Great Gatsby 1974 Cold Open

The Great Gatsby 1974 cold open does a good job at introducing the plot and setting for the film. The Great Gatsby cold open introduces the setting with the grandeur of the Gatsby Estate. It shows the large pool, the luxurious study with a piano and gold running through all the fixtures, the large pillars, and chandeliers: all of these convey an upper class setting. The cold open also gives a hint to the theme: the hollowness of the upper class. It gives clue to the theme because it depicts the mansion of Gatsby however there are no people in any of the scenes, the house is empty. Each room of the house is empty which gives a sign to the theme that the upper class just like their houses are hollow and shallow. It also introduces a hint to the conflict, in the bedroom and study there are pictures of a woman however there are no signs of a woman present and the JG symbol implies they belong to a single person of those initials. This introduces a possible conflict because we can see that JG loves a woman that is not with him. The cold open, however does not hook the viewer because it gives the impression that the movie will be very slow moving. It doesn’t hook the viewer because the cold open consists of no movement there are only shots of empty rooms coupled with slow music. The slow music and emptiness of the house sets a sad tone to the movie.