The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3- Title Sequence Analysis

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

The production company is shown as it normally would do, zooming out from the torch to present the statue of liberty. This is shown in a small rectangle in the center of a black background. The rectangle is then zoomed into to show the production company clearer 'COLUMBIA'. While the screen is still zooming in and showing less and less of the black background, the company fades into the first scene showing the city of Manhattan. A thick black line slides across the screen and as it passes, words come out from behind it. Written in block capital black letters 'COLUMBIA PICTURES AND METRO-GOLDWYN- MAYER PICTURES PRESENT'. Another thick line passes 'IN ASSOCIATION WITH RELATIVITY MEDIA', another thick line 'A SCOTT FREE/ESCAPE ARTISTS PRODUCTION'. The line and writing is then almost eaten by the screen, the divided city view behind the writing closed over it, leaving just the view. 

The screen lags and loud music starts, bold white text with hints of blue shining over it saying 'A FILM BY TONY SCOTT' slides in and lags on its way in. It lingers in the middle of the screen and then slides out. The city is shown extremely fast, buildings, streets, traffic, city rush. It is all sped up to show the rush of a city. 'DENZEL WASHINGTON' the name slides in, fast representing the speed of a car in the city or a train. 'JOHN TRAVOLTA', the camera focuses on Travolta's character in slow motion, possibly foreshadowing his significance. It shows the sign of the subway, a bag, then a man holding it and another man. There are quick cuts showing all this and eventually shows a train marked 'PELHAM'

The title is then presented in two parts. 'THE TAKING OF PELHAM' slides in from the left and '1 2 3' slides in from the right, both as fast as a train. In the background of the title presentation, there is a subway train going past very fast. The use of sliding in all the title sequence shows the significance of a train in the film, it is fast and unexpected, the scenes and cuts were edited in a fast paced way and it all gave a 'train' feel to it.