16.2.10

Saul Bass




B. May 8th 1920
D. April 25th 1996

American graphic designer and film maker.
Studied at the Brooklyn College.

He began by creating the print work for film ads. His work with Otto Preminger for the film poster of the 1954 film Carmen Jones impressed Preminger enough to be asked to create the title sequence for the film too.


"Bass became notorious in the industry after creating the title sequence for Otto Preminger's The Man with the Golden Arm (1955). The subject of the film was a jazz musician's struggle to overcome his heroin addiction, a taboo subject in the mid-'50s. Bass decided to create a controversial title sequence to match the film's
controversial subject. He chose the arm as the central image, as the arm is a strong image relating to drug addiction. The titles featured an animated, black paper cut-out arm of a heroin addict. As he expected, it caused quite a sensation."

Saul Bass the went on to create numerous film title sequences and company logos through his success and recognition gained as he worked after The Man With The Golden Arm.


"Saul Bass’s work touches people. Not just designers, or students, or observers of design, or those who know and can explain what a designer is and does, but simply people—many, many people." - David R.Brown



Selected film title sequences and respective dates




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