Was it the first movie ever in which was used this thing... Well you know, when they are showing in the very beginning some scenes from the end - you have no idea what has happened until you see them again in the end. (Like in many modern movies) I hope I put myself right :)
shareNo, the first movie to do that was the 2008 classic "Meet the Spartans"
"Welcome to Errf" - Will Smith
Wrong. The first movie to do that was Mein Fuhrer starring Adolph Hitler. Oh wait, that wasn't a movie??? That was real life??? Oh *beep* I told my Hebrew Studies professor that it was my favorite movie. I've got some apologizing to jew. I mean do! Oh no, not again.
Why do you have that on your head? Chris Knight: Because if I wear it anywhere else it chafes.
You've got some awkward sentence structure there, buddy. In any case, ever heard of a couple small pictures called Citizen Kane or Sunset Blvd? Well, those are far earlier examples (1941 and 1950 respectively) where the opening sequence is in fact the ending and the rest of the film is a series of flashbacks and retellings to bring you "back" to the end.
sharethanks. I know I put myself not that clear, I've just tried to explain what I mean... but still did it badly :)
shareLet's not forget "Mildred Pierce"(1945)!
"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"
this is a classic film noir technique. citizen kane is the classic example, but it was used by a million noir films of the 40s and 50s. the technique reinforces the fatality of the story. double indemnity is another early, classic example of a great film noir that used the flashback.
shareI don't know if the 1939 movie Beau Geste was the first one that used this method but it sure is a fantastic movie with Gary Cooper, Ray Milland and Susan Hayward. That opening shot is great and the movie is shown once in a while on TCM.
shareThere were others good movies that used flashback methods before this one.
One was The Killers made in 1946 that starred Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner and Edmond O' Brian. It was remade in 1964 with Lee Marvin, Angie Dickinson and the future U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
Another one was the 1953 western called The Last Posse with Borderic Crawford and John Derek (Bo's late husband).
The earliest movie that I can think of ‘which used this thing’ is The Cabinet of Dr Caligari made all the way back in 1920. Other silent movies that come to my mind is Nosferatu 1920 and Beau Geste 1926.
shareI remember my first classic movie.
shareAnother example but certainly not the first is The Barefoot Contessa (1954).
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