|
(“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give
a damn”)
(“My father made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.”)
Great lines of cinema dialogue, hall of fame quotes in the 75-year
history of sound movies, moving, clever, poetic, outrageous. Ask any
buff.
Clark Gable’s curtain line in Gone With the Wind (1939) and Al
Pacino’s ominous remark, both rated high on lists of the most
memorable motion picture quotes ever, and still heard in countless
movie replays on cable, on award shows, DVD’s, film retrospectives and
website soundbites. They, among a dozen or so others, have been
critically acclaimed, and noted as the most recognizable , by
Entertainment Weekly, American Film Institute and the Guinness Book
of Film: Here’s looking at you, kid:
- “R-O-S-E-B-U-D” (Citizen Kane)
- “Never give a sucker an even break” (Poppy)
- “I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could a
been somebody, instead of a bum, which I am, let’s face
it” (On the Waterfront)
- “Of all the gin joints all the towns in all the world, she
walks into mine” (Casablanca}
- “My father made them an offer they couldn’t refuse”
(The Godfather)
- “Fasten your seat belts – it’s going to be a bumpy night”
(All About Eve)
- “They call me Mister Tibbs” (In the Heat of the Night)
- “Show me the money.” (Jerry Maguire)
- “My Mama always said ‘Life is a like a box of
chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get”
(Forrest Gump)
- “Hasta la vista, baby” ( Terminator 2:Judgment Day)
When television drama was first beginning to share center ring with
Hollywood, I
wrote a piece in journalism school, admittedly an off-beat idea, on
recognizable cinema dialogue, so commonplace that origin and
scriptwriter were impossible to trace. Over-exposed, and recycled,
but still in popular usage.. .
That was fifty years ago. Checking my research notes recently, I
uncovered that
decades-old essay. Now-dog-eared and yellowed, it could have been
easily dated yesterday.
Maybe they’ll ring a bell for you, these dialogue retreads, worn down
but not worn out., lines that time has not forgot:
-You don’t understand me. You don’t
understand me very well at all.
I know you like a book.
-Of course, I love you.
Then show it..
- Someday we’re going to have it out.
What’s the matter with now?
-Whatever made you do a thing like that?
I needed the money.
-You haven’t the nerve to shoot.
Just try me.,.
-I’ll never speak to you again.
You really don’t mean that.
-I’ll do it
Then I’ll cut you off without a dime.
Maybe you’ve noticed—as we get older, they stay the same age. The
stuff that clichés are made of.
-What’s going to become of me?
You should have thought of that.
.........................................................................................................................
Gene Farinet, an award winning veteran newsman, spent much of his long
career at NBC News as a writer and producer working with Frank McGee,
Ed Newman, John Chancellor and Tom Brokaw, covering space, politics
and special projects everywhere in the world.
|
