Talk:List of films that break the fourth wall

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[edit] I cannot stand these lists

They're unencyclopedic, they don't offer a better idea of what the term "fourth wall" means, and they are almost entirely built off of original research. I am open to be convinced otherwise, though. wasserperson 00:31, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

I agree. This list has no point or purpose. Applejuicefool 20:25, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Bob Hope and Bing Crosby

I remember Bob Hope (and Hope&Crosby in the Road pictures) broke the 4th wall in many of their movies. Hopefully a bigger fan than I can cite the particular instances.

[edit] List criteria?

Is it possible to define criteria about what does count as breaking the fourth wall and what does not? As a means to avoid pointless listcruft.

I'd like to suggest:

• Character must specifically address the audience or reveal that they are in a work of fiction -- merely looking directly into the camera and tossing in some kind of minor side comment under their breath (such as the Airplane! examples) should not necessarily count.

--Stratadrake 14:21, 28 October 2006 (UTC)

A good idea. There's a difference between breaking the fourth wall and an "aside" like you might find in a Shakespeare play (although those were probably played to the audience in Shakespeare's time). Applejuicefool 20:27, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

New subpage for criteria and guidelines discussion: See Talk:List of fiction that breaks the fourth wall/Criteria, and feel free to contribute. --Stratadrake 23:54, 19 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Seven year itch?

If I remember correctly, Tom Ewell broke the fourth wall in his monolog (talking to the audience) in The Seven Year Itch, but I can't remember for sure. Bubba73 (talk), 02:26, 28 November 2006 (UTC)