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:
May '12
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
Blazing Saddles:
"What a nice guy!"
"Badges?!! We don't need no stinkin' badges!!" [a takeoff of "Treasure of the Sierra Madre"]
"You're on your own, son!"
"Isn't somebody going to help that poor man!"
[heavy southern accent] "Oh boys, look what I got heahh!"
May '11
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
Casablanca, of course.
Interesting that even though Casablanca leads the AFI list with 6 quotes, they do not include “I'm shocked, shocked to find gambling going on here.” or “It's easy to see that the problems of two little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.” or “If you don't get on that plane, you'll regret it. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.”
Nov '10
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
This is not from a movie, but a Dennis Miller stand-up routine. Occasionally at work, when we discuss something complex (with certain colleagues who are good-natured and have good senses of humor) I'll pull this one out:
"I view a trip to the phychiatrist much like I view a trip to the hair dresser. My head looks great when I leave there, but I can never get it to look quite that way again myself."
A few other favorites:
"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?"
"Canada, hmph, why would I want to leave America to go to America, Jr.?"
"If you really want something in life, you have to work for it. Now QUIET, they're about to announce the lottery numbers."
"That's all I have to say about that."
"I'm your Huckleberry."
"Mr. McAllister, your very own cheese pizza."
"It's a hell of a thing, killin' a man; you take away all he's got, and all he's ever gonna have."
"Oh, wait, was she a great big fat person?"
"Not a log, I don't have a log."
May '10
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
It has to be The Jerk or The Princess Bride.
Apr '11
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
J vs. the V is also a veritable goldmine of great lines, spoken by some of Hollywood's greatest comedic actors of all time.
Abe Vigoda: "You wanna marry him?"
Meg Ryan: "Yes"
Abe Vigoda: "You wanna marry her?"
Tom Hanks: "Yes"
Abe Vigoda: "Great. Your married. Now jump into the volcano
Lloyd Bridges: "Live like a king, die like a man!"
Luggage salesman: "May you live to be a thousand years old, sir."
Hanks: "Thanks. Same to you."
Dan Hedaya (on the phone): "I KNOW he can DO the job, but can he GET the job?!"...I am not ARGUING that with you!..."
Mar '11
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
Pulp Fiction is a gold mine. (these may not be exact, I'm working from memory and in no particular order)
Jules: The metric system. Check out the big brain on Brett!
Vince: Is she the one with all the s#!t in her face? Lance: No, that's my wife.
Vince: I'm a race car in the red. That's all I'm saying. Jules: Oh yea! Well every time my hand touches brain or skull I'm super-fly TNT Guns of the Navaron!
Vince: Bacon tastes good. Pork chops taste good.
Jules: I don't eat pork.
Vince: What, are you Jewish?
Jules: No, I just don't dig on swine. A pig is a filthy animal.
Jules: That would have to be one charmin MFin pig. Ten times more charmin' than that Arnold on Green Acres.
Butch: It ain't a motorcycle baby. It's a chopper.
Jules: Well s#!t Negro, that's all you had to say.
The Wolf: I'm an oak man.
Jules: I'm the foot f&*^in master. I don't be ticklin' or nuthin.
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
Love this thread. My entries:
"Young Frankenstein," as in "Could be worse. Could be raining," and "What hump?"
And, needless to say, "Cool Hand Luke," as in, obviously, "What we have here is a failure to communicate."
Sep '10
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
"He had it coming, right, Will?"
"We've all got it coming, Kid."
Oct '10
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
Keith Doherty
Can you share some of your favorites? · 16 hours ago
Yeah that came out a little country but every word was right on the money.
If I fall will you let me down easy?
We gon' do this or what?
She thinks my tractor's sexy.
'Cause they're songs about me and who I am...
Apr '11
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
Alan Partridge:
"Cash Back!!", "Back of the net!", and "Jurassic Park!!" Arms held high, of course.
Spartan:
"They don't go through the door. We don't ask why. That's not a cost, that's a benefit."
Simpsons: "Reverend, is God Punishing me?" "Ah, that's a tough one, Ned. Short answer is Yes with an if. The long answer is No with a but."
The entire three seasons of 'Deadwood' but just a few gems: "I've no gossamer filament of doubt that you have talents that delight and amaze."
"I find pretense to civility in a man vapid and grotesque."
"What claim is your piety upon my deference."
“Bad news or tries against our interests is our sole communications from strangers, so let’s by all means plant poles across the land and festoon the c*cksuckers with wires to hurry the sorry word and blinker our judgments of motive.”
"Welcome to f*ckin Deadwood ... can be combative!"
"Wants me to tell him something pretty."
Mar '12
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
The Big Lebowski is my default source, followed close by Brother Where Art Thou. Lebowski is great because it captures the way humans constantly pick up phrases from each other in communications across cultural lines. LA Artist Maude talking to Dude uses some obscenity, then distances herself ironically, by saying "in the parlance of our times," which the Dude then starts using himself the rest of the movie.
My own favorite, which I found too many occasions to use listening to FM Radio commuting, is:
"I hate the f***ing Eagles, man."
Dec '10
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
Woo - "San Francisco . . . c********r!!!"
Swearengen - "I'm so f*****g glad I taught you that word . . . "
Dec '10
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
"I'm 'The Dude', so that's what you call me, man."
May '10
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
"Do not disassemble."
"You're going to need a bigger boat."
"You ain't leading but two things right now: Jack and $#@!... and Jack left town."
And here's something for all movie lovers:
Aug '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:
Involved? That was my idea.
And of course, a quote that sums up my pride in my church: · Jun 21 at 6:00pm
Don't forget: "Serpentine, Shel! Serpentine!"
Aug '10
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
Broadcast News - YES!!! It's worth it for the definition of the Devil alone.
Aug '10
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
CoolHand
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."· Jun 21 at 11:11pm
You left out (and I paraphrase): "I seem to be the only here who is unaffiliated."
Aug '10
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
What a great thread. Just reading all these familiar lines makes me laugh.
Can't help but notice how many Mel Brooks' lines are here. And William Goldman, too. (Don't forget, Goldman also penned "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.") I would add just about all the movies of Albert Brooks.
"Raising Arizona" is something of a humor litmus test for me. Every other line is quotably funny. "Anchorman" is more absurd, but very quotable.
In the pop music world, "This Is Spinal Tap" is quoted with an almost holy reverence. "Waiting for Guffman" holds a similar place among the community theater crowd. Most all of Christopher Guest's movies are pretty quotable.
Every Clint Eastwood movie ever made has at least one famous catch-phrase. Don't know how he manages that.
The old knight at the end of "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" offers some quotable wisdom after the bad guy withers into dust: "He chose... poorly."
And "Midnight Run" has a wonderful Robert DeNiro line that is completely CoC non-compliant: "I have just two words for you: Shut the **** up."
Apr '11
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
'The proprieties will be strictly observed.'
Apr '11
Re: How Many Movies Have You Quoted Today?
Glad to see a Quiet Man quote from Thursby. Here's two more:
"No patty fingers, if ya' please!"
"Impetuous! Homeric!"
North By Northwest is our mainstay:
"You could tease a man to death without half trying...so quit trying." (Cary Grant)
"Tell me, how does a girl like you get to be a girl like you?"(Cary Grant)
"That's not very sporting...using real bullets." (James Mason)