# Iconic Scenes From Otherwise Forgotten Films **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [January 7, 2021, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948 "2021-01-07T18:51:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948/21 "2021-01-08T00:55:02Z")
Everyone knows the runners on the beach with Vangelis on the soundtrack…but has anyone actually watched or even thought about Chariots of Fire in the last 35 years? ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948/22 "2021-01-08T14:02:38Z")
I think that really nails what the OP was looking for (though IMHO Say Anything is a poor example) From And Justice for All, the next most notable thing I remember is Papa Bluch at the very end…and Jack Warden firing a gun in court. “Gentlemen may I remind you this is a court of law” ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948/23 "2021-01-08T15:04:42Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > It wasn’t at the end, and wasn’t what won her back. It was a gesture mid-movie that she didn’t even leave her bed to glance at. I guess people really _did_ forget that movie. Mine stuck with me for nearly 50 hears, and is so obscure, I had to ask in the “what movie is this” thread to find out. I literally couldn’t remember anything more. A guy is being punished by having his eyes popped by a court, uh, eye-popper. But the CEP was a friend of the convicted, and faked it with grapes. (1949’s [Prince of Foxes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_of_Foxes_(film))) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948/24 "2021-01-08T15:35:36Z")
Actually, the various ‘dirty’ or ‘rat’ lines he used were: “Those Consolidated (cab company) rats!” “Those dirty finks!” “Your penalty’s too good for that rat!” “The dirty rat kills Danny, and you help him get away with it!” “Come out, ya dirty yellow-bellied rat!” “You dirty double-crossing little tramp.” ---
**Author:** ![TiberiusNeroClaudius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@TiberiusNeroClaudius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TiberiusNeroClaudius)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948/25 "2021-01-08T16:06:37Z")
There was a play “Chariots of Fire” in 2012 in conjunction with the summer Olympics that ran for about 8 months and the film was re-released with at least one five-star review. You might be surprised at the number of people who like inspirational films. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948/26 "2021-01-08T17:11:19Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I guess people really _did_ forget that movie. Well, obviously _I_ did. Except for the boom box scene, of course. I actually did see the movie more than once and I recall liking it. I’m not trying to put it down. My point was that in the decades since, nothing about it has stuck with me save for that one bit. So I guess from my own perspective it fits the bill. I just didn’t realize that would be a minority opinion. _Mea Culpa._ ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948/27 "2021-01-08T17:44:01Z")
Forgotten may be too much here, as the movie **Battleship Potemkin** is considered a classic of cinema, but I doubt you could find 1 in 100 people who’ve actually seen the movie. But they would recognize the baby carriage rolling down the stairs as referenced in dozens of other movies. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ec4J363Eltw/hqdefault.jpg "Battleship Potemkin 1925: Runaway Baby Carriage During Odessa Steps Massacre Montage") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec4J363Eltw) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948/28 "2021-01-08T17:46:29Z")
Perhaps a stretch, but I doubt many people remember or have even heard of **Distant Drums** or **The Charge at Feather River** , but would recognize the Wilhelm Scream. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948/29 "2021-01-08T18:00:21Z")
I have never determined the source of this common sound and scene but maybe you guys will know it: You hear someone shout a loud drawn out anguished “NOOOO!!!”, and then you see street scenes hear it echoing up and down city streets and causes a flock of pigeons on the ground to fly away. Anyone know where that started? ---
**Author:** ![Tusculan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Tusculan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tusculan)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948/30 "2021-01-08T18:07:46Z")
Acrtually I can’t remember ever having heard of _Say anything_, even though I know who John Cusack is (and have seen several of his movies). The ‘iconic scene’ doesn’it ring a bell either, but on reflection I may have seen peiple holding up a boombox, never realised this was a thing. ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948/31 "2021-01-08T18:12:08Z")
Would it be fair to say that of half the people who understand “I’m walking here!!”…havent seen Midnight Cowboy? Maybe its just me. Then there are memes…I’ve never watched more than a handful of scenes from Curb Your Enthusiasm…but i know the end music and get its use. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948/32 "2021-01-08T20:49:43Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Forgotten may be too much here, as the movie **Battleship Potemkin** is considered a classic of cinema, but I doubt you could find 1 in 100 people who’ve actually seen the movie. But they would recognize the baby carriage rolling down the stairs as referenced in dozens of other movies. **All Quiet On the Western Front**. I’d read that it was a milestone in Western Cinema, but didn’t realize what that meant until I watched it . There probably wouldn’t be more than a handful of people here who’ve seen this silent classic – probably more have read the book (in English translation). But when I did see it, I realized I’d seen it many times before – the troops advancing through the mist and broken trees really is an iconic scene – at least it’s iconic for film makers, who have copied / used / derived from it ever since. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948/33 "2021-01-08T21:38:50Z")
> [@Tusculan](#): > > Acrtually I can’t remember ever having heard of _Say anything_ , even though I know who John Cusack is (and have seen several of his movies). The ‘iconic scene’ doesn’it ring a bell either, but on reflection I may have seen peiple holding up a boombox, never realised this was a thing. > **[19 'Say Anything' Boombox Scene Parodies](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/say-anything-boombox-parodies/)** > > A look at some of the 'Say Anything' boombox parodies that have surfaced over the years. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948/34 "2021-01-08T22:05:37Z")
The ‘Say Anything’ scene was original as far as I know, but the use of boom boxes for effect was growing and someone might already have done something like that previously in some non-movie form. There was certainly an evolution in that direction in music videos. ---
**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:** [January 8, 2021, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948/35 "2021-01-08T22:22:18Z")
Does anyone remember anything about _Bullitt_ apart from the car chase? Also _The French Connection_, although that’s probably a little better remembered than _Bullitt_. “You talkin’ to me?” from _Taxi Driver_. Apart from the theme song, does anyone remember anything about _Shaft_? I don’t know if anyone still recognizes this scene: [![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/VgqsI.jpg) ](https://i.stack.imgur.com/VgqsI.jpg) but it’s more famous than the movie, _Sorcerer_, that it’s from. Was parodied in the “Mr. Plow” episode of _The Simpsons_ (which is 27 years old, I admit). ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948/36 "2021-01-11T21:47:58Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Al Pacino’ Speaking of Al Pacino there is also is “Attica, Attica, Attica” chant from _Dog Day Afternoon_. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948/37 "2021-01-12T19:37:03Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Does anyone remember anything about _Bullitt_ apart from the car chase? > > Also _The French Connection_ , although that’s probably a little better remembered than _Bullitt_ . > > “You talkin’ to me?” from _Taxi Driver_ . > > Apart from the theme song, does anyone remember anything about _Shaft_ ? Absolutely none of these are forgotten films. Indeed, classic films, or even best in genre. What next, just because I’ve not watched Star Wars since 1979, do I bring up “these are not the droids you are looking for”? ---
**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:** [January 12, 2021, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948/38 "2021-01-12T19:51:12Z")
None of them are forgotten, but how many people remember anything about them apart from one iconic scene? _Say Anything_ isn’t forgotten; it’s that movie with John Cusack holding up the boombox. Aside from the car chase, how was _Bullitt_? ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948/39 "2021-01-12T20:01:02Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > “You talkin’ to me?” from _Taxi Driver_ . I remember every scene of Taxi Driver. It isn’t hard to do. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948/40 "2021-01-12T20:16:27Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Aside from the car chase, how was _Bullitt_ ? AWESOME! There’s another chase nearly equally as good. Steve McQueen was the epi-tome coolness in every scene. Classic San Francisco locations. The soundtrack is also awesome. I think I’ll watch it again tonight. (It was so cool, the first episode of Spenser For Hire stole the entire plot. They even had a green Mustang. Well, they did manage to keep the Witness from becoming Mute.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-scenes-from-otherwise-forgotten-films/929948.md?page=3)