History of Opening Titles/Credits Research

Horror opening title fonts that are usually used and examples of them plus why they were effective to use: 

- Halloween - 

ITC Serif Gothic 

The colour matched the pumpkin and therefore the atmosphere of halloween. It also created a false sense of security and juxtaposition of the light colour and elegance of the font to the picture of the angry looking pumpkin holding a knife. The small pointy spikes at the corners of the letters also looks quite sharp and intimidating. 

- Scream - 

Futura

The capital letters create boldness and match the word it is being used on "scream" as well as animates the poster and draws your attention to the title. This is also done by having be the only the coloured on the poster as the rest is black and white. By having the font be quite simple, the small dagger looking symbol on the letter "M" is emphasised, showing a sense of slasher and horror. 

- Nosferatu - 

A modern serif typeface 

This font has small flicks on the end of the letters which makes it look quite elegant, like calligraphy, however the boldness of the font and the colour black makes it look quite gothic and dark, matching the vampire aesthetic of the film and indicating the horror effect. 

Which was the first film to use text in the opening title sequences?

Of course films originally started with subtitles within the film as films used to only be silent, and usually with the cast coming up before the film started, however there was a time when the opening credits were played during an opening scene to help set the atmosphere in the movie as well as shortening the length of the movie itself, therefore allowing for more scenes and longer dialogue. Films originally has opening credits before the film started that usually lasted 15 minutes, in order to prevent piracy and to credit the actors and production/creative team, but in 1954, the film "The man with the Golden Arm" was released and Otto Preminger brought on graphic designer Saul Bass to design the opening for the film. This was the first film to have the title sequence be important and essential to the film, with animation and movement in the background of the titles to help set the atmosphere of the film.