What's your favorite opening to a case? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ILikeTurtles · 05-10-2014, 05:27 PM

Probably reaching for a discussion topic with this but I doubt it's been asked.

What's your favorite opening or establishing shot (15-30 seconds) at the start of a case profiled on UM? I think one underestimated fact of UM in it's prime, they always did an amazing job at setting a unique mood of each case with the music, photography, and narration.

My pick is the Donald Eugene Webb/Greg Adams case. In the world of UM when it comes to Wanted Fugitives, they always make it as chaotic and intense as possible. They usually try to bring your attention in immediately and heighten the audience's sensations.

This one is very different as it's filmed and edited beautifully. An incredibly serene and almost majestic like feel to the little town of Saxonsburg, PA as Stack narrates it wonderfully.

dynoguy88 · 05-10-2014, 07:07 PM

For mystery, suspense and plain spook, you can't have a better opening than the Dennis DePue segment. A shot of a country road during the daytime, the scary and mysterious music hints that something bad is about to happen but the location and time of day makes you wonder what it could possibly be and then the rest is history.

But the majority of the time, UM started their sequences showing shots of the city/town that the case took place in like you said. For instance, the Angela Hammond segment starts with the easing music and shots of Clinton, Missouri. I see that and I picture Angela walking down those same streets during happier times with friends or Rob.

McBevis · 05-10-2014, 08:11 PM

The James Sullivan segment. Though the story itself is certainly tragic, I actually thought it was kind of funny the way his mother-in-law discredited him right on the spot. Here is how it went if I remember correctly.

Robert Stack: When Lita Sullivan was murdered, her husband James had this to say.

James Sullivan (adamantly): I had nothing to do with Lita's death.

RS: Lita's mother, however, said this.

Lita's mother: I really would like to see Jim go to the electric chair.

WishfulDreamer · 05-10-2014, 10:07 PM

Probably the Phillip Frazier segment. We see this beautiful shot of a long road in Alaska (Highway 1) with great music and narration by Stack.

"Alaska. America's last frontier..."

wiseguy182 · 05-10-2014, 11:32 PM

Liza Montgomery.

SheRaaa · 05-11-2014, 01:47 AM

The opening to the Doreen Picard/Susan Laferte segment was very frightening. Just totally ominous and full of dread.

isotope · 05-11-2014, 02:52 AM

What was the one that inspired "Jeepers Creepers", where the couple driving out in the country spot a guy washing bloody sheets and then (showing huge amounts of either courage or insanity) investigate further? Fantastic start to a segment

elg0rd0 · 05-11-2014, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isotope

What was the one that inspired "Jeepers Creepers", where the couple driving out in the country spot a guy washing bloody sheets and then (showing huge amounts of either courage or insanity) investigate further? Fantastic start to a segment

I believe that was Dennis Depue (pardon my spelling).

wiseguy182 · 05-11-2014, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isotope

What was the one that inspired "Jeepers Creepers", where the couple driving out in the country spot a guy washing bloody sheets and then (showing huge amounts of either courage or insanity) investigate further? Fantastic start to a segment

Ah, how I long for the simpler days of yore when people would have enough time to go out for leisurely drives instead of spending all day on their cell phones and facebook. I used to wonder why the heck they would go out for a drive with no real destination or purpose in mind, and then I remembered this was Michigan. Having lived in Michigan all my life, I can assure you it really is that boring, and I too would find myself going out for drives just to have something to do.

DanCart · 05-11-2014, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SheRaaa

The opening to the Doreen Picard/Susan Laferte segment was very frightening. Just totally ominous and full of dread.

Yes !

Its the only segment that has given me that eerie feeling out of all I have viewed ...

DanCart · 05-11-2014, 01:51 PM

I just love the opening shot in the Orange sock murders .....that beautiful view of snow covered Breckenridge is amazing

theero · 05-11-2014, 02:31 PM

I love the opening of the Mikki Jo West segment

it had an eerie look to it, the quality and graininess/Haze in the opening shot gave me chills

RS voice saying "she was never seen again" and then the music begins with a piano piece that is not very scary but it sounds somber and gives you a chill all the while we are seeing a picture of Mikki

MegtheEgg86 · 05-11-2014, 11:23 PM

Ones that immediately come to mind:

-Christi Nichols

-Bonnie Wilder

-Keith Reinhard

TheCars1986 · 05-12-2014, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MegtheEgg86

Christi Nichols

This was the one that immediately came to mind, I love the small town ambiance shown at the beginning.

RobinW · 05-13-2014, 07:12 AM

Always loved the opening to the Dottie Caylor case, which shows a re-enactment of Dottie purchasing a ticket and boarding a train at the BART station she supposedly disappeared while Robert Stack's narration describes how difficult such a simple task can be with a person with agoraphobia. Once it's mentioned that Dottie has gone missing, the segment segues to Jule Caylor instantly establishing himself as one of the most bizarre, unlikable interviewees in UM history as he recites his line about Dottie disappearing to "make things inconvenient" for him.

05-10-2014, 05:27 PM	#1
ILikeTurtles Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 17, 2009 Posts: 128	What's your favorite opening to a case? Probably reaching for a discussion topic with this but I doubt it's been asked. What's your favorite opening or establishing shot (15-30 seconds) at the start of a case profiled on UM? I think one underestimated fact of UM in it's prime, they always did an amazing job at setting a unique mood of each case with the music, photography, and narration. My pick is the Donald Eugene Webb/Greg Adams case. In the world of UM when it comes to Wanted Fugitives, they always make it as chaotic and intense as possible. They usually try to bring your attention in immediately and heighten the audience's sensations. This one is very different as it's filmed and edited beautifully. An incredibly serene and almost majestic like feel to the little town of Saxonsburg, PA as Stack narrates it wonderfully.

05-10-2014, 11:32 PM	#5
wiseguy182 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 11, 2006 Location: Wendy's salad bar Posts: 7,030	Liza Montgomery.
	__________________ "Dottie had said, in the event I got transferred that she was not interested in going with me. I wasn't expecting her to go with me. And wouldn't have even wanted her to I guess."

05-11-2014, 11:23 PM	#13
MegtheEgg86 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 19, 2008 Location: The Volunteer State Posts: 5,156	Ones that immediately come to mind: -Christi Nichols -Bonnie Wilder -Keith Reinhard
	__________________ "Why is she lying?, it makes me wonder. What is she hiding?, it makes me wonder." Go Vols!

05-10-2014, 07:07 PM	#2
dynoguy88 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2000 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 3,672	For mystery, suspense and plain spook, you can't have a better opening than the Dennis DePue segment. A shot of a country road during the daytime, the scary and mysterious music hints that something bad is about to happen but the location and time of day makes you wonder what it could possibly be and then the rest is history. But the majority of the time, UM started their sequences showing shots of the city/town that the case took place in like you said. For instance, the Angela Hammond segment starts with the easing music and shots of Clinton, Missouri. I see that and I picture Angela walking down those same streets during happier times with friends or Rob.

05-10-2014, 08:11 PM	#3
McBevis Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 09, 2010 Location: Barrington, New Jersey Posts: 415	The James Sullivan segment. Though the story itself is certainly tragic, I actually thought it was kind of funny the way his mother-in-law discredited him right on the spot. Here is how it went if I remember correctly. Robert Stack: When Lita Sullivan was murdered, her husband James had this to say. James Sullivan (adamantly): I had nothing to do with Lita's death. RS: Lita's mother, however, said this. Lita's mother: I really would like to see Jim go to the electric chair.

05-10-2014, 10:07 PM	#4
WishfulDreamer Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 01, 2009 Location: L.A. Posts: 3,868	Probably the Phillip Frazier segment. We see this beautiful shot of a long road in Alaska (Highway 1) with great music and narration by Stack. "Alaska. America's last frontier..."

05-11-2014, 01:47 AM	#6
SheRaaa Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 30, 2009 Posts: 421	The opening to the Doreen Picard/Susan Laferte segment was very frightening. Just totally ominous and full of dread.

05-11-2014, 02:52 AM	#7
isotope Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 09, 2013 Location: Australia Posts: 287	What was the one that inspired "Jeepers Creepers", where the couple driving out in the country spot a guy washing bloody sheets and then (showing huge amounts of either courage or insanity) investigate further? Fantastic start to a segment

05-11-2014, 01:51 PM	#11
DanCart Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 03, 2013 Posts: 353	I just love the opening shot in the Orange sock murders .....that beautiful view of snow covered Breckenridge is amazing

05-11-2014, 02:31 PM	#12
theero Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 09, 2008 Location: miami Posts: 44	I love the opening of the Mikki Jo West segment it had an eerie look to it, the quality and graininess/Haze in the opening shot gave me chills RS voice saying "she was never seen again" and then the music begins with a piano piece that is not very scary but it sounds somber and gives you a chill all the while we are seeing a picture of Mikki

05-13-2014, 07:12 AM	#15
RobinW Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2010 Posts: 1,874	Always loved the opening to the Dottie Caylor case, which shows a re-enactment of Dottie purchasing a ticket and boarding a train at the BART station she supposedly disappeared while Robert Stack's narration describes how difficult such a simple task can be with a person with agoraphobia. Once it's mentioned that Dottie has gone missing, the segment segues to Jule Caylor instantly establishing himself as one of the most bizarre, unlikable interviewees in UM history as he recites his line about Dottie disappearing to "make things inconvenient" for him.