# Best Use of Swearing in Movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 2, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894 "2011-04-02T00:58:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894/1 "2011-04-02T00:58:25Z")
I would nominate “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.” from you-know-where, but since it was lifted from the book, (except for"frankly") I’m going to go with a different choice. Therefore, I nominate [this famous scene](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GQSwMCHJNU) from the first _National Lampoon’s Vacation_. Chevy Chase’s finest cinematic moment. A performance that surely brings back vacation memories for most of us. Any other nominees? ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894/2 "2011-04-02T01:09:55Z")
“The Big Lebowski” is a masterpiece of profanity. The main characters swear frequently, intensely, and generally needlessly. The swearing is so naturally delivered it barely calls attention to itself, and it’s all in service of a great joke towards the end when Sam Elliot asks The Dude if he has to use so many cusswords. Similar to, in my mind, The Dude’s habitual White Russian consumption paying off in a spit take in the third act. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894/3 "2011-04-02T01:15:06Z")
Steve Martin tries to rent a f\*\*\*ing car in [Planes, Trains & Automobiles](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knOo0fZ-iDE). ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894/4 "2011-04-02T01:30:59Z")
I often find myself quoting Clive Owen in _Shoot 'Em Up_: “Fuck you, ya fucking fuckers!” ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894/5 "2011-04-02T01:32:28Z")
Kevin Kline in A Fish Called Wanda: “You’re the vulgarian, you FUCK!” ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894/6 "2011-04-02T01:35:49Z")
Peggy Wood in The Sound of Music: “What is you c\*nt face?” ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894/7 "2011-04-02T01:50:58Z")
#1 on my list is [Alec Baldwin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-AXTx4PcKI) in Glengarry Glen Ross. Just enough swearing thrown into a dynamite performance. “Whats your name?” “Fuck you! Thats my name.” ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheField](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@LilyoftheField](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheField)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894/8 "2011-04-02T01:57:37Z")
I know this doesn’t qualify because it wasn’t a movie, but I remember vividly as a teenager being totally hooked on ‘The Big Valley’, a Barbara Stanwyck cowboy/Bonanza type series. I can still remember how my jaw dropped when one evening watching this totally tame 60’s western, Lee Majors’ character turned to another and said, “I’m your father’s bastard son!” :eek: I was like, what? they said ‘bastard’! on TV!! Yeah, that just wasn’t done back then! As far as swearing goes, it wouldn’t raise an eyebrow now. But way back then? Yeah - it was way cool! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Milossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Milossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milossarian)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894/9 "2011-04-02T02:00:28Z")
The first one that comes to mind for me is Roy Scheider’s “Smile you son of a bitch” the moment before the shark meets its demise in “Jaws.” Bruce Willis’ “Yippie-ki-yay, motherfucker,” from “Die Hard” is another memorable one. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894/10 "2011-04-02T02:01:30Z")
Sometimes you just gotta say “What the fuck.” (_Risky Business_) Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker. (John McClane - _Die Hard_) ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheField](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@LilyoftheField](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheField)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894/11 "2011-04-02T02:04:38Z")
> [@Milossarian](#): > > The first one that comes to mind for me is Roy Scheider’s “Smile you son of a bitch” the moment before the shark meets its demise in “Jaws.” Oh, yeah - I remember that one quite well. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Alpine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpine/32/17813_2.png) [@Alpine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpine)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894/12 "2011-04-02T02:11:39Z")
**Midnight Run** is full of gems. It’s been a while since I watched it. “Now here come two words for you: Shut the fuck up” “You slimeball swimming in a sea of pus!” “I’m gonna fucking bust your head and I’ll put you back in that fucking hole and I’m gonna stick your head in the fucking toilet bowl and I’m gonna make it stay there.” “You and that other dummy better start getting more personally involved in your work, or I’m gonna stab you through the heart with a fuckin’ pencil.” ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894/13 "2011-04-02T02:12:53Z")
The Blues Brothers visiting the Penguin. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894/14 "2011-04-02T02:14:12Z")
[I humbly appreciate your giving me the opportunity to win the thread.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUc62jD-G0o) 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894/15 "2011-04-02T02:20:51Z")
While **Glengarry Glen Ross** is a masterpiece, the funniest and most effective use was in **Slapshot** , most notably [this scene](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQXFF_dEcdk). ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894/16 "2011-04-02T02:41:57Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > Steve Martin tries to rent a f\*\*\*ing car in [Planes, Trains & Automobiles](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knOo0fZ-iDE). Kudos for including a German translation! ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894/17 "2011-04-02T03:01:30Z")
Raising Arizona: “Gimme that baby you warthog from hell!” at about 1:50 here [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AIfVoGUs6c&playnext=1&list=PLBA8A5B7B2D70EFC6](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AIfVoGUs6c&playnext=1&list=PLBA8A5B7B2D70EFC6) ---
**Author:** ![slowlearner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@slowlearner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slowlearner)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894/18 "2011-04-02T03:04:42Z")
“i am the motherfucking shore patrol motherfucker!” the last detail is jack nicholson at his out of control best, as mark twain would say, he knows the words and he knows the tune… ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894/19 "2011-04-02T03:06:48Z")
[Kick Ass](http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/kick-ass/hit-girl-red-band-trailer?guid=ON): “Ok you cunts. Let’s see what you can do now.” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894/20 "2011-04-02T03:27:28Z")
You ah one ugly muddafucka. -Predator [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-use-of-swearing-in-movies/576894.md?page=2)