Opening Shot Analysis - The Big Sleep (Hawks, 1946)

Shot No. 1
Duration: 39 secs.
Shot Type: Medium shot, tilt down
Mise-en-Scène: Shadows against wall, opening credits; ashtray with smoking cigarettes in foreground; ever-present orchestra

Shot No. 2
Duration: 6 secs.
Shot Type: Close up, pan left, fade out
Mise-en-Scène: Front door plaque and hand pressing doorbell

Shot No. 3
Duration: 18 secs.
Shot Type: Long shot, pan right
Mise-en-Scène: Front door from inside large and extravagant house, butler answers the doorbell; Marlowe enters in a suit; butler exits

Shot No. 4
Duration: 5 secs.
Shot Type: Long shot, pan right
Mise-en-Scène: Carmen descends large staircase into the foyer

Shot No. 5
Duration: 2 secs.
Shot Type: Medium shot
Mise-en-Scène: Marlowe dialogue

Shot No. 6
Duration: 5 secs.
Shot Type: Medium shot
Mise-en-Scène: Carmen fiddles with post on table with flowers; dialogue

Shot No. 7
Duration: 3 secs.
Shot Type: Long shot
Mise-en-Scène: Marlowe fidgets; dialogue

Shot No. 8
Duration: 7 secs.
Shot Type: Medium shot, pan left
Mise-en-Scène: Carmen approaches Marlowe; dialogue

Shot No. 9
Duration: 2 secs.
Shot Type: Medium close up
Mise-en-Scène: Shot next to Carmen at Marlowe; dialogue

Shot No. 10
Duration: 8 secs.
Shot Type: Close up
Mise-en-Scène: Shot over Marlowe’s shoulder; dialogue

Shot No. 11
Duration: 3 secs.
Shot Type: Close up
Mise-en-Scène: Shot over Carmen’s shoulder’ dialogue

Shot No. 12
Duration: 7 secs.
Shot Type: Medium close up
Mise-en-Scène: Both characters in frame; Carmen falls into Marlowe’s arms; orchestral flourish

Shot No. 13
Duration: 5 secs.
Shot Type: Close up
Mise-en-Scène: Marlowe and Carmen looking at each other closely; disturbed by door opening from off-screen