America the Beautiful
In one of his letters to Dolores, Tony tells his wife how beautiful nature is, and particularly, how beautiful the American countryside is. Throughout the film, we see Tony and Don drive through some beautiful locations, from wide open cornfields, to forests. While the characters do not spend much time in nature, the American countryside serves as a picturesque backdrop.
Tuxedo at the Orange Bird
After refusing to play piano at the fancy venue that will not serve him food in Birmingham, Don wants to get something to eat, so he and Tony head to the Orange Bird, a predominately black restaurant nearby. Inside, the patrons are having fun in a casual atmosphere, and Don's finely tailored tuxedo (not to mention his date, a white man) sets him apart from the rest of the bar patrons.
Don alone on the balcony
Early in the tour, Tony goes onto his balcony at one of the hotels they are staying at and sees Don on his balcony across the courtyard, sitting alone and drinking whiskey. This image is the first time that Tony gets a glimpse of the glamorous virtuoso's loneliness, the fact that while his life might be privileged and elevated, it is also alienating and lonesome.
Don on his throne
When Tony interviews for the job of being Don's driver, he visits Don's ornate apartment above Carnegie Hall, filled with gilded furniture, artifacts, and fineries. Don is wearing a robe embellished with gold and sits on a large throne, an image that signifies his power, wealth, and influence, in contrast to Tony's down-to-earth, rough-around-the-edges Italian-American presentation.
