Opening Titles
Saturday February 17, 2007 in television |
Before the web, some of the most memorable opening sequences of TV shows only existed in my memory. Others cropped up now and again in late night slots on strange channels, or on DVD releases. Now, courtesy of YouTube, I can at last indulge myself.
Here’s a few of my favourites. What surprised me the most about rediscovering the following was just how short they are. Lasting at around a minute or two in length – many only a few seconds – they succeed in setting the perfect atmosphere for the series they are introducing.
The Prisoner (1967-68)
Not the most obscure of opening sequences, but a fantastic one to start with. It’s like a little movie in itself; McGoohan’s resignation from his mysterious organisation, his quiet removal from society and his awakening in the sinister Village.
Survivors (1975-77)
Another example of how a good title sequence can set the premise of an entire series in a few seconds. Like The Prisoner, watch this and you’re completely briefed.
Children of the Stones (1977)
This scared me as a child when the series was originally shown in a teatime slot. The disturbing voices at the beginning suggest something oddly pre-civilisation.
Ooer… it still does scare me a bit…
The Tomorrow People (1973-79)
ITV’s answer to Doctor Who, from the days when there were only three channels. What, no cable, DVD or computers? No. The end sequence is included here as well, and really I like the way that a scientific advisor gets a credit.
Sapphire and Steel (1979-82)
This starred David McCallum and Joanna Lumley. They were a sort of time travelling detective team, solving completely incomprehensible mysteries. I remember one particularly chilling story about the ghost of a First World War soldier in an abandoned railway station.
The Invisible Man (1975-76)
Talking of David McCallum… This opening sequence tells you everything about this programme. There’s no real need to watch a full episode.
The New Avengers (1976-77)
Talking of Joanna Lumley… The original Avengers is the best loved version of this franchise by far, but being too young for that the first time around it’s The New Avengers that I remember. A little more hard hitting, and a slightly wider trouser.
UFO (1970-71)
I’ve reserved a place for Gerry Anderson, and also one for an example of extremely daft opening titles. They’re so desperate to convey the future here, especially the fact that it’s set in the far off year 1980. And did all TV of the 60s and 70s have an unwritten rule that computers would take up huge rooms and consist of noisy printouts and large spools of tape? Still a lot of fun though.
The Twilight Zone (1959-64)
Like The Prisoner, another very familiar opening sequence – possibly the most familiar of all. Only a few seconds, but Rod Serling says it all.
Hammer House of Horror (1980)
Great opening sequence, that gets you in exactly the right mood for this sort of thing.
Callan (1967-72)
Callan was a spy series starring Edward Woodward. The music reminds me of John Barry’s theme to The Ipcress File, the Daddy of all spy films. This opening is a masterclass in simplicity; just a light bulb and Woodward’s tired face is all that’s needed to set the mood.
Armchair Thriller (1978-80)
Easily the most obscure of my choices, but I think I’ve saved the best until last. Fleeting, but perfect.
That’s a very creepy nineteen seconds.
I konw I’ve picked nothing later than 1982, but I really couldn’t think of any recent opening sequences that I’ve found memorable. Last weekend, ITV started its new answer to Doctor Who, Primeval. On the whole I really enjoyed it, but there was something vital missing from my overall enjoyment of the programme. The titles sucked.