Life of Brian (1979)
The first thing I noticed was the painted clouds and sun in the sky. When ‘Monty Python's’ name appears floating on a cloud, it is apparent this is an old movie due to the animation. However, like today it still shows that this is going to be a fun, humourous film shown by the name flashing multiple colours. Then in bold capital letters, the title appears ‘LIFE OF BRIAN’ each word placed under the last floating word into the sky. Then the ‘B’ from ‘Brian’ falls out of place knocking a man off a cloud and he descends to earth. This connotes that possible themes of the film may be linked to religion and heaven as a man falling from the heavens is assumed to be holy. The names of the cast and crew subtly appear such as being carved into stone; this allows the viewer not to be distracted from the action on screen allowing the opening more time to create the desired atmosphere intended.
The statues on screen link with ancient Greek culture or ancient Roman culture showing the setting of the film is in ancient Greece or Rome. There are many enigma code signals that suggest the genre is comedy. For example, the man falling of the cloud at the beginning of the opening to the woman getting burnt by the sun as she floated at the end are both comical connoting this film is a comedy. The music suggests the film is about a man called Brian; the title suggests this also.
Brian, the babe they called Brian,
he grew, he grew, and grew,
grew up to be, grew up to be,
a boy called Brian. A boy called Brian,
he had arms, and legs, and hands, and feet,
the boy, whose name was Brian.
And he grew, he grew, grew, and grew,
grew up to be, yes, he grew up to be,
yes, his name was Brian, a teenager called Brian.
And his face became spotty, yes, his face became spotty,
and his voice dropped down low,
and things started to grow, on young Brian and so,
he was certainly no, no girl named Brian,
not a girl named Brian.
And he started to shave, and have one of the wrist,
and want to see girls, and go out and get pissed,
a man called Brian, this man called Brian,
the man they called Brian, this man called
Briaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...
he grew, he grew, and grew,
grew up to be, grew up to be,
a boy called Brian. A boy called Brian,
he had arms, and legs, and hands, and feet,
the boy, whose name was Brian.
And he grew, he grew, grew, and grew,
grew up to be, yes, he grew up to be,
yes, his name was Brian, a teenager called Brian.
And his face became spotty, yes, his face became spotty,
and his voice dropped down low,
and things started to grow, on young Brian and so,
he was certainly no, no girl named Brian,
not a girl named Brian.
And he started to shave, and have one of the wrist,
and want to see girls, and go out and get pissed,
a man called Brian, this man called Brian,
the man they called Brian, this man called
Briaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...
Notice the lyrics are comical also connoting this is a comedy film. However, all this does for the narrative using an enigma code is tell the audience Brian is now a fully grown man and this is where the story begins.
This type of opening is similar to a lot of films made roughly 30 years ago, including those of different genres. ‘Greece’ (1978) uses the same type of comical animation for its film opening and also gives little information about the characters or narrative of the film. This shows how history has changed the methods of film openings.
After remaking this film opening shown on our group blog I can see how it isn’t a conventional comedy opening but instead that of a black comedy opening. The difference between these two genre types of comedies as an overall is that black comedy involves things that you wouldn't normally laugh, such as how Juno deals with her pregnancy. The way they're different for openings is that the Juno opening isn’t funny and it doesn’t try to be. It sets the atmosphere up to be mature which makes the humor in the film all that more inappropriate and funny.
The title alone introduces you to the main characters name. However, during all but one short section of the opening Juno is in the frame and is seen alone. This enigma code feeds the audience information that Juno is not popular but instead a loner in life. The whole setting of the opening is in an urban suburb environment denoting obviously to the audience that the film is located in a suburban area. The music is soothing and not the traditional music chosen for comedy films; this also separates black comedy from normal comedy genres.
Juno is still skinny during the opening so it isn’t apparent yet that she is pregnant. This makes it seem like the theme and narrative of the film is about teenage life and troubles. The reason I conclude troubles is because Juno is seen as a loner through a visual enigma code. Like most modern day comedy films, is not the only things in the frame instead of having its own shot like ‘Life of Brain’ has and in other old comedy films. The way the names appear also isn’t as subtle as Life of Brian this is so they're bolder and noticed by the audience but not so over the top that the audience gets distracted from Juno on screen.
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