# Films with surreal narrators **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 1, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843 "2005-02-01T20:12:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843/21 "2005-02-02T00:23:36Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > > [@Daylon](#): > > > > Merle Haggard in the Dukes of Hazzard? \<“Bout this time the Duke boys were wonderin’ if they could fly…maybe grow some wings…”\> > > That was Waylon Jennings. And being that he never appears on screen as the narrator, it’s not what the OP is asking for. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843/22 "2005-02-02T00:27:15Z")
I should expand on that. It is my understanding that what the OP wants is examples of narrators appearing in the story that they’re narrating. _Little Shop of Horrors_ and _Into the Woods_ counts but not \*_Dukes of Hazzard_ and I don’t think _Rocky Horror_ applies either. The Criminologist appears on screen but doesn’t set foot near Frank’s abode. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843/23 "2005-02-02T00:29:32Z")
> [@JerH](#): > > Not a movie, but the Sondheim musical “Into the Woods” has a narrator who appears onstage, sings a bit, and eventually gets killed. Which reminds me, how about the literary professor who periodically comments on the action in \*\*Monty Python and the Holy Grail \*\* before being dispatched by an annoyed Sir Lancelot? (It always seemed to me that Sondheim lifted that part.) ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843/24 "2005-02-02T00:32:20Z")
_A Muppet Christmas Carol_ is narrated by Gonzo (as Charles Dickens) and Rizzo; they appear onscreen, and briefly interact with other characters. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843/25 "2005-02-02T00:40:58Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > Which reminds me, how about the literary professor who periodically comments on the action in \*\*Monty Python and the Holy Grail \*\* before being dispatched by an annoyed Sir Lancelot? (It always seemed to me that Sondheim lifted that part.) Lancelot may be the first of the K-nig-hits arrested, but he does not kill the history professor. The deed is done by an anonymous K-nig-hit. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843/26 "2005-02-02T00:49:26Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > I should expand on that. It is my understanding that what the OP wants is examples of narrators appearing in the story that they’re narrating. _Little Shop of Horrors_ and _Into the Woods_ counts but not \*_Dukes of Hazzard_ and I don’t think _Rocky Horror_ applies either. The Criminologist appears on screen but doesn’t set foot near Frank’s abode. Well, let’s hear _your_ example, Mister “Rules” Cop! 🙂 Actually, the OP says > [@](#): > > have there been any movies anyone can think of where the narrators exist in their own universe outside the story but pop up to talk about the story throughout the movie? So, I don’t see where he says the narrator has to be near Frank’s abode. So Nyah. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843/27 "2005-02-02T01:25:37Z")
_ **The Hudsucker Proxy** _ manages to get THREE narrators: the main narrator, played by Bill Cobbs, is this omniscient janitor who interjects himself into the storyline and action, playing that ubiquitious contemporary movie ethnic stereotype, the helpful Mystical Negro. (“Strictly speaking, I’m not supposed to do nothin’ like this.”) In the diner, there’s a scene where Jennifer Jason Leigh’s character tries to con the eponymous Proxy (scuze me if I sound pretentious, I just can’t remember who played Orville, or for that manner, who Jennifer’s character was) has her actions commented on by two bit players, with humorous asides like: “Enter the light lunch.” “Here come… the waterworks.” “Maybe he’s wise.” “He don’t _look_ wise, Lou.” ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843/28 "2005-02-02T01:34:29Z")
Well, there’s the flea in the classic [film adaptation of _The Autobiography of a Flea_](http://www.videoaddicts.com/vixen/autobiographyofaflea.html). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![andrewdt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/977dab/32.png) [@andrewdt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843/29 "2005-02-02T01:57:15Z")
Luke is correct- I’m looking for characters who actually appear in form, not just voice, even though they’re almost never seen. These are some great examples- at least four of the movies I’ll be seeing eventually, and as for Into the Woods, I also heard that Our Town has a narrator who appears on stage. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843/30 "2005-02-02T02:31:47Z")
The narrator in the Ed Gein-inspired movie DERANGED that in one scene actually sits on the edge of Dead Mom’s bed! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843/31 "2005-02-02T02:34:25Z")
I just saw Disney’s _Aladdin_ again and I think the Robin Williams-voiced peddlar at the beginning of the movie fits what the OP wants…he introduces the story but he isn’t in it, I don’t think (even though Williams also did the voice for the Genie). ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843/32 "2005-02-02T02:35:12Z")
> [@andrewdt](#): > > Luke is correct- I’m looking for characters who actually appear in form, not just voice, even though they’re almost never seen. Well, Geez - The Criminologist _does_ actually appear in form, just not in the same location as the main action of the story that follows. Therefore I still maintain that this example satisfies the conditions of the OP. Further, I feel that I would be a good fit for your organization and I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. Thank you for your time. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843/33 "2005-02-02T02:52:06Z")
Isaac Hayes in **[It Could Happen to You](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110167/)** ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843/34 "2005-02-02T02:55:50Z")
_200 Motels_. Larry The Dwarf (Ringo Starr, dressed as Frank Zappa, who does not speak or sing in the movie itself) _is_ a character in the movie. Not sure if he counts so much as a narrator, but by gum it’s _all_ surreal. Also, I _loved_ the Greek chorus in _Mighty Aphrodite_. > [@](#): > > Chorus: Children grow up, they move out! Sometimes to ridiculous places like Cincinnati, or Boise, Idaho! Then you never see them again! > Chorus Leader: You’d think they’d at least pick up a phone! ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843/35 "2005-02-02T02:56:58Z")
> [@andrewdt](#): > > These are some great examples- at least four of the movies I’ll be seeing eventually, and as for Into the Woods, I also heard that Our Town has a narrator who appears on stage. Most definitely, and he actually takes part as a couple of different characters too, the owner of the drug store (soda fountain) and minister at the wedding, to name two that come to mind. **Our Town** has also been made into a film at least twice I can remember - Most recently with Paul Newman as the narrator/Stage Manager. The shifting narators in **Citizen Kane** and the **Bad and the Beautiful** (Kirk Douglass, Barry Sullivan, Glen Ford and Lana Turner) would also qualify, at least in my mind. Each person adding a portion of the person’s life as it touched them and then the story would move on. For the latter, they are all sitting in a room discussing the Douglass character. Another one that works, to a slightly lesser extent, is **A Guy Named Joe** with Spencer Tracy. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843/36 "2005-02-02T03:04:47Z")
I don’t know about the movie because I haven’t seen it, but the play **Chicago** would definitely qualify. With the reporter being the narrator. I could be wrong, but I seem to remember the movie the musical was based upon **Roxie Hart** had it much the same way. The reporter (John Payne or Rory Calhoun - I can’t remember which) told Roxie’s (Ginger Rogers - I think) story and very much ties into (more than in the musical) it in the end. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843/37 "2005-02-02T03:14:29Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > _Little Shop of Horrors_ and _Into the Woods_ counts but not _Dukes of Hazzard_ and I don’t think… It’s a nit pick and a minor one at that, but Waylon Jennings did appear in a couple of the episodes as cousin somebody or other. One got the feeling that they could either give him a raise or let him appear in the program. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843/38 "2005-02-02T04:15:05Z")
> [@TV time](#): > > I don’t know about the movie because I haven’t seen it, but the play **Chicago** would definitely qualify. With the reporter being the narrator. In the film version, the role is more-or-less covered by the piano player, though he takes a more ironical, detached, somewhat sarcastic stance (“Ladies and gentlemen… a tap-dance” before Billy’s summation). He interacts with the other characters in a few scenes. ---
**Author:** ![NotBob13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e19b73/32.png) [@NotBob13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotBob13)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843/39 "2005-02-02T04:36:34Z")
In _The Adventures of Baron Munchausen_ ( which I am sure to have mispelled) The Baron interupts a play about himself to tell a story about himself, and the line between reality and fiction gets a bit muddled. So the main character is the narator, and probably falls outside the scope of the OP, but I like to mention it. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843/40 "2005-02-02T05:43:15Z")
There’s a silly movie called _Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human_. More of a straight-to-video type (after all, Carmen Electra is the female lead). The narrator doesn’t physically appear in the movie, but plays somewhat of a role in the premise – and it’s David Hyde Pierce (of Frasier fame), and he’s great in it. There are also a few characters in costumes acting out some of the narration (okay, they are dressed up to represent sperm…) and they appear in the movie in an odd place – the main male character notices them in passing. The premise is that the the narration is an alien TV show or something, educating the people about human mating habits (from an alien perspective, that knows nothing really about human culture) – a la Discovery Channel… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/films-with-surreal-narrators/287843.md?page=3)