# Best scenes in the best movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 5, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610 "2011-03-05T19:41:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610/61 "2011-03-07T23:13:39Z")
_The Rocky Horror Picture Show_ - Floor show sequence, from ‘Rose Tint My World’ through ‘I’m Going Home’, and if I had to pick a specific part it’d be the sequence from the fanfare into the pool during ‘Don’t Dream It, Be It’. _Titanic_ - the point where it becomes really clear that the ship is about to go under, people rushing up to the top, the “as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” scene. _Parenthood_ - The family dinner with the blackout _Thelma & Louise_ - final scene _2001: A Space Odyssey_ - opening scene, climaxing with the match cut _Independence Day_ - [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRyoFgAhW4c) I have others but they’re more like little personal favourite bits in films not many would consider classics (I’m pushing it with Independence Day already). ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610/62 "2011-03-07T23:21:20Z")
> [@multimediac17](#): > > _2001: A Space Odyssey_ - opening scene, climaxing with the match cut (…it really took us a page and a half to get to this one?) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610/63 "2011-03-07T23:24:32Z")
> [@SpartanDC](#): > > [The Matrix lobby shootout] was my “let me show you how awesome DVDs are” scene … before everyone had one. Ditto. 🙂 That and the final fight scene from _The Man in the Iron Mask_ (1998) where the Musketeers and Philippe charge the guns. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610/64 "2011-03-07T23:32:53Z")
_Non nobis, Domine_ from Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of _Henry V_. The chariot race from _Ben-Hur_ is the greatest 12 minutes ever put on film. The charge of the Rohirrim at the Pelennor Fields in _The Return of the King_. The whole shark sequence in _Finding Nemo_ – an Australian great white shark named Bruce is something that could only have been conceived by a genius among nerds. A little song and dance in _Young Frankenstein_. The convoy’s counterattack in _Das Boot_ does a better job of putting you _ **in** _ the battle than any other war movie I’ve ever seen. Do **not** watch this movie if you suffer from claustrophobia. The little girl in the red coat from _Schindler’s List_ will haunt me forever. William Warley fades from sight in the stormy Cape Horn seas in _Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World._ The climactic sequence of _The Dark Crystal_. “Who are you?” “No one of consequence.” “I must know” “Get used to disappointment.” “'kay.” ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610/65 "2011-03-08T00:32:12Z")
The “Sicilians” scene from **True Romance**. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tqccyUpnZwA/hqdefault.jpg "True Romance - Sicilians") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqccyUpnZwA) ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610/66 "2011-03-08T01:09:18Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > The “Danny Boy” scene from **Miller’s Crossing**. First one that came to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Meme\_Chose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Meme\_Chose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meme_Chose)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610/67 "2011-03-08T18:51:34Z")
Ingrid Bergman confronting Charles Boyer in _Gaslight._ ---
**Author:** ![Pitchmeister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pitchmeister/32/3459_2.png) [@Pitchmeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pitchmeister)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610/68 "2011-03-08T19:08:44Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > **Amadeus** has multiple truly fantastic scenes. Perhaps my favorite is [The performance of Don Giovanni](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxcjxN0rPzs) with Salieri narrating and coming up with his plot. (Side note: another scene in Amadeus has a production of a parody of Don Giovanni with lots of bawdy humor for the lower classes. One of the performers is a little person (midget). And I just recently learned that the actor playing that performer is none other than Kenny “R2-D2” Baker.) Another great scene is Salieri helping Mozart compose the Confutatis: you hear the individual parts, you see Mozart’s genius in action and there’s a lot of great music terminology, most of which is even correct. Actually, my favorite would have to be Mozart memorizing and tearing apart Salieri’s welcome march, turning it into an aria from The Marriage of Figaro (which, of course, hasn’t been composed yet at this point) and laughing hysterically in the process. Comedy gold! ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610/69 "2011-03-08T19:22:08Z")
CAAAN YOOOU DIG IIIIT? You can’t tell me that’s not a great movie. ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610/70 "2011-03-08T23:48:13Z")
“You must be that little Spanish brat I taught a lesson to all those years ago. Simply incredible. Have you been chasing me your whole life, only to fail now? I think that’s the worst thing I’ve ever heard. How marvelous.” \ “Offer me everything I ask for!” “Anything you want.” “I want my father back, you son of a bitch.” ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610/71 "2011-03-09T01:47:53Z")
Richard Dreyfuss scuba diving in Jaws when the disembodied head appears. And now for something completely different… The scene in (the original) Miracle On 34th Street when Kris Kringle sings in Dutch with the orphan girl. ---
**Author:** ![Crab007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c0e974/32.png) [@Crab007](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crab007)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610/72 "2011-03-11T19:33:36Z")
The very beginning of Two towers, with Gandalf and the balrog’s fall into the chasm. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610/73 "2011-03-11T21:12:45Z")
> [@Pitchmeister](#): > > Actually, my favorite would have to be Mozart memorizing and tearing apart Salieri’s welcome march, turning it into an aria from The Marriage of Figaro (which, of course, hasn’t been composed yet at this point) and laughing hysterically in the process. Comedy gold! My wife and I threw a “favorite movie scenes” party for our film discussion group, and it was this scene that she chose. She has great taste in movies (for the most part. 😉 ) I chose the absinthe trip in _Moulin Rouge!_ ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610/74 "2011-03-11T22:01:00Z")
> [@Crab007](#): > > The very beginning of Two towers, with Gandalf and the balrog’s fall into the chasm. Oh, my sweet Lord. Yes. Starting with the very best scene from the first movie and then topping it by a mile is one hell of a ballsy way of announcing that this is not “just” a sequel. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610/75 "2011-03-11T22:16:32Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > _Alexander Nevsky_ - [Battle on the Ice](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXr0m7SaGvs) You win! ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610/76 "2011-03-11T22:23:34Z")
The tango in _Scent of a Woman_ is the only reason I ever re-watch that movie. The dinner “date” in\* Pulp Fiction\* is becoming the only reason I ever re-watch that movie… And though it’s a miniseries and not a great movie… the scene near the end of BBC’s _Our Mutual Friend_ where John Harmon throws Silas Wegg out of the Boffin’s house is sheer brilliance, and makes me tear up every time. Steven Mackintosh really got to get his acting on, there. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610/77 "2011-03-11T23:46:23Z")
> [@wheresgeorge04](#): > > The scene in the remake of Ocean’s 11, where Andy Garcia is realizing exactly what just happened in his casino. There’s that ever so slight tinge of “that’s actually pretty impressive” in Andy Garcia’s facial expression. ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610/78 "2011-03-12T18:55:40Z")
The wedding scene in _the Graduate_. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610/79 "2011-03-12T21:04:59Z")
[You have meddled with the primal forces of nature, Mr. Beale. And I won’t have it.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI5hrcwU7Dk&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Proudest\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/proudest_monkey/32/13257_2.png) [@Proudest\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Proudest_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610/80 "2011-03-13T00:35:51Z")
**That Thing You Do** The first time Guy picks up the tempo and moves the song/band into future fame. Or when they hear the song on the radio for the first time–I can never watch that scene enough. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenes-in-the-best-movies/573610.md?page=5)