSESE THROUGH AMERICAN MOVIES (1995) – “Titles by Saul Bass” http://youtu.be/AYLpEUETIT8