saul bass

The genius opening for "Mad Men" [watch here] has got me thinking about Saul Bass. The graphic designer was the innovator of this style. He was able to capture the essence of the film and its era with the design of his titles and images. The dizzying opening of North By Northwest matched with Bernard Herrmann's rousing score is a particular standout of his work. His influence is still seen today in the title sequences of Fight Club and Catch Me If You Can and in the graphic design of posters (such as Burn After Reading and Precious). Here is a sampling of his work.

North By Northwest



Vertigo



Ocean's 11



The Man With the Golden Arm



Around the World in 80 Days



Anatomy of a Murder



Seconds



Bunny Lake is Missing



Cape Fear



Casino