History Main / BalconySpeech

** ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'': While it doesn't take place on a balcony, [[MagnificentBastard Palpatine's]] speech to the Senate announcing the rise of TheEmpire serves the same function. Then again, a pod rising a hundred feet off the ground is close enough to a balcony.

* Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu's famous balcony speech took place immediately prior to the Romanian revolution. He tried to placate the crowd, dumbstruck, that they were, for the first time, booing him. He got about ten words out before the mob broke into the Presidential Palace and forced him to flee.

** The Visitors' leader, Diana, is standing on a balcony above a crowd and giving a wonderful speech of friendship when the Resistance fighters break in and rip off her fake skin, exposing her as being a [[LizardFolk Lizard Person]].
** A couple of days later, the Visitors re-enact the whole scene, with Diana giving her speech from the same balcony with cheering spectators below... but this time, there are a couple of Visitor flunkies off-camera holding up cue cards to tell the crowd when to laugh and cheer, and a large number of armed guards are standing around, also off-camera, to make sure no one tries any tricks.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'': Lord Farquaad is a fan of this. [[TheNapoleon Possibly because no one could see him at all if he weren't elevated so far over everyone's heads…]]

* Gulcasa delivers one of these in ''VideoGame/BlazeUnion'' at [[AwesomeMomentOfCrowning his coronation]]. The recipients of the speech--the remnants of the former Imperial Army and the nobility, who have never been exposed to his ideals--are initially ambivalent towards their new sovereign, thinking "at least it's impossible for this guy to be worse than our last emperor". Once Gulcasa is done talking, [[HundredPercentAdorationRating he has their complete and undying loyalty]].

* [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by the Doctor in the ''Series/DoctorWho'' story ''Terror of the Zygons'' when he points out that it takes more than a [[StockNessMonster Loch Ness Monster]] to rule Earth.

* Music/{{Evita}}: Along with her husband, President Juan Perón of Argentina, she famously used the balcony of Argentina's House of Government (see picture).

* In ''VideoGame/MiddleOfEarthShadowOfWar'', every siege begins with the defending orc Warlord giving out a speech from atop the main fortress's balcony to assure Talion, and his forces, that he has no hope of winning. Once you conquer the fortress, Talion and Celebrimbor give a joint speech every time a region is conquered. Every speech is actually somewhat terrifying, with Celebrimbor's voice superimposed over Talion's and the aggressive, almost manic tone they use to promise pain and suffering for their enemies. Given they're giving a speech to uruks, though, that may simply be playing to the crowd.

* In ''VideoGame/ShadowOfWar'', Talion and Celebrimbor give a joint speech from atop the main Fortess's balcony every time a region is conquered. Every speech is actually somewhat terrifying, with Celebrimbor's voice superimposed over Talion's and the aggressive, almost manic tone they use to promise pain and suffering for their enemies. Given they're giving a speech to uruks, though, that may simply be playing to the crowd.
** Every time a siege begins, the defending orc Warlord will give one of these on the same balcony to assure his soldiers, and Talion, that he has no hope of actually winning.

If it’s a [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure popular monarch or head of state]], then they are likely trying to encourage their people during a time of great danger or struggle. If it’s an ActionPolitician, then it is especially likely that they are giving a RousingSpeech or [[AndThereWasMuchRejoicing declaring victory]] after the EvilOverlord’s attempt at conquest was thwarted. If TheHeroDies [[HeroicSacrifice bravely in battle]], then this may also serve as [[InMemoriam a eulogy]].

However, if the leader is [[RabbleRouser demagogue]], then expect this to be a case of PuttingOnTheReich with plenty of HitlerCam shots. The crowds will be likely be [[PowderKegCrowd whipped up into a frenzy]], and if it’s a musical it may turn into an AngryMobSong. In the case of [[TheBadGuyWins villain victory]], then this will likely be a NewEraSpeech. But if it’s a more established PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny, the crowd may look pathetic and disinterested and only [[HappinessIsMandatory give weak, obligatory cheers]]. In this case or in the case of a NearVillainVictory, then expect TheHero and his crew to stage a very appropriate interruption of the events.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'': While not a balcony in the strictest sense, Simba is presented to the entire animal kingdom in such a manner.

[[quoteright:350:[[Film/YouNatzySpy https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/three_stooges_natzy_spy_moment.jpg]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:The sign really helps.]]

[[quoteright:224:[[UsefulNotes/EvaPeron https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/evita2_2346.jpg]]]]
[-[[caption-width-right:224:[[Music/{{Evita}} Don't cry for me, Argentina!]]]]-]

However, if the leader is [[RabbleRouser demagogue]], then expect this to be a case of PuttingOnTheReich with plenty of HitlerCam shots. The crowds will be likely be [[PowderKegCrowd whipped up into a frenzy]], and if it’s a musical it may turn into an AngryMobSong. In the case of [[TheBadGuyWins villain victory]], then this will likely be a NewEraSpeech. But if it’s a more established leader or a WindbagPolitician, the crowd may look pathetic and disinterested and only [[HappinessIsMandatory give weak, obligatory cheers]]. In this case or in the case of a NearVillainVictory, then expect TheHero and his crew to stage a very appropriate interruption of the events.

Let's say you're a king or queen that has a special announcement for your loyal subjects to hear and rejoice upon... how do you communicate it? Simple! You gather all your underlings into a large courtyard outside your castle walls while you stand in all your glory high above them relaying the good news. This serves the purpose of communicating to hundreds of people at once, while simultaneously demonstrating your utter magnificence and allowing you to appear [[HitlerCam literally larger than life]].

Fictional and [[TruthInTelevision actual]] royal families, along with other people of significance, have been using this method for centuries to spread the word. Surprisingly, in the fictional world at least, the royalty is never at a loss for poor sods to fill the courtyard below, even if they are [[EvilOverlord less-than-popular]]. Of course, if that's the case, expect TheHero and his crew to stage a very appropriate interruption of the events.

The message needn't be all that positive either. Perhaps the king wishes to appear sympathetic to the country's recent outbreak of ThePlague or maybe the almighty emperor wishes to [[RousingSpeech fire up his troops]] before going off to war. No matter the reason, it seems that leaders can't help but stick to the good, old castle balconies when it comes to the presentation.

Since it pertains primarily to royalty and nobility, this trope creeps up quite often in [[{{Fantasy}} fantasy-related]] material, but can be found anytime a leader has a castle, fortress, tower, or similarly large structure. In non-fantasy settings, expect such a scene to show up when PuttingOnTheReich.

Compare RousingSpeech.

* ''Baahubali 2: The Conclusion'': Queen Mother Sivagami announces the death of Amarendra, and names his newborn son Mahendra as the new king.

* In ''This Other Eden'', set in a small Irish town following the War of Independence, a controversial modern-art statue of a local IRA hero is blown up, sparking a riot. Crispin Brown, a Hibernophilic Englishman looking to settle in the area, gives an impassioned speech for peace from the balcony of the town hall. In keeping with the movie's satirical tone, the crowd are mostly just amused at Brown making an ass of himself while the other characters don't have the heart to tell him so.