# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/41 "2006-06-20T00:40:42Z")
Robert Hays taking a drink and missing his mouth in _Airplane_ Gene Kelly dancing around the lamppost in _Singing in the Rain_ Julie Andrews opening her umbrella and flying away in _Mary Poppins_ ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/42 "2006-06-20T01:21:20Z")
Indianna Jones grabbing his hat before the door comes down. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/43 "2006-06-20T01:35:09Z")
The shark’s head coming up over the side of the boat in **Jaws**. John Travolta striking his disco pose in **Saturday Night Fever**. The helicopters coming up over the beach in **Apocalypse Now**. I was going to say the shot of Devil’s Tower in **Close Encounters** , but then I started thinking that _any_ picture of Devil’s Tower brings **Close Encounters** to mind for many people. I seem to be having a very 1970s moment. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/44 "2006-06-20T08:28:54Z")
Dustin Hoffman with Anne Bancroft’s leg in the foreground in **The Graduate**. Charlie Chaplin caught in the machinery in **Modern Times**. Marlon Brando screaming “Stella! Hey, Stella!” in **A Streetcar Named Desire**. The home run smashing the lights in **The Natural**. Sylvester Stallone on the top of the library steps in **Rocky**. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/45 "2006-06-20T08:53:09Z")
In no particular order: The British Redcoats unleashing a volley of rifle-fire on an impi of attacking Zulu, from (unsurprisingly) _Zulu_ Neo dodging the bullets from an Agent’s gun in Bullet Time, from _The Matrix_ Indiana Jones running from the boulder (although Indy on horseback firing a Webley revolver comes very close!) from _Raiders Of The Lost Ark_ (and _Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade_) The shot of Lawrence crossing endless sand-dunes from _Lawrence of Arabia_ The final shoot-out from _The Wild Bunch_ Edward Fox as The Jackal, taking aim at Charles DeGaulle in _The Day Of The Jackal_ Any lightsabre duel from the original Star Wars trilogy The duel with the Black Knight from _Monty Python & The Holy Grail_ Black Bart (Cleavon Little) arrives in Rock Ridge, from _Blazing Saddles_ “The First Rule of Fight Club…”, from _Fight Club_ ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/46 "2006-06-20T13:43:20Z")
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy] Death leads a dance in \*\*[The Seventh Seal\*\*](http://www.net-monster.com/seventhseal_6.jpg) [/QUOTE] Far more iconic is the Knight playing chess with Death, which has been endlessly referenced and parodied. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/47 "2006-06-20T14:14:26Z")
Some more: The Cowboy aiming his gun at the audience and firing (Great Train Robbery) Peter Lore’s reflection in the candy store window behind the little girl (M) The Uboat crew Singing “Tiparary” (Das Boot) Lawrence of Arabia has quite a few The train coming off the rails and into the camera. Lawrence standing in his new white robes. Sharrif Ali’s entrance. The end of the first act as the General and politician walk away obviously aware they will undermine Lawrence. The monster’s first entrance (Frankenstien) ---
**Author:** ![dasgupta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@dasgupta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasgupta)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/48 "2006-06-20T16:16:07Z")
I second lots that have been posted. I did read the thread, so hopefully I don’t duplicate too many, but I’ll add: Colonel Saito smacking Colonel Nicholson with the Geneva Convention pamphlet, and the British troops getting ready to riot; from _The Bridge on the River Kwai_. You could also add any shot of the titular bridge, specifically it being destroyed and “What have I done?” Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason playing pool; _The Hustler_ Mel Gibson and Catherine McCormack holding hands in profile at their wedding; _Braveheart_ Gary Cooper giving Lou Gherig’s famous speech; _The Pride of the Yankees_ “You’re gonna need a bigger boat” and the shark eating Quint; _Jaws_ The “Black” Sox walking out of the cornfield; _Field of Dreams_ Al Pacino firing the machine gun (“Say hallo to my little frien”); _Scarface_ Roberto Benigni comically goosestepping with the Nazis for his son’s sake; _Life is Beautiful_ Any landmark being destroyed; \*Independence Day \* Sharon Stone sitting in the interrogation chair; _Basic Instinct_ The Earps and Doc Holliday walking side-by-side down the main street; _Tombstone_ Ralph Macchio at the final tourmament, in profile preparing the crane kick; _The Karate Kid_. Alternately, same shot on the piling at the beach. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/49 "2006-06-20T16:23:32Z")
[QUOTE=Guinastasia] -Darth Vader with his fist clenched saying, “No, _I_ am your father” and Luke backing away. [/QUOTE] I agree with this one for Star Wars. I don’t think there’s any one moment that your average moviegoer could picture in their head clearer than this one. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/50 "2006-06-20T21:50:06Z")
War is Hell moments: Russian Roulette in **The Deer Hunter** The last moments of **Gallipoli** Horror moments: The taking of the ear in **Reservoir Dogs** Hannibal Lecter coldly staring from in his cell ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/51 "2006-06-20T22:03:00Z")
**Butch and Sundance** jumping off the cliff into the river…“ooooohhhh shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitttttttttt” ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2006, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/52 "2006-06-21T15:43:35Z")
[QUOTE=jsc1953] **Butch and Sundance** jumping off the cliff into the river…“ooooohhhh shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitttttttttt” [/QUOTE] And Thelma and Louise going off the cliff. Sorry, **Happy Clam** , I just saw your Lechter in a cell entry. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/53 "2006-06-21T15:48:31Z")
[QUOTE=Lumpy] Ursula Andress rising from the ocean in Dr. No [/QUOTE] And Bo Derek emerging from the waves in **10**. How about that “Top of the World, Ma!” guy? ---
**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 21, 2006, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/54 "2006-06-21T22:45:02Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] How about that “Top of the World, Ma!” guy? [/QUOTE] James Cagney in **‘White Heat’**. \*Good \* choice. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/55 "2006-06-22T03:16:43Z")
[QUOTE=Gadarene] The baby carriage rattling down the steps in _Potemkin_. [/QUOTE] …and the baby carriage rattling down the steps in **The Untouchables**. 😉 1. The edit from the ape-tossed bone to the space shuttle moving to the station in **2001**. Clearly one of the most important seconds in film history, the edit itself traverses millions of years in between two frames of film and is enormously powerful. 2. The little boy in **Sixth Sense** saying " I see dead people". 3. Jack Lemmon laying on the floor, shot in the gut in a nuclear power plant in " The China Syndrome", whispering " I can feeeeeeeel it. " 4. Spock saying, " For everything there is a first time". 5. Jack Nicholson’s chicken salad speech from " Five Easy Pieces". 6. The last sixty seconds of " The Bad Seed". Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/56 "2006-06-22T17:00:06Z")
[QUOTE=Cartooniverse] 5. Jack Nicholson’s chicken salad speech from " Five Easy Pieces". [/QUOTE] And how about his noodle salad speech in **As Good As It Gets**? That guy’s all about the casual lunchtime dining. But seriously, Bonnie and Clyde posing for gangster photos, and getting shot up at the end. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/57 "2006-06-22T17:09:54Z")
Sally Field holding up the Strike sign in **Norma Rae**. “Attica Attica!” in **Dog Day Afternoon**. “Snap out of it” in **Moonstruck**. The kids in the spoonful of Cheerios in **Honey I Shrunk the Kids**. “You talkin to me??” in **Taxi Driver**. The speeding car in **Back to the Future**. Sandy as the slut at the end of **Grease**. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/58 "2006-06-22T17:11:13Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] Sally Field holding up the Strike sign in **Norma Rae**. [/QUOTE] :smack: Or, more correctly, the _Union_ sign. It really is iconic, I swear. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/59 "2006-06-22T17:20:21Z")
For film images of real events, how about: The moon landing. The atom bomb. The liberation of the Nazi death camps. The poppies in Flanders’ fields. For the unreal, how about Andy Serkis’s soliloquy in **The Two Towers**? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036/60 "2006-06-22T17:48:29Z")
The end of ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-iconic-film-images-of-the-20th-century/361036.md?page=4)