"I want everything I've ever seen in the movies!"
-The Producers
I hope you are not imagining that I sat and typed out these personal favorite movie moments at one stretch, say, in a couple of hours or something to that effect - in the lines of some 19th century Russian novelists who typed out entire books in a span of few weeks. This is a list that took a lot of years of patient movie watching, notes taking, revisiting the list from time to time adding something new, removing something - if the scene is a passing fancy. There are scenes that are unique looking - like the end credits of West Side Story, scenes that made me cry sometimes out of joy, sometimes with emotion - sobbing, sitting alone in front of my TV screen and sometimes swallowing a lump in my throat in some corner of a cinema hall, scenes that made laugh out loud, scenes that gave me gooseflesh - knotted and combined locks to part and each particular hair to stand on end, like quills upon the fretful porpentine; some movie watching memories are a mood that is evoked by the whole film. If I can think of one common thread that ties all these scenes - they made me feel alive.
Some scenes get into the list because their reputation precedes them - which makes one look at the scene in awe the first time when it comes up in the context of the movie. Most of them are, as the title simply suggests, memorable. For instance, one can never look at a picture of the Trevi Fountain - or the Trevi Fountain itself, if one happens to be in Rome - without remembering Anita Ekberg wading in the waters and Marcello Mastroianni following her. Ah, women! What allure you possess.
I am one of those soppy sentimentalists who sometimes choke up while watching an advertisement on television. 'Analyze This' changed it all. Every time I now come across a rather touching ad, Paul Vitti, the-gangster-losing-his-nerve, sobbing bitterly, sitting on his bed while watching an insurance ad invariably springs to my mind and I burst out laughing.
And then there is the baseball treatment given to the copier machine in 'Office Space' in a Joe Pesci-isque fashion. Have you watched the movie? If yes, don’t you, with desperate frustration want to take the baseball bat to the printer or copier and shatter it to pieces? Why can’t it be simple enough to be operated? I am sure you know what I mean. That is what I call an iconic scene.
There are movie quotes that just can be universally used in everyday contexts. These are but a few examples. Voltaire said 'The secret of being a bore... is to tell everything.' So I shall allow you to sit back and enjoy these great movie moments if you can recollect them. I have attached helpful links wherever I could.
Reservoir Dogs: Why am I Mr. Pink? watch the hilarious scene here.
Schindler's list: last scene when Schindler speaks to his Jews.
Saving Private Ryan - Tom Hanks in his dying moments saying "James... Earn this. Earn it." Moving.
Apocalypse Now - You can never listen to Richard Wagner's 'Ride of the Valkyries' without thinking of the squadron of helicopters, the water and the coconut tress. watch it here.
The 'When She Loved Me' song in 'Toy Story 2' - this was the first of the only two times I cried in an animation film. Read along to find the second one.
Paths of Glory: The last scene where a captive German girl sings a song to the French army in a bar. This also is on number 1 spot on the list of greatest final scenes of all time. watch the touching scene here.
Amelie: the scene where Amelie helps a blind man cross the road and then describes the entire whole world around him and showing it to him in words. That sudden burst of energy the moment lends to the movie is enchanting. We are as much shocked and happy as is the blind man. watch it here.
Analyze This: Robert De Niro sobbing uncontrollably while watching an insurance ad.
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi: the scene when one of the teddy bear people dies in the blast and another teddy bear stops to take care of it.
The Apartment: look at Jack Lemon's expression when the doctor slap's the girl he loves on her face.
Nosferatu: the haunting background music as Hutter leaves his wife.
Children of Men: the silence of the gunfire and the joy and awe in the faces of the people as they discover the cries of baby coming down the staircase.
Ikiru - The Happy Birthday song sung by the girls to someone walking up the stairs when the dying protagonist (nicknamed, The Mummy) walks down after he finds a purpose to his life.
It's a Wonderful Life: Clarence showing George Bailey what the world would have been like if he were not born.
The African Queen: the best scene of the movie is the one in which Humphrey Bogart makes faces at the hippos and monkeys while moving on the river in the boat with Katharine Hepburn laughing out heartily watching the funny antics. It sums-up the universal phenomenon of a guy going to the extent of making a fool of himself to put a smile on the face of his girl. To watch these two superstars at middle-age perform this great romantic scene is just mind-blasting. Do I mean mind-blowing? No, I don't mean mind-blowing. Anything can blow your mind. This is just mind-blasting. Ok Ok. I know that you recognize this bit as a Russell Peters routine.
Finding Neverland:
George: It's Grandm other, isn't it? She's run you off, hasn't she? Oh, she's absolutely tried with great effort. And perhaps with good reason. It isn't you, Uncle Jim. She just... She just doesn't want to see Mother hurt anymore.
James: Look at that. How magnificent. The boy's gone. Somewhere during the last 30 seconds, you've become a grown-up.
Godfather 2: The fresh-off-the boat Young Vito Carlione looking out of a window at the Statue of Liberty. In this scene, one can see the Statue's reflection on the glass of the window. That one-second frame on film poetically immortalizes the dreams and aspirations of immigrants coming to America.
Grapes of Wrath: there is a moment in 'Grapes of Wrath' which reminds one that movies directly connect to the emotions. You see the smile on the faces of Ma and Tom Joad when they are at the dance at the end of the movie. The smile on their faces, probably the first and only time you see them smile in the grim-all-through movie automatically cut a smile across my face. It was like a blast of fresh air for someone gasping for breath after feeling suffocated by the grim mood of the movie thus far.
Grave of Fireflies: the glimpses of a day in the life of Seita with poignant music in the background after she dies. I couldn't help the tears running down my face when I saw that scene. This is the only second time I cried in an animation movie uptil now.
Taxi Driver: Travis Bickle - "you talking to me?"
Al Pacino in 'Dog Day Afternoon': "Kiss me. When I'm being fucked, I like to get kissed a lot." As an aside, 'Dog Day Afternoon' is my favorite Al Pacino film.
Al Pacino Scarface: "I'm Tony Montana! You fuck with me, you fuckin' with the best!"
Rules of the Game: the h(a)unting scene. A very sad scene. This one reminded me of the Odessa Steps scene in 'Battleship Potemkin'.
West Side Story: End Credits.
Woody Allen and his wife naming the baby in 'Mighty Aphrodite'
The World's Fastest Indian: the bikers giving Burt Munro a guard of honour when he leaves to USA for the biking competition.
Mr. Smith goes to Washington: The scene where Mr. Smith tours Washington when he first lands in Washington.
The Italian Job - 'On Days Like These'. I'd like to drive like that.
The insane intensity in the eyes of Klaus Kinski in Werner Herzog's 'Aguirre: The Wrath of God'.
Ben-Hur: the chariot race
The progressive descent of Fred C. Dobbs in 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre'.
Shawshank Redemption: Morgan Freeman's voice over.
Amadeus: Salieri describing Mozart's music
Before Sunset: The expression of careless joy on Ethan Hawke's face in the closing frame of the movie.
Office Space: The three guys giving the copier machine the Joe Pesci-treatment with the baseball bat.
Casablanca: The scene involving Rick Blane and the young girl Annina, Rick helping her husband to win at the roulette table and the scene following that. This film has a lot of great scenes but I pick this as my top favorite. As another aside here, 'Casablanca' is also my favorite movie of all-time.
A Fish Called Wanda: John Cleese talking in Russian and stripping himself naked and the residents of the house walking in.
2001 - A Space Odyssey: the flash-forward, jump cut match cut of the bone turning into a spaceship.
The Truman Show: Truman dodging the traffic set-up in the process of discovering that there is something funny about his life.
Sunset Blvd.: the opening scene with a dead body floating in the water.
Strangers on a Train: the scene where the villain loses the lighter in the iron-manhole and struggles hard to get it out.
Psycho: The shower scene
To Kill a Mockingbird: Scout disperses the crowd that comes to attack Atticus outside the jail.
The Searchers: John Wayne lifting grown up Debbie in his arms and saying 'Let's go home, Debbie'.
Blow Up: the first photo shoot that runs more like a sex scene than a photo shoot, ending in an orgasmic way.
The Night of the Hunter: the river journey.
La Dolce Vita: Anita Ekbert wading through the waters of the fountain of Trivi.
Matrix: There is no spoon
Enter the Dragon: last fight in the hall of mirrors.
This one's not just one movie. It is the style - the fantastic choreography of stunts in Jackie Chan movies.
That is all for the moment, folks. Thank you - I hope you enjoyed reading it. Await the vol2 to complete the list of 100 memorable movie moments. Then there is a separate list that has my favorite Indian movie moments. If you find links for any of the above scenes please do share them with me.
Here's a list of 10 Great Movie Monologues and here are some Unforgettable Bollywood Movie Characters that I compiled in the past.
sir, you've offended the brave ewoks by calling them teddy bear people :)
Posted by: Atul Savur | September 29, 2009 at 11:09 PM
Atul: I apologise to the legion of Star Wars fans and the brave ewoks for that expression. Sadly i am not that high on the Star Wars mythology and all of you must forgive me. :)
Posted by: Arvind Swarup Pathiki | October 01, 2009 at 02:17 AM
i'll be visiting this again for movie suggestions. :)
but wanted to say this much for now.
when you had initially suggested "Pulp Fiction" to me, i had not enjoyed it much. I recall telling you that too.. but then, i watched it again some months ago (with Vishal) and you know, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Infact, it was cool in a way coz it was a movie "I suggested"... usually, he is the one picking/finding movies.. he liked it a lot too and I was proud about it. :)
and then i realized, i have been doing so much movie watching in the last few years that somehow i feel more mature about it. lol...
i owe the Wodehouse-love and some amazing movie watching to you, Aru. thank you.
Enjoy!
Posted by: Prat | December 21, 2009 at 08:01 AM
Pratibha: I often quote Roger Ebert saying 'One of the gifts one movie lover can give another is the title of a wonderful film they have not yet discovered'. I am happy that i made a small contribution in the way of a few movies and Wodehouse to your already considerably varied interests. Thank you for your kind words.
I am always glad to suggest the things i like to friends.
Posted by: Arvind Swarup Pathiki | December 21, 2009 at 03:30 PM