5. The Searchers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy2-abqR8B4 But not all opening shots need to be ridiculously elaborate; John Ford proved with 1956's The Searchers how to fashion an iconic cinematic moment with great location scouting rather than technical virtuosity. Though the film is best remembered for its closing shot, as John Wayne disappears out of the doorway and the door then closes, the two book-ending shots are essentially a framing device in of themselves. Ford begins by opening the door to an America that is now long gone, and what a sight it is. The perfect framing of the doorway and then the movement outside to provide us with a full view of the landscape is one of cinema's most breathtaking opening moments. It'll make just about any fan of westerns nostalgic, and is perfectly complemented by the film's final shot, which closes the door on both John Wayne's timeless protagonist and the myth of the Old West.
Shaun Munro
Contributor
Frequently sleep-deprived film addict and video game obsessive who spends more time than is healthy in darkened London screening rooms. Follow his twitter on @ShaunMunroFilm or e-mail him at shaneo632 [at] gmail.com.
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