Remember those iconic movie trailers that used to give you chills? Well, they've changed, and a recent video by YouTuber Paul E.T. dives deep into why they've seemingly lost their voice. Movie trailers, which first appeared way back in the early 1910s, have gone through a lot of transformations. For a long time, legendary narrators like Mark Elliott, Nick Tate, and the unforgettable Don LaFontaine introduced us to epic stories and heroes. But where did that familiar, booming voice go?
Paul E.T.'s video breaks down the evolution of trailers into three key phases. It all began with marketer Nils Granlund, who pioneered the idea by using rehearsal clips to promote the Broadway show The Pleasure Seekers. Trailers have been in constant evolution ever since. The 1940s saw the rise of narration, which was a great way to introduce the stars and the story. But the 1980s is when trailers truly found their voice, thanks to talents like LaFontaine.
But here's where it gets controversial... Paul E.T. suggests two main reasons for the shift. First, narration became overused in the '80s and '90s, eventually turning into a cliché. Comedians like Pablo Francisco even built careers on impersonating those deep-voiced narrators. Second, narration hasn't completely vanished; it's just changed. As trailers evolved into distinct components, with trailers for trailers becoming more common, editors started using other attention-grabbing techniques. This led to more licensed music and staccato editing rhythms.
And this is the part most people miss... The video, titled “What happened to narrated movie trailers?” offers a fascinating look at how trailers have evolved. We still live in a world dominated by trailers, and hopefully, that will always be the case. But do you miss the classic trailer narration? Do you think the new methods are more effective, or do they lack the charm of the past? Share your thoughts in the comments!
