History Main / FlourishCapeInFrontOfFace

* A variant of this is seen with Golbat in the ''VideoGame/PokemonStadium'' series alongside the ''[[VideoGame/PokemonColosseum Colosseum]]'' [[VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness duology]], where it uses its wings to cover most of its front for its idle animation.

* Blending in with the shadows (for dark capes only)

* Barok van Zieks, the main prosecutor you face in ''VisualNovel/TheGreatAceAttorney'', has a habit of doing this at the start of trials (at least until he discards the cape entirely). It reinforces his vampire-like appearance while also cluing you in that he is [[ColdHam both aloof and exceedingly dramatic.]]
** The culprit of [[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneySpiritOfJustice Spirit of Justice's]] second case, [[spoiler:Roger Retinz alias The Great Mr. Reus]], does an interesting variation on this. Rather than an actual cape, [[spoiler:he uses the sweater tied around his neck (as part of his producer bigwig image) akin to a stage magician's cape by pulling the back of it in front of his face in imitation of this trope. He even uses it to do a couple magic tricks, like making it seem for a moment as if his head had fallen off by concealing it behind this 'cape']].

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* ''{{Film/Spawn}}'' does this with his BadassCape during his escape from police in order to activate his invisibility powers.

* When Creator/JeremyBrett played Dracula on stage in the 1970s, he complained that flourishing the 30-lb cape every night gave him a repetitive strain injury in his left arm, which he called 'Dracula elbow'.

* Ganon does this during the final battle with him in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'' during the final phase of the fight. Justified, however, as that part requires Link to relight two torches that when extinguished, shrouds the room in darkness and leaves Ganon invisible. Relighting them has Ganon in this pose, likely shielding himself from the sudden flash of light and giving Link a second to slash him with his sword to stun him.
* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight'' allows the player to make Alucard do this. Like most ''Castlevania'' games, holding Up on the D-pad will have the character in a ready stance, typically for using subweapons/spells. Alucard's will have him take this kind of pose. Also, casting the "Hellfire" spell will have him do the pose as he teleports and as he reappears, opening his cape to fire the fireballs.
* A variant of this is seen with Golbat in the ''VideoGame/PokemonStadium'' series alongside the ''[[VideoGame/PokemonColosseum Colosseum]]'' [[VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness duology]], where it uses its wings to cover most of its front for its idle animation.

** The culprit of [[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneySpiritOfJustice Spirit of Justice's]] second case, [[spoiler: Roger Retinz alias The Great Mr. Reus,]] does an interesting variation on this. Rather than an actual cape, [[spoiler: he uses the sweater tied around his neck (as part of his producer bigwig image) akin to a stage magician's cape by pulling the back of it in front of his face in imitation of this trope. He even uses it to do a couple magic tricks, like making it seem for a moment as if his head had fallen off by concealing it behind this 'cape'.]]

[[folder:ComicBooks]]

* In an episode of ''Series/{{MASH}}'', one of the doctors asks Klinger to get some blood, and Klinger, doing a Dracula imitation, says, "I never drink...blood", pulls his arm in front of his face as if he were holding a cape, and walks towards the camera.

* ''Theatre/TanzDerVampire'': in some stage performances of the Russian version ''Бал Вампиров'' (which uses costume designs from the Hungarian non-replica version), Herbert, the flamboyant son of antagonist Graf Von Krolock, is introduced like this during "Vor Dem Schloss" ('In front of the Castle', or "First Act Finale"): he holds the cape in front of his face, as if he is in a coccoon, and looks positively delighted when he meets Alfred, Professor Abronsius's student. In the climaz of the musical, "Tanzsaal" ('Ballroom'), Herbert ushers in the Graveyard Vampires into the ballroom like this, then opens up his cape in a bombastic manner.

* The Wolf Hall version of Raven Darkstar in ''VisualNovel/MagicalDiary'' whips her cape in front of her face to try and seem cool and dramatic.

* ''Theatre/TanzDerVampire'': in some stage performances of the Russian version ''Бал Вампиров'' (which uses costume designs from the Hungarian non-replica version), Herbert, the flamboyant son of antagonist Graf Von Krolock, is introduces like this during "Vor Dem Schloss" ('In front of the Castle', or "First Act Finale"): he hold the cape in front of his face, as if he was in a coccoon, and looks positively delighted when he meets Alfred, Professor Abronsius's student. In the climaz of the musical, "Tanzsaal" ('Ballroom'), Herbert ushers in the Graveyard Vampires into the ballroom like this, then opens up his cape in a bombastic manner.

* ''Theater/TanzDerVampire'': in some stage performances of the Russian version ''Бал Вампиров'' (which uses costume designs from the Hungarian non-replica version), Herbert, the flamboyant son of antagonist Graf Von Krolock, is introduces like this during "Vor Dem Schloss" ('In front of the Castle', or "First Act Finale"): he hold the cape in front of his face, as if he was in a coccoon, and looks positively delighted when he meets Alfred, Professor Abronsius's student. In the climaz of the musical, "Tanzsaal" ('Ballroom'), Herbert ushers in the Graveyard Vampires into the ballroom like this, then opens up his cape in a bombastic manner.

* Ganon does this during the final battle with him in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'' during the final phase of the fight. Justified, however, as that part requires Link relight two torches that when extinguished, shrouds the room in darkness and leaves Ganon invisible. Relighting them has Ganon in this pose, likely shielding himself from the sudden flash of light and giving Link a second to slash him with his sword to stun him.

* Tommy from ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'' tries to get the main characters take himself seriously by donning a cape and using it to cover his face, a failed effort to look mysterious.

* The villain of ''WesternAnimation/ThePerilsOfPenelopePitstop'' is the Hooded Claw, a DastardlyWhiplash fellow ''sans'' the twirly mustache. He conceals most of his head and face with a large hat, tall collar and knee-length cape, which he likes to CapeSwish and peer behind because he's a LargeHam almost to HarmlessVillain territory. Nonetheless, only Penelope's attached IdiotBall keeps her from identifying the Hooded Claw as her guardian, Sylvester Sneekly.

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* The Count from ''Series/SesameStreet'' has done this as part of his vampire pastiche. [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/muppet/images/2/24/The_Count_cape_cover.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160108224919 See it here]].

* ''Series/Batwoman2019'' has a tendency to do this, albeit inadvertently as she's actually using her arm (covered in her bulletproof nanofibre Batsuit) to shield her face, and the cape is attached to it.
* In an episode of ''Series/{{Mash}}'', one of the doctors asks Klinger to get some blood, and Klinger, doing a Dracula imitation, says, "I never drink...blood", pulls his arm in front of his face as if he were holding a cape, and walks towards the camera.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': The ''Player's Handbook II'' feat "Combat Cloak Expert" includes this move as a tactical maneuver to shield oneself against enemies.

[[caption-width-right:350:One! One dramatic cape flourish!]]