# Greatest Iconic Film images of the 20th century! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 17, 2006, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036 "2006-06-17T04:54:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ACC\_Expat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@ACC\_Expat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ACC_Expat)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/21 "2006-06-18T22:32:46Z")
Many good ones have been named, but this beats all for me: Luke Skywalker and the binary sunset from _Star Wars_ ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/22 "2006-06-18T22:52:36Z")
Alex staring right at the camera in the milkbar in A Clockwork Orange. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/23 "2006-06-18T22:53:42Z")
The pull back from the intake of a supercharger to the face of Mel Gibson behind the wheel of his V-8 interceptor at the start of _Mad Max II (The Road Warrior)_ The long aerial shot traveling shot of British soldiers assaulting a German-held town in _The Longest Day_ ---
**Author:** ![ululate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/59ef9b/32.png) [@ululate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ululate)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/24 "2006-06-18T23:40:56Z")
[QUOTE=Snarky\_Kong] 1. Indiana Jones running from the boulder in Raider’s of the Lost Ark. [/QUOTE] No offense, but that bit – like everything else in the history of action movies – pales in comparison to Indy gunning down the swordsman. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/25 "2006-06-19T00:28:11Z")
[QUOTE=Askia] To me, it’s an iconic image if it’s an instantly recognizeable visual with no dialogue needed. Rhett and Scarlet’s kiss, or the silhouette shot of her by the tree vowing never to starve again, the burning of Atlanta, Rhett’s turning from to leave. Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman, Lion and Toto on the yellow brick road, the first swarm of flying monkeys, the great and powerful Oz, the melting witch. [/QUOTE] Or you just describe the scene without even naming the movie: -Audrey Hepburn in her tiara standing in front of Tiffany’s nibbling on a pastry -Darth Vader with his fist clenched saying, “No, _I_ am your father” and Luke backing away. -Gregory Peck standing in the courtroom in his white suit -Sissy Spacek standing in her pink prom gown, drenched in pig’s blood -Marilyn in her pink dress, surrounded by tuxedoed admirers. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/26 "2006-06-19T01:52:26Z")
This is hard! It has to begin with Fargo though, it being my favorite movie and all. This really isn’t in any order except number 1. 1. Gaear is in the midst of pushing Carl (or Carl’s leg) through the woodchipper when he turns to see Marge standing there. 2. Don Corleone holding a Kitten 3. The showdown in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (specifically the three men standing there ready to go) 4. Tim Robbins with his hands in the air right after escaping from Shawshank. 5. Kane on Stage 6. King Kong on top of the Empire State Building swatting away airplanes. 7. Kujan drops the coffee cup in The Usual Suspects. 8. The little girl in Red in Schindlers List. 9. The four friends on the Yellow Brick Road in The Wizard of Oz. 10. Indiana running from the Boulder ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/27 "2006-06-19T04:05:48Z")
The the beach scene from “From Here to Eternity.” I’ve not quite gotten around to seeing that movie, but I know that scene. Everyone knows that scene The burning sled in Citizen Kane. Marilyn (the character doesn’t even have a name) over the steam in “The Seven Year Itch” ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/28 "2006-06-19T04:23:22Z")
The baby carriage rattling down the steps in _Potemkin_. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/29 "2006-06-19T04:54:19Z")
The closing door at the end of _The Godfather_ Rick and Ilsa facing each other at the end of _Casablanca_ The space baby from _2001_ ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/30 "2006-06-19T06:27:20Z")
The seven Mercury astronauts making their entrance in _The Right Stuff_. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/31 "2006-06-19T07:19:47Z")
Merrin arriving at the house at night illuminated only by the streetlight in “The Exorcist.” ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/32 "2006-06-19T07:30:13Z")
[QUOTE=Askia] Rhett and Scarlet’s kiss, or the silhouette shot of her by the tree vowing never to starve again, the burning of Atlanta, Rhett’s turning from to leave. [/QUOTE] She’s in the middle of a tree-less garden when she makes her vow at the end of Part One (there are two other pullback shots with trees); and the movie depicts not the Burning of Atlanta, but an earlier, smaller event: the Burning of the Atlanta Depot. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/33 "2006-06-19T07:41:22Z")
Andromeda chained to the rocks as the Kraken approaches, while her hero flies in to save her on a winged horse in “Clash of the Titans.” ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/34 "2006-06-19T11:21:31Z")
Lawrence of Arabia - _“No prisoners!”_ ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/35 "2006-06-19T11:40:23Z")
The close up of the “franks and beans” from _Someting About Mary_. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/36 "2006-06-19T11:45:34Z")
[QUOTE=ACC\_Expat] Many good ones have been named, but this beats all for me: Luke Skywalker and the binary sunset from _Star Wars_ [/QUOTE] My first pick as well. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2006, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/37 "2006-06-19T23:08:40Z")
The end of \*\*Some Like it Hot \*\* - “Nobody’s perfect!”. John Wayne silhouetted in the doorway at the end of **The Searchers**. The ‘hawk into Spitfire’ sequence at the beginning of Powell and Pressburger’s **'A Canterbury Tale’** John Wayne again: - “Fill your hands, you sonofabitch!” Powell and Pressburger again: - The first ten minutes or so of **‘A Matter of life and Death’**. From “This is the universe - big, isn’t it?” to David Niven jumping from the Lancaster. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2006, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/38 "2006-06-19T23:28:54Z")
Steve McQueen jumping over the fence on his motorcycle in **The Great Escape**. George C. Scott, in full regalia, standing in front of the huge American flag in **Patton**. ---
**Author:** ![Millit\_the\_Frail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Millit\_the\_Frail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Millit_the_Frail)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/39 "2006-06-19T23:57:10Z")
“I am Spartacus!” I’ve never seen the whole movie, but I know this scene from many cultural references. To me, that says “iconic.” It’s funny how some movies have several “iconic images” and different people pick different ones. For example, the iconic Star Wars moment for me is Luke grabbing Leia and swinging across the pit, and the iconic Jurassic Park scene is the T-Rex roaring _right in the face_ of the frightened girl. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/40 "2006-06-19T23:58:18Z")
[QUOTE=Gadarene] The baby carriage rattling down the steps in _Potemkin_. [/QUOTE] Since there’s an egregious absence of foreign language films listed, I’m obliged to add, for starters: Emil Jannings in the washroom in \*\*[The Last Laugh\*\*](http://www.moma.org/images/collection/FullSizes/Murnau_LastLaugh_2.jpg) The birth of the robot in **[Metropolis](http://www.fantascienza.com/cinema/metropolis/media/08.JPG)** The rabbit hunt in \*\*[The Rules of the Game\*\*](http://www.gonemovies.com/WWW/Raketnet/Drama/RegleDuJeu4.jpg) Father and son on the curb in **[The Bicycle Thief](http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/12.10.98/gifs/bicyclethief-9849.jpg)** Anna Magnani gunned down in \*\*[Open City\*\*](http://www.cinemorgue.com/annamagnani.jpg) Toshiro Mifune holds Machiko Kyo at bay in [**Rashomon**](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/graphics/2005/11/26/bffmof26.jpg) Death leads a dance in \*\*[The Seventh Seal\*\*](http://www.net-monster.com/seventhseal_6.jpg) Three windows in \*\*[Jules and Jim\*\*](http://www.harvardfilmarchive.org/calendars/00julaug/images/jules.jpg) Anita Ekberg in the Trevi Fountain in **[La Dolce Vita](http://gfx.dagbladet.no/dinside/2004/10/27/anita.jpg)** The Last Supper in \*\*[Viridiana\*\*](http://www.piloter.org/images/viridiana2.jpg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036.md?page=3)