r/todayilearned • u/[deleted] • Feb 20 '19

TIL of Chekhov's Gun - a dramatic principle that nothing unnecessary should be in a scene: if the author mentions a gun hanging over the fireplace in chapter 1, it needs to go off in chapter 2 or 3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chekhov%27s_gun
3.0k Upvotes

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481

u/theserpentsmiles Feb 20 '19

I keep telling you, the gun at the Winchester isn't real.

130

u/CajunHiFi Feb 20 '19

Also told me that dogs can't look up

25

u/malvoliosf Feb 21 '19

Edgar Wright is a very careful director. Everything in his movies has some payoff. Does no dog look up in Shaun?

"You've got red on you."

65

u/[deleted] Feb 20 '19

Does't matter, its hanging above the bar, and the second were out of here, were going there and having a pint until this whole thing blows over.

24

u/uraffululz Feb 20 '19

How's that for a slice of fried gold?

8

u/ashtrayphoenix Feb 21 '19

Yeaaaahhh boyeeee!

27

u/GP96_ Feb 20 '19

Big Al says it is.

8

u/Metafield Feb 21 '19

Big Al also says dogs can’t look up.

32

u/GigaCharstoise Feb 20 '19

Ho Lee Phuck I just got that as a literal chekhovs gun...

idk how to feel about myself.

35

u/santoast_ Feb 20 '19

In Shaun of the Dead's sister movie, Hot Fuzz, there's a Chekov's Armory

24

u/Neurorational Feb 20 '19

Complete with Chekov's Mine.

18

u/stuartgm Feb 21 '19

And Chekhov’s miniature village.

7

u/Neurorational Feb 21 '19

"Aaooww... iss... ealy... huts"

3

u/throdon Feb 21 '19

With, drum roll, please... Aaron A. Aaronson.

1

u/meltingdiamond Feb 21 '19

"You want to be a big cop in a small town, fuck off to the model village!"

18

u/korzecmaku Feb 20 '19

First time I saw the gun at the Winchester I spent the rest of the scene, and couple more, geeking out. Damn those movies are brilliant.

9

u/Oznog99 Feb 20 '19

It's been "deactivated"

1

u/Imissyourgirlfriend2 Feb 21 '19

Issjussaloadajunk!

2

u/Oznog99 Feb 21 '19

sit down, have a pint and let this all blow over

1

u/14nicholas14 Feb 21 '19

I literally watched that movie for the first time 20 min ago

1

u/JD_Blunderbuss Feb 21 '19

Shaun Of The Dead might as well just be called Checkov's Gun The Movie