Film Language Tag: leitmotif (sound)
Term derived from nineteenth-century opera and applied to film music; when a musical theme (usually short) is developed (varied, reorchestrated) within a film, the theme acquires some of the properties of a word or symbol, with independent meaning or associations that can be called up when the theme is repeated. The signification of a leitmotif is specific to a particular film (or set of films) and is opposed in that sense to the musical topic, whose signification is more general. Leitmotifs are often also musical topics.
"Somewhere" Reprise (Closing Sequence), West Side Story
Tony (Richard Beymer) and Maria (Natalie Wood) find each other in the playground. Chino (Jose De Vega) shoots Tony, who dies in Maria's arms while the Sharks and the Jets watch.
"Tonight", West Side Story
Tony (Richard Beymer) finds Maria (Natalie Wood) on her fire escape.
2046, In the Mood for Love
Mr. Chow (Tony Leung) and Mrs. Chan's (Maggie Cheung) relationship develops as they meet in a hotel room, number 2046.
A Loving Brother, Once Upon a Time in the West
Frank (Henry Fonda) rides to Sweetwater to face Harmonica (Charles Bronson) in a duel. Harmonica recalls how he gained his harmonica.
A Man Named Frank, Once Upon a Time in the West
Brett McBain (Frank Wolff) and his children prepare a feast for their new mother which is interrupted by a group of men led by Frank (Henry Fonda).
Adelaide Confronts Red, Us
Adelaide Wilson (Lupita Nyong'o) confronts Red (Lupita Nyong'o) who has captured her son, Jason Wilson (Evan Alex). As Adelaide creeps up behind Red, weapon in hand, Red begins a monologue about her life as a tethered. The monologue is overlayed with images of Adelaide and Red as young girls. The twist that Adelaide was originally a tethered is revealed.
Cheyenne Visits, Once Upon a Time in the West
Cheyenne (Jason Robards) visits Jill (Claudia Cardinale) at Sweetwater to think over the killings.
Closing Sequence, The Exorcist
Regan and her mother finally move out and the Lieutenant leaves with Damien's friend.
Closing Sequence, Carrie
Sue is terrorized by dreams of Carrie.
Closing Sequence, Candyman
Trevor summons Helen.
Closing Sequence, The Hunger
While a detective (Dan Hedaya) finds Miriam's home empty, Sarah (Susan Sarandon) survives and now lives in London.
Closing Sequence, Brazil
Sam (Jonathan Pryce) hallucinates an escape with Jill (Kim Greist) while he is observed in the torture room with Jack Lint (Michael Palin) and Mr. Helpmann (Peter Vaughan).
Closing Sequence , Once Upon a Time in the West
Cheyenne (Jason Robards) reveals to Harmonica (Charles Bronson) that he's been shot. The train arrives at Sweetwater station.
Closing Sequence , Killer of Sheep
One of Stan's Wife's (Kaycee Moore) friends announces she is pregnant, and Stan (Henry G. Sanders) continues working at the sheep slaughterhouse.
Clothes Leftover (Closing Sequence), Brokeback Mountain
In 1983, Ennis (Heath Ledger) is visited by his daughter Alma Jr. (Kate Mara).
Crash Course, The Exorcist
Chris shoots a scene and goes home.
Days and Nights on the Mountain, Brokeback Mountain
Ennnis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) herd sheep together at Brokeback Mountain.
Death Inside, Once Upon a Time in the West
After killing Frank (Henry Fonda), Harmonica (Charles Bronson) and Cheyenne (Jason Robards) leave Jill (Claudia Cardinale) and Sweetwater.
Dreams of the Sea, Once Upon a Time in the West
Frank (Henry Fonda) returns to the train car and finds Morton (Gabriele Ferzetti) on the verge of death.
Get Ready, Once Upon a Time in America
In 1968, Noodles (Robert De Niro) reunites with Fat Moe (Larry Rapp) after having received a letter asking to rebury his friends.
He Can Shoot, Once Upon a Time in the West
Cheyenne (Jason Robards) rides off after finishing his conversation with Jill (Claudia Cardinale). Jill gets a surprise visit from Harmonica (Charles Bronson).
How Long Does Tomorrow Last?, Eternity and a Day
Alexandre (Bruno Ganz) revisits the empty family home and recalls Anna's (Isabelle Renauld) letter.
I Got Five on It, Us
Adelaide Wilson (Lupita Nyong'o), Gabe Wilson (Winston Duke), Jason Wilson (Evan Alex), and Zora Wilson (Shahadi Wright Joseph) begin to sing along to the car radio playing "I got 5 on it". The mother tells her son to "get in rhythm", but she proceeds to snap her fingers off beat.
Jack Visits, Brokeback Mountain
Four years later, Jack (Jake Gyllenhall) visits Ennis (Heath Ledger) at home in Wyoming. Ennis' wife Alma (Michelle Williams) witnesses their reunion.
Jill, Once Upon a Time in the West
Jill (Claudia Cardinale) arrives in Flagstone and finds no one there to meet her.
Keeping Appointments, Once Upon a Time in the West
Harmonica (Charles Bronson) follows Wobbles (Marco Zuanelli) to Morton (Gabriele Ferzetti) and Frank's (Henry Fonda) train car, and gets captured.
Knowing How to Play, Once Upon a Time in the West
Jill (Claudia Cardinale) and her driver (Paolo Stoppa) stop at a tavern. The outlaw Cheyenne (Jason Robards) enters wearing shackles and a man playing a harmonica (Charles Bronson) sits in the corner.
Meeting Orestes, Landscape in the Mist
Voula (Tania Palaiologou) and Alexandros (Michalis Zeke) meet Orestes (Stratos Tzortzoglou), an actor driving a van on his way to meet his troupe.
Minutes Pass, Years Go By, The Hunger
As John (David Bowie) waits for Dr. Sarah Roberts (Susan Sarandon) to talk to him, he rapidly ages.
Nardo is Dead, West Side Story
Maria (Natalie Wood) is told by her fiancé Chino (Jose De Vega) that Bernardo (George Chakiris) was killed by Tony (Richard Beymer).
Noodles at Night, In the Mood for Love
Alone without their spouses, Mr. Chow (Tony Leung) and Mrs. Chan (Maggie Cheung) separately get noodles.
Opening Sequence, In the Heights
Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) introduces el barrio.
Opening Sequence, Brazil
Jill Layton (Kim Greist) sees her downstairs neighbor Archibald Buttle (Brian Miller) get wrongfully arrested as a result of a mistaken identity.
Opening Sequence , Once Upon a Time in the West
Three gunmen (Woody Strode, Al Mulock, Jack Elam) prepare to ambush a harmonica-playing stranger (Charles Bronson).
Opening Sequence, Eternity and a Day
Three boys run into the sea.
Opening Sequence, West Side Story
The Jets, a white gang led by Riff (Russ Tamblyn), and the Sharks, a Puerto Rican gang led by Bernardo (George Chakiris), brawl in the streets.
Quizas, Quizas, Quizas, In the Mood for Love
Mr. Chow (Tony Leung) and Mrs. Chan (Maggie Cheung) rehearse their farewell before Mrs. Chan goes to room 2046 only to find Mr. Chow already gone.
Running to Make it Home, In the Heights
Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) finally gets a date with Vanessa (Melissa Barrera), who dreams of leaving the barrio.
Sam Meets Jill, Brazil
After meeting with Archibald Buttle’s widow, Sam (Jonathan Pryce) sees Jill (Kim Greist) who resembles the woman of his dreams.
Sam's Dream, Brazil
Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) dreams of donning wings and escaping his life as a government bureaucrat.
Sam's Escape, Brazil
With help from Archibald Tuttle (Robert De Niro), Sam (Jonathan Pryce) escapes torture at the hands of Jack Lint (Michael Palin).
Sarah Turns, The Hunger
Dr. Sarah Roberts (Susan Sarandon) goes to dinner with Tom (Cliff De Young) after a day with Miriam (Catherine Deneuve).
Souvenirs of a Killing, Vertigo
Scottie (James Ferguson) and Judy (Kim Novak), now transformed as Madeleine again, revisit the bell tower.
The Bus, Eternity and a Day
With the boy (Achileas Skevis) set to depart in two hours, Alexandre (Bruno Ganz) and the boy take a bus ride and are joined by a protestor, an arguing couple, three musicians, and a poet (Fabrizio Bentivoglio).
The Candyman Faces off With Police, Candyman
As Anthony's (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) girlfriend Bri (Teyonah Parris) attempts to fight the Candyman, she realizes the two are linked. If the Candyman is harmed, so is Chris. She cradles his body on the floor. When the police arrive at the scene, they ask no questions and shoot Anthony dead while arresting his girlfriend. Trapped in the police car, the girlfriend summons the Candyman so that she can escape and be freed.
The McBain Family, Once Upon a Time in the West
Jill (Claudia Cardinale) arrives at Sweetwater and finds a gathering for the funeral of her husband Brett McBain (Frank Wolff) and his children.
Time Sure Flies, Once Upon a Time in the West
Frank (Henry Fonda) tries to persuade Harmonica (Charles Bronson) in selling him Jill's (Claudia Cardinale) land. Frank's men plan an ambush.
To Germany, Landscape in the Mist
After saying goodbye to their friend Seagull (Ilias Logothetis), Voula (Tania Palaiologou) and Alexandros (Michalis Zeke) finally sneak onto a Germany-bound train.
Voices of the Gods, In the Heights
Vanessa (Melissa Barrera) shows Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) her work and Usnavi decides to stay in Washington Heights.
Wish I Knew How to Quit You, Brokeback Mountain
Ennis (Heath Ledger) and Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) argue about not being together.
Yesterday, Once Upon a Time in America
Noodles (Robert De Niro) returns to Fat Moe's (Larry Rapp) to grab a key from a clock. Using the key to unlock a train locker, he discovers a suitcase full of newspapers. Noodles buys a ticket to Buffalo.
