Goodfellas - Opening Scene - Titles

Goodfellas - Opening Scene - Titles

Starting off with what sounds like a highway in the background the production company is introduced. The background sound foreshadows the actual sequence which occurs in the opening scene. The titles have an effect of speeding through and stopping as if at a pit stop just like racing track/highway, coinciding with the sound. I'm guessing as the movie was released in 1990 technology wasn't advanced enough for actual high way sounds so the next best thing was a race track.

After the two production titles it is made known to the audience, that don't know, that the film is a classic (or at that time bound to be a classic) as it's a Scorsese film. 

Next coming the actors. This is irregular as it starts with Robert De Niro who isn't the main character/star of the movie. However of course De Niro is De Niro and deserves recognition due to being the biggest star in the film, and for this you can tell it was a contrived happening. Ray Liotta, whom the film is actually based on, is next. Followed by the other main actors.

Next is the information that it's based on a true story. This lures the audience in knowing it's a real mob story, also fitting the genre. 

After the hiatus caused by some visuals the setting is shown to the audience through the title of New York and the era of the movie 1970. 

After the opening sequence the title for the movie 'Goodfellas' comes through the racetrack 3 times before stopping, this is for emphasis and to stand out among the titles. Also the title is blood burgundy going with the genre.

Followed by other main contributors to the movie. These follow the same white title on black background colour scheme. The last title being the most important in the director which stands out until the actual film starts.

Overall, the titles are white on a black background. The titles are regular, they hold a two second space in order to be clearly read by the audience. The order is by importance. The fixation is always in the middle in order to stand out as much as possible. The only irregular title is 'Goodfellas' as it's the most important.