# Greatest/Favorite Movie Monologues **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 27, 2007, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694 "2007-09-27T15:00:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694/1 "2007-09-27T15:00:44Z")
I am an unabashed fan of monologues. A great one can be hilarious, heartrending, or both. It can sum up the theme of a film, or simply provide an amusing aside. Here are a few of my all-time favorites: **George C. Scott** in _Patton_, opening monologue. Made even better because it’s taken, 98% verbatim, from Patton’s actual speeches. _“We are going to **rip** the living **guts** from their bodies and use them to grease the treads of our **tanks!** ”_ **Ray Liotta** in _Goodfellas_, closing monologue. I love the camera work throughout his voice-over. _“Now I get to live like a schnook.”_ **Burt Lancaster** in _Field of Dreams_, in his (Dr. Graham’s) office. It seems as if this movie is about 40% monologues (Costner, Liotta and Jones each have at least one big one each), but Burt is just _magic_ on this one. _“I want to stretch a double into a triple…slide headfirst into third…and wrap my arms around the bag.”_ What are some of yours? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694/2 "2007-09-27T15:09:35Z")
Costner’s speech in **Bull Durham** about what he believes in is pretty good. I caught a little bit of **The Hot Rock** the other day. Dortmunder (Robert Redford) has been asked to steal a diamond for a man named Amusa. His friend wants to know if he’ll take the job. > [@](#): > > It’s good, and it’s bad. There’s a guaranteed return, and that’s good. But the guarantor is Amusa, and Amusa’s a rookie, and that’s bad. But it’s an easily transportable object, and that’s good. Only it’s in a rotten position in the museum, 30 steps to the quickest exit, and that’s bad. And the glass over the stone, that’s bad too, because that’s glass with metal mixed in it, bulletproof, shatterproof. But the locks don’t look impossible, 3, maybe 5 tumblers, but there’s no alarm system, and that’s the worst, because that means no one’s going to get lazy watching, knowing the alarm will pick up their mistakes. Which means the whole thing has got to be a diversion job, and that’s good and that’s bad, because if the diversion’s too big, it’ll draw pedestrians, and if the diversion’s not big enough, it won’t draw that watchman. I’m not sure if that’s a monologue, really, but I liked it. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694/3 "2007-09-27T15:13:24Z")
A good monologue needs to be made in the face of impending disaster, so I’m partial to Dennis Hopper’s monologue when faced with being killed by Christopher Walken in **True Romance**. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694/4 "2007-09-27T15:16:54Z")
Alec Baldwin’s “Coffee is for closers!” monologue in Glengarry Glenross. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694/5 "2007-09-27T15:18:28Z")
Several by Paul Scofield in **a Man for All Seasons** (by screenwriter Robert Bolt, closely adapting Thomas More’s own words), especially his defense and his final word at his trial. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694/6 "2007-09-27T15:18:54Z")
It’s a tie: Quint in _Jaws_ and Silent Bob in _Chasing Amy_. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694/7 "2007-09-27T15:23:31Z")
Jon Voigt’s speech to Eric Roberts in _Runaway Train_ about the fine line between civility and anarchy. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694/8 "2007-09-27T15:23:46Z")
Very close to a monologue: King Theoden’s speech right before riding out of the castle in TTT. Now for wrath! Now for ruin! And the red dawn! ---
**Author:** ![ColonelDax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@ColonelDax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColonelDax)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694/9 "2007-09-27T15:26:11Z")
I think Jack Thompson’s closing statement in the excellent \*\*Breaker Morant \*\* is very good. (“The barbarities of war are seldom committed by abnormal men. The tragedy of war is that these horrors are committed by normal men in abnormal situations.”) Burt Lancaster has a couple of great sermonizing scenes in **Elmer Gantry**. (“Sin, sin sin! You’re all sinners! You’re all doomed to perdition!”) ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694/10 "2007-09-27T15:27:36Z")
[QUOTE=Hal Briston] Silent Bob in _Chasing Amy_. [/QUOTE] And it’s perfectly capped off by the moment of thoughtful silence…and then Jason Mewes ridiculing him. 😛 ---
**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:** [September 27, 2007, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694/11 "2007-09-27T15:41:45Z")
I love this speech that Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson) gave to a serial killer’s “Sidekick” that they had in custody on _Criminal minds_ > [@HOTCHNER](#): > > I’ve been standing on the other side of that glass thinking about > what to do with you, Steven. > > 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. > > And you’re gonna do this because he’s never been nice to you. He > constantly insults you and belittles you. He emasculates you and 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:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694/12 "2007-09-27T15:44:26Z")
I love Christian Bale’s [Genesis monologue](http://www.whysanity.net/monos/apsycho2.html) in **American Psycho**. And the [funeral speech](http://www.whysanity.net/monos/fwaf.htm) from **Four Weddings and a Funeral** is pretty famous. ---
**Author:** ![akira5822](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@akira5822](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akira5822)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694/13 "2007-09-27T15:53:23Z")
The scene in **“The pope of greenwich village”** in Charlie’s(Mickey Rourke) apartment after the mob guys cut off Paulie’s (Eric Roberts) thumb. What a great scene!!! “They took my thumb charlie!!!” ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694/14 "2007-09-27T16:02:31Z")
Oooh, one more (although maybe not strictly a monomlogue). Marlon Brando as Terry from _On the Waterfront_ (courtesy IMDB): > [@](#): > > **Charlie** : Look, kid, I - how much you weigh, son? When you weighed one hundred and sixty-eight pounds you were beautiful. You coulda been another Billy Conn, and that skunk we got you for a manager, he brought you along too fast. > > **Terry** : It wasn’t him, Charley, it was you. Remember that night in the Garden you came down to my dressing room and you said, “Kid, this ain’t your night. We’re going for the price on Wilson.” You remember that? “This ain’t your night”! My night! I coulda taken Wilson apart! So what happens? He gets the title shot outdoors on the ballpark and what do I get? A one-way ticket to Palooka-ville! You was my brother, Charley, you shoulda looked out for me a little bit. You shoulda taken care of me just a little bit so I wouldn’t have to take them dives for the short-end money. > > **Charlie** : Oh I had some bets down for you. You saw some money. > > **Terry** : You don’t understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let’s face it. It was you, Charley. ---
**Author:** ![Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694/15 "2007-09-27T16:08:06Z")
The beginning of Thomas Culpepper’s (Played by Eric Portman) history lecture in Powell and Pressburger’s _A Canterbury Tale_: - “There is more that one way of getting close to your ancestors. Follow the Old Road and as you do, think of them…” ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694/16 "2007-09-27T16:23:32Z")
**Rutger Hauer** in _Blade Runner_, dying on a rooftop in the rain. “I’ve seen…things…you people wouldn’t believe…” Chokes me up just thinking about it. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694/17 "2007-09-27T16:29:20Z")
O-ren Ishii’s, in **Kill Bill vol. 1:** > [@Quentin Tarantino](#): > > [after she cuts off Tanaka’s head, in Japanese] So you all will know the seriousness of my warning, I shall say this in English. > [in English] As your leader, I encourage you from time to time, and always in a respectful manner, to question my logic. If you’re unconvinced that a particular plan of action I’ve decided is the wisest, tell me so, but allow me to convince you and I promise you right here and now, no subject will ever be taboo. Except, of course, the subject that was just under discussion. The price you pay for bringing up either my Chinese or American heritage as a negative is… I collect your fucking head. Just like this fucker here. Now, if any of you sons of bitches got anything else to say, now’s the fucking time! > [pause] > I didn’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694/18 "2007-09-27T17:06:07Z")
So, the “I want ROOM SERVICE!” rant from\* Johnny Mnemonic\* do it for anyone else? Just me? OK then… ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694/19 "2007-09-27T17:24:02Z")
Al Pacino in _Scent of a Woman_. “Out of order, I show you out of order. You don’t know what out of order is, Mr. Trask. I’d show you, but I’m too old, I’m too tired, I’m too fuckin’ blind.” ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694/20 "2007-09-27T17:33:26Z")
Kevin Spacey speech in _Big Kahuna_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-favorite-movie-monologues/420694.md?page=2)