I think my favorite scene from any movie is a simple but powerful scene in To Kill a Mockingbird. At the end of Tom Robinson’s trial, the courtroom has almost emptied as his defense attorney, Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) picks up his papers and packs up his briefcase. Remaining attendants are only those seated the balcony (excepting his kids and neighbor Dill they were all African-Americans who were not allowed to sit on the main floor). As Atticus turns to walk out the door, all those in the balcony begin to slowly rise. In just a few seconds everyone is standing except for Atticus’ daughter Jean Louise (Mary Badham), better known as “Scout.” An elder African American man leans down and semi-whispers, “Stand up, Miss Jean Louise. Stand up-your Father is passing.” Unfortunately, I cannot find the clip online. If you don’t already on this movie on DVD, you probably hate your Mother, too. Get it here.
Another scene I really like is the singing of “La Marseillaise” from Casablanca. Another favorite movie, this scene puts me on the verge of tears every time I watch it. Some exiled French, holed up at Rick’s Cafe Americain, are being subjected to a terrible rendition the German anthem by some Nazi officers. A few measures into it, Resistance leader Victor Lazlo (Paul Henreid) instructs the house band to “play La Marseillaise…play it!” They do with stirring results
Last of my faves is one of the most powerful scenes ever committed to film. A scene that is as emotionally and physically exhausting for the viewer as it must have been for the participants. The original scene is 10 or more minutes long. This clip, missing the beginning, is a little over eight. Anne Bancroft as Annie Sullivan and the astounding Patti Duke as Helen Keller in the breakfast scene from The Miracle Worker.
What are your favorite movie scenes?
Quite similar to the scene from Casablanca is the scene when Captain Von Trapp sings Edelweiss right before they all sing and slip into the night…
From more recent flicks what bout when Rudy goes in to play – and they pan to his dad. Argh. Tears flow.
I think of Dead Poet’s Society, Lean On Me, Finding Forrester, many scenes where the Hobbits seize the day in the Lord of the Rings,….
Not a movie, but if you haven’t seen the clip of Paul Potts that I just posted on my blog, go check it out.
Comment by Bryan Riley — April 13, 2008 @ 5:13 am
1. From Sling Blade – When Carl Childers comes into the bedroom late at night holding a hammer to tell Doyle Hargraves and Linda Wheatley that he wants to get baptized. “I don’t rightly know. I just woke up a holdin’ it I guess.”
2. From The Apostle – When The Apostle E.F. hits his old youth minister with a bat at a softball game and says, “One for the road Rodney!”
3. From Cool Hand Luke – When Lucas Jackson wins the poker game after arriving at the prison camp and says, “Yeah well, sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand.”
4. The last scene of the movie Signs.
5. At the end of Facing the Giants when the wife says, “You made the daddy team.” Not really.
Comment by Jay Sanders — April 13, 2008 @ 9:23 am
Bryan-
I have seen the Paul Potts clips. Quite amazing.
Jay-
*snicker*
Comment by Marty Duren — April 13, 2008 @ 8:47 pm
Well, here is a short list of some favorites of mine……
1. From the movie BraveHeart – I enjoy and like to contemplate these scenes from the movie. I like the horseback speech to the troops prior to battle when they were ready to leave and William Wallace’s cry of “freedom” at his death near the end of the film.
2. From Mr. Smith Goes to Washington – I am moved during the final speech of the movie when Jimmy Stewart continues to proclaim his commitment to truth and “love thy neighbour” against the manufactured opposition brought against him.
3. From Hoosiers – When Strap (the preachers son) kneels to pray on the edge of the court during a timeout, Coach says “Make it a good one, Strap !”
4. I offer my apology for the next favorite. From Die Hard – I am sorry, but I love it when McClane tells Hans that he is “partial to Roy Rogers” and Hans makes another comment about the bankrupt society of America. And McClane responds, (with something Roy Rogers would have never said) “yippee ki-yay……” you know the rest. I also enjoy the scene when McClane is trying to get the attention of a cop -in a car- below him. So he ties a dead, bad guy to a chair and throws him out the window and hits the police car saying “Welcome to the party, pal !”
5. From Ben-Hur – Although being angry at the world for most of his life and -unknowingly- encountering Jesus on a few occasions, Ben-Hur is completely transformed when he meets Jesus on the way to Calvary. When he returns home, you can plainly see that he is a different man. And obviously the chariot race is a classic and favorite.
6. From Passion of the Christ – I cannot handle the scene of Jesus’s scourging, when -after already being beaten to a pulp- the soldiers flip Him over and have at it some more. I know that “by His stripes, we are healed” and it crushes my heart every time. Especially when you consider that His actual scourging was -most likely- much worse than Mel Gibson depicted in this film.
7. From Tombstone – I enjoy the scene when Doc has just shot Johnny Ringo -with blood pouring from the bullet hole in his head- and is circling him saying “Come on !!”. But the best line is when he kneels over Ringo’s dead body and Wyatt comes running up and he says, “I’m afraid the strain was more than he could bear”.
Sorry for taking up so much time, but these scenes appeal to me on many different levels.
Steve H
Comment by Steve H — April 14, 2008 @ 8:09 am
I really enjoy the courtroom scene in “A Few Good Men” where Cruise baits Nicholson into confessing that he ordered the code red. Lots of good drama in that scene.
Comment by Gary Snowden — April 15, 2008 @ 1:52 pm