From the 1968 Night of the Living Dead. A reporter asks a police chief about the “zombies” (although they’re not actually called that in the movie I believe):
Reporter: Are they slow-moving, Chief?
Police chief: Yeah, they’re dead.
That whole scene/exchange is just fantastic, in my opinion. George had picked up her robe, and was about to throw it to her in the bush, when he stops.
George: Wait a minute … what am I doing? This is a very interesting situation!
Mary: Please give me my robe!
George begins to wander around the bush.
George (muttering to himself): Man doesn’t get in a situation like this every day.
Mary: I’d like to have my robe!
George: Not in Bedford Falls, anyway …
Mary: Ouch! Oh!
George: Geshundheit. Requires a little thought here …
Mary: George Bailey! Give me my robe!
George: I’ve read about things like this, but I’ve never …
Mary: Shame on you! I’m going to tell your mother on you!
George: Well my mother’s way up on the corner there …
Mary: I’ll call the police!
George: They’re way downtown … They’d be on my side, too …
Mary: I’m going to scream!
George: Maybe I can sell tickets …
A typical gag in movies since the 80s, but in 1940’s His Girl Friday Cary Grant ad-libbed “He looks like that fellow in the movies, you know … Ralph Bellamy!” to describe the character played by Ralph Bellamy.
In the 1931 pre-code version The Front Page, the newspaper editor is chewing-out the reporters. As they shuffle out sullenly, muttering, he yells “What did you just say?”
“I said you got dirty plaster!”
Respectfully, you failed to quote the whole exchange.
Field Reporter: Are they slow-moving, Chief?
Sheriff McClelland: Yeah, they’re dead. They’re all messed up.
Ninja’d!
Here’s another line that makes me laugh every time:
Sheriff McClelland: Beat 'em or burn 'em. They go up pretty easy.
I named the movie and quoted the actors. Are you asking why it’s funny?
It’s two master con men/thieves talking about the color of the paint on the wall during a key development in their super-convoluted plot to steal millions of dollars.
But why is it funny? I don’t get it.
Yes, I am asking where is the funny. Still don’t see it.
mmm
It’s a non sequitur, nothing more – there’s no hidden other source of humor in it. Some people find that line funny. Some don’t.
That means it’s past time for a rewatch!
And this line from Perry, introducing Clark to Lois.
Clark Kent may seem like just a mild-mannered reporter, but listen, not only does he know how to treat his editor-in-chief with the proper respect, not only does he have a snappy, punchy prose style, but he is, in my forty years in this business, the fastest typist I’ve ever seen.
Jackie Cooper played Perry White in the original films.
Child actor who transitioned to adult actor and director.
And possibly the only person who ever reported that he didn’t like Alan Alda and did not get along with him. Cooper directed early episodes of MASH and he said Alda was, get this, hard to work with.
Then again, Henry Winkler didn’t get along with Tom Hanks and was fired from Turner and Hooch. It happens.
When Steve Martin is hitchhiking in The Jerk and a truck pulls up:
Driver: “St. Louis?”
Navin: “No, Navin Johnson.”
Or no line at all. When the two are interviewing Beatrice she offers glasses of lemonade. Jay takes a sip, makes a face, and sets the glass down. There’s no sugar in the house.
That is in fact Mr. Deeds Goes to Town and after the Code was created (1936).
In the same movie, Burns has had Bruce arrested to delay Hildy’s leaving town. At the cop station he’s on the phone with Hildy next to an annoyed-looking blonde, “I dunno. I’m minding my own business and the next thing I know I’m being pinched for being a masher… Is she what?” – looks the blonde up and down – “Very.”
Smash cut to Hildy in the press room, “Never mind. Hang on I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
-THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH
The Jerk also has this classic line:
And also:
“Damn these glasses!”
“Yes sir!” < to glasses > “I damn thee!”