Movies We've Just Watched discussion
LISTS, LISTS, AND MORE LISTS
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most memorable scenes in a movie
The part in Jackie Brown where it's a 2-sided screen With Ordel & Jackie talking on one half and Max driving on the other side, and when he gets back to his office and opens the glove compartment to get his gun, and it's gone! Then the screen goes back from 2 into 1 and Jackie cocks the gun that she stole from Max up against Ordel's cock. I have played that one scene for hours!
Katherine Hepburn, in Stage Door, the scene that starts, "The calla lilies are in bloom again".The beginning of "Suddenly Last Summer", when Katherine Hepburn makes an all time entrance, sitting in a chair in a descending elevator.
Charles Laughton as Sir Wilfrid Robarts, in Witness for the Prosecution"— pick a scene, but esp. scenes with Miss Plimsoll (Elsa Lancaster, his wife).
Steve McQueen, escaping on the motorcycle in The Great Escape
... for starters ...
too many to pick a favorite so I'll take a recent example.
I think my homeboy Christoph Waltz made for a couple of memorable scenes in Inglorious Basterds. The opening scene is in itself a masterpiece. or the scene in the cafe with Shoshana culminating in him saying "There's one more thing I wanted to ask you" with that dead serious stare and then: "But for the life of me, I can't remember what it is" with that over the top amicable smile...
I think my homeboy Christoph Waltz made for a couple of memorable scenes in Inglorious Basterds. The opening scene is in itself a masterpiece. or the scene in the cafe with Shoshana culminating in him saying "There's one more thing I wanted to ask you" with that dead serious stare and then: "But for the life of me, I can't remember what it is" with that over the top amicable smile...
I kinda like that you included a scene from Flash Gordon, a movie most people despise. But what I really liked is the inclusion of that great scene in "The Goonies".
anyway
you smell that?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPXVGQ...
anyway
you smell that?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPXVGQ...
Lori - there has been A LOT of list action going on here since I started hanging out (what is that about?) ... anyway - this one is right up there as one of my favourites ... made me laugh - out loud even ;o)
1)From Gone with the Wind. The scene where Scarlett is at the train station seeking Dr. Meade. The camera pulls way back and you see a huge group of wounded soldiers lying on the ground.2)Aslo, from the Gone with the Wind. The burning of Atlanta was memorable, especially when you realize the state of speical effects in 1939.
3) There is a little girl in a red coat. You see her in the background in several scenes at the concentration camps in Schindler's List. Then you see a scene of dead bodies and you see just a lit piece of her red coat. Gripping and horrifying and memorable.
When Charlie Partana slams Moxie Heller's wrist in the drawer and Heller says: "I think you broke my wrist" and Partana says: "You won't need it." Nicholson's dilvery was perfection. (Prizzi's Honor 1985).
For me, it's actually a particular moment. At the end of A Few Dollars More, when El Indio and the "man in black" are waiting for the chimes to end, and Eastwood's hand is shown raised between the two.
the white buildings/desert are so iconic.
When Dorothy opens that door and suddenly: color!
When Paul Henried leads the band at Rick's Cafe American in playing La Marseillaise to interupt the Nazis singing... in CASABLANCA.gives me goose bumps every time I see it.
It reminded Americans in WWII about our fallen ally France.
here are a few:just about any opening scene from any fellini film, especially 8 1/2 and juliet of the spirits
the final sequence with giuletta masina and the adolescents from fellini's nights of cabiria
the pool scene from let the right one in
the scene where falconetti is being led into the torture chamber in carl dreyer's the passion of jeanne d'arc
the catfight scene with rosalind russell and paulette goddard from the women
edie in a cage from john waters' female trouble
the "creation" scene from james whale's frankenstein
the opening itchy and scratchy sequence from the simpsons movie
the scene by the pond with black dog and voice over on the nature of art and music from tarkovsky's stalker
the ending sequence from the cranes are flying
any scene in any movie with irene dunne
the police chase from buster keaton's sherlock junior
the scene in the wizard of oz where the cowardly lion sings "you get that certain savior faire in the merry ol' land of oz"
the dialogue when bogart and bacall meet in the big sleep
the scene towards the end of bend it like beckham where jes' father stands up for her and says she can pursue her dream of becoming a pro soccer player
barbara stanwyck's nightclub act where she sings drum boogie in ball of fire
the scene where alexander is forced by the psychic ishmael to visualize his stepfather's death in bergman's fanny and alexander
the scene in bergman's seventh seal where the knight confesses (not knowing he is revealing his chess strategy to death)
every single scene of bergman's wild strawberries
the ending sequence of antonioni's l'avventura where a hint of reconcilation is suggested
the scene in barbarella where our heroine is being "tortured" by the matmos
the scene where robert donat is mistakenly confused as the keynote
speaker in hitchcock's 39 steps
the ending sequence where cary grant saves ingrid bergman from the nazi masterminds in hitchcock's notorious
Ivan wrote: "When Dorothy opens that door and suddenly: color!"Oh! Absolutely. Can you imagine the effect it had on those watching it in the '30s when it 1st came out. I suspect it was as overwhelming as seeing the premier of Star Wars ep. IV!
Lori wrote: " You know what Sam I don't have a clue! Geoffery said "cite 10 examples" so I did. Ask him why he wanted a list. I'm so glad to know I made you laugh, and if you can do better be my guest. Go for i..."hmm - I get feeling that I've offended you & I can't bloody see why ... so it's probably easier if I withdraw the compliment ...
Orson Welles in "The Third Man" - the chase in the sewers is incredible, the cuckoo clock scene, he's face in the doorway - perfection. Orson should have won an Oscar for Supporting Actor (wasn't even nominated - hated too much by Hollywood top brass) - he was in the film maybe 15 minutes - but if you ask anyone who the star of "The Third Man" was they'll say: Orson Welles.
In FLASH GORDON -- Max von Sydow's Ming The Merciless commands, "Remove the Earth Woman. Prepare her for Our Pleasure!!"
In Nicholas Ray's BIGGER THAN LIFE, the deranged, drug-addled James Mason shouting, "GOD WAS WRONG!"
Well, if were going for shouters how about Peter Finch's "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!" from NETWORK.When John Wayne screams across the field to Robert Duvall "I aim to take you back to Fort Smith and see you hanged Ned"..."I'd say that's pretty bold talk for a one-eyed fat man"...."Fill your hands you son-of-a-bitch" and he charges across the field in TRUE GRIT.
Olivia De Havilland in 'The Heiress' - 'He's grown greedier over the years. Before he only wanted my money; now he wants my love as well. Well, he came to the wrong house - and he came twice. I shall see that he does not come a third time.' - The amazing transformation of a woman scorned.The Birds - 'Birds on the climbing frame', the way Hitchcock filmed this makes the hairs on the back of the neck stand up every time. Quick short bursts that make you sit on the edge of your seat ready to dive for cover.
Pyscho - The final shot of Anthony Perkins is haunting and mesmerising.
Strangers on a Train - 'Spinning Carousel' scene. Hitchcock really was a master of the craft.
Tron - 'the bike scene' - CGI magic is born, thankyou Lisberger.
Revenge of the Sith - We suffered through three 'prequels', just so we could hear the immortal sounds of Darth Vader taking his first breaths. The movies may not have lived up to expectations but I have to admit I loved that scene.
Jaws - The perfect use of music, can anyone go in the water when someone starts singing the first few bars of the infamous John Williams piece.
West Side Story - The opening sequence, from the sweeping birds eye view to the amazing choreography of the opening dance.
The Karate Kid - everything Mr Miyagi taught us - wax on/wax off, paint the fence, the CRANE!
The Goonies - Every Chunk scene, I smell ice cream - the truffle shuffle - pizza! pepperoni! - I hate the dark, but I love nature. Michael Jackson never came to my house to use the bathroom, but his sister did.
Monstro the whale sneezes in PINOCCHIO.Bugs Bunny exacts hideous revenge on opera singer Carlo Jonzi in LONG-HAIRED HARE.
Daffy Duck realizes that he has been the victim of "pronoun trouble" in RABBIT SEASONING.
A frog climbs out of an old box of papers, puts on a top hat, and starts to sing "Hello my baby, hello my honey, hello my ragtime gal!" in ONE FROGGY EVENING.
I've always had fondness for the final shot in THE 400 BLOWS.
sara,nice call on the carousel scene from strangers on a train! unforgettable.
The first time I saw CABARET, I rewound the tape and watched "Mein Herr" about fifteen times. It's still one of the best things I've ever seen.TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT--"Or maybe just whistle. And you know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and blow." Nothing like Bogey and Bacall.
A FEW GOOD MEN--"You want answers?" "I want the truth!" "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!"
AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER--when Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr kiss on the stairs, and all you can see are torsos and legs, but their body language tells you everything.
THE KING AND I--"Shall We Dance?"
THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE--Sandy reveals all to Miss Brodie and calmly leaves the room; Miss Brodie rushes out after her and cries, "ASSASSIN!" and the word echoes over and over again.
MARY POPPINS--jumping into the pavement picture. Utter magic.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST--in the title song, when Belle and the Beast are dancing, and Mrs. Potts sings "As the sun will rise," there's this great big sweeping visual of the gorgeous hand-drawn ballroom.
CINDERELLA--when the Fairy Godmother changes Cinderella's dress from the pink rags to the silver dress (also apparently Walt Disney's favorite piece of animation)
TITANIC--yeah, yeah, it's cliche at this point, but I was cooking dinner last night and watching Titanic out of my peripheral vision, and I actually had to leave the stove to watch the flying bit, when Leo is holding Kate with at the prow of the ship with her arms out in the air--"I'm flying, Jack!" Also, I always think of the first time we see Kate Winslet, as Gloria Stewart is narrating, and a woman gets out of the carriage in an enormous hat, and she slowly lifts her head and underneath the hat is this stunning face. Lots of unforgettable moments in the movie--watching Titanic makes me grieve for Avatar.
THE AWFUL TRUTH--the end, with the cuckoo clock. What an ingenious way to get around the Decency Code!
BABETTE'S FEAST--at the very end, when Babette tells the ladies that she spent all of her lottery winnings on the feast, so she won't be returning to France.
NOW, VOYAGER--when Paul Henreid puts two cigarettes into his mouth, lights them and gives one to Bette Davis.
I could keep going forever with these!
Anne wrote: "The first time I saw CABARET, I rewound the tape and watched "Mein Herr" about fifteen times. It's still one of the best things I've ever seen.TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT--"Or maybe just whistle. And..."
I love your list Anne.
Another magic moment for me is when Jeff Daniels steps off the screen in "Purple Rose of Cairo" - a perfect jewel of a film - and Zoe Caldwell's line "if that's your wife, she's a tub of guts!"
Oh, thanks! I loved Purple Rose of Cairo too. :)
just watched the awful truth yesterday, anne. the gone with the wind scenes crack me up. love irene dunne. and now, voyager is high on my films that make you cry list.
I took a class on the history of film to 1939 last year, and The Awful Truth was one of the movies we watched in class. And afterwards I had to watch Bringing Up Baby, which I didn't love as much, but which was still delightful and hilarious. They don't make them like that anymore.Now, Voyager was a really, really interesting movie to me. It wasn't what I expected it to be--much less of a love story and more of an empowerment movie. And of course, there's the cigarette bit and the iconic last line!
1939 is seen as a bumper crop year in cinema...indeed, me thinks those days are gone.if you liked the awful truth, check out my favorite wife....another great irene dunne treat
Raiders of the Lost Ark when the guy with the sword is showing off and Indy gets a look of disgust on his face and shoots him
Rocky Horror Picture Show - when Dr. Scott (during the floor show) removes his lap blanket, reveals the fishnet stockings/high heels, and begins singing while caressing his leg. Love it!
1) James Cagney in PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE at the top of the oil refinery that is about to blow and in a delusionary moment of grandeur is screaming, LOOK, MA, I´M ON TOP OF THE WORLD.2)George, (James Stewart) says to his child ¨YES, AN ANGEL JUST GOT HIS WINGS¨ and he winks at Clarence.
3) Vincent Donofrio as he blasts the drill sergeant with his rifle and then turns it on himself (FULL METAL JACKET)
4) The police officer who is standing in Isabella Rosellini´s living room and then crumples to the floor dead. BLUE VELVET
5) The director´s mother who says, ¨I will have whatever she just had¨ after Meg Ryan fakes her orgasm to prove a point to Billy Krystal
6) the closing scene in Blue Velvet when life returns to normal, an especially antiseptic and innocent scene straight from the 50´s.
7) The scene in GOONIES at the beginning with the Mouse Trap maze.
8) The scene in NASHVILLE when Keith Carradine is playing folk in the coffeehouse and three of his lovers are taking his song personally.
9)The scene in which the retarded boy is run over by a big truck in LAST PICTURE SHOW.
10) Mufine as the overlord in A THRONE OF BLOOD in which he is shot through with dozens of arrows.
I must apologize if so many of my most memorables are so bloody but that is the take on this assignment. Anything less would be a lie.
I think that Cagney quote is from White Heat. But yeah, it's a classic scene.
Yup, White Heat´s the one. It´s been almost 30 years since I saw it last.
This is a list that I have to expand as there are more than 10.I would have to add the scene in THE SEVENTH SEAL in which the knight (Max van Snowdow) is offered a bowl of cherries and cream at the caravanner´s campsite. The quality of light is fantastic, he is at the only time in the movie at peace, and the moment is epiphanous.
I also have to add a short silent film with Buster Keaton who plays a human simian at a theater who leaps from balcony to balcony.
And a third is THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH with David Bowie. The opening scene that is solely exploratory of the domain of land in the southwest where the alien lands.
great call on the seventh seal. that is a lovely moment of respite...with the milk and strawberries. i also love the opening of man who fell to earth...nice to have a lengthy opening with no dialogue.
The first scene of the Los Angeles skyline in twilight from "Blade Runner". Beautiful and frightening at the same time.
The scene where Lady Kaede makes it abundantly clear to Lord Jiro how things are going to be in Kurosawa's RAN.In fact, every scene involving Lady Kaede in Kurosawa's RAN. Every single frame, even.
In fact, pretty much all of Kurosawa's RAN.
At the end of Return of the Jedi, when Luke loses it after Vader threatens to turn Leia to the dark side. The fight and music make it very memorable to me.
i second every scene from kurosawa's ran, especially when lord jiro finally deals with lady kaede!
The burning/cooking scene in Like Water for Chocolate
Tom wrote: "The scene where Lady Kaede makes it abundantly clear to Lord Jiro how things are going to be in Kurosawa's RAN.In fact, every scene involving Lady Kaede in Kurosawa's RAN. Every single frame, even.
In fact, pretty much all of Kurosawa's RAN."
Haha! Agreed!
the scene in THE DEPARTED when Leonardo DiCaprio is getting off the elevator with Matt Damon, and he gets blown away. and the scene in LAW ABIDING CITIZEN when the judge gets shot in the head by her cellphone. epic
three favourite scenes -the opening of Aguirre the Wrath of God. the camera pulls back and back and back, across the gap between the two mountains, and the viewer realizes just how massive, how audacious, this expedition is.
in Gods and Monsters, Ian McKellen - playing James Whale the director - calls for silence on the set. a stillness, that feels almost sacred, settles over the set. McKellen - with a look on his face that shows there is nowhere else in the world he'd rather be - leans forward and says, 'action!'.
someone mention the last scene of Babette's Feast.
my favourite in that movie is of Babette sitting in the kitchen after her work is done. she has put heart and soul, not to mention all her lottery winnings, into the feast. she sits in the aftermath of the preparations and smokes a cigarette.
plus too many scenes in Herzog's Nosferatu to mention.
three great scenes - and herzog's nosferatu is my favorite vampire flick ever. i met herzog once - it was such an honor. he's been a huge inspiration since i discovered aguirre back in 1980. i've been a fan ever since.babette! - nice call.
the moment i HARD CANDY when the older creepy guy thinks that the girl that has taken him hostage (who is wonderfully played by ellen page) is going to castrate him. one word:EPIC
Christine: That definitely was a memorable scene!
i know. it made proud to be a tiny , ususpceting girl. it also pumped me up and made me want to go fight crime .
The Scene in "The Miracle Worker" where Hellen Keller finally makes the connection between signs and reality as Anne Sullivan pumps the water over her hand.
Great list,just a handful of mine of the top of my head...AMERICAN HISTORY X - where Edward Norton and his younger brother (played by Edward Furlong) are taking down the Nazi posters and flags in his room and the last scene when he runs into the school bathroom and finds his brother dead, so sad I cried forever after watching that
SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION - (and there a few for me here!) when Andy is sitting on the rooftop watching the other prisoners drink beer and Morgan Freemans voice can be heard talking about being free men and when Andy locks the warden out of his office and plays the opera record over the loud speaker as everyone in the prison yard stops to listen - brilliant!
DEAD POETS SOCIETY - Oh captain my captain - I love this last scene!
COLOUR PURPLE - There are quite a few from this one - 1. When Celie sees her sister and children returned from Africa for the first time since she was a teenager 2. When Celie's friend Suga bursts into her preacher daddy's church singing 'god is trying to tell you something' to the father who shunned her and 3. When Celie stands up to her abusive husband at the dinner table - love love love it!
GONE WITH THE WIND - The final Rhett scene 'frankly my dear I don't give a damn' classic
LOTR - RETURN OF THE KING - 1. When Eowyn says 'I am no man' before stabbing the Witch King of Angmar. 2. When Sam carries Frodo up the mountain (aww sweet)3. When Aragorn says 'For Frodo' before heading out to meet the Orcs in what they thought would be a suicide mission 4. When they all kneel at the feet of the hobbits at the end as Aragor says 'you bow to no one.'
So many to choose...
In Gilliam's FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS, those glorious moments when Benicio Del Toro says things like "As your attorney I advise you to (do something terribly illegal and dangerous)."
Anybody out there able to cite ten examples of such overpowering cinematic splendor that the images or dialogue stick with you forever?