Τον καιρό του νικελόντεον, υπήρχαν οι ταινίες σε συνέχειες (serial films), ταινίες δράσης ή μελοδράματα που κάθε επεισόδιό τους έληγε με κάποια σκηνή κορύφωσης της αγωνίας (cliffhangers). Ο όρος cliffhanger —προφανώς από την κλασική σκηνή κάποιου ήρωα που έμενε κρεμασμένος στο χείλος του γκρεμού, να περιμένει το επόμενο επεισόδιο για να δει με ποιο δραματουργικό εύρημα (dramatic device, plot device) θα γλίτωνε την πτώση στο κενό— πρωτοκαταγράφεται το 1937 για να περιγράψει αυτές τις ταινίες σε συνέχειες με τις πολλαπλές κορυφώσεις της αγωνίας (OED: Amer. Speech XII. 318/1 Cliff-hangers, type of serial melodrama) αλλά και τα αντίστοιχα ραδιοφωνικά μελοδράματα, και στη συνέχεια διάφορες καταστάσεις με σασπένς, ακόμα και μια αμφίρροπη μάχη / αναμέτρηση.
Να σημειώσω και τον όρο ανοιχτό φινάλε (open ending, γαλλικό fin ouverte), που θα μπορούσε να χρησιμοποιηθεί και για το cliffhanger (ending).
cliffhanger
Websters:
1: an adventure serial or melodrama; especially, one presented in installments each of which ends in suspense: cliff-hangers on radio
2: a contest whose outcome is in doubt up to the very end: the election was a cliffhanger.
Random House
1. a melodramatic adventure serial in which each installment ends in suspense in order to interest the reader or viewer in the next installment.
2. a situation or contest of which the outcome is suspensefully uncertain up to the very last moment: The game was a cliff-hanger, but our team finally won.
Encarta:
1. ending left teasingly unresolved: an unresolved ending in a part of a serialized drama or book that leaves the audience or reader eager to know what will happen next
2. tense situation: a situation full of tension or suspense because it is not clear what will happen next
[< early serial films in which characters were left hanging off the edge of a cliff at the end of an episode]
ODE:
noun a dramatic and exciting ending to an episode of a serial, leaving the audience in suspense and anxious not to miss the next episode.
— a story or event with a strong element of suspense: the match was a cliffhanger right up to the final whistle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliffhanger
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_(film)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Perils_of_Pauline_(1914_serial)
Να σημειώσω και τον όρο ανοιχτό φινάλε (open ending, γαλλικό fin ouverte), που θα μπορούσε να χρησιμοποιηθεί και για το cliffhanger (ending).
cliffhanger
Websters:
1: an adventure serial or melodrama; especially, one presented in installments each of which ends in suspense: cliff-hangers on radio
2: a contest whose outcome is in doubt up to the very end: the election was a cliffhanger.
Random House
1. a melodramatic adventure serial in which each installment ends in suspense in order to interest the reader or viewer in the next installment.
2. a situation or contest of which the outcome is suspensefully uncertain up to the very last moment: The game was a cliff-hanger, but our team finally won.
Encarta:
1. ending left teasingly unresolved: an unresolved ending in a part of a serialized drama or book that leaves the audience or reader eager to know what will happen next
2. tense situation: a situation full of tension or suspense because it is not clear what will happen next
[< early serial films in which characters were left hanging off the edge of a cliff at the end of an episode]
ODE:
noun a dramatic and exciting ending to an episode of a serial, leaving the audience in suspense and anxious not to miss the next episode.
— a story or event with a strong element of suspense: the match was a cliffhanger right up to the final whistle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliffhanger
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_(film)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Perils_of_Pauline_(1914_serial)
