# Movies With Nameless Lead Characters **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 1, 2004, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612 "2004-09-01T18:49:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612/41 "2004-09-01T23:39:30Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Both Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character and that other guy have serial numbers in [T2]. T-2000 & T-3000 or somesuch. I think those are model numbers, not serial numbers. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612/42 "2004-09-01T23:44:33Z")
Welll… Who’s actually the main character in [The Red Balloon](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048980/)? If it’s the kid, the main character has a name, Pascal. But if it’s the _balloon_ (that was the way I always saw it when I watched the movie as a child), there’s no name. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612/43 "2004-09-01T23:59:07Z")
> [@Dooku](#): > > Blurring this line even further is the IMDb’s inexplicable crediting of “Joe” to his roles in AFOD and _The Good, The Bad and The Ugly_. Strange, since he’s called Blondie about a billion times in TGTB&TU. In **Fistful** , the old coffin-maker (who brings him a stick of dynamite) calles him “Joe.” Doesn’t explain TGTG&TU, though. I remember “Blondie” quite often in that as well. DD ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612/44 "2004-09-02T00:20:21Z")
Resident Evil, two characters have no name: Milla Jovovich is never referred to by any name and she can’t remember her name and even after she remembers her name it’s never mentioned. She’s listed as Alice in the credits. When the movie first came out, the IMDB credited her as Alice/Janus Prospero/Marsha Thompson. It jsut says Alice now. Also, the Commando Leader is never referred by any name, but he’s listed in the credits as One. ---
**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:** [September 2, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612/45 "2004-09-02T00:41:10Z")
Charlie Chaplin very rarely played characters with names. The IMDB bills him a “A tramp,” “A Lone Prospector,” “Pawnshop Assistant,” “The Inebriate,” “The Derelict,” “An Immigrant,” “Drunk,” "A Jewish Barber, and “A convict,” just to name a few. Others films in the IMDB bill him as “Charlie,” but in many of those cases, the name was never used; it’s just a reference to the actor’s name. ---
**Author:** ![Julius\_Henry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@Julius\_Henry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Julius_Henry)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612/46 "2004-09-02T00:55:56Z")
Veronica Lake played “The Girl” in _Sullivan’s Travels_. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612/47 "2004-09-02T01:21:12Z")
Marilyn Monroe’s character in **The Seven Year Itch** is also nameless (imdb calls her “The Girl”) ---
**Author:** ![JoeSki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b487fb/32.png) [@JoeSki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeSki)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612/48 "2004-09-02T01:24:27Z")
> [@Dooku](#): > > Uh…because I believe AFFoD is a stand alone flick. 🙂 > > Sergio Leone never meant for it to be a trilogy. FaFDM was intended to be a sequel to AFFoD and he was simply given a name, Monco, in the 2nd one. I don’t ever recall him being referred to as Joe in AFFoD. (I have an old book about this where Leone is interviewed about the whole “trilogy” thing, I can look it up later). > > It’s pretty clear that’s he’s Blondie in TGTB&TU. Everyone knows him by that name, and it appears that he has a history with both men. Plus, Lee Van Cleef isn’t playing the same character, so why should Clint? Van Cleef wasn’t even evil in the 2nd one. I’m pretty sure the only person that calls Clint “Blondie” in The Good The Bad and The Ugly is Tuco. And Van Cleefs character is Mortimer in both For a Few Dollars More and The Good the Bad andf the Ugly if memory serves right. I’m going to pop these movies in sometime later and find out for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612/49 "2004-09-02T01:42:01Z")
In the category of “does have a name, but unimportant”: D-FENS from Falling Down. I think they mention his name talking to his mother, but I believe he is listed in the credits as D-FENS. ---
**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:** [September 2, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612/50 "2004-09-02T01:47:19Z")
> [@JoeSki](#): > > I’m pretty sure the only person that calls Clint “Blondie” in The Good The Bad and The Ugly is Tuco. And Van Cleefs character is Mortimer in both For a Few Dollars More and The Good the Bad andf the Ugly if memory serves right. > > I’m going to pop these movies in sometime later and find out for sure. He was not Mortimer in TGTB&TU: He was called Angel Eyes but his real name was Sentenza. He’s called that several times throughout the movie. Angel Eyes also calls Clint “Blondie” on several occasions. ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612/51 "2004-09-02T01:57:39Z")
[The Brother From Another Planet](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087004/) ---
**Author:** ![Fernmeldetruppe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@Fernmeldetruppe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fernmeldetruppe)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612/52 "2004-09-02T02:02:37Z")
2 characters in Angel Heart although they were using names throughout the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612/53 "2004-09-02T02:13:31Z")
In _Cheech and Chong’s Up in Smoke_, Tommy Chong’s hippie hitchhiker character never introduces himself, and is only referred to by name once, in the scene with his parents (his name is Anthony). None of his friends ever call him by his name. ---
**Author:** ![audit1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@audit1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audit1)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612/54 "2004-09-02T02:16:13Z")
The Beast in Disney’s _Beauty and the east_ does not have a name. Beauty is Belle ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612/55 "2004-09-02T02:29:42Z")
FTR, it’s strongly hinted in _HPD_ that Eastwood’s character ‘The Drifter’ is the ghost of Marshall Jim Duncan (the dwarf is painting Duncan’s name on his tombstone as he rides out of town). ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612/56 "2004-09-02T03:50:48Z")
Actually, the Lone Ranger does have a name. It’s John Reid. And his brother’s grandson is/was Britt Reid, the Green Hornet. In _Paint Your Wagon_ Clint Eastwood’s character is refered to as “Pardner” intil just before the end Ben Rumson(Lee Marvin) asks him “What the hell is your name anyway?” He winces and says “Sylvester Newell”. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612/57 "2004-09-02T03:51:45Z")
In _The Usual Suspects_ Kevin Spacey’s character has a name but there’s a certain level of suspicion that he has another name, which IIRC is never actually applied to him. Depending on how one defines “lead character,” Charles Gray is credited as “The Criminologist” in _Rocky Horror Picture Show_. In _El Topo_ no character has a name (“el topo” translates to “the awkward person”). ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612/58 "2004-09-02T04:27:13Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > I > Depending on how one defines “lead character,” Charles Gray is credited as “The Criminologist” in _Rocky Horror Picture Show_. Get the fuck off the desk! In Spirited Away, you don’t find out Haku’s _real_ name till near the end of the film. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612/59 "2004-09-02T12:18:19Z")
[QUOTE=Dooku] Technically he does have a name in _Hang 'Em High_ - he’s the ghost of the Sherriff who was tortured and killed by the men that ride into town. It’s revealed on the tombstone as he rides out of town.QUOTE] That was High Plains Drifter. In Hang em High, he survived the hanging and went to work for Judge Parker as a Marshall. ---
**Author:** ![jinty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dbc845/32.png) [@jinty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jinty)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612/60 "2004-09-02T12:34:20Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > The Thing. Puzzled. Do you mean the John Carpenter film? IMDB lists Kurt Russell’s character as “R.J. MacReady”. Or do you perhaps count the Thing itself as the lead character :dubious: ? That’s eeeevil. 😃 Anyway, here’s my favourite cast list: Ryan O’Neal … The Driver Bruce Dern … The Detective Isabelle Adjani … The Player Ronee Blakley … The Connection Matt Clark … Red Plainclothesman Felice Orlandi … Gold Plainclothesman Joseph Walsh … Glasses Rudy Ramos … Teeth Denny Macko … Exchange Man Frank Bruno … The Kid Will Walker … Fingers Sandy Brown Wyeth … Split Tara King … Frizzy Richard Carey … Floorman Fidel Corona … Card Player From Walter Hill’s **The Driver**. I especially like “Glasses” and “Teeth”. Does being called “The Driver” in a film called “The Driver” count as nameless? Hmmm… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-nameless-lead-characters/262612.md?page=4)