For years, CeCe and I loved to watch old movies; anything from the early 1930s through the 1960s. Aside from providing an opportunity to take a break from many of today’s overly saturated, effect laden, glaringly violent films with scripts thinly veiled as conversational, it was a chance to enjoy the creative cinematography from some of the finest filmmakers of the early to mid-20th century. But beyond that, there was the writing.
Back in the early days of Hollywood, writers often applied their literary skills to films. Authors such as George Kaufman, Dalton Trumbo, Ben Hecht, C.S. Forester, James Agee, William Faulkner, Aldous Huxley, Dorothy Parker, and others wrote or collaborated on some of the most iconic or thought-provoking lines in film. Today, many pictures are based on video games, books, or historical biographies written by established or up-and-coming authors. Yet there are a few gifted screenwriters who have penned indelible lines in film, yet their names often escape recognition for the words they’ve written that inspired and oftentimes became mantras within our daily lives.
Part of the fun for CeCe and I was to gather a list of our “best quotes” from films. Some became part of our lexicon, and we’d quote them from time to time to highlight a given point during a discussion or to underscore the intractable nature of today’s social issues. Years ago, when I was on a self-guided tour of the ancient ruins in Rome, I was struck by how so many of the problems happening in today’s world were mere echoes of the troubles that occurred 2,000 years ago. We noticed that same pattern of equivalence in some of our favorite film quotes. There seems to be little chance for change in the human condition so long as we’re unwilling to treat it as a malady in need of positive and beneficial growth. But I digress.
So as we start to approach the end of this year with its coming elections and look ahead to see what the future may bring, I thought I’d share a few of our favorite quotes. These cover a period of over sixty plus years of film and are listed in chronological order. Many you may recognize; a few, you may not. It depends how often you have watched these films or what impressions the dialogue may have had on you. Indeed, a picture does paint a thousand words. But it’s those words that provide the colors chosen to fill that expansive canvas made of celluloid and dreams.
By the way: If you have a memorable line from one of your favorite films, please post it in a comment below. I would love to hear which line from a film made a big impression on you or someone you love. See you at the movies…
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, 1936 – What puzzles me is why people seem to get so much pleasure out of hurting each other. Why don’t they try liking each other once in a while?
You Can’t Take It With You, 1938 – “With malice toward none, with charity to all.” Nowadays they say, “Think the way I do or I’ll bomb the daylights outta you.”
You Can’t Take It With You, 1938 – “Isms”; you know, Communism, Fascism, Voodooism, everybody’s got an -ism these days. When things go a little bad nowadays, you go out, get yourself an -ism and you’re in business.
The Great Dictator, 1940 – Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical; our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.
Spellbound, 1945 – You cannot keep bumping your head against reality and saying it is not there.
Notorious, 1946 – We are protected by the enormity of your stupidity, for a time.
Notorious, 1946 – Waving the flag with one hand and picking pockets with the other, that’s your “patriotism”. Well, you can have it.
It’s a Wonderful Life, 1946 – Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, 1946 – You’ve been taken to the cleaners, and you don’t even know your pants are off.
The Bishop’s Wife, 1947 – I’m at my most serious when I’m joking.
All About Eve, 1950 – Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.
The African Queen, 1951 – Nature, Mr. Allnut, is what we are put in this world to rise above.
To Kill A Mockingbird, 1962 – You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.
Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, 1964 Gentlemen! You can’t fight in here, this is a War Room!
Cool Hand Luke, 1967 – What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate!
Monty Python’s Life of Brian, 1979 – He’s not the Messiah; he’s a very naughty boy!
Blade Runner, 1982 – All those moments will be lost in time like tears in rain.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, 1986 – Life moves pretty fast. You don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, 1988 – I’m not bad, I’m just drawn that way.
Dead Poets Society, 1989 – Carpe, Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.
The Shawshank Redemption, 1994 – Get busy livin’ or get busy dyin’.
The Usual Suspects, 1995 – The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.
As Good As It Gets, 1997 – You make me want to be a better man.
City of Angels, 1998 – I don’t know what a pear tastes like to you.
8 Millimeter, 1999 – If you dance with the devil, the devil don’t change. The devil changes you.
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