MovieChat Forums > Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) Discussion > multiple hidden weapons (extended disarm...

multiple hidden weapons (extended disarm) cliche

posted 4 years ago by arflexit (2376)
9 replies | jump to latest

Beyond Thunderdome, i think, is a terrible movie and easily the worse of the series. It is even hard to set through the second half because it is just so boring.

But that being said; I saw the beginning of it the other day when Max first gets to Bartertown and has to turn over all his weapons at a weapons check; revealing he is caring dozens of hidden weapons. It is supposed to be humorous bit, in which the "bad ass' character comically has dozens of hidden weapons.

It is a silly cliche; but I am curious if THIS film 'invented' that cliche? I don't remember seeing it in any movies prior to 1985 but it is fairly common after.

Was this the first time this cliche was done? or am I wrong?

reply

[–] TandyMan (10955) 4 years ago

Good question. This is certainly one of the first times I recall seeing it. But I have the feeling they were probably doing it in kung fu movies for decades before it started over here.

reply

[–] arflexit (2376) 4 years ago

That is true; it might not be a 'Hollywood' cliche but something that started in some other media somewhere. I wonder if there is a way to 'trace' it back but I tried googling it and unfortunately could not find anything substantial even discussing it.

reply

[–] AP (5276) 4 years ago

Try this https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ExtendedDisarming

I did a quick glance and Police Academy did it in 1984, which would be a year before this movie but it might’ve been done in cartoons earlier than that.

reply

[–] arflexit (2376) 4 years ago

"extended disarm" didn't think to search for that. Good catch.

Interesting that the first time it happened in "big hollywood films" was right around the same time; within a year. I wonder if how it all got started and related. There is no clear connection between Police Academy and Beyond Thunderdome other than Warner Bros. Wonder if it was some executives idea and he wanted it placed somehow in multiple movies.

reply

[–] AP (5276) 4 years ago

No prob.

I kept looking a little farther and found that trope occurred in a Buster Keaton movie too so it’s been around a while.

reply

[–] arflexit (2376) 4 years ago

yeah once you search for "extended disarm" instead of "disarm multiple weapon scenes" the return is much better. :)

reply

[–] arflexit (2376) 4 years ago

https://allthetropes.fandom.com/wiki/Extended_Disarming

This one had a good list of them too; but it was not in sorted by "order of release" so you got to dig a little. But cool; thanks for the "extended disarm" search key; I was coming up with nothing without it. :)

reply

[–] arflexit (2376) 4 years ago

Do you know which Buster Keaton movie it was in? I am not familiar with those films and I can't find that example.

I went back and updated the title of the OP. All credit to you man. :)

reply

[–] AP (5276) 4 years ago

It was “Our Hospitality” (1923)

Glad I can be of service.

reply