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Sunday, October 4, 2009
Top MacGuffin's in Cinema
Posted by Kevin Hopp on Sun, Oct 4, 2009 at 6:00 AM
A MacGuffin is a term coined by famous director Alfred Hitchcock (and used continuously by George Lucas) to define a plot element, generally an object, that drives the characters and the story. To illustrate, I compiled some of the most famous MacGuffins. Check my list out, and let me know all good ones I missed by leaving a comment!
7) The Matrix – The Matrix
This one is debatable as a true MacGuffin, because it’s not necessarily an object, but an environment. However, throughout the movie, the question “what is the Matrix” is asked, and answered with varying layers, with the ultimate answer establishing it as a MacGuffin. My head hurts.
6) Death Star – Star Wars Ep. IV
The one element that brings the characters together, it’s not a moon, it’s a space station. Thanks to this MacGuffin, Han and Chewie meet up Obi Wan, Luke and Leia and cause Luke to take his first step toward becoming a Jedi badass.
5) The Delorean – Back to the Future
A time machine built into the totally awesome car, this MacGuffin works throughout the trilogy to varying degrees, but in the first one, the time machine is the driving force behind Marty kissing his mom, getting his dad to man up and get struck by lightning — all in one night.
4) The Ark of the Covenant – Raiders of the Lost Ark
There are few who are better than Lucas at employing the MacGuffin, as he demonstrates in one of my favorite movies ever. The Ark of the Covenant is the object the Nazis and our hero Indy go after — and don’t forget, the Ark is responsible for those child-scarring face melting scenes.
3) The Letters of Transit – Casablanca
In the greatest love story ever told, it’s not love that brings everyone together; it's letters of transit that allow two people to escape the jail that is Casablanca. The letters are what bring everyone together, but it doesn't amount to a hill of beans for Rick, who ends up stranded making new friends in the African wild-west town.
2) The Ring – Lord of the Rings
This MacGuffin is in the title, and is the reason for some great fight scenes (and 42 endings). Despite this not being one of my favorite series, you can’t deny how important the ring is in this movie.
1) Rosebud – Citizen Kane
In the biggest, most parodied MacGuffin of all time, Rosebud takes the cake on this list. Throughout the movie, you’re trying to figure out who or what “Rosebud” is, only to find out it’s a friggin’ sled. Of course Rosebud is much more than that. But still: It’s a sled.
Now that you know all about the MacGuffin, let me know what other good ones you can come up with.
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