# The "Introducing" credit in films **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 20, 2007, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introducing-credit-in-films/416273 "2007-08-20T18:14:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2007, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introducing-credit-in-films/416273/1 "2007-08-20T18:14:54Z")
It seems to have fallen out of favor in the last decade or two. Anyone know why? The end of the studio system? The fact that most actors get their start on TV first? The vaguely patronizing tone? While we’re at it, what _exactly_ was it intended to mean? The actor’s first appearance of any kind in any medium? The first first featured performance in film (not counting television)? ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introducing-credit-in-films/416273/2 "2007-08-20T19:18:15Z")
It’s still alive and well in gay porn, FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2007, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introducing-credit-in-films/416273/3 "2007-08-20T19:25:53Z")
I think it is because people rarely start with a major part in a film. They have been in TV or smaller film roles or commercials and such. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2007, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introducing-credit-in-films/416273/4 "2007-08-20T20:18:58Z")
It is still used occasionally in an ironic way. IIRC, the opening credits for _Ocean’s Eleven_ include “Introducing Julia Roberts.” ---
**Author:** ![Skipper\_Too](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Skipper\_Too](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skipper_Too)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2007, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introducing-credit-in-films/416273/5 "2007-08-20T20:23:30Z")
I can think of three recent films that had an introducing credit. Dream Girls Introducing Jennifer Hudson Hairspray Introducing Nikki Blonsky and Super Bad Introducing Christopher Mintz-Plasse ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2007, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introducing-credit-in-films/416273/6 "2007-08-20T20:24:51Z")
It’s embarassing when the film that introduces you is your last big film. IIRC, **The Legend of the Lone Ranger** “introduced” Klinton Spillsbury, who promptly disappeared. Similarly, IIRC, **The Magnificent Seven** “introduced” Horst Buccholz, who then appeared in such wonders as **John Goldfarb, Please come Home!** It’s not always the case. **What’s Up, Doc** “introduced” Madeline Kahn\*\*, who stayed around. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2007, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introducing-credit-in-films/416273/7 "2007-08-20T20:28:53Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] Madeline Kahn, who stayed around. [/QUOTE] But, alas, not long enough. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introducing-credit-in-films/416273/8 "2007-08-21T02:08:07Z")
The 1976 remake of **King Kong** introduced Jessica Lange, who has had a huge career, winning two Academy awards. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introducing-credit-in-films/416273/9 "2007-08-21T12:21:51Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] It is still used occasionally in an ironic way. IIRC, the opening credits for _Ocean’s Eleven_ include “Introducing Julia Roberts.” [/QUOTE] Closing credits. “Introducing Julia Roberts as Tess.” And then the horrid _Ocean’s 12_ closed with “Introducing Tess as Julia Roberts.” ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introducing-credit-in-films/416273/10 "2007-08-21T15:09:39Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > the horrid Ocean’s 12 closed with “Introducing Tess as Julia Roberts.” And that, folks, was the one funny moment in that movie. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introducing-credit-in-films/416273/11 "2007-08-21T15:18:27Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] And that, folks, was the one funny moment in that movie. [/QUOTE] I must strongly object to this statement. There were no funny moments in Ocean’s 12. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introducing-credit-in-films/416273/12 "2007-08-21T15:54:42Z")
I concede. ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introducing-credit-in-films/416273/13 "2007-08-21T16:08:33Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] It’s embarassing when the film that introduces you is your last big film. IIRC, **The Legend of the Lone Ranger** “introduced” Klinton Spillsbury, who promptly disappeared. Similarly, IIRC, **The Magnificent Seven** “introduced” Horst Buccholz, who then appeared in such wonders as **John Goldfarb, Please come Home!** [/quote] Hey, I thought **John Goldfarb, Please come Home!** was a minor kitschy masterpiece, in a surreal kind of fever dream way. And it reminds me that Shirley MacLaine was a major hottie in her day.