Grand Entrances Make Great Characters: Memorable Movies

Was there ever a TV or film character that jumped out at you when they first came on screen? Was there one character whose entrance was so dynamic it stuck in your mind? Did they possess an enigma that jumped through the very screen? Creating an opening gambit and a grand entrance? It may be a walk or talk or may be no words at all. Maybe what appealed was the cinematography, sound, or movement portrayed on screen; maybe it’s that magic that makes a great actor a brilliant actor. Together, these create the power of great characters remembered by their grand entrances. Find out more at Grand Entrances Make Great Characters: Memorable Movies. 

Image on the right – Toy Story poster, 1995.

A grand entrance can be qualified as impressive, dramatic, or an elaborated arrival on to the screen. It is often designed to capture attention and make a strong opening gambit for a key character. When someone makes a grand entrance, they walk into the screen and own every part of it; all eyes are on them and their charisma.

From the Joker to Willy Wonka, what is the recipe for a grand entrance in film or TV? Well, they all share some ingredients that directors use to make them memorable.

There are different ways to make a character enter a movie. It can be done by building anticipation with a long, suspenseful, slow teasing until the character is revealed, prefaced by glimpses or references to the character by others.

The reveal can then be done by a slow pan from a person’s legs (‘feet-first’) or other extremities to their face. Dramatic visuals and a cinematic impact can also be used with an initial dark, silhouetted, outlined, or distant appearance, which can sometimes slowly be revealed by light.

Another variant can be done by a sudden and abrupt establishment of the character at the beginning of the movie. It creates a striking introduction, already announcing who the character is, without using words. 

The character can also be introduced in an emotional scene or through a thematic impact by using the transformative reveal of a person with a new or second identity. This can be done by using specific music or style of music, which will then be linked to the character. Even a catchy sentence can also be used and become almost the brand of the character. 

One of the oldest and best character entrances in film was The Man with Harmonica played by Charles Bronson in Once Upon A Time In The West’ (1968). 

This cowboy loner, who is seeking vengeance for the torture of his brother, tries to put an end to the reign of terror of his enemy, Franck. In his first entrance on the screen, The Man is first heard through his harmonica with the panning image of a train going past.

The harmonica was used by the director, Sergio Leone, as a recognizable item and sound interlinked with the character. The camera then shows him from far away, depicting a cold climate between him and Franck. It then goes to a close shot of his face, slowly revealing as he moves his cowboy hat up his eyes. This scene is often described as one of the best character entrances.

Willy Wonka is one of the most famous children’s characters from Roald Dahl’s book Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, but not only that. In the 1971 movie, Wonka’s original actor, Gene Wilder, brought the character to life in a film and made him beloved by many.  He accepted the film on the one condition that he could portray the appearance of Willy Wonka, the way he wanted.

His idea, which made the final cut, was to see the very much talked about and mysterious Willy Wonka coming out of his factory, down a path towards the awaiting crowd with a walking stick. But unexpectedly, he twirls on the floor and jumps up, walking unaided. This entrance throws up a dilemma for the audience: Is he true or fake? Can we trust his word or not? This little scene, in many ways, paints the whole character of the much adored chocolate king.

Another of the most famous villain’s entrances in a movie is by Darth Vader in Star Wars, 1977. The scene can be seen as iconic, as mostly everyone who watched it remembered what Darth Vader looked like and also what music accompanied him.  

This is why his entrance was so memorable. Darth Vader, was talked about so much before his grand entrance; this bad guy trying to overthrow the galaxy’s order.

His entrance in a white corridor, after a fight with several men on the floor, while dressed in black with the very recognizable theme song, was enough to keep up with the references made about him beforehand.

While no facial expressions are viewed, his body language and the shots the camera makes it very clear this is the baddie we have been waiting for. A slow but powerful build-up as an introduction to this core character.

Not far after Star Wars, another science-fiction movie created one of the most memorable entrances of an antagonistic character. Alien was released in 1979, and while the title gives away who the antagonist is, the entrance of the alien didn’t disappoint. 

While the viewer is on the edge of their chair during the beginning of the movie waiting for when they are going to see what this alien looks like, the way the entrance is created builds suspense and tension for the audience.

It is done through a very long introduction made with close-up shots of the human character. Noises are heard in the dark, which creates an atmosphere of fear that almost dissipates when a cat comes out towards the human. Then, through the eyes of the human, the audience finally sees the alien through a pan shot setting its way on it. We won’t spoil it if you don’t know what happens…

Some serial killers have also had great entrances in films. John Doe in Seven, 1995, was one of the most famous ones. 

After killing people by list of the seven deadly sins, this finally turns himself in at the police office. The entrance is the one of a simple man, which is first shown from his back. Then the camera turns to show his face with blood all over him.

He only calls out Detective Mills (Brad Pitt), which creates a scene of terror in the office. His stare is what makes the viewer understand that he is what he was portrayed to be all along the movie.

The same year, 1995, the very first Toy Story movie was released by Disney Pixar. Buzz Lightyear made a very memorable entrance. 

After the little boy Andy’s birthday, the public expected to welcome new toys amongst the original ones. It is then on the bed of the kid that the camera makes a pan shot from the feet to the face of the brand new toy: Buzz Lightyear.

He doesn’t seem to understand that he is a toy and is behaving as if he were in space, with a lot of distrust towards the environment. He then delivers his iconic line: “To the infinity and beyond”. All of this makes for a grand entrance for this new toy, which will put Woody, the boy’s old favourite, in the shadows.

Entering the 21st century, one of the most iconic characters of film made his famous entrance into the saga in 2003: Jack Sparrow. 

His back is first shown, on his boat in the middle of the sea, then the camera shows his face. His determination is portrayed by his intense stare at the landscape. Then, as he crawls down to the floor of his boat sinking, the feeling is that he may be more clumsy than the public may have thought. The entrance perfectly sets the tone of who he is going to be to the public.

In the most iconic fashion movie, The Devil Wears Prada, the fashion editor of the Runway magazine, Miranda Priestly, makes a grand entrance. 

The other characters set an expectation of her as they seem stressed about her arrival. She then comes by the elevator with her sunglasses, which she takes off and then walks out. Just by this, the public understands the power she holds. The camera then shifts to her walking the corridors with her assistant following her as if they are her personal minions.

The best-known villain in comic books was brought to the screen in 2008 by Christopher Nolan in The Dark Knight. The Joker was introduced as the new antagonist to Batman in a memorable scene.

While robbing a bank, several criminals, all wearing Joker masks, are executing a plan. The audience has hints at moments about who the Joker might be. He is mentioned several times by the others criminals, all dressed in Joker masks. They all kill each other on orders of the Joker. Once all dead, he finally reveals his face while responding to a comment made by one of the bank hostages. Christopher Nolan built an enormous anticipation as to who the Joker is.

Each one of these entrances is fair to say is as grand as it gets. They mix ingredients to make them truly unique. The building of a character through its entrance is what contributes to making movies that will forever be remembered.

If you enjoyed reading Grand Entrances Make Great Characters: Memorable Movies, then why not try Films that start out as Powerful Plays

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