MovieChat Forums > Blazing Saddles (1974) Discussion > First Movie (You Saw) to Break the Fourt...

First Movie (You Saw) to Break the Fourth Wall?

posted 6 years ago by Tabbycat (764)
13 replies | jump to latest

“Drive me off this picture.”

Pretty sure it was the first for me, because my twelve-year-old self wondered, “They can do that?”

Also the first self-referencing (fractal?) story in which the nominal action comes to the actual studio (Warner Brothers) where the film was shot?

Why am I asking you?

[–] MNRebecca (758) 5 years ago

“Drive me off this picture.”

Actually, I'd call THAT self-referencing/fractal. The fourth wall stuff included things like the little old lady asking the audience, "Have you ever seen such cruelty?" or Bart telling us how dumb the townfolk were.

[–] PaladinNJ (20324) 5 years ago

For me it was Burns and Allen reruns at my grandparents. I always thought George was talking right to me. (But that was a TV series not a movie)

[–] Utpe (658) 5 years ago

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986). The character broke the fourth wall on several occasions. It's also the first I can recall where there's a scene after the credits.

John Hughes was brilliant.

[–] Tabbycat (764) 5 years ago

>> first I can recall where there's a scene after the credits.

That’s a great whole separate topic.

Do you want the first post on that (at Ferris Bueller) or shall I have at it?

JSYK, Blazing predates Ferris by thirteen years.

[–] horrorfan000 (2082) 5 years ago

Probably Ferris Buellers day off.The first tv show i saw it on was Magnum PI.

[–] Tabbycat (764) 5 years ago

Really.
How did Magnum do that?

[–] horrorfan000 (2082) 5 years ago

The whole inner dialogue was Magnum speaking to the audience.Also the occasional times Magnum would look directly into the camera and give the audience a look or a wink.

[–] jekporkins (1926) 5 years ago

I still watch the show. Almost every episode he does it, usually at the end.

[–] PaladinNJ (20324) 5 years ago

Does the Burns & Allen Show count since it was a TV show?

[–] liscarkat (16602) 5 years ago

Oliver Hardy used to break the fourth wall, way back in the 1920s. Been watching his shorts and features since the 1950s.

[–] chilidoggg (13119) 5 years ago

IIRC Woody Allen did this in a bunch of his movies.

[–] nyctc7 (41386) 5 years ago

This is a good question. In Annie Hall, is he breaking the 4th wall, or acting as a narrator? I would say narrator, but in the scene standing in line with the know-it-all critic, breaking the wall. Maybe that is the first time for me...a year later John Belushi in Animal House winking at the camera while he observes...

[–] nyctc7 (41386) 5 years ago

This is a good question for the General Discussion forum.