History Main / BangingForHelp

* The ending of ''Series/ThePoseidonAdventur'' featured this as the way the band of survivors was rescued.

* Played unusually in ''Film/{{U571}}'', as the German captive on their sub isn't BangingForHelp, [[spoiler: he's banging out Morse code: "I am U-571, destroy me."]]
* The ending of ThePoseidonAdventure featured this as the way the band of survivors was rescued.

* ''NancyDrew'' is especially notable in that she (in at least one instance) combines this trope with her knowledge of Morse code.

* Julie Yamamoto in ''Ben10UltimateAlien'' does this after being bound, gagged and locked in a closet by Elena in "Revenge of the Swarm". It worked.

* In the ''SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS1E6FeedingTime Feeding Time]]", Superman bangs out "SOS" on the pipe that [[VampiricDraining Parasite]] tied him to to get ComicBook/JimmyOlsen's attention. He succeeds.

* ''FrogAndWombat'', an independent kid movie about two middle school {{Kid Detective}}s who solve a murder, has "Frog" tied and gagged by her school principal, and using her toe to push a button on a walkie-talkie to try to get the attention of her friend "Wombat".

* In ''Series/TheXFiles'', a bound and gagged Agent Scully bangs to attract the attention of a police officer when locked in the trunk of Duane Barry's car who kidnapped her. Unfortunately, this leds to the cop being distracted enough that Duane can shoot and kill him.

In ''VisualNovel/{{Ace Attorney Investigations|MilesEdgeworth}} 2'', [[spoiler:Sebastian Debeste]], who was left BoundAndGagged in [[spoiler:''his own garage'' after being mistakenly kidnapped by his corrupt father's men]], does this to get the attention of Edgeworth and Kay, who are in the middle of investigating ''another'' kidnapping case and are therefore around to hear him.

* Played for laughs in the ''OutlawStar'' episode "The Strongest Woman in the Universe". Aisha tries to [[MuggedForDisguise pose as a wrestler]] named Firecat, and during a locker room scene, the ''real'' Firecat bangs for help and manages to fall out of the locker she was left BoundAndGagged in. She tries to call for help but Aisha quickly stuffs her back inside.

* In the ''SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS1E6FeedingTime Feeding Time]]", Superman bangs out "SOS" on the pipe that [[VampiricDraining Parasite]] tied him to to get JimmyOlsen's attention. He succeeds.

* Played for laughs in the ''OutlawStar'' episode "The Strongest Woman in the Universe". Aisha tries to [[MuggedForDisguise pose as a wrestler]] named Firecat, and during a locker room scene, the ''real'' Firecat bangs for help and manages to fall out of the locker she was left BoundAndGagged in. She tries to call for help but Aisha quickly tapes her mouth shut and stuffs her back inside.

* Happens several times on ''CaseClosed'' to alert Conan, who has HyperAwareness, that somebody's in serious trouble somewhere.

In ''[[AceAttorneyInvestigationsMilesEdgeworth Ace Attorney Investigations 2]]'', [[spoiler:Sebastian Debeste]], who was left BoundAndGagged in [[spoiler:''his own garage'' after being mistakenly kidnapped by his corrupt father's men]], does this to get the attention of Edgeworth and Kay, who are in the middle of investigating ''another'' kidnapping case and are therefore around to hear him.

* Played unusually in ''{{U-571}}'', as the German captive on their sub isn't BangingForHelp, [[spoiler: he's banging out Morse code: "I am U-571, destroy me."]]

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tappingheels_161.jpg]]

* In ''TheWorstWitch'' in the episode where Miss Cackle gets tied up, gagged and left in the storage closet, when she sees Mildred and Enid flying in through the passage at the top of the closet, she starts making noise.
* In ''TheXFiles'', a bound and gagged [[AgentScully Scully]] bangs to attract the attention of a police officer when locked in the trunk of Dwayne Barry's car. Unfortunately, this leds to the cop being distracted enough that Dwayne can shoot and kill him.
* Similarly, in ''Series/{{Dexter}}'''s fifth season, Lumin bangs on the side of the car's trunk when it stops at a red light. Unfortunately, the light changes, enabling her captor to speed off before the interested fruit vendor can properly investigate. But he does tell Debra of his suspicions that someone was in the trunk later, leading her to the villain's hideout.

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* In ''TheXFiles'', a bound and gagged [[TheScully Scully]] bangs to attract the attention of a police officer when locked in the trunk of Dwayne Barry's car. Unfortunately, this leds to the cop being distracted enough that Dwayne can shoot and kill him.

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* Happened in an episode of the original ''ScoobyDoo'' when Daphne was tied and gagged and had a sheet put on her. Her struggles and her mmmphing through her gag from under the sheet caught the gang's attention, whereas they otherwise might have ignored her.

* In ''TheXFiles'', a bound and gagged Scully bangs to attract the attention of a police officer when locked in the trunk of Dwayne Barry's car. Unfortunately, this leds to the cop being distracted enough that Dwayne can shoot and kill him.

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If the captive is more savvy, he or she will bang in Morse code, which ensures that somebody will come by and realize what the message is and come to the rescue. Because, you know, EveryoneKnowsMorse.

* A variation occurs in the ''AstroCity'' "Dark Ages" story arc. Seeking shelter at an arms cache during a citywide riot, Royal Williams finds his brother Charles dying from a gunshot wound. Desperate to attract the police despite the chaos, Royal fires off ''all'' of the weapons to try and warrant attention.

* Rachel from ''TowerOfGod'' bangs full of despair against a magical barrier that separates her [[spoiler: from Baam, as he takes Headon's test. She is in fact trying to stop him.]]

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* Happens several times on ''CaseClosed'' to alert Conan, who has HyperAwareness, that somebody's in serious trouble somewhere.
* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'': when they got trapped together in a place where Pride was powerless, [[spoiler: he pretended to play with Al's helmet, but his idle banging actually contained messages to his allies.]]

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* ''{{DEBS}}'': Amy and the other DEBS are investigating a bank robbery. While passing by a closed door they hear a "Mmmmm" noise from behind it. When they open it they find the bank's employees tied up and gagged, and they "Mmmmm" again.
* ''{{Frog and Wombat}}'', an independent kid movie about two middle school {{Kid Detective}}s who solve a murder, has "Frog" tied and gagged by her school principal, and using her toe to push a button on a walkie-talkie to try to get the attention of her friend "Wombat".

* The ending of {{ThePoseidonAdventure}} featured this as the way the band of survivors was rescued.

* In ''{{The X Files}}'', a bound and gagged Scully bangs to attract the attention of a police officer when locked in the trunk of Dwayne Barry's car. Unfortunately, this leds to the cop being distracted enough that Dwayne can shoot and kill him.
* Similarly, in ''{{Dexter}}'''s fifth season, Lumin bangs on the side of the car's trunk when it stops at a red light. Unfortunately, the light changes, enabling her captor to speed off before the interested fruit vendor can properly investigate. But he does tell Debra of his suspicions that someone was in the trunk later, leading her to the villain's hideout.

* ''ComicStrip/DickTracy'' was once held captive during World War II by a villain named Flattop. He hammered out a message with his feet in Morse code, which was heard and correctly transcribed by a young woman upstairs.

* ''DickTracy'' was once held captive during World War II by a villain named Flattop. He hammered out a message with his feet in Morse code, which was heard and correctly transcribed by a young woman upstairs.