Analysis of Breakfast at Tiffany's opening scene

Mise-en-scene

Setting

The setting of the film is the first thing that is established. The film is set in an urban setting where there are high end shops and skyscrapers. The yellow taxi suggests to the audience that the city is in America as this is a place where yellow taxi's are common. The long very wide streets also suggests this being set in America and being an expensive high end area. The lack of cars on the road and lack of people around suggest that this is either early evening or morning as this is the sort of setting you would normally expect to be busy. The fact that we see the sign above the door saying tiffany's and the woman eating breakfast fits to the title and possibly foreshadows what might happen in the film.

Decor

The shop windows are full of quite luxurious, expensive items such as jewellery and chandeliers which are expected of a high end area. The shops are very large and there doesn't appear to be any small  shops or chain shops. There is a sort of marble looking material up one side of the window which also shows that this is probably a reasonably expensive shop. The streets are very clean and there doesn't appear to be any rubbish around which makes it unlikely that this location is anywhere low class as stereotypically high class people are less likely to litter the streets. 

Lighting

The lighting is quite dark and dull and the street lights are lit suggesting that this is set early evening or early morning. As the clip goes further on you can see what likes sun rise in the distance confirming it to be morning. Near the end of the clip the light is a lot brighter suggesting that morning has just begun.

Body language/movement

The character moves with a sort of grace but also a slight unease in the dress she is wearing suggesting that she maybe doesn't always dress in this way. When the lady first gets out of the car she looks quite tense and this is specifically shown in her back, this also suggests that the character is not at ease and not used to this area. The way that she is walking along and drinking/eating at the same time suggests she is not from around there as this isn't really something you would expect to see of a really upper class person.The fact that she looks quite in detail and ore at the items in the shop window suggests that these types of things are new to her and are not easily accessible as they may be to other people. When the lady gets back to the place where we assume she lives she is walking with more of a jolly walk showing that she is more at home and comfortable in this area. At the beginning of the clip the taxi blocks the main character and all that can be seen is small sections of her through the taxi. The taxi then drives away giving a sort of unveiling to the audience of who's story they will follow throughout the film. This also exaggerates the outfit and appearance the woman is wearing.

Props

The lady is holding a little handbag and a shawl which add class to her outfit. Contrastingly she is also carrying a bag with her pastry and drink which lower the tone of her outfit as this isn't really the most classy way to eat. The cars look expensive and stereotypically upper class suggesting this trait for the characters. The costumes could create an enigma code as they leave the audience wondering the class and status of the woman and why she is in the area.

Costume and make up

The lady in the clip is wearing a very elegant long dress with diamonds on the back showing wealth, sophistication and class. She is also wearing sunglasses and carrying a shawl and a small handbag which is all making her look very formal and smart. She is dressed in clothes that suggest the film is not set in the current times and is perhaps set around the 60's. The man is in a suit and also looks very smart also suggesting high class and quality. 

Editing

The film first fades in from black to show the logo for the institutional logo for paramount pictures, it then fades back out to black and the film opening starts. When the picture fades in the street on which the film is most likely set is shown. The camera follows the car as it reaches it and then stops as the taxi does to let the woman out. Once the woman is out of the taxi there is a strait cut to a low angle shot showing what the lady is looking at and also establishing the location of the shot. The camera then continues to follow her as she walks to the window. There is then another strait cut to the woman's side so we can see what she is looking at as well as her. There is then a strait shot to the window, implying what she is going to look at next. There is then a strait cut to the other side of the window where the lady is looking in. There is then a strait cut to a long shot showing her walking down the street. Then is then a fade in of the next location and the woman can be seen walking down the street implying that she has just walked to there. The shot then cuts to behind the door where the woman is hurrying to find her keys. All of the editing gives the audience a sense of continuity and realism as the cuts allow the audience to see the words through the characters eyes and from her level. The end of the opening when it cuts to the man shouting for her and she avoids him creates an enigma code as it leaves the audience wondering what has or will happen between them and why he is waiting outside for her.

Sound

The first sound you hear in the in the clip is the music that always goes with the paramount pictures logo. This logo then directly leads on to the music for the movie opening. The non diegetic mood music being played is moon river creating a calm and tranquil mood for the film. Very quietly you can hear the taxi engine and the door shutting which creates realism for the audience as these sounds are synchronous and diegetic. The music is played throughout the film opening and is positive classy music which sets the mood of the film before there is even any dialogue. The only other sound of importance in the film opening is the man shouting "hey!" to the women which is showing that this is the end of the film opening and the beginning of the actual film.

Camera work

Shots

The film starts with a long shot establishing the location of the scene, the camera remains still until the taxi reaches it when it then pans to follow the taxi until it comes to a stop. The camera then remains on the taxi while the lady gets out. When the camera is still on the taxi this is a medium close up and this is showing the action of the women leaving the taxi. The camera remains still as the taxi drives away leaving a long shot showing the back of the women. The camera then cuts to a medium close up of the ladies back showing the detail of her dress and hair. The camera then remains still again as she walks towards the window. The next shot is a medium shot from the side of the women's side showing her looking into the window and the action of her eating her breakfast. The camera then zooms out a bit and follows the woman as she walks down the street. The next shot is a medium shot of the window and remains there as the woman walks into the shot so that her reflection can be seen. The shot then remains about the same distance but changes to the other side of the window showing her looking in. The shot then pans until it reaches the end of the street and then it suggests that the woman walks of into the distance. The next shots establish the new location which also indicates the start of the actual film.

Angles

The first camera angle of interest is when the shot is a low angle, this allows the audience to view the location from below her view as well as also giving a status to the audience of being below the character possibly suggesting class and status as a theme in the film. The next angle when it shows the woman looking in the window but also shows her shows what she is looking at and her. The camera shows the window so that you can see the ladies reflection but not her actual body so this camera angle is showing the audience the woman and what she is looking at. The camera is at eye line in this point so it feels as if we are looking directly through her eyes. The next angle is just of her face through the window of the shop allowing the audience to see the character in more detail. All of the camera angles used create a sense of the location as we see from her view. They also show the audience more physical details giving the audience a wider physical view of her.

Titles

The movie opening includes the title of the two main characters and then the name of the film. After this the names of cast such as the various directors, supporting actors and camera people. The typeface is simple but has a slight interesting shape to it. It is a goldy yellowy colour which goes with the class and wealth as gold is a very expensive metal used to make expensive jewellery.