The best narration in feature films?

[Douglas Meltzer]

The Third Man was being shown on TV this morning and although I had seen it a number of times before, I was immediately struck by Trevor Howard's narration in the beginning. It sets up the film so well and Howard does a truly excellent job. I often find voice-over narration used as a crutch by filmmakers, an easy way to get exposition out there or to help string scenes together. It's become a cliche in crime/detective noir films ("noirration!") and there are films where the narrator disappears for most of the movie so it's a shock when they return. But when it's done well........
I was wondering what your favorite bits of narration in film are?

[Larry Arpin]

Bladerunner is the best example of narration in a film. I've also seen it without the narration and since I was accustomed to the narration I felt something was missing not just for the narration but for the flow of the film. It was like watching a movie you are familiar with cuts. Also, Mysterious Island had Captain Harding narrating once they arrive on the island especially at the end where he says they vowed to have peaceful occupations.

[Ed Gordon]

Stand By Me - Richard Dreyfus narrating his life as he writes the book and the movie plays out his life.

---

---

Shawshank Redemption - Morgan Freeman's narration is essential, and superb as always.

---

---

A Clockwork Orange - Malcolm McDowell's narration let's you into the mind of a sick man.

---

---

I just noticed, the best narration is given by a character in the film. Narration by someone else tends to be as you said Doug, "a crutch by filmmakers, an easy way to get exposition out there".

[Ed Gordon]

Bladerunner is the best example of narration in a film. I've also seen it without the narration and since I was accustomed to the narration I felt something was missing not just for the narration but for the flow of the film. It was like watching a movie you are familiar with cuts. Also, Mysterious Island had Captain Harding narrating once they arrive on the island especially at the end where he says they vowed to have peaceful occupations.

I have seen it many times, and I agree Larry; the narration is essential.

[Melvin England]

Ed mentioned The Shawshank Redemption which also came to my mind, together with Virginia McKenna's beautiful narration throughout Born Free.

.

[Osi Osgood]

All great choices. Any film that Orson Welles Narrates! From TV movies, the Narrator who did "Centennial", who also started in front of the camera for the last chapter.

[Graham Ritchie]

My choice is a simple one...."You're gonna need a bigger boat"....

[Edward Nicielnik]

Cedric Hardwicke The War Of The Worlds great voice great Actor

[Graham Ritchie]

Well Douglas Rain left his mark with this one

[Orestes Roumeliotis]

Shawshank Redemption - Morgan Freeman's narration is essential, and superb as always.

---

---

As cliche as it is, the fact that movie didn't win any awards is utterly ridiculous. Without Morgan Freeman there wouldn't have been a Shawshank Redemption, his narration was magic, and Morgan Freeman also has the voice of god himself. It will be a sad day when Morgan Freeman dies.

His narration about Andy crawling through a river of shit after using a rock hammer to escape from Shawshank, and the lead up to all of that about how Andy fucked the prison warden Norton up so badly for what is the problem he's pointing out of "modern slavery" in prison is even better.

That entire movie would be a movie sent from the gods, if there could be such a thing, one of the most heartwarming stories of getting fucked, and then getting revenge in the best possible way by getting out and leading a good life that has ever been told in cinema history.

[Mike Tynus]

RAW DEAL (1948) is one of my favorites. One of the only times a Noir was narrated by the female of the film, Claire Trevor. Also one of John Alton's most beautifully shot films.

[Brian Fretwell]

I suspect that the best narration is the one you don't really notice as it does not take you away from the action of the film. I suspect I might overlook the best so will not give an answer.

[Osi Osgood]

I agree about "The Shawshank Redemption", one of the most repeatable modern film of the last thirty or so years.

[Michael O’Regan]

For me, it’s Welles again, and his narration in what, for me, is his most beautiful film, The Magnificent Ambersons

[Osi Osgood]

Ohhhh Micheal, if only somewhere, in some dusty dusty warehouse, the Welles lost cut of Magnificent Ambersons would be found!