# greatest entrances in movie history **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 24, 2019, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469 "2019-03-24T21:51:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2019, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469/1 "2019-03-24T21:51:25Z")
The definition of “entrance” is is an appearance of a character in a movie that has an immediate impact, and it is the first time you see the character. Examples- Rita Hayworth in Gilda. The first time you see her is a close-up with her throwing back her hair. Orson Wells in The Third Man, appearing out of the shadows. In the Peter O’Toole thread, which lead to this, What Exit mentioned these- \*On the Gilda scale I would include Honeychile Rider in Dr. No, Jinx (Halle Berry) in Die Another Day and Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit Willy Wonka and his tumble has to make the list as does Quint and his finger nails in Jaws.\* And re Peter O’Toole, in the Stunt Man, in the opening scene on the bridge when the helicopter comes down. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2019, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469/2 "2019-03-24T21:57:51Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > In the Peter O’Toole thread, which lead to this, What Exit mentioned these- Not O’Toole’s entrance, but [Omar Sharif’s first appearance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il-CWVHDnvU) in _Lawrence of Arabia_ is one of the most suspenseful in movie history. It takes several minutes. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2019, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469/3 "2019-03-24T21:57:55Z")
These are common in James Bond movies. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2019, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469/4 "2019-03-24T22:04:09Z")
I came in here to mention Willy Wonka, but I see the OP has already included him. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2019, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469/5 "2019-03-24T22:06:02Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Not O’Toole’s entrance, but [Omar Sharif’s first appearance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il-CWVHDnvU) in _Lawrence of Arabia_ is one of the most suspenseful in movie history. It takes several minutes. Good answer! ---
**Author:** ![Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/59ef9b/32.png) [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorkshire_Pudding)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2019, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469/6 "2019-03-24T22:06:06Z")
Alice Krige as the Borg Queen in First Contact. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2019, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469/7 "2019-03-24T22:08:50Z")
This site tends to be SF-heavy, so I tried to think of a non-SF reference to say before Darth Vader, but I’m not thinking of it quickly, so Darth Vader. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2019, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469/8 "2019-03-24T22:09:49Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > This site tends to be SF-heavy, so I tried to think of a non-SF reference to say before Darth Vader, but I’m not thinking of it quickly, so Darth Vader. I forgot a rule. No aliens, monsters. Humans only ---
**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:** [March 24, 2019, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469/9 "2019-03-24T22:12:00Z")
Christopher Lloyd, exiting a DeLorean with crazy eyes but Albert Einstein’s hair. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469/10 "2019-03-24T22:13:51Z")
I’ve always loved [Kenneth Branagh’s entrance as Henry V](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pnk1fbGNWrM). Great use of light and shadow, that _very_ tall door, the way all the proud and powerful English lords and nobles bow their heads as the King walks past, and of course the wonderful Patrick Doyle score. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2019, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469/11 "2019-03-24T22:14:09Z")
[Indiana Jones](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLZ-JUct1yk) in _Raiders_. No dialogue. You see him from behind and in profile, but don’t see his face until he uses his bullwhip and then steps into the light. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2019, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469/12 "2019-03-24T22:20:39Z")
[Patton](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCA6uxQE-bw). ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2019, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469/13 "2019-03-24T22:21:32Z")
[George C. Scott in Patton](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCA6uxQE-bw) ETA: Curses, ninja’d! I’ll get you for this Robot Arm! ---
**Author:** ![Tinker\_Grey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tinker_grey/32/8136_2.png) [@Tinker\_Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinker_Grey)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2019, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469/14 "2019-03-24T22:23:00Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > I’ve always loved [Kenneth Branagh’s entrance as Henry V](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pnk1fbGNWrM). Great use of light and shadow, that _very_ tall door, the way all the proud and powerful English lords and nobles bow their heads as the King walks past, and of course the wonderful Patrick Doyle score. Great choice. How about Harmonica (Charles Bronson) in Once Upon a Time in the West. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2019, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469/15 "2019-03-24T22:23:45Z")
[Khan’s unveiling](https://youtu.be/geCfrrS4GKo?t=198)in The Wrath of Khan. Rosalind Russel sweeps down the staircase in [Auntie Mame](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OaSVALFPjI). ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2019, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469/16 "2019-03-24T22:25:06Z")
Whelp, glad I previewed before posting. Darren Garrison said Darth Vader already, and it was quickly disallowed. What about animated characters? Say for instance the introductory scene of Taarna the Taarakian in Heavy Metal(human, parallel universe) ---
**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:** [March 24, 2019, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469/17 "2019-03-24T22:31:55Z")
“Well, that’s funny, because I happen to have Mister McLuhan right here!” (_“I heard what you were saying; you know nothing of my work!”_) ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2019, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469/18 "2019-03-24T22:32:55Z")
Orson Welles in_The Third Man._ Tim Curry in _The Rocky Horror Picture Show._ > [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > I forgot a rule. No aliens, monsters. Humans only Darn it. Barad-dur got a better entrance than most humans ever get. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2019, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469/19 "2019-03-24T22:43:39Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Orson Welles in_The Third Man._ > > Tim Curry in _The Rocky Horror Picture Show._ > Darn it. Barad-dur got a better entrance than most humans ever get. what the hell, anything is allowed. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2019, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469/20 "2019-03-24T22:45:08Z")
[Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZSgYhqBeCA) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-entrances-in-movie-history/831469.md?page=2)