Opening Sequence Analysis: Part Three

Star Wars: A New Hope - Opening Sequence Analysis

My detailed breakdown of the opening sequence to Star Wars Episode IV (1977) - Click HERE to view sequence (Title crawl ends 2:00) Unfortunately the clip was removed from YouTube due to copyright claims. 

Who/what has been selected? What can you see? Why is it there?

DENOTATION
Begins with iconic title crawl explaining context of film. Shows rebel ship trying to escape through space from an enormous imperial star destroyer. Ends with battle on rebel ship in which the rebels appear to lose. Finally, the main villain, Darth Vader emerges.

CONNOTATION
Opening shot of space shows the visually stunning (for the period) setting as well as the enormity of the imperial starship, which stretches further and further across the screen. The size of the imperial starship conveys it to be extremely powerful and thus shows the rebel starship to be an underdog with massive opposition. The one sided fight onboard rebel ship further extends portrayal of Vader's men as extremely powerful. From the smoke and wreckage of the battle emerges the villain Darth Vader. His entry at the end of the fight shows him to be the leading and prevailing antagonist. 

Mise-en-scene - Locations, Costumes, Props, Casting, NVC, Lighting, Colour

DENOTATION
Location is somewhere in space. Two spaceships are where the scenes are unfolding. The rebels are equipped with helmets and grey uniforms, they all hold small pistols. The Imperial Stormtroopers sport immaculate, futuristic white body suits. Interior of rebel ship is entirely white and grey. Darth Vader sports an all black body suit that looks like a customized storm trooper uniform, with a cape.

CONNOTATION
Location of space would have dazzled audiences of the time, also shows that the film is set far in the future. The rebel uniforms appear far inferior to the stormtroopers full body suits. Moreover, the small rebel guns look insufficient in comparison to the futuristic stormtrooper equipment.

Technical Construction - Camerawork, Special Effects, Resolution, Framing

DENOTATION
Establishing shot is an extreme long shot of the planes of space. Other shots from afar of the chase follow. Heavy use of medium and long shots in the ship to show the fight.

CONNOTATION
Long and extreme long shots prominently used to show the scale of space. Would have thrilled audiences of the time who wouldn't have seen such ambitious special FX. Size and complexity of ships showed, battle showed to be one sided and swift through the length of timings of shots.

Audience - Demographic, Psychographic

Queues for the first screening of Star Wars: A New Hope
in 1977.

Star Wars was described by George Lucas, the creator of the franchise, as a 'Space Western'. The setting of space was exciting, and interested people in 1977. People caught word of the groundbreaking special effects and enthralling story and the word of mouth of the film spread across the world. History.com describes how "the anticipation of a revolutionary movie-watching experience spread like wildfire." The films were particularly popular with young males due in part to the plucky male protagonist (Luke Skywalker) who would rise from humble beginnings to save the day. Furthermore, the action and science fiction elements interested young people. Star Wars quickly became and has remained a bona-fide pop culture phenomenon.