Don’t ya love when a movie’s opening credits set the tone for the rest of the flick?

Don’t care, you say?

Well, they did back in the day.

Check out these funky clips, then shove the tunes into your Microsoft Zune ASAP.

10. “Bulllit” (1968): A soundtrack as cool as Steve McQueen.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP42mm-qkl4%5D

music by lalo schifrin

9. “Assault on Precint 13” (1976): Like director John Carpenter’s best movies — simple, taut, to-the-point.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7Z_svBij-8%5D

music by john carpenter

8. “The French Connection” (1971): Just a minute long, then, BLAM, you’re in the movie. I’m sure they’ll remake it anyday now and throw a tune by Shaggy featuring Rihanna over the opening.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7hY6R0CYJM%5D

music by don ellis

7. “Jackie Brown” (1997): Quentin Tarantino’s homage to blaxploitation nails the working-class vibe.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BWA1T78WpI%5D

“across 110th street” by bobby womack

6. “The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three” (1974): Brass horns rule.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXrEptVgUnc%5D

music by david shire

5. “Halloween” (1978): Undeniable. (Those under 30 — try to ignore home video distributor greeting. Those over 30 — enjoy the nostalgia.)

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2qCTkBze5I%5D

music by John Carpenter

4. “Boogie Nights” (1997): One ups the “Goodfellas” Copa scene, proves Welles was way ahead of his time with “Touch of Evil.”

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc3QsYMjZMs%5D

“the best of my love” by the emotions

3. “Dirty Harry” (1971): Totally weird jazz tune is jarring, especially when it is plays over a murder.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujfFSW9074c%5D

music by lalo schifrin

2. “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” (1966): Wahna na na NAH, nah nah nah.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGIelcG0r3s%5D

music by ennio morricone

1. “Shaft” (1971): An opening theme so good it spoils the rest of the movie.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDyRdhSIqlo%5D

 

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