In Medias Res - Cinematic History

Cinematic History

It is typical for Film noir to begin in medias res; for example, a private detective will enter the plot already in progress. Crossfire (1947) opens with the murder of Joseph Samuels. As the police investigate the crime, the story behind the murder is told via flashbacks. Dead Reckoning (1947) opens with Humphrey Bogart as Rip Murdock on the run and attempting to hide in a Catholic church. Inside, the backstory is told in flashback as Murdock explains his situation to a priest.

The technique continues to be used in modern crime thrillers such as Grievous Bodily Harm (1988), The Usual Suspects (1995), and Kill Bill Volume 2 (2004). and action thrillers such as Firestarter (1984), and many James Bond films.

Many war films, such as The Thin Red Line (1998), also begin in medias res, with the protagonists already actively in combat and no prior domestic scenes leading up to the film's events.

The technique is not limited these specific genres, and has been used in other types of films, including drama. It has also been used in such diverse films as Through a Glass Darkly (1961), 8½ (1963), and Dr. Strangelove (1964).

In television and movies, the technique of having a pre-credits sequence in which some of the story takes place prior to any credits is called a cold open. Many television shows in the 1960s had a pre-credits 'teaser' which hooked the audience to keep their attention. It is often accompanied by in medias res writing. Beginning mainly with the James Bond films, many action films have a prologue pre-credits action sequence unrelated to the main storyline of the film - however, after the opening credits the main storyline of the film gets started with traditional exposition. About half the James Bond films open this way.