Clockwork Orange Opening Sequence

This particular clip doesn't have the original sound with it and unfortunately I didn't manage to find a clip with the correct sound. However I am going to analyse this sequence on visuals.

This thriller opening starts with a red screen, this colour is particularly significant because it signifies passion and anger, two emotions which feature prominently. It begins focused on one man (the protagonist), then zooms out to introduce his droogs/friends and then it tracks back to introduce the setting of their meeting. I feel this works well because the language the protagonist speaks in isn't modern English so this can be a little disorientating for the audience. But by taking it slowly and introducing first the language over the blank screen, then the main character, then his friends and then their location, it gives the audience time to adjust and take in each new piece of information.

The location they are in (a nightclub) really evokes the thriller genre, the fact that they are drinking milk laced with drugs again evokes films of the thriller genre often contain drug references.

The men are all dressed in the same colour with a black hat, reinforcing the idea of them being in a gang.

The camerawork doesn't vary much in the beginning in terms of angles with the camera staying fixed in the same area but zooming out to incorporate more of the scene around the protagonist. It begins with a closeup to show the emotion of the protagonist and to introduce him - showing us he is the most important to us. Before zooming out to give us a bit more detail about his life, e.g. his friends, where he hangs out. I think this is good because it develops the mise-en-scene of him being the leader and of the seedy place they hang out. Even when the camera is very zoomed out, the group is the main feature at the end of the shot, with other people in the club up the sides, they are less important.

It doesn't have any opening credits except for the title and the director on the plain colour screens. I think this is good because the plot could be quite difficult to understand if you had other things detracting from the atmosphere which is created.

The continuity is excellent because you don't have any cuts or pans in the opening. It just tracks all the way back to the end of the room. So it all follows on from the last shot. You notice the camerawork in the sense that it gradually reveals more to you as the opening carries on.

I really like the idea of having one continuous shot without editing as the opening scene. I think that this is very original as I have never seen any film use the same technique.