klmama Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 Can you think of a movie or a play with a narrator that stands apart from the actors to tell the story, but also reacts visibly to the actions of the characters in the story and in doing so becomes a character himself? I feel like I've seen this, and I can't remember how it was done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 Stranger Than Fiction? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 Like in in A Series if Unfortunate Events (Netflix)? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 Do they do that in The Truman Show? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 (edited) Kevin Spacey does this in American Beauty (and also in the TV show, House of Cards). I am not sure, but I think Death of a Salesman uses this, as well as Our Town. ETA: Rereading, I don't think those are examples of what you are saying--you mean the narrator isn't in the action, but has some interaction...hmmm... Edited March 23, 2019 by Chris in VA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 Our Town, the play by Thornton Wilder? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 40 minutes ago, Lori D. said: Our Town, the play by Thornton Wilder? This is also what I was thinking of and could *not* remember the name! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica_in_Switzerland Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 Probably not quite what you're looking for, but Neverending Story? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidlit Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 Yes, Our Town has a narrator. It has been years since I read it, so I’m not sure if the narrator actually gets involved (emotionally, whatever) in the story or if he just offers commentary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 16 minutes ago, hopeistheword said: Yes, Our Town has a narrator. It has been years since I read it, so I’m not sure if the narrator actually gets involved (emotionally, whatever) in the story or if he just offers commentary. no, he doesn't. He is a narrator like in the Greek plays sense. Completely outside of the story's action. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS Mom in NC Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 (edited) Into the Woods. The narrator is pulled into the story in the second half. "I just tell the story, I'm not part of it." Then another character says, "Some of us don't like the way you're telling it." Then he meets his end. At the beginning of Secret of Kells the best intro ever is given in a voice over by what is a character in the story itself. "I have lived through many ages..." The narration at the beginning is an introduction, the rest of the story doesn't have a narrator. Edited March 23, 2019 by Homeschool Mom in AZ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 It's a series, but Jane the Virgin. The narrator is not a character (only a voice), but does very much react emotionally to the events in the story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 The princess bride 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wintermom Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 Monty Python Quest for the Holy Grail. Not exactly a narrator, but the historian is somewhat of a narrator and eventually gets killed by a character in the story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lavender's green Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 The snowman in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The original House of Cards, although he's very much party of the story from the beginning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 Into the Woods and Series of Unfortunate Events were my first thoughts. But that doesn't really happen in their film/TV versions. Just the stage and book versions, respectively. Also, The Big Lebowski. The narrator only briefly shows up, but he's clearly a real person in the world of the movie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junie Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 The photographer in "It Could Happen to You." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS Mom in NC Posted March 24, 2019 Share Posted March 24, 2019 In the recent True Grit the main character narrates at the beginning and the end, but not for most of the movie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeaganS Posted March 24, 2019 Share Posted March 24, 2019 (edited) Arrested Development. I've always enjoyed Ron Howard's narration in that show. Eta: you could just watch the pilot episode and get a really great sense of how it works. Plus it's one of the better pilots I've ever seen. 😊 Edited March 24, 2019 by MeaganS 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted March 24, 2019 Share Posted March 24, 2019 not a movie and not the same thing but has anyone read any Theodora Goss? She does this thing where one character is telling their stories but other characters keep interjecting to tell her how she’s telling it wrong or being over dramatic or ridiculous. Its quite clever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted March 24, 2019 Share Posted March 24, 2019 On 3/23/2019 at 2:07 PM, PrincessMommy said: no, he doesn't. He is a narrator like in the Greek plays sense. Completely outside of the story's action. But he does interact with the daughter character, correct? He's the one she complains to (see my post above). It's been a bit since I've seen it, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted March 24, 2019 Share Posted March 24, 2019 (edited) Aaron Burr, in Hamilton. He stands aside and narrates the story from Aaron Burr's perspective, and also IS Aaron Burr throughout the show. The Wonder Years (TV show from the late 80s-early 90s). The main character, Kevin Arnold, narrates the story as an adult looking back on his own childhood. (young Fred Savage plays young Kevin Arnold, while adult Daniel Stern plays adult Kevin Arnold/Narrator) Edited March 24, 2019 by Suzanne in ABQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted March 25, 2019 Author Share Posted March 25, 2019 Thanks, everyone! These are great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 I've seen that in greek plays, and some Shakespeare productions ( Kenneth branaugh's henry v. derek jacobi was the chorus). and George of Jungle- has a narrator, (and at least one character was arguing with him.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeaganS Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 Winnie the Pooh, the original Disney one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 5 hours ago, gardenmom5 said: I've seen that in greek plays, and some Shakespeare productions ( Kenneth branaugh's henry v. derek jacobi was the chorus). and George of Jungle- has a narrator, (and at least one character was arguing with him.) Oh yes! Shakespeare. How could I forget. In Midsummer Night's Dream, the character, Bottom, introduces the story, then is a major part of the story, then tells the conclusion. I believe Puck breaks the fourth wall in the middle as well, to explain something. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 Second hand lions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica_in_Switzerland Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 Just found one by accident this weekend: Robin Hood, the Disney cartoon version. The minstrel (rooster) is both the narrator and a person living in Nottingham. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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