Checkov's Gun
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Discussion

MCBrowncoat

Original Poster:

1,652 posts

170 months

Watching the Q&A on The Rest is Entertainment today a question came up which was "What is your favourite example of Checkov's Gun in film? " Marina Hyde went on to speak passionately about the opening scenes in Back to the Future!

It got me thinking that given The Seagull was written in 1895, it seems strange to me that the commonly cited early example is Citizen Kane, which came out in 1941... Surely there must be some earlier examples than that?

So what is your favourite example of Checkov's Gun in film (or TV!) and do you know of any earlier examples than Citizen Kane?



Warhavernet

911 posts

11 months

Might be best to explain wot you meen.

Opapayer

1,238 posts

9 months

Warhavernet said:
Might be best to explain wot you meen.
It’s something in a film that seems insignificant, but later turns out to be highly relevant to the story. Basically the opposite of a red herring.

In Signs, the kid leaves glasses of water all over the place, the baseball bat is nearby and Mel Gibson’s wife’s final words are “ tell ……. (Can’t remember his name) to keep swinging.” All irrelevant at the time, but highly relevant in the end.

Llentil the llama

1,107 posts

253 months

I see ghosts

Brasshande

75 posts

74 months

The Winchester rifle in The Winchester in Shaun Of The Dead

Super Sonic

12,421 posts

78 months

When you see the shark in Jaws. Later, the shark eats people, and tries to eat the boat.

abzmike

11,406 posts

130 months

Thought for a moment this might have been about Star Trek…

Warhavernet

911 posts

11 months

I see.

Interesting, would the big thingy on the beach at the end of Planet of the Apes fit the bill ?

Super Sonic

12,421 posts

78 months

Warhavernet said:
I see.

Interesting, would the big thingy on the beach at the end of Planet of the Apes fit the bill ?
I haven't seen that. Is it a half eaten boat?

Countdown

47,541 posts

220 months

Super Sonic said:
When you see the shark in Jaws. Later, the shark eats people, and tries to eat the boat.
Wait….. it’s the SAME shark???

Super Sonic

12,421 posts

78 months

Countdown said:
Super Sonic said:
When you see the shark in Jaws. Later, the shark eats people, and tries to eat the boat.
Wait .. it s the SAME shark???
Yes, his name is Jaws.

DeejRC

8,768 posts

106 months

Super Sonic said:
Countdown said:
Super Sonic said:
When you see the shark in Jaws. Later, the shark eats people, and tries to eat the boat.
Wait .. it s the SAME shark???
Yes, his name is Jaws.
I thought that was the card shark in Bond…?

Super Sonic

12,421 posts

78 months

DeejRC said:
Super Sonic said:
Countdown said:
Super Sonic said:
When you see the shark in Jaws. Later, the shark eats people, and tries to eat the boat.
Wait .. it s the SAME shark???
Yes, his name is Jaws.
I thought that was the card shark in Bond ?
It's not unheard of for two sharks to have the same name.

DodgyGeezer

46,792 posts

214 months

Is that a type of foreshadowing?

Countdown

47,541 posts

220 months

Super Sonic said:
Countdown said:
Super Sonic said:
When you see the shark in Jaws. Later, the shark eats people, and tries to eat the boat.
Wait .. it s the SAME shark???
Yes, his name is Jaws.
There’s nominative determinism for you!