Opening Credit Sequence: Beetlejuice

The title sequence for Beetlejuice opens with Danny Elfman’s ominous sampling of "The Banana Boat Song" echoing shades of Oingo Boingo to kick off his original score (and one of his most memorable) that drives the aerial shot over what seems to be the New England hamlet of East Corinth, Vermont.  Starting over thick verdant forest, we then swing past the small town before a dissolve that results in a closer shot reset only a little ways back from where the last one left off.  The camera flies over the town statue and church twice; as well, you may note that the milk truck is parked in a different spot.  You may also note that very truck, as well as the headstones in the cemetery, seem, well, slightly unreal, as what we're watching isn't East Corinth, but a scaled down version.    

There is a second dissolve that segues into the miniature version of the town designed by Adam Maitland (Alex Baldwin), a young man in a happy relationship with everything going well for him—that is, until a fatal trip to the hardware store that day.  The crown jewel of the village set is the tiny model of the couple’s home atop a hill.  At the end of the credits,  Adam reaches his hand into the frame and breaks the illusion to collect the tarantula creeping over from the back of the roof exposing the faux nature of the endeavor to those who weren’t paying too close attention. 

First dissolve after Michael Keaton's credit

Second dissolve

Illusion broken

It may have taken a team of six to design the mini-set, although it isn’t quite clear.  Allan Johnson, who started off as a carpenter in the business, provided the topographical landscape (he was also nautical dialogue coach on Davis’ Cutthroat Island!).   Model maker Tom Gleason now works first assistant camera.  Steve Koch started off as a prop master and has since worked in prosthetics and as a puppeteer.  Currently, he’s a digital effects sculptor, designer.  The miniature production may also have included James Belohovek, Thomas Conti, and Rick Kess.


Previous Editions:
Beetlejuice
The Birdcage
My Best Friend's Wedding
To Die For
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo