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Post by BunnyWhit on Mar 8, 2023 21:46:41 GMT
I kind of "collect" movies in which someone breaks the fourth wall. Some films break the fourth wall very overtly, and others do it more subtly. I used to actually jot it down when I saw one, but (of course!) I've mislaid my list. Let's recreate it together!
I hope when you see a film in which someone breaks the fourth wall, you will add the title here. It is always interesting to me to see because it is done with varying degrees of success, as is often the case when rules are being broken.
Allow me to start this collection with some Brits commenting on their exploits:
Tom Jones (1963)
Alfie (1966)
Alfie (2004)
I find Michael Caine's asides to be more effective than Jude Law's. Just my preference.
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Post by I Love Melvin on Mar 8, 2023 22:00:34 GMT
The most recent time I've seen it is in the 2022 version of Jane Austen's Persuasion, where Dakota Johnson as Anne Elliot frequently broke the fourth wall to comment on events and other characters. What was more jarring than the simple fact that she was doing it was that it was often done using contemporary (to us) jargon. It seemed like they thought it would be a way to engage a modern, young audience, but to an old coot (and Austen fan) like me the verbal "update" just sounded weird.
Bob Hope routinely broke the fourth wall, especially in the Road movies.
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Post by Fading Fast on Mar 8, 2023 22:04:23 GMT
"Shirley Valentine" (1989)
P.S. Neat topic
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Post by jamesjazzguitar on Mar 9, 2023 0:11:03 GMT
The Beast with Five Fingers (1946).
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Post by marysara1 on Mar 9, 2023 8:22:23 GMT
A funny one was I was watching a Fatty Arbuckle short. He was going to change clothes and on film he was motioning to show only his upper half.
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Post by Roy Cronin on Mar 9, 2023 10:07:25 GMT
The one that I immediately think of is "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."
He even tells us at the end to "Go Home."
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Post by sagebrush on Mar 9, 2023 12:05:30 GMT
My favorite breaking the fourth wall scene is from THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER with Walter Huston as the conniving charmer (starts at 1:10 marker):
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Post by Roy Cronin on Mar 9, 2023 13:26:29 GMT
Addison DeWitt speaks to us, the audience, directly in the opening narration of "All About Eve":
The Sarah Siddons Award for distinguished achievement is perhaps unknown to you. It has been spared the sensational and commercial publicity that attends such questionable "honors" as the Pulitzer Prize and those awards presented annually by the film society...
He continues to address us throughout the scene.
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Post by BunnyWhit on Mar 9, 2023 13:59:09 GMT
In Trading Places (1983), Eddie Murphy looks to the audience in that "are-you-kidding-me?" fashion when Ralph Bellamy explains commodities to him. It's priceless!
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Post by sepiatone on Mar 9, 2023 16:50:56 GMT
Look to LAUREL ans HARDY shorts to see expertly executed fourth wall breakage. Mostly with looks of wonder or exasperation by Oliver Hardy although Stan and others have and take opportunities.
I couldn't find anything that featured Hardy fourth wall breaks, but there is this.
I haven't seen all the films these bits were taken from, but do recognize many.''
Sepiatone
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Post by sagebrush on Mar 9, 2023 23:44:00 GMT
In Buster Keaton's ONE WEEK, Sybil Seely drops her soap while taking a bath. Very funny Fourth wall moment!
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Post by galacticgirrrl on Mar 10, 2023 0:03:01 GMT
I would love to see one of the first examples.... It is not known whether the film currently survives, and Men Who Have Made Love to Me is now thought to be a lost film.
Men Who Have Made Love to Me (1918)  |
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Post by galacticgirrrl on Mar 10, 2023 0:15:57 GMT
A recent example that I surprisingly loved was The Good House (2021): Life for New England realtor Hildy Good begins to unravel when she hooks up with an old flame of hers from New York. Based on Ann Leary's 'The Good House.' Stars Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline. Direct Address is a huge component of this comedy-drama. Given the subject matter I am surprised how much of an impression it made on me. I went in knowing nothing with zero expectations which could be a part of it.  |
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Post by BunnyWhit on Mar 10, 2023 4:46:57 GMT
Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone (1990)
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Post by sepiatone on Mar 10, 2023 17:17:41 GMT
Here's a couple good ones from YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
Sepiatone
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