Crane Shots are mostly common in the beginning of a film and at the end. These shots are taken by a camera on a moving crane or jib.  A crane enables the camera to travel the distances up and down, forward and backward and from side to side, while flying high in the air. Cranes also have both an operator and a camera , but some can be moved by remote control. Camera cranes were frequently used in silent films to enhance the nature of large sets and massive crowds. It can also be used to move up and away from the actors, a common way of ending a movie. Crane shots are also often found in emotional or suspenseful scenes. 

In the  1930s crane shots became a signature of Busby Berkeley musicals and became popular after technological improvements after World War II. One of the most famous crane shots is in the film Gone With The Wind where Scarlet has gone to the Atlanta railroad yards to get a doctor. As she walks onto the yards the camera cranes up to slowly reveal an almost endless expanse of wounded and dying soldiers eventually framed by a Confederate flag. These shots are often difficult to pull off but can be very effective establishing shots in any type of movie.