Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
Once again the mighty jury of AFI voters have chosen their Top 100 Movie Quotes of all time. On Yahoo, they have released the top 25, but nothing more than that. There is a 3 hour TV special on tonight hosted by Pierce Brosnan on the list.
1. “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” Gone with the Wind, 1939
2. “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.” The Godfather, 1972
3. “You don’t understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could’ve been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.” On the Waterfront, 1954
4. “Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” The Wizard of Oz, 1939
5. “Here’s looking at you, kid.” Casablanca, 1942
6. “Go ahead, make my day.” Sudden Impact, 1983
7. “All right, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up.” Sunset Boulevard., 1950
8. “May the Force be with you.” Star Wars, 1977
9. “Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.” All About Eve, 1950
10. “You talking to me?” Taxi Driver, 1976
11. “What we’ve got here is failure to communicate.” Cool Hand Luke, 1967
12. “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.” Apocalypse Now, 1979
13. “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” Love Story, 1970
14. “The stuff that dreams are made of.” The Maltese Falcon, 1941
15. “E.T. phone home.” E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, 1982
16. “They call me Mister Tibbs!” In the Heat of the Night, 1967
17. “Rosebud.” Citizen Kane, 1941
18. “Made it, Ma! Top of the world!” White Heat, 1949
19. “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” Network, 1976
20. “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” Casablanca, 1942
21. “A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.” The Silence of the Lambs, 1991
22. “Bond. James Bond.” Dr. No, 1962
23. “There’s no place like home.” The Wizard of Oz, 1939
24. “I am big! It’s the pictures that got small.” Sunset Boulevard, 1950
25. “Show me the money!” Jerry Maguire, 1996
Gone With The Wind has the coveted No. 1 spot and also has two more on the list. But it can’t beat Casablanca, which has the most quotes on the list with six, and I think its case for being the best screenplay ever written has better cause. Not many films have memorable lines and Casablanca sure beats the cake.
I’m off to watch the special so I can not-surprise myself. Anyone who watches these specials watch it for the clips. I sure hope De Niro’s line in Heat is there: “… if you want to be making moves on the street, have no attachments, have nothing in your life that you can’t walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you spot the heat around the corner.” De Niro sure can deliver those great lines.
I wonder which actor or actress winds up with the most lines by himself or herself. My pick is De Niro.
