# "Coffee is for closers!" Memorable single scene perfomances in film **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 23, 2011, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-is-for-closers-memorable-single-scene-perfomances-in-film/586516 "2011-06-23T02:17:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-is-for-closers-memorable-single-scene-perfomances-in-film/586516/101 "2011-06-25T16:02:50Z")
Everett Sloane in Citizen Kane is the key to the story. With his reminiscence of the young woman glimpsed a half-century earlier, he has the overall theme of nostalgia and regret. “It’s easy to make a lot of money, if that’s all you want to do.” sums up a main point of the theme too. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-is-for-closers-memorable-single-scene-perfomances-in-film/586516/102 "2011-06-25T16:57:42Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > one of the most quoted, iconic scenes of the last 20 years. Never saw it, never heard it quoted. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-is-for-closers-memorable-single-scene-perfomances-in-film/586516/103 "2011-06-25T18:27:44Z")
I think the Coen Bros. do this a lot. The Hudsucker Proxy is full of them: The [cab drivers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neiwP6k-Lgk) (I think they might be in one other scene too). The [hula-hooping boy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng3XHPdexNM). The [mailroom orientation guy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv33SsGHYHo). There are a couple others as well – Buzz, the elevator guy (played by Jim True-Frost) in a couple of scenes but most memorably when he’s trying to pitch the “Buzz-sucker” bendy straw. John Mahoney as the editor of the Manhattan Argus (again in a couple scenes but one particularly memorable speech). ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-is-for-closers-memorable-single-scene-perfomances-in-film/586516/104 "2011-06-25T19:09:29Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Never saw it, never heard it quoted. You’ve heard it quoted, you probably just didn’t know it. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-is-for-closers-memorable-single-scene-perfomances-in-film/586516/105 "2011-06-25T19:21:42Z")
I’ve never heard it quoted, either. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-is-for-closers-memorable-single-scene-perfomances-in-film/586516/106 "2011-06-25T19:57:48Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Never saw it, never heard it quoted. > [@Superdude](#): > > I’ve never heard it quoted, either. Until you see this movie, you will have missed the best part of being alive in the 21st century. Seriously, check out [Memorable quotes for Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104348/quotes) and see if some of these things aren’t familiar. Maybe even more noteworthy than the thread title quote is > [@](#): > > Blake: We’re adding a little something to this month’s sales contest. As you all know, first prize is a Cadillac Eldorado. Anybody want to see second prize? > [Holds up prize] > Blake: Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is you’re fired. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-is-for-closers-memorable-single-scene-perfomances-in-film/586516/107 "2011-06-25T20:01:30Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > You’ve heard it quoted, you probably just didn’t know it. No, I listened to the dialogue to try to pick out any phrases I may have heard. There weren’t any. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-is-for-closers-memorable-single-scene-perfomances-in-film/586516/108 "2011-06-25T20:09:08Z")
I’m not at all surprised that people haven’t heard of it. I was one of those people not that long ago. ---
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-is-for-closers-memorable-single-scene-perfomances-in-film/586516/109 "2011-06-25T20:46:44Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Until you see this movie, you will have missed the best part of being alive in the 21st century. As long as they’re the kind of person that enjoys talking about the cinema, pacing, dramatic tension, and the cadence of dialogue. Alec Baldwin stole the film with his scene, but IMHO it’s because it’s the only scene with energy. ---
**Author:** ![Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speak_to_me_Maddie)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-is-for-closers-memorable-single-scene-perfomances-in-film/586516/110 "2011-06-26T01:44:40Z")
Hans . . . bubby! ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-is-for-closers-memorable-single-scene-perfomances-in-film/586516/111 "2011-06-26T04:02:04Z")
> [@Alma](#): > > “Pardon me, stewardess, I speak jive.” For the record, I think this wins the thread. ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-is-for-closers-memorable-single-scene-perfomances-in-film/586516/112 "2011-06-26T23:31:06Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > Martin Balsam played the detective sorry, maybe not the detective but the guy who monologued at the end. i swear that was oakland. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-is-for-closers-memorable-single-scene-perfomances-in-film/586516/113 "2011-06-27T00:59:06Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Very interesting question; I’m going to be pondering this all day. > > My first nominee - > Vincent Schiavelli as the Subway Ghost from the otherwise terrible film ‘[Ghost](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099653/)’. Vincent Schiavelli in almost anything. The servant in **Amadeus**. The Siamese twin in the Humbug episode of X-Files. The arms salesman in Star Trek Next Generation. > [@mac\_bolan00](#): > > sorry, maybe not the detective but the guy who monologued at the end. i swear that was oakland. He was the shrink. Great performance, lousy psychiatry. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-is-for-closers-memorable-single-scene-perfomances-in-film/586516/114 "2011-06-27T01:53:11Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > The arms salesman in Star Trek Next Generation. “Peace! Through superior firepower.” I love that scene. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-is-for-closers-memorable-single-scene-perfomances-in-film/586516/115 "2011-06-27T05:39:04Z")
There are a few small performances in Apocalypse Now that are very memorable. Maybe more than one scene technically. I love the guy who handles the grenade launcher at the bridge. Martin Sheen “Do you know who is in charge here?” GwGL “Yeah” The whole set up to him and they way he does his thing is just awesome. There there is Marshal McLuhan in [Annie Hall](http://youtu.be/bBtXfBdEXEs). ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-is-for-closers-memorable-single-scene-perfomances-in-film/586516/116 "2011-06-27T07:34:03Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > No, I listened to the dialogue to try to pick out any phrases I may have heard. There weren’t any. I would think you’d at least have heard “What’s my name? Fuck you, that’s my name,” but whatever. Just because you haven’t heard of it doesn’t mean it’s not commonly quoted. If you haven’t seen the movie, you should do yourself a favor and watch it. All the dialogue is gorgeous. David Mamet is a poet of profanity,. ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-is-for-closers-memorable-single-scene-perfomances-in-film/586516/117 "2011-06-27T09:04:41Z")
i thought quentin tarantino’s scene in pulp fiction was one of the better ones in the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-is-for-closers-memorable-single-scene-perfomances-in-film/586516/118 "2011-06-28T16:45:27Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I would think you’d at least have heard “What’s my name? Fuck you, that’s my name,” but whatever. Just because you haven’t heard of it doesn’t mean it’s not commonly quoted. If you haven’t seen the movie, you should do yourself a favor and watch it. All the dialogue is gorgeous. David Mamet is a poet of profanity,. I quote it all the time. But I notice that people look at me like they don’t know what the hell I’m talking about. I especially love bellowing at work, when my system isn’t working and IT is dropping the ball, “Where did you learn your traaaaade?!” then under my breath, “You _child_.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-is-for-closers-memorable-single-scene-perfomances-in-film/586516.md?page=5)