Author: Kim Risson
First published: 30 September 2012
Maurice Binder is an iconic visual designer
whose contributions to creating the mise-en scene
within films are world famous. Maurice
Binder (1925 to 1991) was an American film
title designer. He was best known for his work
on 14 different James Bond 007 films, the most
famous being Dr No. (1962) He was also an
excellent arts student, who practiced
as a graphic designer in the advertising arena
and later they got recruited to work in the film
industry.
Binder’s work as a graphic designer
influenced his work in setting the mise-en
scene, title sequences and mood of the films, he
worked on. The most notorious of these films
comprising of an anthology of 14 unique James Bond 007 movies,
The Long Ships, The Mouse that Roared,
Dracula, The Last Emperor, The Running Man,
The Grass is Greener, Charade, Barberella
and Young Winston among others.
Binder had a sublime ability to construct a film’s
Mise en scene and
“create (a) scenic realism and atmosphere for
the film”. (Corrigan T and White P, 2004, p 45)
Maurice Binder is famous for his work on
establishing the mise-en scene
for all the films, he worked on.
He also excelled at foreshadowing
the mise-en scene within the title sequences of
the James Bond 007 films. This cinematic
strategy evokes lasting feelings of the themes,
character and exposition that followed
throughout the films he worked on.
The James Bond 007 title designs are the most
recognisable of any film created in the world,
establishing a precedent in adventure and
action films. According to George Stanitzek
(2009, pp 44- 58) a
“title sequence utilises visual imagery and
sound to depict cast and production members
names in the opening and closing credits in
films and television shows”.
The visual imagery and décor utilised by
Binder in the James Bond 007 title sequences
dresses the film set for the viewer, signifying
the flourishing cultural and fashion scene of the
swinging 1960s. The infusion of sensual elements
amplifies the realistic ambience of the scene with
imagery of dancing go-go girls and the use of
bright psychedelic colours and fantastic dot
motifs that are embedded in the Dr No film
and its opening title sequences.
The pioneering main and pre-title sequences
created by Binder signify to film goers around
the world that they are viewing as an iconic
James Bond 007 film.
Maurice Binder created the most recognisable
visual icon in the world - the opening graphic
device of a gun shooting down a barrel with
blood splashing down the screen is one of the
most recognisable trade marks in cinema
history. In this title sequence, the viewer looks
down the barrel of a gun at James Bond 007
shooting at his target. This iconic image
centralises the mise-en scene with James
Bond’s gesture and actions. The
personality of the adventurous typography
fonts Binder deployed in the James Bond 007
films create the personality of the films he
works within.
The costuming of the characters Binder chooses
to represent in the opening James Bond 007
title sequences depict the protagonist James
Bond 007’s status as a debonair and
charming gentleman, resplendent in his tuxedo,
and well-tailored suits and ties.
From a Freudian perspective, the cultural
symbolism and the theme of James Bond 007’s
celebration of the female forms is cleverly
introduced by Binder through his creation of
the scenic atmosphere in the James Bond 007
series, allowing the audience to engage in
voyeuristic fantasies of “swinging 60s”
woman dancing in an erotic fashion. The
utilization of seductive woman as a sexual
metaphor is a theme repeated during the
James Bond film series. The cultural
verisimilitude contained within the swinging
60s visual imagery created by Binder is
reiterated during the sets in the film.
This scenic realism of James Bond 007’s
personality is represented in the opening title
sequences created by Binder. These scenes
personify the
“physical, cultural and historical accuracy of
the backgrounds, objects and other figures”.
(Corrigan and White, 2004, p 45)
and are embedded within the mise-en scene
of the James Bond 007 films.
In the set of the James Bond 007 films,
foreshadowing is used as an effective device,
by introducing the viewer to the weapons that
the protagonist James Bond 007 deploys in his
efforts to defeat his enemies. Bond
uses a weapon such as a gun to kill his
nemeses in the final scenes of the film, in
addition to his wit and charm as a weapon of
choice to seduce attractive woman.
To express James Bond, Binder maximizes the sequence by
incorporating a gun in the title to visually communicate James
Bond 007’s personality and intentions, in addition to
demonstrating his authority and sensuality through
the visual imagery of this memorable
sequence.
References
Albinson, I (2007), “The Art of the title”, http://www.artofthetitle.com/designer/maurice-binder/ (retrieved 24 September 2012)
Adair, D, (2012), ‘COMM120 - Week 5 Lecture: Visual Culture – At the movies, Griffith University, Unpublished.
Adair, D, (2012), ‘COMM120 - Week 2 Lecture: Visual Culture: Art, Artists and Audiences, Griffith University, Unpublished.
Corrigan, Timothy and White, Patricia, (c2004) ‘The film experience : an introduction”, (p. 44-46, 51-60, 110-118). Boston, MA : Bedford/St.Martin's
Chapman, J (2000). ‘Licence to Thrill: A Cultural History of the James Bond Films”. Columbia, 61.
Cork, J & Scivally, B (2002). “James Bond: The Legacy”. Boxtree, 46.
Frayling, C (2005)“Ken Adam and the Art of Production Design”, London and New York: Faber, p.91
Mi6 HQ, (2012),“Maurice Binder Biography” http://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/biography_maurice_binder.php3 (retrieved 25 September 2012)
Moura, G, 2011, “The elements of Cinema”, Long Beach, California. http://www.elementsofcinema.com/index.html (retrieved 18 August 2012)
Pfeiffer, L and Philip, L (1995). “The Incredible World of 007: An Authorized Celebration of James Bond”. Boxtree, 200.
Stanitzek, G, (2009), “Reading the Title Sequence (Vorspann, Générique”), trans. Noelle Aplevich, in: Cinema Journal 48,4 (Summer 2009), pp. 44-58.
Title Design Project (2011), www.titledesignproject.com/maurice-binder/ (retrieved 24 September 2012)