The MacGuffin
 

Since they weren't in horror much (Mostly Noir), this won't apply exclusively to horror movies. What has been your favorite MacGuffin in movies? In case you're not familiar with what it is, I'll explain it. The MacGuffin (a phrase coined by Alfred Hitchcock) is an element in a movie that is placed to drive the logic of the plot, but which actually serves no further purpose.

An example (and my pick) is the Letters of transit in Casablanca. They didn't really serve any purpose except to move the plot along.

I know what you're talking about, but I was wondering, can a character be a MacGuffin?

I guess. You mean like in Saving Private Ryan?

Well, I guess what I mean is a "disposable character". One which is just there to further the storyline and then either leaves quickly or gets offed.

oh. No, not in that case.

So, a character cant be a MacGuffin?

it depends on how the character is used. In that case, they wouldn't be a MacGuffin. But in some cases they could be.

I think a character MacGuffin example would be Missy Dandridge in Pet Sematary. In the book she has a bigger role, but all she does in the movie is teach Ellie how to say "get his nuts cut" and kill herself.

I forget, who was Missy Dandrige?

An example of a character being a MacGuffin would be, as I said, Saving Private Ryan. Private Ryan is the MacGuffin, his sole purpose is to get the plot moving. Really, he could've been anything, an army base, a POW, some important document, it didn't matter.

ooh I get it.

Missy was their maid. She was only on screen for about 2 minutes. She actually didnt add anything to the plot, so she was just a needless character, not a MacGuffin