History Main / GoingByTheMatchBook

* InvokedTrope in ''Film/War2007''. Rogue kills Joey T and makes it look like the Yakuza did it. Chang orders Joey's brother not to seek revenge at this time, but Rogue follows him out of the building and lights a cigarette for him, [[PublicSecretMessage pointedly telling him to keep the matchbook]]. The matchbook shows the name of a tea house where the Yakuza will be meeting that night.

* Averted in Literature/TheSaint short story "The Saint and the Sizzling Saboteur". The police find the matchbook used to [[ManOnFire set fire to the victim]]. One of the officers thinks this might be the clue that breaks the case open, only for the lead detective to reach into his pocket and pull out a matchbook, saying that he has no idea where this particular bar is or how the matchbook came to be in his possession.

* A variant is used in ''Series/BreakingBad'' when Hank finds a napkin from ''Los Pollos Hermanos'' in Gale's apartment. Since Gale is a vegan, and the restaurant is built around fried chicken, Hank correctly deduces that the restaurant is somehow connected to the drug trade.

* While serving as a BodyDouble for President Roosevelt in Tangiers, the ComicBook/UknownSoldier repels an assassination attempt, and even [[AssassinOutclassin kills one of the assailants on returning fire.]] The deceased is a known Vichyite terrorist, but not the ringleader -- the Unknown Soldier's sole lead on how to uncover the entire operation is a matchbook from a club in Casablanca.

* An early episode of ''Francie'' has her suspecting her boyfriend of an affair because she found a matchbook for a hotel, never mind that the character doesn't smoke. (He had written a phone number on it, apparently not thinking to use any of the fifty hojillion other kinds of paper in a hotel lobby.)

* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' uses a version of this: If the player visits his "grave" he can find Distinctive Cigarette Butt and later in Boulder City he can find Distinctive Lighter. Both are unique items and can be presented as proof of Benny's attempt to murder you. Played somewhat more realistically, in that the person you have to convince isn't swayed by either piece of evidence alone, you need both to actually get him to believe you enough to let you snoop around Benny's pad.
** Played straight while investigating a disappearance at the Ultra-Luxe.

* Parodied in ''Series/{{Community}}'' where Chang, trying to investigate a Noir mystery that exists only inside his head, buys thousands of matchbooks. They end up being ignited by his hot plate, and setting the place he's squatting in on fire.

* InvokedTrope in ''Film/{{War}}''. Rogue kills Joey T and makes it look like the Yakuza did it. Chang orders Joey's brother not to seek revenge at this time, but Rogue follows him out of the building and lights a cigarette for him, [[PublicSecretMessage pointedly telling him to keep the matchbook]]. The matchbook shows the name of a tea house where the Yakuza will be meeting that night.

* Variation in ''Film/DieHardWithAVengeance'': an aspirin bottle that the villain jokingly hands to [=McClane=] earlier turns out to have an address on it of the hotel in Canada where he and his men are hiding out later.

It should be noted that smoking has become much less common than it was in most countries, public and indoor smoking are increasingly banned, and those who do smoke are [[TechnologyMarchesOn more likely to use lighters than matches]]. Accordingly, [[TropeBreaker branded matchbooks are much less common]]. However, other forms of advertising merchandise are still common (such as branded pens), [[EvolvingTrope keeping the spirit of the trope alive even after the matchbooks themselves disappeared from public recognition.]]

Something of an UndeadHorseTrope: Smoking has become much less common than it was in most countries, public and indoor smoking are increasingly banned, and those who do smoke are [[TechnologyMarchesOn more likely to use lighters than matches]]. Accordingly, branded matchbooks are much less common. However, [[PlayingWithATrope other forms of advertising merchandise are still common]] (branded pens are a common example), keeping the spirit of the trope alive even after matchbooks themselves disappeared from public recognition.

Largely a ForgottenTrope in modern times. Smoking has become much less common than it was in most countries, public and indoor smoking are increasingly banned, and those who do smoke are [[TechnologyMarchesOn more likely to use lighters than matches]]. Accordingly, branded matchbooks are much less common. Other forms of advertising merchandise are still common, and can be used as alternatives (branded pens are a common example), but matchbooks themselves are a rare sighting.

Largely a DiscreditedTrope in modern times. Smoking has become much less common than it was in most countries, public and indoor smoking are increasingly banned, and those who do smoke are [[TechnologyMarchesOn more likely to use lighters than matches]]. Accordingly, branded matchbooks are much less common. Other forms of advertising merchandise are still common, and can be used as alternatives (branded pens are a common example), but matchbooks themselves are a rare sighting.

* Hartigan in the ''Film/SinCity'' movie finds Nancy with the help of a book of matches in her apartment. He does, however, [[LampshadeHanging point out]] in the narration that it's his ''only'' lead. The time period in which the story is set [[RetroUniverse isn't entirely clear]]; some characters dress like '90s [[AntiHero antiheroes]], while the cars (equipped with early '90s car-phones) look early '60s at the latest and weapons run the gamut from swords to bleeding-edge sniper rifles. But they had to use the matchbook gag, as the whole premise of the series is "take film noir and turn all the dials {{up to eleven}}".

* A variant is used in ''Series/BreakingBad'' when Hank finds a napkin from ''Los Pollos Hermanos'' in Gale's apartment. Since Gale is a vegan, Hank correctly deduces that the restaurant is somehow connected to the drug trade.

In the old days, back when people [[SmokingIsCool cared more about looking cool than smelling fresh]], [[EverybodySmokes everyone smoked]]; accordingly, every diner, hotel, or bar would have a basket of logo-stamped matches by the door that patrons would just instinctively shove into their pocket. This is a reasonable (if cliché) clue for stories set in the '40s (e.g., FilmNoir). In some cases, the blank interior of the matchbook might be used to jot down a phone number, or other information, which inevitably turns out to be a useful lead.

Largely a DiscreditedTrope in modern times. Smoking is less common in most countries, public and indoor smoking are increasingly banned, and those who do smoke are [[TechnologyMarchesOn more likely to use lighters than matches]]. Accordingly, branded matchbooks are much less common. Other forms of advertising merchandise are still common, and can be used as alternatives (branded pens are a common example), but matchbooks themselves are a rare sighting.

In the old days, back when people [[SmokingIsCool cared more about looking cool than smelling fresh]], [[EverybodySmokes everyone smoked]]; accordingly, every diner, hotel, or bar would have a basket of logo-stamped matches by the door that patrons would just instinctively shove into their pocket. This is a reasonable (if cliché) clue for stories set in the '40s (e.g., FilmNoir).

In the old days, back when people [[SmokingIsCool cared more about looking cool than smelling fresh]], [[EverybodySmokes everyone smoked]]; accordingly, every diner, hotel, or bar would have a basket of logo-stamped matches by the door that patrons would just instinctively shove into their pocket. This is a reasonable (if cliché) clue for stories set in the '40s (e.g., FilmNoir). A little less realistic nowadays, but still shows up in a noir-style show.

[[DiscreditedTrope When was the last time]] you saw someone lighting a cigarette, cigar, joint, or bong [[TechnologyMarchesOn with a match]], anyway, let alone a handy clue-ready matchbook? A modern writer can still use this trope with a little imagination, though; a branded lighter would be the obvious choice, but pens or business cards could work, too.

* A branded napkin is the clue in ''Sinners and Saints'' (2010), for a club that closed down five years before, so the police realise the villains are using the supposedly derelict building.

* A branded napkin is the clue in ''Film/SinnersAndSaints'' (2010), for a club that closed down five years before, so the police realise the villains are using the supposedly derelict building.

* ''Film/TheUntouchables1987''. Frank Nitti has the address of Jim Malone written on a book of matches. Unfortunately he forgets to dispose of it after killing Malone, so when Elliot Ness searches him later it leads to their final shootout.