So I recently read Patton Oswalt’s Silver Screen Fiend, in which he documents his one-time “addiction” to watching old movies at various L.A. theaters. For me, one of the best parts of the book came at the end, when he noted that the AFI had released a “100 Greatest Movie Moments” list and provided his own most indeliable movie memories. A “movie moment” can be a line, a scene, a performance, or even just a specific shot in a film that stays with you long after seeing the flick.
We’ve all got out own idiosyncratic lists like this, and I decided to try my hand at coming up with my own 100 Movie Moments. I won’t ask anyone to wade through all 100 at once, so here’s the first 25 moments, scenes, or lines that have stuck with me through five decades of movie watching (in no particular order, mind you). I actually found YouTube links to most of them, if you want to see exactly what I’m talking about…
Bernstein reflecting on the Girl with the Parasol in Citizen Kane.
Humphrey Bogart getting the drop on some hoods in The Big Sleep with the line, “So many guns in this town, but so few brains.”
Rita Hayworth’s first appearance in Gilda, tossing her hair back. “Gilda, are you decent?” “Me?”
Han Solo’s yelp of joy when he blasts Darth Vader’s TIE fighter and saves Luke’s trench run in Star Wars.
Phoebe Cates getting out of the pool in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Keyes rattling off all the reasons that Deidrichson’s death couldn’t be a suicide in Double Indemnity, capped by his withering, “Next time I’ll rent a tuxedo.”
Roy Batty’s dying speech in Blade Runner. “All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.”
After being “killed” for the first time, Michael Myers sitting up in the background as Jamie Lee Curtis recovers in Halloween.
The buildings of downtown L.A. crumbling to the sounds of the Pixies‘ “Where Is My Mind?” in Fight Club.
The wordless opening sequence of Once Upon a Time in the West, the creaky windmill keeping time as the three killers wait for Charles Bronson’s train.
Django opening up the coffin and letting loose on the horde of hooded outlaws in Django.
The sand spilling out of Max’s tanker at the end of The Road Warrior, revealing that he’s just been a decoy all along.
Howard Hesseman blowing off the band in This is Spinal Tap with the line, “We’d love to stand around and chat, but we’ve got to go to the lobby and wait for the limo.”
Parker Posey losing it over Busy Bee while the pet shop clerk stays utterly calm in Best in Show.
Bill Murray and Chevy Chase share a late-night joint and some jug wine in Caddyshack. “Cannonball! Cannonball coming!”
The head sprouting legs and trying to escape in The Thing.
The dragging-the-giant-safe chase through the streets of Rio in Fast Five.
Snake Plisskin destroying the cassette and dooming the human race at the end of Escape From New York.
The ambush in the woods in Children of Men.
The nightclub gunfight in John Wick.
When Wendy discovers what Jack’s been writing in The Shining.
Jake and Elwood destroying the shopping mall in The Blues Brothers. “Disco pants and haircuts!”
Ann Savage lighting into Tom Ryan and accusing him of murder after he picks her up in Detour. “Who do you think you’re talkin’ to? A hick?”
Tuco killing the bounty hunter from the bathtub in The Good, The Bad & The Ugly. “When you have to shoot, shoot, don’t talk!”
The ark disappearing into the giant warehouse at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Next Month:
Movie Moments #26-50!
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