• VST, IFC, Monday, July 20, 2009 10:05 AM

VST points out that coming attractions are part of the magic of going to the movies, and indeed that's true. What other marketing genre can claim such hallowed ground?

IFC has put together a list of its favorite trailers -- another term used for the unique combination of art and commerce -- of all time, as well as a brief history of the medium. Indeed, the previews, once upon a time, followed the feature.

"The documentary 'Coming Attractions' dates the very first trailer to a 1912 Edison serial titled 'What Happened to Mary?' After each installment, a black card with white text would appear to inform audiences 'The next incident in the series of 'What Happened to Mary' will be shown a week from now.'"

"Alien" (1979) tops the IFC list, and Alfred Hitchcock's tour of the Bates Motel for "Psycho" is No. 2. And check out this trailer for "A Night at the Opera" for a morning chuckle.

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