What's a MacGuffin in Films and Why is It Called That

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In this video:
In the last scene of the 1941 film classic, The Maltese Falcon, Sam Spade (played by Humphrey Bogart) hands over a murderer (played by Mary Astor) and a black falcon statuette to authorities. When asked what the statuette was exactly, Spade looks off in the distance and rather unsatisfactorily explains, “It’s stuff that dreams are made of.”
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[@TodayIFoundOut]

If you thought that video was fun check out this video and find out more about the time Dick Van Dyke was Saved by Porpoises When He Found Himself Lost at Sea on a Surfboard: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hofIkJaPa6qtoZI

[@curtiscarpenter9881]

Are there really more stars then grains of sand? And how can we known?

[@PDeRop]

A similar story was told by Urbanus (in belgium) : a farmer was spraying green powder on his field. Urbanus asked what the powder was for and the farmer answered: to keep away Elephants. Urbanus answered : but there aren't any elephants in Belgium ! upon which the farmer answered : great powder indeed!

[@_yellow]

GBatT Lel nice

[@SangreFriasBack]

I swear I’ve heard variations of this kind of story when I was younger. The format feels so familiar

[@jimbronaugh]

I like the explanation as 'a package that is not to be opened until Christmas'. That completely explains the whole concept of the plot anchor that is intangible. You know it exists, but until the right time it will not be revealed. It can only be revealed after a certain point in the story. It doesn't have to be explained until the end, but it is easily the focus because what is inside is unknown and it's value is increased by the anticipation. It becomes overwhelmingly valuable because you don't know if it is valuable or not. If it is a kitten inside you may be disappointed at Christmas morning.

[@Texas-girll]

nothing makes me happier than hearing "Hello I'm Simon Whistler and you're watching the today I found out KZbin channel"

[@jimhill5996]

... and I reply, Hello Simon !

[@nathnull8523]

JIM HILL it doesn't feel right to me unless it's 'hello, Simon Whistler' gotta use his full name like he does

[@noelj62]

Quen Spencer . I usually reply: Yes, you are.. Simon that is. However, I still need addition fact-checking before I fully confirm the claim ;-)

[@namsake5966]

Man... if only all women were that easy to make happy. Just whip out the phone and play the first few seconds of a Today I Found Out video and everything's better. And, I probably just made you mad because you think I assumed your sexual identity. Truth is, I don't care. I stopped caring after having my heart broken by self absorbed egotistical girls. SOOO sad.

[@josecolon8143]

nah yes it is classic

[@SpoofyJ]

Who came up with the term "Jack Shit"? Who was this Jack and why was he associated with shit?

[@CuriousFrog]

DOOD Q why was Larry so happy?

[@quintenberry2111]

DOOD Q I also want to know who the hell was Jon and what's so special about him that restrooms were named after him? Was he related to Jack?

[@octaviondeminicolas1941]

I think it's related to donkeys. Jack for male donkey. Jenny for female donkey. It's basically bullshit.

[@uhohhotdog]

I always assumed it was from Poker. I got a jack and shit.

[@LukeCageforhire]

Octavion Demi Nicolas thought bulls were bovine

[@verlocitybrand2290]

My favorite MacGuffin is the briefcase in pulp fiction

[@originalhgc]

Yes, I think of Marcellus Wallace's briefcase as the king of all McGuffins. After all, it glows. Speaking of briefcases, there's also the one in Ronin. In both cases, you never even know what the McGuffin inside the briefcase is. In the Maltese Falcon, it's a little more subtle. You (and the characters) hear it described, but then it turns out to be a switcheroo. Makes you wonder if it ever even existed. And speaking of glowing McGuffins, it's hard to top the '64 Malibu in Repo Man.

[@rztrzt]

Nah, the one in Ronin!

[@savethezombies]

My favorite MacGuffin device is "The MacGuffin Device" from that episode of GI Joe where the orphanage gets blown up. They didn't even bother coming up with a name/function/anything for it.

[@jimschwartz1502]

Doesn't the briefcase just have Marsellus Wallace's favorite lightbulb?

[@kevinsugrue9021]

Or the Ark of the Covenant in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'.

[@tohopes]

I'm sure people would flock to find out about the McNothin if McDonalds were to offer one.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

I just can't wait that McDonald's will add this in their menu...

[@michellecornum5856]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@williamshockley7692]

But for a limited time only while supplies last. Hurry and get yours before they're all gone. _" Scarcity induces demand"_ .

[@XxBaused667xX]

Hmm, I was interested in watching this video due to an Anime called, Sagrada Reset. The term MacGuffin is used in the series to name a powerful object in the story but it is never shown, yet learning what a MacGuffin may be in this video kinda makes me understand why. Thanks, despite the show being very "slow" I have gained a bit more appreciation towards it.

[@RockawayCCW]

So, now we know what was in the briefcase in Pulp Fiction!

[@TomHaroldArt]

Damn! Such stellar research! Loved this one!! Nice work, Simon and staff!

[@dvsdnaa]

I just watched an eight minutes and twenty-six seconds video about a word I have never heard of and will not make my life any better... AWESOME! Keep it up. Looking forward to the next one.

[@60secondsuccess39]

Tarnation, red herring, MacGuffin? By the time I'm done with this channel Il be speaking old latin.

[@DrymouthCWW]

60 Second Success speak english you damn heretic!

[@Veellinn]

HERESY? DEUS VULT!

[@edvaira6891]

60 Second Success nah, you'll just be speaking Old Fart Grandpa (or OFG)

[@franklinblankenship8991]

conflarn it!

[@Aliosar22]

60 Second Success And next week: Deus ex Machina.

[@BrooklynBeTheBoro]

Helen of Troy's "pie"? I'd buy that for a dollar, if you know what I mean!!!

[@MrClassyTiger]

Rob McQueen Hahahaha! I love it, best comment!

[@hyperpowerfulform5132]

Now, now. Thinking like that will only to another Trojan War!

[@quinnrollen]

RoboCop is the MacGuffin

[@noahlipsky6547]

It might cost you a bit more than that. Her face launched 1,000 ships. Imagine what the rest of her could do.

[@thepariah3516]

The Terracotta Pie.

[@Bananaboy994]

I am not sure, but is Rosebud in Citizen Kane a MacGuffin?

[@42Fossy]

Yes. Rosebud could have been any other childhood object that was important to Kane. The fact that it was specifically a sled doesn't matter.

[@agentwashingtub9167]

You guys should do a video about the reversing of the Chicago River.

[@nathanwilson7102]

Why/were did the term break a leg come from and why/when did the superstition that saying Macbeth befor before the play was bad luck

[@septicbile2901]

that Macbeth one is a mystery to me as well. as for break a leg. it use to be bad luck to wish someone well on the night of the play so it became a sarcastic loophole around this superstition to tell actors to "break a leg"

[@BodaciousWench]

Nathan Wilson The leg was the term for the side curtains on the stage. Actors didn't get paid till they performed. Thus 'breaking the plane of the leg" or getting on stage meant that they would be paid. So good luck. Saying MacBeth was considered unlucky because of bad things that happened during a few showings of it. But the superstition makes for some fun bits to cancel it out like leaving the venue, turning around three times, spitting, and then politely asking to be let back into the venue.

[@nathanwilson7102]

Wendy Schafer thank you

[@foxymetroid]

From what I heard, it was incredibly unlucky to wish a performer good luck. So you wish for them to break a leg, which would be a tad unlucky, in the hopes that said performer has good luck instead.

[@BodaciousWench]

saying "break a leg" instead of good luck. I explained the reason. Also theatre folk are just a strange superstitious lot.

[@Alouette91]

DVD and CD discs are the same so why DVD cases are bigger then CD cases?

[@foxymetroid]

I'm guessing DVD cases are bigger because VHS cases were bigger and they didn't want people mistaking DVDs for CDs or vice-versa.

[@DrRChandra]

same with Bluray. Must be for distinctness, and likely like foxymetroid said, an easier transition for video distributers/sellers.

[@ShawnRavenfire]

I've wondered this myself.

[@tallman11282]

In addition to what the other commenters another reason, I believe, is to give more room for the box art on front and the synopsis on back.

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

Mostly, the advent of the DVD came after the CD... So the movie marketing industry got a chance to see a multitude of businesses suffer for the complete renovations to their shops to accommodate CD packaging... (cassette tapes were there before CD's... so... yeah, expensive) When movies made the change from VHS (which narrowly beat out beta-max before DVD's were even a twinkle) the marketing industry realized they had a choice to make. Store shelves were already sized and spaced to accommodate the taller and thicker VHS tapes and boxes, and with a "minor investment" at least, in theory, the stores could double their functional inventory of DVD's... At the same time, with just the slimmer DVD box built to the same height as the older VHS tape containers at the time, there would still be a workable increase in functional inventory for the stores... Thus, near unanimously, the industry decided NOT to further invest in shelving and containment in the stores to make more efficient space for the DVD's and instead made the packages for the DVD's taller to fit the shelves already available in mass. Looking back at the way the internet has pretty much wiped out the stores altogether... I don't guess those big-wig marketing exec's regret anything. :o)

[@caveymoley]

"The rabbits foot" Mission Impossible 3 DAMN IT HE JUST SAID IT :(

[@IDCaboutmyname1]

Who coined the term:"Coined the term"?

[@curtiscarpenter9881]

The briefcase in pulp fiction being encoded 666 being among the most famous. A MacGuffin i think would be good to replace the use of Easter eggs/ items involved in previous episodes as part flashbacks in a British version of breaking bad.

[@Black60Dragon]

I love this channel! I always learn cool things

[@SamuelKristopher]

Can you guys sort your scrolling text out? The first few lines don't appear on the screen until long after you've said them, making having any text at all kinda pointless. At least make them scroll faster or just abandon the scrolling altogether - it's not really necessary.

[@FrankHarrison12]

I ordered an Egg McGuffin this morning. I haven't opened the bag yet... but I suppose it doesn't matter.

[@sifugurusensei]

It matters to George Lucas.

[@lekanraposte6732]

There is a whole episode of GI-Joe where the Joes and Cobra fight to acquire the "McGuffin Device".

[@jeffwhite7158]

Have you done a video about the origin of the saying "23 Skidoo?" If you haven't, can you please do one?

[@jamesfranklin358]

im sorry, *what?!?!?*

[@jeffwhite7158]

Sorry for the typos. I edited my post to make it more understandable.

[@jamesfranklin358]

my issue was more along the lines that in the entirety of my corporeal existence, i've ne'er seen, heard nor even caught the faintest indication of any phrase bearing even a passable resemblance to that in any time, place or context.

[@MrVasteel]

Who ever says "23 Skidoo"? I can't even work out what that could mean! The saying "48 Barmalang" on the other hand...

[@jeffwhite7158]

It's a phrase from decades ago, meaning to leave quickly... Like someone might say "I was at a party when my ex showed up, so I was 23 skidoo!"

[@Hykje]

In the movie "Ronin" there is an perfect example of a "McGuffin" -the characters in the movie are chasing a big box that people are ready to kill for -why? -who knows -when somebody in the end, asks another guy what's inside the box, the answer he gets is "I don't remember.".

[@ritaloy8338]

My favorite MacGuffin is Rosebud in Citizen Cain. You see and hear Cain saying his last words and then playing in the snow. You never find out what Rosebud is until the sled is thrown onto the fire.

[@erickutepow]

The dead body in Stand By Me is my favorite McGuffin

[@BrownMallard]

Who invented the term the "jack" to mean nothing, as in the phrase, 'You don't know jack!'?

[@duckdictator6531]

BrownMallard is a profanity-less version of you don't know jack shit. Someone else asked about Jack Shit already. Hope for an answer!

[@BrownMallard]

GorumGamer But why use the word "Jack". That's my real question.

[@Mernom]

I THINK it's slang for toilet.. not sure how it entered that expression though.

[@Irdanwen]

Wow, excellently explained! Now I finally have a grasp of what this term means. Thanks! Do you have the details about Tsjechov's Gun? I sort of know what it is, but not truly.

[@Cheshire_Cat_]

Chekhov's gun is less of a thing than a rule. Basically, it states that if you add something to a story, it must have a payoff. The original story/namesake is "If you put a gun onstage, you better make sure it goes off." There is also a very good video on it by StudioBinder.

[@brettknoss486]

It's interesting that you mention George Lucas, although more detail was added from later works, Star Wars is a MacGuffin story. The first scene involves Leah uploading secret plans on R2D2 who flees to captured ship. Luke Skywalker is an ordinary kid who is brought into the story by storm troopers looking for the plans.

[@animistchannel2983]

Best/favorite MacGuffin of all time: The Bridge on the River Kwai. The actual bridge itself. The whole movie was about people dealing with the process of making something that was inherently irrelevant by comparison. Alec Guinness, however, was incredibly freaking brilliant in every way. If you have a sense of irony, you must see this film, and be prepared to laugh cynically for days on end afterwards.

[@ConnorNotyerbidness]

Its...the stuff dreams are made of. (Maltese falcon is actually my favorite old movie and i actually have a replica of the prop made of foam core and resin cost only 90 bucks)

[@19lamborghini92]

Please do a video on the moon. The different phases of the moon. Why it's called a pink moon in April and a strawberry moon in June. What's the difference. Why is it called waxing and waning and gibbous and so on. The correlation of crazy behavior and a full moon. You guys are one of the few I trust to bring me all the facts. I love the moon and genuinely feel connected to it. And I'd love for you guys to make a video. It would be super neat if Daven presented but that's a lot to ask. But please please PLEASE do an extensive video on the moon. Thank you

[@WingmanSR]

My favorite MacGuffin is the briefcase in Pulp Fiction.

[@memyopinionsche6610]

when the term McGufin started showing up on my radar was on Channel awesome or that guy with the glasses! when the Nostalgia Chick or now Lindsey was talking to Nostalgia Critic or Doug Walker about a Disney film when a plot point came out of nowhere and forgotten a few minutes latter.

[@m46opie1]

So after watching this, the answer is, we don't really know for sure WHO came up with it. Sorta appropriate then....

[@alext9067]

Well it wasn't Christmas, but when they opened the Maltese Falcon they got a nice surprise. That kinda makes sense for the Christmas thing....I think.

[@legoqueen2445]

Interesting clip! How do you find the resources to answer these queries? Would love to see a 'Today I found out how we find things out!'.

[@ShawnRavenfire]

There was an episode of the 80s G.I. Joe cartoon, where the Joes and Cobra were fighting over a device that they actually called "The MacGuffin Device." They knew it was important, but none of then knew what the device actually did. (In the end of the episode, it turns out the device was for giving you temporary godlike powers, so it was also a deus ex machina.)

[@davidjackson2524]

In the film Ronin starring DeNiro and Jean Reno the two lead characters are chasing after a large box which some crooks have. That's one McGuffin film.

[@Total1Now]

Classic example of a Macguffin is the glowing somethingorother in the brief case, that we NEVER GET TO ACTUALLY SEE but upon which the entire film rotates

[@tracymcmillan1466]

According to film critic Roger Ebert, his favourite MacGuffin was in the movie Casablanca. In WW2 there were no such thing as the coveted "Letters of Transit" that allegedly would give you safe passage anywhere.

[@waa51797]

"Like a plague-ridden ninja" ~Simon April 2016

[@AndyPaxTheGameCat]

One of my favourite Macguffins is the rabbit’s foot from mission impossible 3.

[@joeomalley2835]

Informative video. It seems that Hitchcock had the MacGuffin down to a science in his films.

[@freddyt55555]

This reminds me of the Double McGuffin with a young Lisa Whelchel.

[@markschwarz2137]

KZbin is READING OUR MINDS! Well, not really, but by a pretty incredible coincidence, on the train home from work this evening, for some reason I recalled my father (long-since dead), telling me the story of the men on the train and the basket, but I couldn't remember the punchline. I decided I would look it up when I got home, but before I did that I happened to look at my "suggested videos" on KZbin, and up popped this vid.

[@carmondoyle]

the videos are enjoyable. Thanks for making them.

[@kevinbyrne4538]

Originally Homer's Illiad was indeed based on a stolen pie recipe, but when a stage version of the story was proposed, the producer insisted that a pie recipe was an inadequate McGuffin. He wanted to add a romantic plot component (to appeal to the women in the audience), so the pie recipe was replaced with an errant queen of Sparta. Considering how popular the story has remained, I think that the producer's suggestion was a good one.

[@xBINARYGODx]

Please start the scrolling of text up the screen a little sooner. You were slightly ahead of it and as someone who likes to read the quote as well, and will do faster than spoken, it was kind of irritating. Just put the whole thing up there like you did with the second-parts of each quote, if that is easier.

[@makouras]

Finally someone else said it! I've written the same comment in a couple of their videos before.

[@michellecornum5856]

I love the fact that the origin of the MacGuffin phrase is also a MacGuffin. It's either very important or it's completely ephemeral or it doesn't matter, at all, but there it is -- the MacGuffin.

[@shaniblue5592]

Are you meaning to tell me you just wrote a Macguffin about Macguffins?

[@DrRChandra]

Jiminy...you really know how to distract. I realized about 15 seconds after you showed the sweet potato pie that I hadn't understood a word you said, had to pause for a bit, and rewind. I THOUGHT I was listening, but realized, not really. Yeah, I was about as attentive Homer Simpson in the presence of donuts. Oh well, it was kind of funny when I realized it.

[@DavidB5501]

This is really excellent. A lot of research there!

[@anomamos9095]

The term may also have been partially inspired by the phrase Lead on McDuff that was in popular use around the same time .

[@KingOfAllAnimals]

Wow, this puts a whole new spin on the Chicken MacGuffins from the Sam and Max cartoon.

[@nacoran]

When you really get right down to it, it was about Helen of Troy's pie...

[@whoc4r3s117]

The Macguffin in "Big Trouble in little china" was the boot knife.

[@torg842]

Why are lumber dimensions not the correct measurements (e.g. a 2x4 measures 1.5x3.5)? I know they rough cut it to 2x4 and the drying and planing makes it smaller, but why wouldn't you rough cut it to 2.5x3.5 or if not, why still call it a 2x4?

[@vectors2final36]

The first time I heard the term macguffin, it was Klinger in the show MASH referring to boobs.

[@sebastiansilverfox6912]

So in a twist, finding out what a McGuffin is was the McGuffin in this video.

[@glitchingelf7042]

What is a Mulligan in golf? When someone makes a bad shot they say, 'Mulligan'. This seems to imply their error doesn't count, and they get an automatic retry. But where does it come from?

[@GummyDinosaursify]

The Mulligan also happens in card games as well. Usually meaning the opposite player gets to draw an extra card because the rules prevented the player from moving on their first turn.

[@glitchingelf7042]

Ok. I didn't know that. I've only heard it used in movies where they play golf. Like Happy Gillmore.

[@writerpatrick]

A cheater named Mulligan?

[@tracymcmillan1466]

In the movie Casablanca the coveted Letters of Transit which supposedly protected the posessor from the Germans were considered MacGuffins by Hitchcock's definition 'cause there were no such thing during the 2nd WW whether they were signed by de Gaulle or not.

[@josecolon8143]

Yep, I’m going to get me a McGuffin meal! Oh wait he’s not talking about a MCDONALDS meal isn’t he? 🤣😂🤣

[@NotContinuum]

Helen's sweet potato pie that launched a thousand ships. Talk about a euphemism!

[@topazboy333]

I seem recall a George Constanza identifying as an "importer and exporter"

[@davincent98]

When Simon first spoke, I thought that I was still on the WhatCulture channel.

[@flyingninja1234]

The Macguffin in Ronin is quite good. Watch the film & if you've seen the film, you'll know what I'm talking about.

[@Shiro_Amada]

If the Christmas present is a plot device it would fit the definition of a MacGuffin. You wouldn't need to know what's in it and you could end right as it's being opened.

[@matthewpopp1054]

I suspect that the Maltese Falcon was the original inspiration for the Millennium Falcon

[@macsnafu]

Another interesting one. But what we really need is another eyebrow-raising story from Dave'N'Whiskey! ;-)

[@SmittyTheTruckDriver00001]

I was distracted by the fact that Simon's glasses dissappear a bit when he turns his head!!

[@lmartinson6963]

Why oh why did you have to point that out.

[@dragonarchive7443]

My personal favorite MacGuffin is the sugar bowl from A series of unfortunate events.

[@scotpens]

Helen of Troy's great sweet potato pie? Or it could be a recipe for the world's greatest egg salad --a salad so delicious you could plotz.

[@edithiepeal]

Like in Pulp Fiction. We never even find out what's in the suitcase.

[@gaeshows1938]

hey now, hey now, this is what dreams are made of

[@darkwinter6028]

"MacPhail, Hitchcock needs you." 'Why?' "He knows you won't." 'Won't?' "Won't fail." 😎

[@ColonelMarcellus]

Not to be confused with a pair of McGuffeys!

[@MrJohn348]

The most common MacGuffin in US tv crime shows is a " big bag of money ".

[@a-man3179]

Thanks for spoiling The Maltese Falcon.

[@thomaschase1719]

Straw man seems to be in order next.

[@OGould]

At first glance I thought the title was about McGruff the crime dog. Make a video on that.

[@truemoyyed2093]

You look Amazing Simon, I love the color you wear

[@jeffstumpf9129]

Was "Pulp Fiction" full McGuffins then? At least the brief case and the watch were.

[@henrymach]

I always thought it was some sort of slang for "my go and find"

[@MrChainrule]

The secret of the McGuffin is that it doesn't matter what it is.

[@OhYeahNice]

Marvel has built it's arsenal of films around Infinity MacGuffins. lol

[@robertt9342]

OhYeahNice well their plots rarely revolve around them. Off the top of my head, only Avengers and GoTG 1 seem to be so focussed on that Macguffin. All other relation to the infinity Macguffins seem to be tangential.

[@darthguilder1923]

I've been to a movie theater where there's a definition on the wall that says what a MacGuffin is.

[@acid4546]

So that means that Wonder Woman has its own MacGuffin, with the "God-killer Sword".

[@Zeithri]

The story of the MacGuffin is a MacGuffin.

[@MisterWileyOne]

i.e. Ronin a.k.a. “Wild chase for whatever was in the ice skate case"

[@jbsn1426]

All of a sudden had a craving for a McMuffin

[@ryanhouk3560]

what does the CSA next to actors names in films credits mean?

[@qwertylaservisionguy]

It stands for the Casting Society of America. It's the society for casting directors.

[@davidroddick91]

Here's something out of my ass: Canadian Standards Association. (For those not from the Great White North, it's a real thing.)

[@logik316]

Confederate States of America

[@hankw69]

Dang! Thought it was the new McDonald's McGuffin muffin!

[@josephcalvosa8272]

I now know what's in the briefcase in "Pulp Fiction"! McGuffin!

[@josephcalvosa8272]

Just saw the previous comment and feel profoundly less Brilliant. However in good company.

[@luckybowler3321]

is the quest of uncovering macguffin in this video, itself a macguffin?

[@tommytomthms5]

my favorite macguffins are when they are also an ex mocana (spelling?)

[@ricketycricket1295]

Look up the movie Double McGuffin... It's a cool 70's teen movie...