# Movies where a character acknowledges they are in a movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 4, 2006, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809 "2006-12-04T14:34:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**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:** [December 6, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809/61 "2006-12-06T02:49:21Z")
A rare instance of a serious film doing something like this: halfway through Ingmar Bergman’s **Persona** , the film appears to break in the middle of a tense scene. The characters don’t say anything, but it was Bergman’s way of saying to the audience that this was a movie. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809/62 "2006-12-06T06:18:19Z")
Quite a bit of **24 Hour Party People** has explicit references to the fact that it is a movie. Sure, it’s mainly just the main character narrating, but he does so in character, talking to the camera when other characters aren’t looking. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809/63 "2006-12-06T06:34:45Z")
Actually, breaking the wall is an ancient device that long predates movies. I mean, even Aristophanes’ plays (I’m thinking of “The Clouds” in particular) have numerous moments in which characters step out of the action to crack jokes directly to the audience. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809/64 "2006-12-06T07:36:02Z")
[QUOTE=OpalCat] Several of the characters interact with the narrator. Remember the “awwww” vs “awe” part? Cracked me right the hell up. [/QUOTE] Right from Rocky and Bullwinkle. One of the things I liked about George is that it was the only one from a Ward cartoon that got this kind of thing right. In the end, Ape interrupts the closing to do his Vegas act also. ---
**Author:** ![Asgardking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Asgardking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asgardking)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809/65 "2006-12-06T10:41:43Z")
**Gremlins II** At one point, the film seems to break and you see silhouettes of gremlins on the white screen. They cut to the theater lobby and patrons are screaming and running out. The theater manager goes into the theater and finds Hulk Hogan who threatens to kick some gremlin ass if they don’t get the film back on. Then the film starts again. Just a fourth wall break **Volunteers** with Tom Hanks and John Candy. The film takes place in Cambodia. There is a Cambodian woman who speaks with such a thick accent that she has subtitles. In one scene, John Candy can’t understand what she’s saying, so he looks over and reads the subtitles. ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809/66 "2006-12-06T11:23:13Z")
Re: Gremlins II, I swear I’m not insane, but the first time I ever rented this movie the film-breaking interlude was much different. It had Gremlins popping up in other movies (John Wayne: “What do we have here?” Gremlins: “Duke!”) and cartoons. When I bought it on DVD, it had the Hulk Hogan bit. I liked the first one better. Wasn’t there a bit in the Muppet “Wizard of Oz” where Gonzo bounces up to the camera and says, “If you have _Dark Side of the Moon_ cued up, push play now!”? ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809/67 "2006-12-06T11:35:17Z")
[QUOTE=Marlitharn] Re: Gremlins II, I swear I’m not insane, but the first time I ever rented this movie the film-breaking interlude was much different. It had Gremlins popping up in other movies (John Wayne: “What do we have here?” Gremlins: “Duke!”) and cartoons. When I bought it on DVD, it had the Hulk Hogan bit. I liked the first one better. [/QUOTE] You’re not insane. The Hulk Hogan version is the cinema version, the John Wayne version is the video version. Why they put the Hulk Hogan bit on the DVD (and I’ve seen it on TV too), I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809/68 "2006-12-06T11:53:58Z")
Not from the movies but from stage shows I have seen: In a performance of _The Mikado_, Pooh-Bah and Ko-Ko receive a message from the Mikado warning them that unless an execution is forthcoming, the post of Lord High Executioner will be abolished. Pooh-Bah begins reading the letter in Japanese, and is interrupted crossly by Ko-Ko ordering to read him so “they” can understand it. (Not in W S Gilbert’s original libretto.) In a performance of _The Pirates of Penzance_, the Sergeant of Police sings: “They {the Pirates} come in force, with stealthy stride; Our obvious course is now to hide” - and the police quickly go and sit in among the audience. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809/69 "2006-12-06T17:38:30Z")
[QUOTE=Priceguy] You’re not insane. The Hulk Hogan version is the cinema version, the John Wayne version is the video version. Why they put the Hulk Hogan bit on the DVD (and I’ve seen it on TV too), I don’t know. [/QUOTE] Guess: The movie version makes it look like the Gremlins are playing around with the cinema equipment, changing the reels on the projector, etc. The TV/ video version makes it look like they are messing with your TV set, changing channels, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809/70 "2006-12-06T17:46:10Z")
[QUOTE=Peter Morris] Guess: The movie version makes it look like the Gremlins are playing around with the cinema equipment, changing the reels on the projector, etc. The TV/ video version makes it look like they are messing with your TV set, changing channels, etc. [/QUOTE] Exactly. So why do we get the cinema version on DVD and TV? ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809/71 "2006-12-07T14:34:03Z")
[QUOTE=Priceguy] Exactly. So why do we get the cinema version on DVD and TV? [/QUOTE] You get both versions on DVD. One of them is an Easter Egg. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809/72 "2006-12-28T12:28:11Z")
**Clueless** : Alicia Silverstone’s character addresses the audience in voiceover several times. As the montage sequence in the beginning winds down, “Okay, you’re probably thinking, is this a Noxema commercial or what?” Shortly afterwards, walking past a portrait of her late mother (with unfortunate early-80s hair) “Wasn’t my mom a Betty?” And almost at the end, after she and whatsisname kiss, “Well, you can probably guess what happened next! [cut to wedding couple at altar] Tsh! As if! I’m sixteen, and this isn’t Kentucky!” **Woody Woodpecker** : – Con artist says, “Is there a Mrs. Oleander Twinklebop in the audience? I have a billion-dollar check for her!” – Woody is snowbound and completely out of food. “Er…Would one of you care to step into the lobby and get me a candy bar?” – Fourth wall breakage in reverse: Shadow audience a la MST. One figure stands up and says, “Whatever happened to that last firecracker?” **Holy Grail** : Very end. “All right, now shut that off, sonny…” [hand over lens] ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809/73 "2006-12-28T12:47:55Z")
[QUOTE=Peter Morris] Hope/ Crosby Road To movies. Frequent references. [/QUOTE] I once saw a clip (maybe Road to Morrocco, but who knows), that ran something like this: > [@](#): > > Hope: A fine, thing, you get me kidnapped, … (etc., basically rattles off all the major plot points thus far) > > Crosby: I know all that! > > Hope: Yeah, but the people who came in in the middle of picture don’t! > > Crosby: (distressed) You mean they missed my song? Cracked me right up. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809/74 "2006-12-28T16:07:59Z")
Young Frankenstein. Marty Feldman broke the fourth wall repeatedly. As an example: > [@](#): > > Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: Damn your eyes. > Igor: [to camera] Too late. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809/75 "2006-12-28T16:35:11Z")
Not a character, but _Arrested Development_ has once or twice, not counting the _Save Our Bluths_ episode (which doesn’t count anyway, I don’t think). One example I remember is either Michael or George saying something to the effect of “We have to be careful; you never know if someone’s listening in.” At that moment you see the boom mike “accidentally” drop into frame for a few seconds as the character continues talking. There was also the product placement gag with Burger King, but I don’t think the fourth wall was explicitly broken. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2006, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809/76 "2006-12-28T17:33:40Z")
_Citizen Kane_ broke the fourth wall but it was subtle. In an early scene there’s a tracking shot that moves from the exterior of a building up on to the roof and then into the interiro of the building through a skylight. Later in the movie, the shot is repeated. But this time the glass in the skylight is broken - from the camera going through it in the original scene. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2007, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809/77 "2007-01-01T06:14:42Z")
No offense, but that shows the passage of time. That glass is in the ceiling of a club long closed. ---
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809/78 "2007-01-01T16:25:36Z")
[QUOTE=Cartooniverse] No offense, but that shows the passage of time. That glass is in the ceiling of a club long closed. [/QUOTE] You’re right, of course, but I like Little Nemo’s interpretation, too. Who knows what Welles might have been thinking? It’s not unheard of for directors to put inside jokes in their films. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2007, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809/79 "2007-01-01T16:54:13Z")
True dat. I didn’t mean to imply knowledge of what The Great One was thinking… The second “Airplane” movie also has a great shot where the camera bumps into a wall? Or, keeps dollying out to show the edge of the set? Can’t remember. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2007, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809/80 "2007-01-01T17:38:52Z")
In the second \*Austin Powers \* movie, Basil Expostion explains the time-travel gimmick to Ausitn, who complains that trying to follow the explanation is making his eyes cross. Basil says somehting like, "Don’t think about it, just sit back and enjoy the ride.’ Then he turns to the camera and adds, “And that goes for all of you, too.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-a-character-acknowledges-they-are-in-a-movie/382809.md?page=5)