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[[quoteright:300:[[ComicStrip/KnightsOfTheDinnerTable https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/powder_trail_9906.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:300:Apply match and stand well back!]]

->''"Ahah! Zis is an example of smartness. I have said zat zis is ze kvick fuse, und zis ''is'' ze kvick fuse! ...Ze kvick fuse!?!"''
-->-- '''Franz Liebkind''', ''Film/TheProducers''[[note]]This quote is not technically an example. They were using a perfectly proper kvick, er, ''quick''-burning fuse, not a trail of powdeBLAM![[/note]]

Similar to VaporTrail but generally with a different intent.

A trail of gunpowder is laid as a makeshift fuse, leading to a pile of explosives (usually barrels of gunpowder). Once lit, the trail smokes and sparks impressively and the hero will have to race the burning powder to scuff out the line before it reaches the explosives. In a comedic variation, a character will unknowingly leave a trail of powder behind him as he is stockpiling explosives, allowing another character to casually light it, blowing the first character to kingdom come.

Tested and confirmed by the ''Series/MythBusters''. This is one of the few explosive myths they've tested that worked in real life pretty much ''exactly'' the way it is portrayed in movies. And, just like the movies, it was also possible for a person to outrun it or just scatter the trail. And if you're carrying a leaky barrel of powder that is producing a trail in your wake, it is entirely possible that, should that trail be ignited, the fire will catch up to the barrel and light it off if you're traveling at a slow walk.

If the powder is too wet, the trail may prove to be a HardToLightFire.

May lead to a case of ExplosiveStupidity.

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!!Examples

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* ''Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries'' did this in "Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon", but with a really long fuse line leading to a stack of dynamite (one could argue that it was smart of Team Rocket, but they ended up following Ash anyway to stop the defusing). One pile-up later and it all goes to naught, however, as [[IdiotBall Pikachu]] zaps the entire load. [[OhCrap "Chaaaaa..."]] indeed.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* Franchise/{{Batman}}, disguised as Matches Malone, ignites one he had prepared earlier to escape from [[MurderInc the League of Assassins]] CarnivalOfKillers in '' Batman, Incorporated'' #4.
* ''ComicBook/GastonLagaffe'' once accidentally left a trail of his home-made rocket fuel behind and unknowingly lit it. The running fire ended up [[RunningGag igniting the Mesmaeker's contracts]].
* Pulled off in issue #78 of the original series of ''ComicBook/JonahHex'', where Jonah ignites the powder trail with a rifle shot.
* The cover of ''ComicStrip/KnightsOfTheDinnerTable Special Edition'' #1, as seen in the page image.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film - Animated]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfTintin2011'' has fun with this. Sir Francis Haddock sets it off, Red Rackham snuffs it out, repeat, repeat...
* In ''WesternAnimation/FreeBirds'', Jake accidentally leaves one that leads the pilgrims to the turkeys' hideout.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film - Live Action]]
* In one of the first color movies of all time, ''Film/TheBlackPirate'', the villainous pirates use this technique to blow up ships after they have left to leave no witnesses.
* In ''Film/TheBunker2001'', the paranoid Schenke empties the powder from an artillery shell to create a powder trail that he uses as a fuse to ignite a fire to set off the rest of the ammo and collapse the tunnel.
* In ''Film/CarryOnHenry'', Fawkes lays a trail of gunpowder to the keg of gunpowder to blow up open the door to the Tower of London. The fuse goes out inches from the keg, until, of course, Fawkes goes over and drops a lit match on the keg.
-->'''Lord Hampton''': Oh, Fawkes! You and your ''bloody'' gunpowder!
* BMovie ''Ator The Invincible'' (''Film/CaveDwellers'' on ''[[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 MST3K]]'') had a character do this with rock dust. Cue the guys: "She's making flash powder out of her own filth!"
* In ''Film/CutthroatIsland'', the MexicanStandoff in the tavern between Dawg's men and Morgan's men is broken when Shaw removes the cork from an enemy pirate's powder-horn. Bowen sees him do this and tosses him a lit candle. The other pirate takes a few steps away, and Shaw drops the candle, literally starting off the ensuing fight scene with a bang.
* In ''Film/DayOfTheEvilGun'', DangerousDeserter Addis uses a powder trail to blow up one of the two wagons of ammunition.
* Used by Sir Rodney and his allies in ''Film/DontLoseYourHead'' to set off a couple of powder kegs and blow a door open. Impressively, the trail leads up a flight of steps at one point, and this apparently offers no obstacle to the spark.
* Rambo lays one in ''Film/FirstBlood'', to blow up the sporting goods store with a pile of ammo and lighter fluid from the store's camping and hunting merchandise.
* Leon (Anthony Quinn) uses a powder trail to blow the dam and drown the attacking Indians in ''Film/GunsForSanSebastian''.
* Used to blow up the bridge at the end of ''Film/TheHorseSoldiers''.
* ''Film/TheIsland1980'': While the pirates are out of their settlement, Maynard breaks open a barrel of gunpowder and lays a trail out of the powder store. He then ignites the powder trail with a MolotovCocktail and blows up the magazine.
* In ''Film/ItsAMadMadMadMadWorld'', this is one of the many methods by which the Crumps attempt to escape from the hardware-store basement in which they have been accidentally locked.
* Used in film ''Film/TheMaskOfZorro'' by Montero and Love in an attempt to destroy the gold mine with the slave workers still inside. When Zorro sabotages the lift transporting the gold this becomes a bad idea, so Love cuts the trail. [[spoiler:Later, the fight starts a fire which then reignites the trail.]]
* ''Film/MuppetTreasureIsland'': Rizzo and Gonzo are scared witless trying to load a gun to fend off pirates, and accidentally create a powder trail because Gonzo's spilling the gunpowder. Then the pirates startle them and Rizzo drops his candle... Cue pirates and defenders both trying to outrun the spark ([[OneDimensionalThinking but not moving away from the powder trail]]) until the pirates suddenly realise they're running ''towards'' the gunpowder barrel.
* In ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'', the Black Pearl crew does this in a ship. Though it was rather elaborate, running along a board over open water, on an already sinking ship, [[FridgeLogic which makes one wonder]] how the hell did it not get wet or lose a critical few inches halfway through...
* As indicated by the page quote, in ''Film/TheProducers'', the protagonists come to regret using one of these. Although that is an actual fuse rather than a powder trail. The end result is the same.
* Also done with a fuse in ''Film/TheProfessionals''. After kidnapping Maria, the lover of Mexican revolutionary Raza, the eponymous professionals escape through a narrow pass which they've mined with dynamite so he can't follow. Maria jumps on a horse and tries to flee back to Raza, so the DemolitionsExpert lights the fuze which is shown burning along the cliff face beside her as she races through the pass until it blows up in her face.
* In the movie ''Film/TheReturnOfTheMusketeers'', the powder fuse is used to blow up a ship.
* FilmSerial ''S.O.S. Coast Guard'' had an initial fuse hanging blow a trap door. When it was lit, it ignited a gunpowder trail, which in turn lead to explosives that would blow up the warehouse the bad guys were escaping from. The plan was to kill the members of the coast guard as they were raiding the warehouse, and caused the classic end-of-episode cliffhanger with the main characters in the building (who simply survived without explanation.)
* Five'll get you ten that any time Film/TheThreeStooges have access to anything even remotely explosive and capable of leaving a trail, this will be the result.
* In the prologue to ''Film/VampireCircus'', the villagers plant barrels of gunpowder throughout the Count's castle and use a powder trail to set them off simultaneously.
* In the comedy western ''Film/TheVillain'', Cactus Jack accidentally creates one of these, and has to [[LiteralAssKicking be saved]] from being blown up by his horse [[CoolHorse Whiskey]].
* ''Film/VivaZapata'': Diaz's solders, manning a fort, take little notice of the old ladies that are hauling bags of produce to market. They do not realize that the old ladies aren't hauling bags of produce, they're hauling bags of gunpowder, and they're leaving trails on the ground via holes cut in the bags. The soldiers start shooting when the old ladies get too close to the gates but it's too late, as the trails are lit, the gates are blown, and Zapata's men take the fort.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* Happens in the ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' book ''Elfangor's Secret''. The villain plans to destroy ''HMS Victory'' during the battle at Trafalgar, and uses the powder trail to give him extra time to make his escape via TimeTravel. Ax [[SubvertedTrope managed to cut the]] PowderTrail [[JustInTime in the nick of time]], using his tail blade -- [[spoiler: [[DoubleSubverted only to accidentally strike a spark that ignites the rest of the trail]]]].
* In "Literature/BlackColossus", Natohk lays a trail of glittering powder across the path of the charging cavalry, and when their steel shod hooves strike it, the powder erupts in a wall of flame, causing a huge pile-up. Whether it's actually gunpowder or a magical version is not revealed.
* In the fourth ''Literature/GotrekAndFelix'' novel, the dwarfs lay a powder trail (and a couple kegs of powder) to collapse the tunnel leading into a dragon's lair in case they're overrun by orcs or bandits. Their engineer's rocket launcher accidentally sets it off, leading to much swearing since the dragon had quite a large hoard.
* In ''Literature/JohnDiesAtTheEnd'', John lights a giant self-wrapped cigarette that acts as a powder trail to the bomb that destroys part of the building in Shit Narnia.
* Used by [[Literature/{{Sharpe}} Richard Sharpe]] to destroy [[spoiler:a friendly fortress in ''Sharpe's Gold'']].
* Literature/SolomonKane uses one to kill the majority of Le Loup's gang in ''Red Shadows''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/TheBorgias'': Used in an assassination attempt on Cesare by Caterina Sforza; she knows he will want to investigate her (fake) relic inside a cave, and lays a powder trail to blow him up while he's doing so. He lives though.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS39E2FluxChapterTwoWarOfTheSontarans War of the Sontarans]]", General Logan uses a powder trail to blow up the Sontaran ships in the Crimea.
* ''Series/FrontierCircus'': Used by Ben and Tony as part of their plan to break out of the mine in "Patriarch of Purgatory".
* Done on ''Series/{{Lost}}'' to open the hatch.
* ''Series/MacGyver1985'' improvises a powder trail--using black powder from an antique grenade--to blow up an arms shipment in "The Escape".
* ''Series/MissFishersMurderMysteries'': In "Framed for Murder", the murderer uses a long line of celluloid film like a powder trail to ignite a huge pile of unspooled film he is planning to use to burn his victim to death.
* One of the few explosive myths examined by the ''Series/MythBusters'' to work almost exactly like it does in the movies. A powder trail can be used as a fuse to detonate a barrel of black powder. However, the speed at which it burns changes dramatically depending on how wide the trail is, ranging from an almost instantaneous flash to slower than walking speed, which makes it difficult to measure how much time you will have to get away.
* The Queen uses one to set off an explosion that collapses a mine (and allows her to escape the soldiers in the ensuing confusion) in the ''Series/QueenOfSwords'' episode "Death to the Queen".
* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': In the episode "Civil Defense," Sisko, Jake, and O'Brien use this with a cart of unprocessed ore to blow open a door that was locked down due to the computer thinking a coup was taking place on the station (long story).
* Done by the hero in ''{{Series/The Swamp Fox}}'' to give him a chance to drag the villain he captured out the door of a Tory tavern.
* ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess'':
** In "[[Recap/XenaS05E06Purity Purity]]", Pao Ssu sets a fire to two trails leading to a captured Gabrielle and Joxer on opposite sides.
** In "[[Recap/XenaS05E07BackInTheBottle Back in the Bottle]]", Khan lights up a powder trail with the intention of blowing up Gabrielle and Lin Chi.
* A staple on the various ''{{Franchise/Zorro}}'' TV series.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/TheCurseOfMonkeyIsland'', Guybrush knocks over a keg of rum, leaving a trail of the alcohol down the grassy knoll and to the keg, which happens to be sitting next to a rubber tree. He lights the trail with a match (would work since pure rum is flammable), and proceeds to be blown right off the cliff and into town by the blast. After coming to, he drowsily declares, "Woah, my head is spinning. I gotta lay off the rum!"
* Sam in ''VideoGame/{{Desperados}}'' can set these in certain missions, typically to blow up fortified gates.
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyro'', the first two games had an occasional case of powder trails leading to massive stashes of explosives set there by either the Apes or the Skavengers, depending on the game. Spyro can ignite the powder with his fire breath to cause a massive explosion.
* In ''VideoGame/MsPacManMazeMadness'', in [[{{Wutai}} Pac Ping Harbor]], the Ghosts carry barrels of gunpowder, dropping the gunpowder onto the floor below them. There are certain areas where you'll need to trick the Ghosts into making a powder trail towards OneHitKill crates, then trick a dragon into lighting the trail with his fire breath to destroy the crates. Be careful not to stand in the trail as it is lit, or you'll get hit.
* ''VideoGame/PlunderedHearts'': While Nicholas is keeping company with you aboard the ''Helena Louise'', Crulley has connected the gunpowder to its explosive keg and used it as a fuse by lighting it up, and you have a limited amount of time to douse the fuse before the ship gets blown to smithereens.
* One mission in ''VideoGame/Sly3HonorAmongThieves'' has General Tsao doing this to a captive Murray. Penelope uses one of her RC cars to save the day.
* In ''VideoGame/TimeSplitters2'', the player character is required to do this to get an NPC out of a wild west jail. One must create a powder trail from underneath a lantern inside the jail to a wagon loaded with powder barrels pushed against the wall outside, then shoot the lantern off the ceiling. Yo can also just shoot the barrels, which will also light the trail when they explode.
* Some levels of ''VideoGame/WhatTheGolf'' have the player play as a leaking barrel of gunpowder with an already-ignited trail. The player must direct the barrel to the flag while outrunning the trail so that the barrel doesn't blow up beforehand.
* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' expansion ''Warlords of Draenor'' an introductory quest has the player steal a keg of powder from an armory which causes you to leave a trail wherever you walk. The idea is to take it to a detonator to blow up the armory but you can take your time and draw a massive trail which will burn impressively.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Video]]
* ''WebVideo/HowToBasic'': Mr. Basic tries to do this to a stuffed [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Pikachu]] he caught... [[HardToLightFire with milk]]. He quickly gets fed up and just throws it into the trash.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/BeCoolScoobyDoo'': How the Lutz mansion is destroyed in "When There's a Will, There's a Wraith".
* ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'': In "[[Recap/DuckTales2017S1E15TheGoldenLagoonOfWhiteAgonyPlains The Golden Lagoon of White Agony Plains!]]", Goldie leaves one as a distraction for Scrooge. Fortunately, it doesn't blow up the cave, but it does make a grizzly bear angry at them after it singes its tail.
* ''WesternAnimation/JonnyQuest'' TOS episode "Riddle of the Gold". After a villain ties up the Quest team and lays a trail of gunpowder to a barrel full of the stuff, Bandit saves the day by putting out the flame with his...err, tail. Race [[LampshadeHanging hangs a lampshade]] on it even then: "Isn't that a bit of an old routine?"
* The comedic variation happened frequently to Wile E. Coyote and Yosemite Sam in ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' shorts.
** It's one of the many penalties in "Early to Bet," #36: Roll out the Barrel.
** A memorable example occurs on "Bunker Hill Bunny". Sam carries a powder keg over to Bugs' fort, not realizing that it's leaking powder into the back flap of his pants and overflowing into a trail behind him. Bugs extinguishes the keg's fuse, then lights the trail on fire, which then follows Sam everywhere he goes. It eventually catches up to him on top of a tree he's hiding in.
** "WesternAnimation/DimeToRetire", where Daffy plays an unscrupulous innkeeper and bilks Porky out of $779 for every animal he sent into his room to pester him. When Porky refuses to pay the 10 cents for the room, Daffy confiscates his baggage. Unfortunately for him, Porky is a gun powder salesman, and the suitcase with his wares is leaking. As Porky drives off, his car intentionally backfires and lights the trail left by the bag...
** "WesternAnimation/NowHearThis": A surreal example for a surreal cartoon. The horn starts playing music, which unspools as written sheet music, a staff with notes. The ribbon of staff then wraps around the gentleman. The small man then holds a match to the end of the ribbon, and the notes start going off like firecrackers one at a time, until they reach the man and there's a "GIGANTIC EXPLOSION".
** In the climax of "WesternAnimation/BonanzaBunny," this occurs as Bugs takes an Army knife to the bottom of a small bag containing gunpowder. As Jacque runs off with what he thinks is his gold, Bugs lights it up. KABOOM!!!
* The Hooded Claw uses one in an attempt to dispose of Penelope in ''WesternAnimation/ThePerilsOfPenelopePitstop'' episode "Jungle Jeopardy". This works about as well as any of the Hooded Claw's schemes do.
* Billy Bob Scruggins blows himself up with the accidental variety in ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMeetsTheBooBrothers''. Because he has the leaking powder horn stuffed in his back pocket, the burning trail chases him around.
* The comedic variation happened frequently to Tom of ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry''.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheTruthAboutMotherGoose'': One is shown as Kirk o' Field is blown up in order to murder Lord Darnley. (The cartoon does not mention that Darnley escaped, only to be strangled to death outside.)
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]
* Such powder trails are TruthInTelevision, as this was a common way of setting off early cannon on land (back when there was a real chance of explosion so you did not want to stand near it when you fired it; not believing that one was needed was what did for King James II of Scotland.)
** Before the invention of percussion caps, this was essentially how all firearms worked to a [[DownplayedTrope very minor degree.]] After the weapon was loaded, powder was poured into a pan on top of the weapon and ignited, and an opening at the bottom of the pan allowed the flame to ignite the powder in the chamber. This method could be prone to malfunction, particularly in bad weather.
* An accidental example of this trope is believed to have been the cause of the fall of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Almeida_(1810) Fortress of Almeida]], during the [[UsefulNotes/TheNapoleonicWars Peninsular War]]. A leaky powder keg left a trail between the powder storage and the courtyard; it was ignited by a stray shell, and in turn ignited over 70 tons of powder, causing one of the largest explosions of that era and forcing the defenders to capitulate.
* TruthInTelevision: UsefulNotes/{{Guy Fawkes}} was caught making sure the gunpowder trail leading to the explosives he planted under the house of parliament were perfect before lighting it.
[[/folder]]
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