100 Years of Movie Title Stills
I’m always observing graphic design in different things. The other day, while I was watching something on TV, the design of the title screen caught my attention. I figured that this would be a great idea to post on Design Informer. I quickly got to work and started researching. Come to find out that there were some great sites that have already collected hundreds of movie title stills.
Anyway, it’s really fascinating to look back at the past and see the way that they designed things back then. This post is kind of like a blast from the past. You’ll get a chance to see some designs from the 1900′s all the way up until 2009. So enough of my chattering, let’s take a look at this showcase of movie title stills from the last 100 years.
1900-1909
1910-1919
1920-1929
1930-1939
1940-1949
1950-1959
1960-1969
1970-1979
1980-1989
1990-1999
2000-2009
Bonus
Since we are already in the mood, here’s a bonus video for you to watch. I’m sure you’ll like this one. It brought up some childhood memories for me.
Scariest TV Logos From Our Childhood
Extra Resources
There are plenty of resources that you might find of interest regarding movie titles, stills, etc. Here are some of the sites that you should visit.
- Movie Title Stills Collection
- Steven Hill’s Movie Title Screens Page
- The Art of the Title Sequence
- Movie Poster Breakdowns
So which movie title stills did you like? Which decade do you think has produced the best designs? What did you think of that bonus video? Please let us know by leaving your comments below. We would also appreciate it if you can tweet this article and bump it. Thank you!
Anyways, I hope that you have enjoyed this showcase of movie title stills. There are all kinds of ways to find inspiration and sometimes, looking at designs from the past can give you that fresh and unique design idea that you have been searching for.
DesignFellow
February 3rd, 2010 5:47 amWonderful collection..
Rare of this kind…..
Thanks for the inspiration…
:)
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Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:05 pmYou are welcome. Yes, it’s a rare collection but I’m glad there were some people who were willing to take screenshots of all of them.
Smashing Share
February 3rd, 2010 5:58 amNice research and good post!
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Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:06 pmThanks Waheed. I appreciate it.
CLAT Guru
February 3rd, 2010 6:01 amGreat Collection,
Makes you go Nostalgic :)
1990s were the golden age, I was young then.
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Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:07 pmHaha, it is a little bit of nostalgia.
1990′s was also when I was growing up and watching lots of TV.
Richie
February 3rd, 2010 6:23 amVery good article, Jad. It is really wonderful to see how the design style has evolved through the decades. Experimenting with new colors has definitely given some new life to the recent ones.
It is tough to choose the best out of these, but if I had to single out one, then it must be ‘Beauty and the Beast’ for its typography style.
A even better research would be to find out which of these were created using the Computer (using PS or something else) and which ones were hand drawn.
As you aptly put, sometimes for inspiration, one needs to look into the past. Without the tools we have now, those artists were pretty exceptional, don’t you think?
I thought the video was a timeless classic. Fat fonts were a rage back then, I guess :) One thing intrigues me though, What’s scary about them? Is it the music?
All in all, a very good article and something different from what I see everyday. Great work, Jad. Keep it up.
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Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:11 pmYes, that’s a good idea. I am definitely curious as well about which ones were created with computers. Thanks for the encouraging words about the post Richie.
Ummm, it’s not really scary. It’s just that people use the term scary as in ugly. :)
Raymond
February 3rd, 2010 6:23 amThese are great. The video brought on some serious Saturday morning flashbacks.
Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:12 pmHaha, yes, it does. I feel like going to the garage and grabbing some old VHS movies and watching them now. :)
Chris Thurman
February 3rd, 2010 6:30 amThat video was downright frightening. It sounded like a bad version of space invaders. Great post though!
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Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:12 pmThanks Chris! What are you talking about? That video is awesome. ;)
Preston
February 3rd, 2010 6:38 amWas watching the video and I couldn’t help but think that logos were so much more simple then. What has happened to us? We need more Paul Rand’s in the world.
Thanks for sharing.
Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:14 pmYes, logos were a lot more simpler back then.
Paul Rand is a design hero and patriarch. We definitely need to have more designers with the same mindset and philosophy as Paul Rand.
Jennifer Farley
February 3rd, 2010 6:40 amSuper duper collection, thank you. I love the typography in some of the early black and white movies.
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Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:14 pmActually, that’s what I really love about viewing these. It’s interesting to see the use of brilliant typography in the early years.
anna maria lopez lopez [annaOMline]
February 3rd, 2010 7:08 amThanks for this great compilation of movie title stills. For a designer and cinema lover like me this post is a must-see!
The Great Train Robbery , The Wizard of Oz and Willy Wonka are my favs from this compilation :)
Greetings from Spain!
anna
Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:16 pmGreetings to you to Anna. I’m in Los Angeles. :)
Thanks for letting us know which ones you liked the most.
digibomb
February 3rd, 2010 7:09 amman that video is great…
sit UBU sit, made me laugh, i still see it every once and a while on reruns.
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Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:16 pmYeah, that was kinda funny. Thanks for stopping by Brendan.
Inside the Webb
February 3rd, 2010 7:41 amThis is so cool! I love the older looking movie titles from 1900-1940′s era. This is a unique collection, gave a stumble thanks!
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Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:17 pmI would have to agree with you. The stills from that era are the best looking ones in my opinion.
Kawsar Ali | Desizn Tech
February 3rd, 2010 8:55 amGreat collection and great idea for post.
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Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:17 pmGlad you liked the idea… I wanted to do something unique. :)
Nikola Lazarevic
February 3rd, 2010 9:19 amAmazing roundup Jad. I love it especially the 1950-1959 period!
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Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:18 pmYeah, that decade was neat. The Blob looks really cool.
vikas ghodke
February 3rd, 2010 10:08 amNice roundup jab, i personally love 70-79.
Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:19 pmThe good ol’ 70′s. Why do you like that decade? You must be a hippy huh? Just kidding, thanks Vikas. :)
Josh
February 3rd, 2010 10:39 amMmmm, love me some movie title stills. It’s always fun to see how the type reflects the time period. Nice post.
Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:19 pmHmmm, interesting, that is true. The typography definitely reflects the certain time period. Thanks for pointing that out Josh.
Tom - Airopia
February 3rd, 2010 1:04 pmCool post, original!
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Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:20 pmI appreciate it, Tom. It’s “cool” that you thought it was “cool.” ;)
Sneh Roy
February 3rd, 2010 1:22 pmVery nice roundup! I am loving the swirls in the early 1900s .. so chic!
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Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:20 pmYup, it’s amazing how those swirls looks so good, yet they were all created by hand. Those designers were really skillful and talented.
julio
February 3rd, 2010 7:41 pmI love that you can see that over the years design got better and more skilled.
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Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:21 pmThe design software did get better, but I don’t think that the actual designs got better. They were pretty nice back then. Imagine if they had the software that we had. :)
Lisa Hawkins
February 3rd, 2010 8:55 pmWhat a terrific idea! Thank you! So many of us enjoy good design; I think it’s one of the things we remember most vividly from the movies. It plays an important role (no pun intended) in a film’s image. Movie titles are a film’s logo – again, it’s the image thing.
Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:23 pmLOL! That was a good one.
I definitely enjoy great design and that is why I wanted to showcase this. :)
Shamima Sultana
February 3rd, 2010 9:47 pmgreat collection indeed..!!
Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:23 pmThanks Shamima!
Josh
February 4th, 2010 12:43 amThis post is a perfect inspirational starting point for anyone planning to embark on a new design project. I was born in the 1980′s so it was like a walk down memory lane. My favourite has to be the Back to the Future movie title, it was an epic hit (both the show and logo!)
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Mary Lou
February 4th, 2010 2:16 amThis is a really creative idea and an awesome collection! I love the style of the 30ies!
loswl
February 4th, 2010 8:16 amWOW! Very nice collection! brings back a lot of memories. These can definitely be used for design inspiration :)
Nikhil
February 4th, 2010 10:18 amGreat roundup friend,
Star Wars still looks great!
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pixelpoints
February 4th, 2010 12:58 pmInspiring. :O)
zanzu
February 4th, 2010 3:56 pmYou amaze me Jad, You never run out of great ideas. What an awesome gallery of exceptional movie title stills. I should say, you are one in a million. Thank you once again.This is addicting. Can’t help but peek at your blog.
zanzu
February 4th, 2010 3:59 pmOh by the way, I like the 90′s collections.
Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:33 pmWOW! Thanks for the extremely kind words, Zanzu. Ideas are everywhere, you just have to learn how to write it down when it comes to you. :)
BTW, you like the 90′s? They did have some nice ones such as Toy Story and Beauty and the Beast.
Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:32 pmThank you! Glad the post was an inspiration.
Firat Yildiz
February 4th, 2010 4:09 pmGreat archive!
I posted it here: http://elmaaltshift.com/2010/02/03/100-years-of-movie-title-still/
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Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:31 pmThanks a lot for doing that. I really appreciate it. Thanks! :)
Iniwoo
February 5th, 2010 1:54 pmGreat idea, loved this article ;)
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Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:31 pmThanks. I’m really happy that lots of people enjoyed this post. And thanks for letting me know. :)
Codesquid
February 5th, 2010 7:48 pmIt’s really interesting to see how the typography has changed over the years!
Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:30 pmYes, the looks of typography designs changed but I’m pretty sure that the principles are still the same. And isn’t it neat that great typography in those early days is still great typography today?
Rocky
February 5th, 2010 8:57 pmreally a nice collection….
Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:29 pmThanks Rocky!
Don Rogers @creativelydone
February 6th, 2010 11:22 amGreat post Jad. I really like several of them throughout the list. I have to say, it is the earliest ones that I have the most appreciation for, because they would have been done completely by hand…showing true craftsmanship in Typography and design.
Jad Limcaco
February 6th, 2010 5:28 pmI agree with you as well Don. Those designs from the early 1900′s are amazing. Not simply because of the design, but by the way they were done. I’m sure lots of hours went into crafting those letters, and don’t even get started on those swirls/borders/shapes. They are really nice and well-crafted. That’s what I call Craftsmanship in design. :)
Brilliant ideas
February 7th, 2010 1:20 amNice compilation. I love beggining of post with vintage titles
Jad Limcaco
February 24th, 2010 3:12 amThanks for sharing which ones you like. I do agree with you, I love those early years of movie stills.
Lucas Cobb
February 7th, 2010 9:11 amWizard of Oz was my favorite. The Blob was cool too. It really seems like we have slipped a little with the more recent titles, but Ice Age sure has a bang to it. Great flashback with this post though.
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Jad Limcaco
February 24th, 2010 3:14 amYep! Ice Age is great. Not only the movie title, but also, the actual movie. I love Scrat! :)
Codesquid
February 7th, 2010 4:49 pmIt’s a shame an Alien movie title still wasn’t included in your list! I can still remember the first time I saw that film, the title was very creepy the way the letters slowly appeared bit by bit!
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Jad Limcaco
February 24th, 2010 3:15 amThat’s true. I didn’t see that title on the sites that I visited so that’s why I forgot. But anyway, there are still some other really cool titles that I have included. ;)
Jerome
February 9th, 2010 1:46 amYou’ll like this video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50BBNZ-ejjU !!!
Jad Limcaco
February 24th, 2010 3:16 amWOW! That video was trippy! :D
fluxnote
February 14th, 2010 4:17 amThank you for this collection.
It’s kind of interesting that there is not so many changes except colors or effects all through the decades. Good design is always what it is.
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BigM75
February 15th, 2010 2:36 amthe collection of movieposters are great
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Lukasz Bachur
February 15th, 2010 6:55 amI was waiting for that kind of article from ages! :)
Cory
February 16th, 2010 3:47 pmFascinating! As somone who is relatively new to the design business. It never ceases to amaze me how much nuance there is in the world of graphic design. Really good post.
Nick
February 18th, 2010 4:49 pmExcellent. I really like the typography “The Mouse that Roared” and because of the `50s.
sriganesh
February 22nd, 2010 11:33 amDone lots of works and the 1900- 1940 movies , never seen anywhere, thanks for sharing some rare movie titles :D
Jad Limcaco
February 24th, 2010 3:18 amYou’re welcome. Actually, they aren’t as rare as you think. There are actually lots of different sites that archive these things, you just have to know where to look to find them. :)
Chris@ 48hours logo contest
March 28th, 2010 10:13 amNice post. Some of these stills look really creepy. But never than less, they are great pieces of arts.
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Rupam
May 4th, 2010 3:33 pmHi Jad, Nice Post Keep it up:)
Thanks
Best Regards
Rupam
Shanna
June 28th, 2010 9:10 pmThanks for this post! I am working on a retro logo and need some early 1900′s inspiration.
Viuu
July 20th, 2010 6:18 pmAlmost fogot how stylish and creative the old movie title stills actually were. Thanks for the reminder :)
I really like The Twilight Zone still but also the Back to the Future title. Nice roundup!
Bob Colby
July 24th, 2010 5:19 amNice collection! However, the “Eyes of the Mummy” typography looks more like a ’50s horror flick than anything from its time. I also noticed a modern-looking “AlphaVideo” logo in the top right corner – I’m wondering if this really was the original title card.
Binkamran
November 4th, 2010 2:04 ami have a miracle on the back who gives super natural powers. and i can stoop warr and all kind of natural desasters and bring peace wear ever i stand in this world naturaly alone and without weapons
Elias Hinchey
June 14th, 2011 8:44 amI love what you guys are up too. This type of clever work and reporting! Keep up the awesome works guys I’ve included you guys to my personal blogroll.