# Dramatic exits on TV & film **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 21, 2018, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698 "2018-09-21T19:53:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698/21 "2018-09-22T12:55:03Z")
In the first episode of _Orphan Black_, Beth Childs makes a back-to-back entrance and dramatic exit. Never to be seen again.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698/22 "2018-09-22T16:29:49Z")
> [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](#): > > Q then gets the last word and makes an appropriate exit from the franchise. Yes, that was good. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698/23 "2018-09-22T23:09:17Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > In the first episode of _Orphan Black_, Beth Childs makes a back-to-back entrance and dramatic exit. Never to be seen again.😉 Actually, I think there were a few flashbacks shown in later episodes. But I know what you mean. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698/24 "2018-09-22T23:13:58Z")
“Fly, you fools!” ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698/25 "2018-09-22T23:17:08Z")
Frodo’s beatific smile as he boards the boat for Valinor. Also: The Wizard as his balloon starts to ascend without Dorothy. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698/26 "2018-09-22T23:22:53Z")
**The Spy Who Loved Me** : James Bond acquits himself as well as one could hope, but it’s soon clear that there’s only one sensible response to the assailants who outnumber him: skiing right off the edge of a cliff, and plummeting for a good ten seconds. Heck, make that a good _twenty_ seconds. But then…! ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698/27 "2018-09-23T03:28:54Z")
I don’t know if anyone ever made a movie of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, but if so, Nora’s final exit has got to rank among the most dramatic of all. “From below comes the noise of a door slamming shut” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698/28 "2018-09-23T03:47:28Z")
The ending of one of my favorite movies, _ **The Heiress** _, where Catherine (Olivia de Havilland) walks slowly up the stairs with a lit lamp while hopeful suitor Morris (Montgomery Clift) watches the light fade through the transom as he bangs desperately on the front door. _“Yes, I can be very cruel. I’ve had excellent teachers.”_ Gives me the chills every time I see it. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698/29 "2018-09-23T05:07:38Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > My favourite: Snagglepuss, reading his stage directions - “Exit, stage left!” 🙂 \ 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698/30 "2018-09-23T05:38:25Z")
The last shot of the first Matrix film is a good one; of course, having the right soundtrack helps. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698/31 "2018-09-23T14:18:46Z")
How about more in the spirit of my OP: dramatic exits early on by the hero? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698/32 "2018-09-23T14:35:41Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > How about more in the spirit of my OP: dramatic exits early on by the hero? So a guy is clearly thinking of pulling a gun on Robert Redford; and Paul Newman is amiably _pleading_ with said guy not to pull said gun, but is dismissively shoved away. Which is why he reluctantly backs off, with an “I can’t help you, Sundance.” ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698/33 "2018-09-23T19:41:02Z")
**Columbo** ’s exits are dramatic by virtue of the fact that they happen over and over and over again during the course of a single conversation. “Just one more thing…” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698/34 "2018-09-24T02:21:56Z")
If we should spoiler stuff, then — uh, spoilers ahead? — the ending to CLUE. “They _all_ did it. But if you wanna know who killed Mr. Boddy, _I_ did: in the hall, with the revolver. Take ‘em away, chief; I’m gonna go home and sleep with my wife.” ---
**Author:** ![Wallet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e99b99/32.png) [@Wallet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallet)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698/35 "2018-09-24T04:50:13Z")
Act III of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale: ‘Exit, pursued by a bear.’ 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Burden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@Jack\_Burden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Burden)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698/36 "2018-09-25T02:52:40Z")
Sheriff Bart and the Waco Kid dismount their horses to ride off into the sunset in a limo. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698/37 "2018-09-25T03:08:28Z")
Leia: “I love you.” Solo: “I know.” ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698/38 "2018-09-25T15:42:48Z")
The beginning to the movie Jesus Christ Superstar has the whole cast getting off of a bus. The ending has the whole cast excepting Ted Neeley (Jesus) getting back on the bus, and YVonne Elliman (Mary Magalene) pausing at the bus door, turning around, and seeing the empty cross. Very powerful scene by Norman Jewison. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698/39 "2018-09-25T17:10:23Z")
Angel. “And yet somehow, I just can’t seem to care.” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SJmPeNvfOM) ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698/40 "2018-09-25T17:31:12Z")
I would count all of these as great exits, even though one occurs in act one of the film: George’s first time leaving the _Silver Streak_. Kendig’s “death” at the end of _Hopscotch_. The door closing on Michael and his business at the end of _The Godfather_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-exits-on-tv-film/821698.md?page=1)