# "In a world..." trailers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 7, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884 "2010-07-07T18:50:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884/1 "2010-07-07T18:50:04Z")
Over in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12658241#post12658241) where people were mentioning word and phrases they were sick of hearing in advertising **Superhal** mentioned he was tired of hearing movie trailers that started with “In a world…”. I asked if anybody had actually remembered this phrase and point out or link to any specific trailers that really used it. **sqweels** assured me it had been used many, many times but offered no examples. Others attributed it to the late Don LaFontaine and **ministryman** linked to him parodying it in a Seinfeld skit and a Geico commercial. But still no concrete examples. This may be a short lived thread as soon as somebody links one of these many, many memorable trailers but if not I’m almost ready to call this an urban legend. Please prove me wrong. ---
**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:** [July 7, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884/2 "2010-07-07T18:59:26Z")
Here it is in the trailer for [Comedian](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVDzuT0fXro) ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884/3 "2010-07-07T19:05:51Z")
I don’t have any links to trailers, but I remember when the “In a world” guy died a few years ago. [Link.](http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/02/obit.lafontaine/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884/4 "2010-07-07T19:33:55Z")
again.. no cites… But I feel like it was used a lot with fantasy movies from the 80s. From the Wiki > [@](#): > > In a 2007 interview, LaFontaine explained the strategy behind his signature catch phrase, “in a world where…”: > > We have to very rapidly establish the world we are transporting them to. That’s very easily done by saying, “In a world where… violence rules.” “In a world where… men are slaves and women are the conquerors.” You very rapidly set the scene.[9] So the man himself said he said it in trailers. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884/5 "2010-07-07T20:08:10Z")
TV Tropes says “Dr. Strangelove” had a radio ad that used it. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884/6 "2010-07-07T20:13:58Z")
This almost becomes one of those “Play it again Sam” things that everyone remembers being said but never actually got said. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884/7 "2010-07-07T20:26:07Z")
[Don LaFontaine](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QPMvj_xejg) seems like he was a good guy who had a sense of humor about his job. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884/8 "2010-07-07T20:35:07Z")
After spending way too much time on this this afternoon I have only come up with two examples, one of which is iffy: [Mad Max](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkriid1YxHY). (“In a world gone out of control”; about 2:35.) [Mad Max 2](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBrAh3OyYnI). (“In a world without gas.”) Edit: Also, someone on one of the IMDB forums says that it occurs in one of the Goodfellas trailers available on the DVD; however, I was not able to locate that trailer online. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884/9 "2010-07-07T20:52:20Z")
I am wondering if Don’s uncredited work as the IBC Promo Announcer in _Scrooged_… “In a world gone mad…” Counts. It _ **was** _ a trailer, but not in the traditional sense. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884/10 "2010-07-07T20:53:55Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > This may be a short lived thread as soon as somebody links one of these many, many memorable trailers but if not I’m almost ready to call this an urban legend. Now that you’re aware of it, you won’t be able to stop noticing it. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884/11 "2010-07-07T20:57:52Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBSScga6KZk) 1:05 Game. Set. Match. I have been redeemed! I have been delivered! hallelujah! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884/12 "2010-07-08T00:17:57Z")
> [@ministryman](#): > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBSScga6KZk&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBSScga6KZk&feature=related) > > 1:05 Game. Set. Match. I have been redeemed! I have been delivered! hallelujah! Very good! Indeed, it has been done. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884/13 "2010-07-08T01:40:49Z")
“Trapped in a world he never made. . . .” ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884/14 "2010-07-08T03:08:03Z")
I distinctly remember this trailer (for the movie ‘Caramel’) because my wife and I both realized at that moment just how cliche the “In a world…” line had become. It was just so glaringly obvious. [http://www.moviefone.com/movie/caramel/31050/video/caramel-trailer-no-1/2037766](http://www.moviefone.com/movie/caramel/31050/video/caramel-trailer-no-1/2037766) ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884/15 "2010-07-08T03:16:39Z")
A slight variant is “Enter a world where…” For instance, the trailer for _[Moulin Rouge!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDw1_yV6ufM)_ opens with the line “He entered a world where fantasy is real.” ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884/16 "2010-07-08T05:31:31Z")
“…one man…” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Shroud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@The\_Shroud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Shroud)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884/17 "2010-07-08T05:51:53Z")
[Jakob the Liar.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCYSRcBt9wg) “In a world, where owning a radio was strictly forbidden, one man found a way to bring good news to his people. He made it up.” I only knew that one because [Don and Mike](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_and_mike) used to play that quote to introduce their newsman. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884/18 "2010-07-08T06:05:36Z")
The odd thing is that it’s a really awkward construction. To do it right, you need to come up with a phrase that defines the overall tone of your movie and then use that phrase to set up a specific description of your story. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884/19 "2010-07-08T07:10:03Z")
While I definitely clearly remember this phrase being used in trailers, OTOH, I can’t say with any confidence that all of the times I remember weren’t comedies and/or parodies, and may also include movie _posters_ in addition to trailer voice overs… ---
**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:** [July 8, 2010, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884/20 "2010-07-08T07:38:16Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The odd thing is that it’s a really awkward construction. To do it right, you need to come up with a phrase that defines the overall tone of your movie and then use that phrase to set up a specific description of your story. IMHO, what’s really odd is _ **avoiding** _ the construction. Exhibit A: _"Amidst a world of peace and calm…_ “We’re police officers! We’re not trained for this kind of violence!” “How was the fiendish Simon Phoenix apprehended back in the 20th?” “In the end, it took just one man: John Spartan.” “You mean . . . THE DEMOLITION MAN!” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6vdBncCPMno/hqdefault.jpg "1993 - Demolition Man - Trailer") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vdBncCPMno) Exhibit B: \* “It was a time of destiny. A time when a child could tip the balance between good and evil … a time of scoundrels … a time of rebels … It was a time when courage could be found where you’d least expect it … a time when unearthly powers raged and good men risked their lives … a time of great adventure.”\* [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/D-P03NGSP6Y/hqdefault.jpg "Willow Trailer") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-P03NGSP6Y) Exhibit C: _“Just imagine: a world where you will hold your entire future in the palm of your hand … Welcome to the 23rd century, the perfect world of total pleasure. Imagine a world in which you need never be alone … Michael York is Logan, policeman in a perfect world, trained to track down runners until he is forced to run himself.”_ ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4WUUnc1M0TA/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/4WUUnc1M0TA?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque (“Amidst”? I mean, seriously: “Amidst”?) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-world-trailers/545884.md?page=2)