How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
One of my favorite movies to quote is Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid. The movie stars Steve Martin and Rachel Ward, is directed by Carl Reiner, and affectionately dedicated to its costume designer, Edith Head. The New York Times called it a “charmer.” Which I thought was an odd way to say, hilariously funny; but who am I to question a New York Times film critic?
I’ve exhausted friendships quoting this movie. At every available opportunity I refer to Germans as, “Gemermans,” and a cleaning woman is always a “Heinemacher Frau.” I have also pantomimed Rigby Reardon making his cup of java, countless times. Always, while making "shh shh shh shh shh shh shh shh" sounds. Here's a video of it, it's towards the end.
In my opinion, there is something incredibly satisfying about a well-placed movie line. It’s an art form. Throwing out a quote is also a way for us to gauge our group. It helps us make quick assessments about which complete stranger we will hang out with based solely on who laughed at, “there’s always money in the banana stand.” I know that’s not a movie quote, but if you get it, we can be friends.
Richard Harris, a professor from Kansas State University, did some interesting research on this in his study, Social Movie Quoting: What, Why and How?. According to the report, “nearly 100 percent of Americans quote a movie in conversation,” and nearly always from a comedy. Harris says quoting from movies is, “kind of a way to cement in-group membership.” It creates solidarity and forms a bond which challenges newcomers, saying “We all get this, it’s our special thing, we have limited space for new people, so the quotes will be harder for you, and in French.” I made that last part up.
Beware, however, this exercise in coalition building can backfire horribly if poorly appropriated, as one student found out. “The worst is when you might quote a dirty line from a movie, and you just get a blank stare ….They just think you’re a total pervert.” I think we can all learn something from that.
Other movies I quote from regularly:
The Other Guys
Fletch
Caddy Shack
Animal House
The Life Aquatic
Princess Bride
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
Galaxy Quest
Love and Death, and most every other Woody Allen movie
Gentlemen Broncos
The Burbs
Young Dr. Frankenstein
Three Amigos
What are your favorite movies to quote from?
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Comments:
Dec '10
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
barbara lydick
"Work, work, work.
Work, work, work."
/Turns to secretary's ample bosoms.
"Hello boys! I missed you!
Work, work, work."
Aug '10
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
Caddyshack - "You'll get nothing and like it!"
"Danny, I've sent boys younger than you to the gas chamber - didn't want to do it, felt I owed it to them"
Monty Python and the Holy Grail - "Must be a king, hasn't got %!&@ all over 'im"
O Brother Where Art Thou - "I belong to a certain secret society - I don't believe we got to mention no names" "These boys desecrated a fiery cross!"
Raising Arizona - "Me and Dot are swingers...as in to swing"
Are the staples around my house, just ask the kids
Edited on June 22, 2012 at 6:17amJan '12
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
In no particular order:
Princess Bride
Groundhog Day
Three Amigos
Ghostbusters
Original three Star Wars
Jan '11
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
A few years ago, I visited a friend in England who introduced me to a few of his buddies. Upon hearing I was from San Diego, one of the young men I had just met looks at me and says, in a long and drawn out way, "whaaale's vagina."
The look on his face was pretty priceless when he realized I had no idea what he was talking about. Apparently it's from the movie Anchorman.
Also:
"There's no crying! There's no crying in baseball!"
"Yeah! Unless you want to work forty hours a week."
"I expected the Rockies to be a little rockier than this."
"Yea! We're in the Rockies..."
"Do the chickens have large talons?"
"Stay home and eat all the freakin' chips, Kip!"
Oct '10
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
I tend to quote from country songs these days. There seems to be a chorus or verse for almost any conversation. In fact, I think you could play a game where you just speak in country song titles.
Apr '11
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
There are a few Wes Anderson lines that have stuck with me.
Rushmore: "Friends like you, who needs friends?"
The Life Aquatic: "Intern! get me a campari." (I find myself fighting not to say that to any of the interns at my work).
Oh, and then there's "Send him a red cap and a speedo"
On a similar note-- in India, Bollywood is huge. It's pure escapism in a place where life can be hard. When I was there I noticed that movie dialogue and movie song lyrics found their way into everyday conversation to a much greater degree than even happens here.
Apr '11
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
Can you share some of your favorites?
Dec '10
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
Frozen Chosen:
O Brother Where Art Thou
"Damn, boys! We're inna tight spot!"
"Do. Not. Seek. The Treasure."
"We. Thought. You. Was. Turned. Into. A Toad."
"Mmrph, (snort), Ma Hair!"
"I don't want no Fop GDamnit! I'm a Dapper Dan man!"
"Ain't this place a geographic oddity! Two weeks from everywhere!"
"I wadn't hit by no train!"
"I'm the . . . pater familius!"
"Evert, my beard itches."
Dec '10
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
That last one is my favorite. I use it a lot.
Plus, my grandpa's name was Delmar, though he pronounced it all in one word as "dellmer", and in OBWAT it's pronounced in two words as Del-Mar, which I like better.
Kinda the same way I say police (Po-Leece). I think it might be a redneck/southern thing.
May '11
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
"I have no response to that" - Joe vs. the Volcano
"Why so serious?" - The Dark Knight
May '11
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
"Anyone? Anyone?" - Ferris Beuller's Day Off
"I'm melting!" - The Wizard of Oz
"Feed Me!" & "They tell me I'm maladjusted" - Little Shop of Horrors
Edited on June 22, 2012 at 10:29amRe: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
When I want to end a dumb argument, usually with a liberal, I borrow a line from the Dude
Nov '10
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
KC Mulville: Some movie quotes are just part of the culture.The Godfather alone is an industry.
The other posters have some great lines, but let me pitch The In-Laws, a personal favorite:
The Godfather is such a font of quotes that it is the subject of a great quote from another film:
"The Godfather is the I-ching. The Godfather is the sum of all wisdom. The Godfather is the answer to any question."
-- Tom Hanks from You've Got Mail
However, for The In-Laws , a week does not go by when I have not called out to the missus, "Serpentine!"
Apr '11
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
Fletch, Airplane, The Princess Bride.
I can hold hours-long conversations using only dialog from these three movies.
The other day a girl at work paid me back some money she had borrowed, and as she held it out to me I said, "Oh, did you see your pimp today?" It just slipped out involuntarily. Fortunately she has a really good sense of humor even if she didn't get the exact reference...
Jun '10
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
Love these, but PLEASE identify the movies. I for one do not recognize some of the quotes. Even I if saw the movie, the particular line might not have grabbed me.
"I've got skills." -- Napoleon Bonaparte.
Mar '11
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
"Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal." - Wash"I'll be in my bunk." - JayneBoth from Firefly
Feb '12
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
Don't know why this came to mind, as the one time I used it publicly it flopped:
"I hate Germans. Love women."
"What about German women?"
"Good card players!"
Fawlty Towers
Jan '11
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
Proof of point:
Pseudodionysius had a great line a few months ago, based on a great quote: "Forget it, Jake, it's Georgetown."
Oct '10
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
Dyin' ain't much of a livin', boy
http://bit.ly/LlE6mL
Edited on June 22, 2012 at 4:43pmJun '11
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
Blazing Saddles, Die Hard, and many an Ahnuld flick. For motivational silliness I go for Zorro the Gay Blade (Two Bits, Four Bits, Six Bits, a Peso. All those for Zorro, stand up and say so!)