# Great Movie Speeches **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 26, 2009, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860 "2009-03-26T12:54:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860/41 "2009-03-26T23:44:40Z")
Boris Karloff: And what happened then? Well, in Whoville they say that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day. And then the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of ten Grinches plus two. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860/42 "2009-03-27T02:12:37Z")
In the same spirit, how about [Linus explains Christmas](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKk9rv2hUfA)? ---
**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:** [March 27, 2009, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860/43 "2009-03-27T02:28:15Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Gene Hackman It’s kinda short, but for my money Lex Luthor’s “When I was 6 years old, my father said to me …” speech is one of my all time favorites. I love that _Superman Returns_ paid homage, but I hate how they butchered it. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860/44 "2009-03-27T02:42:25Z")
This clip from the great _[Ruggles of Red Gap](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026955/)_ (from YouTube) is missing the bit that leads up to it. This is unfortunate, because it’s the context that makes this so beautiful. Ruggles, a British valet who’s won in a game of cards by an American millionaire, comes to America expecting the worst. While there, however, he learns to love his new country. In this scene, he’s in the local bar, and the subject of The Gettysburg Address comes up. No one in the bar can remember how it goes. Then the stiff, stuffy Ruggles, off in the corner, quietly begins to [recite](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0czJEX9Zlwo) the speech. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860/45 "2009-03-27T02:50:49Z")
The closest thing to a speech by Keanu Reeves is probably the [ending](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rnv7jrmvIs) of _The Matrix._ ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860/46 "2009-03-27T03:05:54Z")
Marion’s speech at the end of _Robin and Marion_. It’s an interesting movie and a very different take on the Robin Hood story. This is Robin’s (Sean Connery) last few weeks. He’s been off to the Crusades and Marion has become Prioress of Kirkley Abby. They’ve reunited as have some of his surviving men. He has one last battle with the Sherrif (Robert Shaw) and he’s been badly, probably mortally, wounded. Marion gives him a drink that she says will take away the pain and drinks some herself. Of course it is poison. Her speech is about how much she loves him, more than sunshine and things to eat, more than children, more than God or one more day. He tells her that she’s done right, that he’d never have had a day like that again. Damn it’s beautiful and heartbreaking but completely right. ---
**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 27, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860/47 "2009-03-27T03:33:18Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > The closest thing to a speech by Keanu Reeves is probably the [ending](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rnv7jrmvIs) of _The Matrix._ Nah, I think it was that one-liner from _Point Break_ **assumes Bill and Ted stoner voice** “You’re going down Bodie…that’s the way it’s gotta be”. I still don’t know why I remember that. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860/48 "2009-03-27T04:29:48Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Lt. Col. Denny: [regarding Kitchener’s order to shoot any Boers taken prisoner] Do you really believe that Lord Kitchener, a man venerated throughout the world, would be capable of issuing an order of such barbarity? > > Major Thomas: I don’t know, sir. But I do know that orders that one would consider barbarous have already been issued in this war. Before I was asked to defend these soldiers, I spent some months destroying Boer farmhouses, burning their crops, herding their women and children into stinking refugee camps where thousands of them have already died from disease. Now these orders _were_ issued, sir! And soldiers like myself and these men here have had to carry them out however damned reluctantly! That movie is full of great speeches. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860/49 "2009-03-27T05:07:38Z")
Dennis, _Holy Grail_: “Look, strange women lying on their backs in ponds handing out swords … that’s no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony. / You can’t expect to wield supreme executive power just 'cause some watery tart threw a sword at you! / I mean, if I went around saying I was an Emperor because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, people would put me away! / Ah! NOW … we see the violence inherent in the system.” ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860/50 "2009-03-27T05:46:16Z")
Theoden had several good speeches in _The Two Towers_ and in _The Return of the King_. Particularly, his [monologue at Helm`s Deep](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzx6d5h-5Mg) and his [speech before the charge of the Rohirrim](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNvtArnfyRE). ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860/51 "2009-03-27T06:09:23Z")
Gotta love these: Wilford Brimley’s finest hour, IMHO [Absence of Malice hearing scene part 1 of 2](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZahHekI0gE&NR=1) and [Absence of Malice hearing scene part 2 of 2](Absence of Malice: Hearing Scene, Part 2 of 2) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860/52 "2009-03-27T09:37:50Z")
We really can’t leave out: [Howard Roark’s testimony](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq9udFmsNO0) in _The Fountainhead._ ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860/53 "2009-03-27T12:24:49Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Please allow me to offer a challenge. Not that I can’t imagine any of these people delivering a perfectly acceptable speech, it’s just that none come to mind. Help me remedy that. > > Keanu Reeves > Burt Reynolds > Gene Hackman > Boris Karloff > Steve McQueen > Steven Seagal I can’t find the text online, but Hackman’s little speech in _The Firm_ about why he became a lawyer is pretty good. It ends something like, “I looked at those long, tan legs, and I knew I had to be a lawyer… The wives had long, tan legs, too.” The way he delivers it with a little “Yeah, I know I’m a corrupt ass” twinkle in his eye is just awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860/54 "2009-03-27T12:29:32Z")
Thomas Gibson as Aaron Hotchner on “Criminal Minds,” to the serial killer’s sidekick that they caught: HOTCHNER: And this morning I decided to save your life. You’re gonna tell me where my killer is. You’re gonna give me an address, and you’re gonna tell me how to get inside without raising an alarm. You’re gonna draw me a map if I need one. (Steven starts to shake his head.) HOTCHNER: And you’re gonna do this because he’s never been nice to you. He constantly insults you and belittles you. He makes you feel ugly and stupid and worthless. Nothing you ever do is right. Never good enough. You hate him, Steven. And you’re also going to tell me because you know you screwed up last night. He told you that your paramount concern was not to attract the attention of the authorities, and you know the punishment will be severe. Nobody knows better than you what he can do to people. I’ve spent a long time studying monsters like your friend, and I can promise you … he’s gonna do things to you that even you can’t imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860/55 "2009-03-27T13:19:01Z")
> [@Hometownboy](#): > > Gotta love these: Wilford Brimley’s finest hour, IMHO… I couldn’t agree more. That scene in the conference room made the movie. Damn, that was good. Another keeper from LOTR… Elrond warns Arwen of what she must expect if she casts her lot with Aragorn: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjRDfD09a-U](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjRDfD09a-U) ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860/56 "2009-03-27T16:08:42Z")
Neil Page addressing Del Griffith in _Planes Trains and Automobiles_ > [@](#): > > You got a free cab, a free room, > and someone who will listen > to your boring stories. > Didn’t you notice on the plane > when you started talking, > I started reading the vomit bag? > Didn’t that give you some clue > that this guy’s not enjoying it? > Everything’s not an anecdote. > You have to discriminate. > You choose things that are funny > or mildly amusing > or interesting. > You’re a miracle. > Your stories have none of that. > They’re not even amusing accidentally. > Honey, meet Del Griffith. > He’s got some amusing anecdotes. > Here’s a gun so you can blow your brains out. > You’ll thank me for it. > I could tolerate any insurance seminar. > For days, I could listen to them go on and on. > They’d say, “How can you stand it?” > And I’d say, “'Cause I’ve been with Del Griffith. > I can take anything.” > You know what they’d say? > “I know what you mean. > The shower curtain ring guy.” > It’s like going on a date > with a Chatty Cathy doll. > There should be a string on your chest > that I pull out. > Except I wouldn’t pull it out, you would. > Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! > By the way, > when you’re telling these little stories, > here’s a good idea. > Have a point. > It makes it more interesting for the listener. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860/57 "2009-03-27T19:04:02Z")
I haven’t seen many female speeches yet: [Tracy Flick’s campaign speech](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op4gsswDw_U&feature=related)from _Election_ (starts at 3:36) [Elizabeth I’s speech to the House of Lords](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lFD1Uv2OZ4&NR=1) from _Elizabeth_. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860/58 "2009-03-27T19:27:59Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > This is one of my favorites, from _A Man For All Seasons_: > William Roper: So, now you give the Devil the benefit of law! > Sir Thomas More: Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil? > William Roper: Yes, I’d cut down every law in England to do that! > Sir Thomas More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned 'round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Man’s laws, not God’s! And if you cut them down, and you’re just the man to do it, do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I’d give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety’s sake! > Roddy That’s my favorite movie, if forced to make a choice. But I prefer, as best speech, when Sir Thomas finally gets to speak his mind after being judged guilty at his trial. Hard choice though, I love them both. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860/59 "2009-03-27T19:29:15Z")
"I forego my vengeance for my dead son, for the common good. But I have selfish reasons. My youngest son had to flee, accused of Sollozzo’s murder, and I must now make arrangements so that he can come home with safety, cleared of all those false charges. That is my affair, and I will make those arrangements. ``` But I am a superstitious man...and so if some unlucky accident should befall my youngest son, if some police officer should accidentally shoot him, or if he should hang himself in his cell, or if my son is struck by a bolt of lightning, then I will blame some of the people here. That, I could never forgive, but...aside from that, let me swear by the souls of my Grandchildren that I will never be the one to break the peace we have made." ``` (Marlon Brando as Don Corleone in The Godfather) ---
**Author:** ![davekhps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@davekhps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davekhps)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860/60 "2009-03-27T19:54:35Z")
Gene Hackman? C’mon-- the man gives great speeches. _Hoosiers, Crimson Tide, The Firm_. Anyway, I came in here to second the Al Pacino speech in _Any Given Sunday_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movie-speeches/490860.md?page=4)