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List: Lead Roles Where Character is First Introduced From Behind

post #1 of 17
1/31/08 at 1:00pm
Thread Starter 
I was watching the film The Thin Man the other day and noticed how the lead character of Nick Charles (William Powell) is introduced to the audience from behind. He is first seen shaking a martini shaker in long view and then the camera comes up directly behind him for a close-up through the crowd.

That got me to thinking about how effective and likeable I find this device and got me thinking about other films which took advantage of this to introduce the lead character (male of female). I then thought of:

Indiana Jones
James Bond
T.R. Devlin (Cary Grant) in Notorious. Also, certainly one of the longest uses of the device as we see the back of his head for quite a while.

So, what other notable lead roles can you add to the list?
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post #2 of 17
1/31/08 at 1:32pm

Re: List: Lead Roles Where Character is First Introduced From Behind

Marcellus Wallace(Pulp Fiction)
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post #3 of 17
1/31/08 at 2:09pm

Re: List: Lead Roles Where Character is First Introduced From Behind

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brent M
Marcellus Wallace(Pulp Fiction)


First one that crossed my mind. Remember he had the bandaid on the back of his head.
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post #4 of 17
1/31/08 at 2:17pm

Re: List: Lead Roles Where Character is First Introduced From Behind

Jack Sparrow
Marty McFly
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post #5 of 17
1/31/08 at 3:30pm

Re: List: Lead Roles Where Character is First Introduced From Behind

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brent M
Marcellus Wallace(Pulp Fiction)

He's not a lead character, though...
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post #6 of 17
1/31/08 at 4:29pm

Re: List: Lead Roles Where Character is First Introduced From Behind

Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark
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post #7 of 17
1/31/08 at 5:54pm

Re: List: Lead Roles Where Character is First Introduced From Behind

Quote:
Originally Posted by Colin Jacobson
He's not a lead character, though...


I didn't read the post closely enough to see that he specified "lead" character. He was a mean motherf***er, though, so that's gotta count for something.
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post #8 of 17
1/31/08 at 6:19pm

Re: List: Lead Roles Where Character is First Introduced From Behind

Scarlett Johansson has one of the best "behind" introductions of all time as "Charlotte" in Lost in Translation.
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post #9 of 17
1/31/08 at 6:25pm

Re: List: Lead Roles Where Character is First Introduced From Behind

Quote:
Originally Posted by Colin Jacobson
He's not a lead character, though...

It was an ensemble piece.
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post #10 of 17
2/1/08 at 4:58am

Re: List: Lead Roles Where Character is First Introduced From Behind

Many pornos I've seen use this method.
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post #11 of 17
2/2/08 at 9:17am

Re: List: Lead Roles Where Character is First Introduced From Behind

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Spears
It was an ensemble piece.

Which means no lead character. Heck, even among the "lead ensemble" actors, Marcellus was secondary. The "leads" were Samuel L. Jackson - even if the Academy only nominated him for Best Supporting Actor - Travolta and Bruce Willis. Everyone else was supporting...
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post #12 of 17
2/3/08 at 2:04pm

Re: List: Lead Roles Where Character is First Introduced From Behind

Though, as Morpheus, Laurence Fishburne only received second billing, the first time he is seen in The Matrix is from behind.
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post #13 of 17
2/3/08 at 4:48pm

Re: List: Lead Roles Where Character is First Introduced From Behind

Brando in The Godfather.
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post #14 of 17
2/4/08 at 3:07pm

Re: List: Lead Roles Where Character is First Introduced From Behind

Clint as Blondie in The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly.
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post #15 of 17
2/18/08 at 4:38pm
Thread Starter 

Re: List: Lead Roles Where Character is First Introduced From Behind

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zack Gibbs
Scarlett Johansson has one of the best "behind" introductions of all time as "Charlotte" in Lost in Translation.

True that.

I thought of another protagonist, Guido Anselmi (Marcello Mastroianni) in the film, 8 1/2. Even though he is featured from the get-go, we don't see his face until the five minute mark, when he gets up from being examined by a doctor.
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post #16 of 17
2/22/08 at 4:07pm

Re: List: Lead Roles Where Character is First Introduced From Behind

Andy Garcia in Internal Affairs. (An somewhat obscure film to be sure but I just watched it today on Universal HD).
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post #17 of 17
2/29/08 at 11:24pm

Re: List: Lead Roles Where Character is First Introduced From Behind

Harvey Keitel in MEAN STREETS. (Keitel is also introduced from behind in a supporting role in PULP FICTION).
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