Some of his work have yet to be replaced, like the absolutely brilliant designs for kose cosmetics 1959, kibun 1964, warner communications 1972, girl scouts 1978, with a slight modification made in 2010 and geffen records 1980. The animated sequence he devises for premingers the man with a golden arm causes a sensation. Compressing all of carmen s big numbers into the first act, the next item is the gypsy song, now titled beat out dat rhythm on a drum. Bass decided to create an innovative title sequence to match the films controversial subject.
Movie and logo designer saul bass celebrated with book. Saul bass filmography show list info saul bass 19201996 is the legendary title designer of classic movies such as the man with the golden arm, spartacus, west side story, goodfellas, casino, and several hitchcock movies. Basss first title sequence was for otto premingers carmen jones in 1954. Saul basss designs made america fall in love with alfred. Sometimes titles are the whole story the new york times. The screenplay by harry kleiner is based on the lyrics and book by oscar. He was well known for his design works in movie title sequences and movie posters.
May 08, 20 he then collaborated with filmmaker otto preminger and designed the poster for his 1954 film carmen jones and went on to also produce the movies title sequence. Robert aldrichs the big knife and billy wilders the seven year itch but it was his second project for preminger, the man with the golden arm which established bass as. Next, preminger had bass conceive the opening sequence for his scorching film about drug addiction, the man with the golden arm 1955. Joes blind love for carmen turns to jealousy when her affections are instead given to another man, setting in motion a chain of events from which there is no turning back. Conceptually, it is bizets opera carmen updated to a world war ii era africanamerican setting. Her polished beauty plays in irresistible contrast to her title characters. The movie sets in world war ii where carmen jones, a sexy temptress whom is used to being wooed by many men, but only one catches her eye and that it joe. He studied parttime at the art students league in manhattan and attended night classes at brooklyn college. Carmen jones was saul bass first title sequence, and he landed the gig quite by accident. Saul bass north by northwest, saul bass, title sequence. But it was the directors next assignment for bass that made everyone take notice. First title sequence for premingers carmen jones in 1954, director otto preminger commissioned bass to design the movie poster for his film carmen jones. Maurice binder is the title designer responsible for creating perhaps the best known character intro of all time the james bond gunsight sequence from 1962s dr. Jun 12, 2012 bass title credits for goodfellas 1990 logos made to last.
Dorothy dandridge, harry belafonte, olga james, pearl. Title sequence designed by saul bass, from the film carmen jones 1954, directed by otto preminger, starring harry belafonte and dorothy dandridge. After carmen jones he got commissions for two 1955 films. Original title card maquette hand lettered by harold adler for the 1969 film. His title sequences for films such as otto premingers the man with the golden arm 1955 and anatomy of a murder 1959, alfred hitchcocks vertigo 1958 and north by northwest 1959, and billy wilders the seven year itch 1955 introduced the idea that opening. They worked together on the title sequence of the film spartacus in 1960. The subject of the film was a jazz musicians struggle to overcome his heroin addiction, a taboo subject in the mid1950s. Carmen jones by hammerstein, oscar and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Jul 28, 1991 for the jaunty title sequence of soapdish, the graphic artist sarajo frieden wanted to build a bridge between the fastpaced soapopera spoof and the frothy comedies of the 1950s and 60s. Movie and logo designer saul bass celebrated with book, moma event.
Harold adler was a calligrapher who created hand lettered titles on over 100 films, worked frequently with alfred hitchcock, and was a favorite of legendary title sequence designers saul bass and pablo ferro. The opening title sequence is the first film title sequence created by saul bass, and marked the beginning of. Bass began his career producing print ads for hollywood films, before designing his first title sequence, for otto premingers carmen jones in 1954. The contributions of american designer saul bass 19201996 initiated a revolution in the film advertising industry. Preminger was so taken with the work that he commissioned bass to direct his films opening title sequence, in which a deep red flame flutters over a rose. Sep 29, 2017 an overview of saul bass title sequences featuring hd videos of all titles available on bluray, from carmen jones 1954 to casino 1995 sep 29, 2017 an overview of saul bass title sequences featuring hd videos of all titles available on bluray, from carmen jones 1954 to casino 1995. Carmen jones 1954 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Based on the alexandria quartet by lawrence durrell. Iconic graphic designer and academy awardwinning filmmaker saul bass 19201996 defined an innovative era in cinema. Mar 29, 2018 to put it succinctly, before saul bass came along, movie titles were just boring. A mixed bag of artists, books, opera, in fact anything in the arts that begins with the letter c.
In 1953, his poster art for otto premingers carmen jones so impressed the director that he asked bass to create the films title sequence, and basss vision of a rose over flames served as the films motif. Preminger was so impressed he asked him to create a title sequence too, and bass went on to specialise in the area. Carmen jones 1954 the big knife 1955 the seven year itch 1955 the man with the golden arm 1955 around the world in eighty days 1956 vertigo 1958 anatomy of a murder 1959 north by northwest 1959 spartacus 1960 psycho 1960 oceans eleven 1960 west side story 1961 walk on the wild side 1962 nine hours to rama 1963 its a mad mad. Carmen jones 1954 2016 bluray uk release a wonderful event in the history of motion picture entertainment from 20th centuryfox. Carmen jones is a 1943 broadway musical with music by georges bizet and lyrics and book. Colorful, powerful and innovative movie musical from 1954 that took bizets popular opera carmen, set it during the middle of world war ii in a parachute factory, made the lead male joe harry belafonte a g. The opening title sequence is the first film title sequence created by saul bass, and marked the beginning of saul basss long professional relationship with otto preminger. Dec 06, 2015 the opening title sequences of marvels jessica jones pays a homage to the covers of alias, the excellent marvel comic written by brian michael bendis and drawn by michael gaydos which introduced jessica jones to the world. It recounts the story of a drug addict who gets clean while in prison, but struggles to stay that way in the outside world. Bass first innovative credit sequence was for otto premingers carmen jones 1954, using an. Carmen jones was a cinemascope motion picture that had begun.
In 1954 he received his first commission from the director otto preminger to design the title sequence for his film carmen jones. The three sketches show different approaches to the title, all distinct from the final lettering design used. Conceptually, it is bizets opera carmen updated to a world war iiera africanamerican setting. It was in this line of work that he met his wife, elaine makatura. At this time in his life he worked on many films, both creating title sequences and designing the movie posters. Sep 25, 2017 title sequence from carmen jones 1954 help. The opera was an adaptation of the 1845 prosper merimee novella carmen by henri meilhac and ludovic halevy. Harold adler was a calligrapher who created hand lettered titles on over 100 films, worked frequently with alfred hitchcock, and was a favorite of legendary title sequence designers saul bass. Carmen jones is a 1954 american musical film starring dorothy dandridge and harry belafonte, produced and directed by otto preminger. Design tips from the legendary saul bass rocketstock.
Nov 28, 2011 to celebrate the release of the highly anticipated and altogether fantastic saul bass monograph, one of the 11 best art and design books of 2011 and among the most important design books ever published, art of the title editor ian albinson put together this brilliant brief visual history of basss most celebrated work, which influenced. Saul bass was a prominent american graphic designer of the twentiethcentury. He was a pioneer of the modern title sequence designing. Saul bass, the man who designed some of my favorite titles for films, was born on may 8, 1920 in new york city, he studied at the art students league in manhattan, and he began his time in hollywood doing print work for films ads, until he collaborated with otto preminger for the title designs of carmen jones 1954. Saul bass on his approach to designing movie title sequences. This story tells the tale of two book nerds as they fall in love during what is an adorable courtship. The night of huskys title fight, joe turns up to try to convince carmen to come back to him, but when she rejects him. Jul 12, 2017 title sequence designed by saul bass, from the film north by northwest 1959, dir. The former focuses on lowerclass gypsies and bullfighters in 1860s paris. She was born in anlaby, east yorkshire, and is the daughter of a nigerian forensic psychologist and a norwegian fashion model. Styles 1960s, graphic, live action, mainonend, situational type, typographic. The opening title sequence is the first film title sequence created by saul bass.
I happened to be working on the symbols for otto premingers carmen jones and the man with the golden arm and at some point, otto and i just looked at. In film, the appearance of the credited title designer had previously only been. Carmen jones was the first of title sequences saul bass designed for director otto preminger. Title sequence title designers saul bass elaine bass. Over the next four decades bass was the favored choice when moviemakers wanted the films credits or closing to truly add to the audience.
Dorothy dandridge, whose vibrant performance earned the first oscar nomination for an african american actress in a leading role, stars as the beautiful temptress carmen jones in this classic musical, produced and directed by otto preminger. Terminator title sequence remake by attention to details in nature. So ive just finished watching carmen jones, a fascinating musical film from 1954. Impressed by the result, preminger asked bass to also create the films title sequence. Flow of timeline throughout the book even start a little from the title page initial brainstormed layouts printed. This introductory footage, while not as animated as his later work, nevertheless introduced moving images a flaming rose in place of the usual still title cards that had introduced movies up. Saul bass title sequences saul bass, movie titles, title. How saul bass transformed opening movie credits forever. Bass became widely known in the film industry after creating the title sequence for otto premingers the man with the golden arm 1955.
In 1954, bass designed ads for the film carmen jones, directed by another eastern european immigrant, otto preminger. After being impressed with bass work, preminger asked bass to do the films title sequence as well. He transformed and elevated static title screens into stylized, moving works of art, first most dramatically with his jagged, twisted and deconstructed forearm that moved a symbol of heroin addiction for the man with the golden arm 1955. Hospital visit from the carol burnett show full sketch duration. Where motion picture advertising was once an unrefined and artless trade, bass endowed the craft with the sophist. Binder ended up shooting the sequence with a pinhole camera looking down the barrel of a 38 caliber gun the barrel gets washed over with blood before becoming part of a. Saul bass trained as a graphic designer, and was commissioned by director otto preminger to put together a poster for his 1954 operamusical carmen jones. Saul bass, the man who designed some of my favorite titles for films, was born on may 8, 1920 in new york city, he studied at the art students league in manhattan, and he began his time in hollywood doing print work for films ads, until he collaborated with otto preminger for the title designs of carmen jones. With harry belafonte, dorothy dandridge, pearl bailey, olga james. Collection of five original title card maquettes for the 1967 film hand lettered by harold adler.
The carol burnett show official recommended for you. The return to giving onscreen credit to title designers, starting with saul bass in 1954 for carmen jones, happened in context with graphic designers such as alvin lustig and paul rand actually including their signature as an essential feature of their designs. Saul bass 1920 to 1996 began his career designing the film poster for 1954s carmen jones, and the title sequence the following year for the man with the golden arm, both produced by. Although dandridge and belafonte were singers, neither was capable of singing the operatic score, so marilyn horne and levern hutcherson were hired to record their vocals. May 08, 20 saul bass trained as a graphic designer, and was commissioned by director otto preminger to put together a poster for his 1954 operamusical carmen jones. The seductive carmen jones lures the handsome gi joe harry belafonte. The screenplay by harry kleiner is based on the lyrics and book by oscar hammerstein ii, from the 1943 stage musical of the same name, set to the music of georges bizets 1875 opera carmen. Saul bass entering the film world with his first sequence for carmen jones. These two meet when carmen visits her client at sebastians book store. Love by the books follows the aforementioned sebastian kincaid and literary agent carmen jones. Nov 30, 2011 25 celebrated saul bass title sequences in just 100 seconds. The man with the golden arm is a 1955 american drama film with elements of film noir, based on the novel of the same name by nelson algren. Graphic designer saul bass immortalised with a doodle.
An overview of saul bass title sequences featuring hd videos of all titles available on bluray, from carmen jones 1954 to casino 1995 the movie title stills collection a collection of screen shots and captured images of movie title stills from feature films and trailers. Carmen jones is a 1943 broadway musical with music by georges bizet orchestrated for broadway by robert russell bennett and lyrics and book by oscar hammerstein ii which was performed at the broadway theatre. Shes a perfect counterfoil to dandridges carmen and she actually sings for herself rather than being dubbed like most of the other leads. Billy rose presents carmen jones playbill by hammerstein, oscar, ii and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. She has written and edited a number of books, including charles and ray eames 1998 and women designers in the usa 19002000 2001. C is for carousel, and canaletto and more quiz 10 questions. Preminger saw something in bass, rehiring him the following year for carmen jones and asking him to do not just the poster but the title sequence as well.
He largely designed motion picture title sequences, corporate logos and movie posters. The poster was so impressive, preminger asked saul bass to create the opening title sequence as well, thus beginning the designers career in motion graphics. His creation of publicity materials for films like carmen jones 1954 heralded. Carmen jones has 28 books on goodreads, and is currently reading lonesome dove by larry mcmurtry and fight club by chuck palahniuk. She also appeared on stage opposite sammy davis, jr. The rose and animated flame in the title sequence of carmen jones 1954.
May 8, 1920 april 25, 1996 was an american graphic designer and academy award winning filmmaker, best known for his design of motion picture title sequences, film posters, and corporate logos. Saul bass saul bass was an american graphic designer born in 8th may 1920 and died on 25th april 1994. Some of his most iconic movie posters were vertigo, anatomy of. Dec 10, 2009 basss first title sequence was for otto premingers carmen jones in 1954. The great race opening credits the sweetheart tree henry mancini by bobby gooner. Notes three record set in automatic sequence, comprising 5495141 sides 16 5495142 sides 25 5495143 sides 34 also issued as 12 lp lm1881. Johnkamen plays dutch in the scifi space series killjoys, and appeared as a first order officer in star wars. He enjoyed four decades of successful career in his lifetime, winning academy award for his exquisite graphic designing.