# Where did this wall jump cliche come from? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 12, 2009, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-this-wall-jump-cliche-come-from/489184 "2009-03-12T11:16:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-this-wall-jump-cliche-come-from/489184/1 "2009-03-12T11:16:56Z")
The action hero is in serious trouble. But it’s OK, he can simply run up a wall and do a huge midair somersault to bewilder his opponent(s). Now, where did that come from? I think The Matrix popularized it but I might remember some cheesy '80s action flicks using it. And I know video games have been using it at least since 1994, if not earlier (Super Metroid). Who do we blame for this? ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-this-wall-jump-cliche-come-from/489184/2 "2009-03-12T11:37:15Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > The action hero is in serious trouble. But it’s OK, he can simply run up a wall and do a huge midair somersault to bewilder his opponent(s). Now, where did that come from? I think The Matrix popularized it but I might remember some cheesy '80s action flicks using it. And I know video games have been using it at least since 1994, if not earlier (Super Metroid). Who do we blame for this? I know Donald O’Connor runs up a wall and does a somersault (twice) during the “Make 'Em Laugh” sequence in _ **Singin’ in the Rain** _. But that’s probably not what you’re looking for. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-this-wall-jump-cliche-come-from/489184/3 "2009-03-12T12:23:13Z")
It was the same answer I was going to give … 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-this-wall-jump-cliche-come-from/489184/4 "2009-03-12T14:01:49Z")
The first time I can remember it being used as a fighting tactic was in a fight during a jitterbug contest in Steven Spielberg’s _1941_. That was in the early 1980’s. ---
**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:** [March 12, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-this-wall-jump-cliche-come-from/489184/5 "2009-03-12T14:35:32Z")
Lupino Lane in 1925. “Later, Lane runs up the side of an archway with such speed that centrifugal force carries him upside down along the top of the archway and brings him back down on the other side. Momentum. Centrifugal force. Lane is classical mechanics in action.” > **[The Physics of Lupino Lane](http://anthonybalducci.blogspot.com/2009/02/physics-of-lupino-lane.html)** > > Last weekend, I pulled out a random selection of silent comedies from my DVD collection. The quality of these comedies was decidedly mixed.... This wasn’t a special effect. He was an acrobat of extraordinary skill, and he actually did it. Or so I’ve been told. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-this-wall-jump-cliche-come-from/489184/6 "2009-03-12T16:03:56Z")
The breakdance movies of the 80’s brought it back for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Gulo\_gulo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bcef8e/32.png) [@Gulo\_gulo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gulo_gulo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-this-wall-jump-cliche-come-from/489184/7 "2009-03-12T17:15:43Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Lupino Lane in 1925. > > “Later, Lane runs up the side of an archway with such speed that centrifugal force carries him upside down along the top of the archway and brings him back down on the other side. Momentum. Centrifugal force. Lane is classical mechanics in action.” > > [The Physics of Lupino Lane ~ Anthony Balducci's Journal](http://anthonybalducci.blogspot.com/2009/02/physics-of-lupino-lane.html) > > This wasn’t a special effect. He was an acrobat of extraordinary skill, and he actually did it. Or so I’ve been told. Well crap. Neither of the two Lane movies described are available through Netflix. I’d love to see those. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-this-wall-jump-cliche-come-from/489184/8 "2009-03-12T17:56:41Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Lupino Lane in 1925. > > “Later, Lane runs up the side of an archway with such speed that centrifugal force carries him upside down along the top of the archway and brings him back down on the other side. Momentum. Centrifugal force. Lane is classical mechanics in action.” > > [The Physics of Lupino Lane ~ Anthony Balducci's Journal](http://anthonybalducci.blogspot.com/2009/02/physics-of-lupino-lane.html) > > This wasn’t a special effect. He was an acrobat of extraordinary skill, and he actually did it. Or so I’ve been told. I’d like to see the Mythbusters try this out if they ever get around to putting out new episodes again… ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-this-wall-jump-cliche-come-from/489184/9 "2009-03-12T18:07:09Z")
I’m pretty sure that this or something very much like it was done on **The Wild, Wild West**. ---
**Author:** ![dotchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dotchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dotchan)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-this-wall-jump-cliche-come-from/489184/10 "2009-03-12T18:09:49Z")
> [@fiddlesticks](#): > > I’d like to see the Mythbusters try this out if they ever get around to putting out new episodes again… Well, _Time Warp_ filmed an expert free-runner while he was Parkour-ing his way across walls and stuff. ---
**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:** [March 12, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-this-wall-jump-cliche-come-from/489184/11 "2009-03-12T18:27:49Z")
> [@](#): > > I know Donald O’Connor runs up a wall and does a somersault (twice) during the “Make 'Em Laugh” sequence in Singin’ in the Rain. And then he got medieval on Gene Kelly’s ass. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-this-wall-jump-cliche-come-from/489184/12 "2009-03-12T18:39:30Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > I think The Matrix popularized it but I might remember some cheesy '80s action flicks using it. I always connect this move with “Never Too Young To Die” starring John Stamos, where I first saw it in the commercial. Also, showed up not long after that in Sammy Hagar’s “I Can’t Drive 55” video. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-this-wall-jump-cliche-come-from/489184/13 "2009-03-12T18:44:31Z")
For the sake of completeness, the bit (or something quite close to it) is used early in _Men in Black_ by a particularly agile alien trying to evade Will Smith. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-this-wall-jump-cliche-come-from/489184/14 "2009-03-12T19:59:52Z")
It can also be seen in Mortal Kombat, the movie and… …in the video to Rick Astley’s 'Never gonna give you up". 😛