Cliffhangers, popularized in 19th century dime novels and penny dreadfuls, are a plot device used to build suspense by leaving characters in dangerous situations until the next installment. They have been adapted into silent films, Westerns, and serialized TV shows, but must be used effectively to avoid manipulation. James Bond films are a good example of how cliffhangers can be effective in building tension and anticipation.
During the mid-19th century, a genre of literature written to appeal to a largely adolescent male audience became very popular. In the United States, these stories were called dime novels, while in England they were known as penny dreadfuls. Many of these works of literature were written in serial form, with readers only receiving a chapter or two in each new issue. In order to keep the readers interested in melodramatic storylines, the authors often used a plot device later called a cliffhanger.
A cliffhanger ending started with some heroic characters literally finding themselves hanging off a cliff. Sometimes a hero would cling to the edge of the cliff for his life, or perhaps grab hold of a tree root, branch, or rock for support. The point of a cliffhanger was to leave the character in a dangerous situation until the next chapter came out. Would the hero fall and die? Would he have been saved at the last minute? Would he be discovered by the villain? All of these possible outcomes would pique the reader’s interest and almost certainly warrant the purchase of the next dime or penny dreadful novel.
The cliffhanger ending as a gimmick to build suspense eventually found its way into the world of silent films. Serials like The Perils of Pauline routinely featured heroes or heroines trapped in seemingly inevitable situations, with resolution only to another reel of film. Many of the popular Western film serials have used variations on the cliffhanger plot device to build suspense. Sometimes the hero was in dire straits, but more often than not the villains kidnapped the hero’s mate or loved one to ensure an answer. Suspense would build as the hero sprinted off in dramatic fashion to face the villains and free his comrades. During a cliffhanger ending, audiences might see the victim floundering helplessly as the villains plan their next move.
Serialized TV shows also use the cliffhanger story device to keep viewers glued to the screen every week. If a show’s storyline is meant to be a two-part arc, the first episode typically ends on a cliffhanger. Without some sort of suspenseful, unresolved ending, viewers might not feel the need to watch the second part of the story arc. If one of the show’s regular cast members appears to be in danger, however, viewers often have a strong need to see that storyline resolved in the next episode.
The use of a cliffhanger plot device can be seen as too manipulative if not done correctly or used too often. There has to be a palpable tension regarding the future of the character who is currently dangling from a rock face, literally or figuratively. The classic spy series with agent 007 James Bond is a good example of how effective cliffhangers can be. Bond is routinely captured by villains during these films and placed in what appear to be inevitable situations. Audiences are driven to the edges of their seats in anticipation of a seemingly impossible escape, which Bond usually delivers with authority. It’s this aspect of tension and release that makes a cliffhanger ending so effective with readers and viewers.
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