# Greatest Musical Moments in Film **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 26, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616 "2011-09-26T01:56:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616/41 "2011-09-27T10:43:05Z")
[Singing in the Rain - Malcolm McDowell - **A Clockwork Orange**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faML0QvVb2A) [Tubular Bells - Mike Oldfield - **The Exorcist**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYkY3zO-ZPM) [Everybody’s Talking at Me - Harry Nilsson - **Midnight Cowboy**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYkY3zO-ZPM) ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616/42 "2011-09-27T13:02:30Z")
Cat People (Putting Out The Fire) - Inglorious Basterds [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVp55xATzHQ) ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616/43 "2011-09-27T18:36:29Z")
Basil Polidouris’ score playing under the opening sub scene in “The Hunt for Red October”. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616/44 "2011-09-27T19:12:05Z")
Once Upon a Time in the West - music by Ennio Morricone [Jill arrives at the station](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1ow1b9ChvA). Gradually she realizes that there’s no one there to meet her. At about 1:50, the corny honky tonk piano music stops and Jill’s theme begins. At about 3:01, Jill walks out the back door of the station, the music starts to swell and the camera pans upward. As the music peaks, the camera rises above the station roof to reveal the town. Crowning moment of awesome. ---
**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, 2011, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616/45 "2011-09-27T21:07:48Z")
There are some great scenes of the band playing in _The Commitments_, but I can’t pick just one that stands out above the rest. For Ennio Morricone, I’d have to go with the scene near the end of _The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly_ when Tuco is running through the graveyard searching for a particular headstone; brilliant music, brilliant visuals. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616/46 "2011-09-27T21:42:58Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > There are some great scenes of the band playing in _The Commitments_, but I can’t pick just one that stands out above the rest. > > For Ennio Morricone, I’d have to go with the scene near the end of _The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly_ when Tuco is running through the graveyard searching for a particular headstone; brilliant music, brilliant visuals. Ecstasy of Gold. https://www.youtube.com/embed/2PwpOmjAu1M?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616/47 "2011-09-27T21:55:30Z")
No one’s mentioned the score to Lawrence of Arabia yet? The desert sings! ---
**Author:** ![expectopatronum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/expectopatronum/32/173_2.png) [@expectopatronum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/expectopatronum)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616/48 "2011-09-28T17:13:52Z")
> [@FrigidLizard](#): > > I always thought the “Hallelujah” sequence in Shrek was really brilliant. I must have replayed that scene a hundred times when the DVD first came out. oh, yes. great scene, and the song is perfect. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616/49 "2011-09-28T17:28:10Z")
Kill Bill vol I, when Hattori Hanzo hands the Bride his newly made sword. Lot’s of great music in those movies, but that’s my favorite. But nothing, ever, in the history of movies, can beat the main title of North by Northwest. ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616/50 "2011-09-28T21:36:38Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Kill Bill vol I, when Hattori Hanzo hands the Bride his newly made sword. Lot’s of great music in those movies, but that’s my favorite. Ooooh, the instrumental section of _Please don’t let me be misunderstood_ playing while Beatrix battles O-Ren Ishii. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. ---
**Author:** ![brocks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@brocks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brocks)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616/51 "2011-09-28T22:01:29Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > For Ennio Morricone, I’d have to go with the scene near the end of _The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly_ when Tuco is running through the graveyard searching for a particular headstone; brilliant music, brilliant visuals. He’s so damn good that you get jaded by his music in the Leone films, but when you hear his music out of context, it’s breathtaking. The NFL ran a commercial a year or two ago, featuring IIRC Troy Polamalu and Ladainian Tomlinson doing their thing, i.e. running and tackling. But they used “Ecstasy of Gold” for the background music. Every time that ad came on, no matter where I was — home, in a bar, in an airport, wherever — I had to stop and listen. What’s more, everybody else did, too, and a lot of people said, “What _IS_ that?” ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616/52 "2011-09-28T22:08:59Z")
> [@brocks](#): > > He’s so damn good that you get jaded by his music in the Leone films, but when you hear his music out of context, it’s breathtaking. > > The NFL ran a commercial a year or two ago, featuring IIRC Troy Polamalu and Ladainian Tomlinson doing their thing, i.e. running and tackling. But they used “Ecstasy of Gold” for the background music. Every time that ad came on, no matter where I was — home, in a bar, in an airport, wherever — I had to stop and listen. What’s more, everybody else did, too, and a lot of people said, “What _IS_ that?” I saw a great live show some years ago that was nothing but Morricone - the Spaghetti Western Orchestra. > **[社内SEへ転職したい！と思うエンジニアの方へ](http://www.spaghettiwesternorchestra.com/)** > > SEやエンジニアが憧れる「社内SE」という職種。ただし、社内SEになるためには、高倍率の求人情報へ応募し、且つ企業から選んでもらえる人材でなければなりません。当サイトでは、社内SEを目指す方にとって必要な情報をまとめています。 They were great. If you love Morricone’s music, catch their show if it is in your part of the world. I loved it - it was a lot more bizzare and creative than simply playing the music (though they did that of course). ---
**Author:** ![Mann\_Slaughter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@Mann\_Slaughter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mann_Slaughter)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616/53 "2011-09-29T10:06:50Z")
Two scenes, both from “Purple Rain” (1984) I went to see the film with my girlfriend during its original theatrical run. When the musical group “The Time” took the stage and performed [“Jungle Love”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZCiLAqMQZY) I swear everyone in the theater was dancing in their seats! And at the finale Prince brought everyone to tears with [“Purple Rain”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JcQuSiEa-4) For those unfamiliar with the film, Prince had dedicated the song to his dad (played by Clarence Williams III)… …who lay in the hospital after having attempted suicide. By the time he got to his solo at 4:50 I was weeping like a baby. “Only wanna see you… Only wanna see you… In the Purple Rain!” ☹ ---
**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 29, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616/54 "2011-09-29T15:34:22Z")
> [@brocks](#): > > He’s so damn good that you get jaded by his music in the Leone films, but when you hear his music out of context, it’s breathtaking. > > The NFL ran a commercial a year or two ago, featuring IIRC Troy Polamalu and Ladainian Tomlinson doing their thing, i.e. running and tackling. But they used “Ecstasy of Gold” for the background music. Every time that ad came on, no matter where I was — home, in a bar, in an airport, wherever — I had to stop and listen. What’s more, everybody else did, too, and a lot of people said, “What _IS_ that?” I was in Las Vegas once and heard _Ecstasy of Gold_ playing with the fountain show in front of the Bellagio. Great stuff. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616/55 "2011-09-29T16:04:48Z")
Speaking of Spaghetti Westerns (sort of), you _must_ check out [I KINGS vs. I PELATI](http://youtu.be/un6h6gvXMe4) in [Per un Pugno di Canzoni](http://www.spaghetti-western.net/index.php/Per_un_pugno_di_canzoni), circa 1966. Huge WTF but cool 60s garage band music. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616/56 "2011-09-29T19:04:25Z")
so many good moments listed in this thread. what fun to revisit the great “Good the Bad and the Ugly” music. I have the soundtrack - had friends who thought I was nuts for that. not dopers, obvs. don’t think the song at the end of “Paths of Glory” was mentioned. a great musical moment, but you’re crying by then already. so many musicals have great moments - even “The Time Warp” in Rocky Horror has a giddy power to it. and the music in “Fellowship” - from the moment Frodo is at the river by himself, ready to go on alone, to the very end credits. that music is perfection for me. I can close my eyes and be carried to Middle Earth. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616/57 "2011-09-30T02:35:13Z")
[The “Ode to Joy” flashback from _Immortal Beloved_.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4VouG_EO60) [Schroeder playing the Pathetique Sonata.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXOjSzJ4YKQ) ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616/58 "2011-09-30T08:52:16Z")
I always liked the sock-hop scene in _American Graffiti_. It sounds just like a band that would be playing a high school dance and not some overproduced studio band like a lot of movies would have stuck in there. Really makes it feel authentic. ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616/59 "2011-09-30T09:30:15Z")
introduction of the king’s children in “the king and I.” “i have confidence” by julie andrews the first sighting of dinos in the very first jurassic park movie “batman 1” theme song during the last scene “hedwig’s theme” during the last scene of HP DH2 thieleman’s harmonica in “midnight cowboy.” and, i’m surprised no one has mentioned it, “the duelling banjos.” ---
**Author:** ![Hogfather65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hogfather65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogfather65)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616/60 "2011-09-30T11:08:14Z")
> [@voguevixen](#): > > Yeah pretty much anything with Gene Kelly EVER. Though I love everything from “White Christmas”. Still watch White Christmas every year - Best musical ever!!! (46 and a guy so its not a chick flick :dubious:) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-musical-moments-in-film/597616.md?page=4)