# It's a classic, but all you NEED to see... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 9, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498 "2007-02-09T15:06:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498/1 "2007-02-09T15:06:12Z")
…is one or two scenes to “get” every reference to it. Upon learning that my ladyfriend had never seen the film _2001_, I once told her “It’s considered a classic by a lot of people, but all you need to see is some ape/obelisk scene in the beginning and a later scene with a haywire shipboard computer to ‘get’ every single reference to _2001_ you’ll ever come across.” It also occured to me that most ‘classic’ movies are like this. By which I define ‘classic’ as a film you stand a good chance of seeing referenced on TV or other media. _Gone With the Wind_ is a classic, but all you NEED to see is the “Frankly, Scarlett…” bit _Pulp Fiction_ is a ‘classic’, but all you NEED to see is the “Royale with Cheese” conversation and Travolta dancing. _Maybe_ the bit with Zed. _The Birds_ is a classic, but all you NEED to see is the scene with all the birds sitting quietly and the bit with the telephone booth. _A Clockwork Orange_ is a classic, but all you NEED to see is the scene with the chair & the eye clamps. …more? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498/2 "2007-02-09T15:11:06Z")
[QUOTE=Jophiel] _Gone With the Wind_ is a classic, but all you NEED to see is the “Frankly, Scarlett…” bit [/quote] I don’t know nothin’ bout birthin no babies! As god as my witness I’ll never go hungry again. > [@](#): > > _Pulp Fiction_ is a ‘classic’, but all you NEED to see is the “Royale with Cheese” conversation and Travolta dancing. _Maybe_ the bit with Zed. There’s so many other references to this it’s not funny > [@](#): > > _The Birds_ is a classic, but all you NEED to see is the scene with all the birds sitting quietly and the bit with the telephone booth. Okay, that’s an example. > [@](#): > > _A Clockwork Orange_ is a classic, but all you NEED to see is the scene with the chair & the eye clamps. …that, and know how they dressed. _Treasure of the Sierra Madre_. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498/3 "2007-02-09T15:15:25Z")
_Rebel Without A Cause_ is a classic, but all you need to see is either the “I’ve got the bullets!” scene or the “You’re tearing me apart!” scene. _A Streetcar named Desire_ is a classic, but all you need to see is the “STELLLLLAAAAH” scene. _Five Easy Pieces_ is a classic, but all you need to see is the diner scene, or maybe just the “between your knees” line. (I saw this not too long ago and that scene was all I really remembered from ever how long ago it was that I had seen it before. Need I say anything more than “Rosebud”? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498/4 "2007-02-09T15:19:34Z")
[QUOTE=Ludovic] I don’t know nothin’ bout birthin no babies! As god as my witness I’ll never go hungry again. [/quote] You are correct. I take that one back. > [@](#): > > There’s so many other references to this it’s not funny That, I disagree with. Or, at least, 99% of the references are to the mentioned scenes. There may be a TV show out there who did a take-off of thrusting a needle through someone’s chest, but I haven’t seen it. > [@](#): > > …that, and know how they dressed. I thought about the “Singing in the Rain” bit mainly for the garb but I don’t think I’ve ever seen that actually “done” in another show. I guess you could say the intro just for the eyelash, bowler & cane look. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498/5 "2007-02-09T15:20:04Z")
_To Have and to Have Not_ is a classic, but all you really need to see is the “how to whistle” scene. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498/6 "2007-02-09T15:22:35Z")
_Pulp Fiction_ is definitely not one of these. There are oodles of references. _Casablanca_ is a classic, but all you NEED to see is the “as long as I have those letters of transit I’ll never be lonely” scene and the “I remember every detail - the Germans wore gray, you wore blue” scene. And possibly the final shot. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498/7 "2007-02-09T15:55:06Z")
_The Searchers_: all you really need is the final scene of Wayne standing in the doorway. _Scarface_: “Say hello to my little friend!” ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498/8 "2007-02-09T15:55:16Z")
[QUOTE=Priceguy] _Casablanca_ is a classic, but all you NEED to see is the “as long as I have those letters of transit I’ll never be lonely” scene and the “I remember every detail - the Germans wore gray, you wore blue” scene. And possibly the final shot. [/QUOTE] I would suggest “We’ll always have Paris.” Way over 90% of the references I hear are to that. The other 10% are “This could be the start of a beautiful friendship.” (which is the last scene, isn’t it?) ---
**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:** [February 9, 2007, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498/9 "2007-02-09T16:00:12Z")
Dr. Zhivago: The scene where Lara & Zhivago are separated for the last time. The Crying Game: The chick-with-a-dick scene. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498/10 "2007-02-09T16:03:25Z")
[QUOTE=Zeldar] Need I say anything more than “Rosebud”? [/QUOTE] You mean the sled? And what about _Snakes on a Plane_? ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498/11 "2007-02-09T16:03:30Z")
[QUOTE=Zeldar] I would suggest “We’ll always have Paris.” Way over 90% of the references I hear are to that. The other 10% are “This could be the start of a beautiful friendship.” (which is the last scene, isn’t it?) [/QUOTE] What about “play it again, Sam” (I know it’s a misquote) and “I am shocked, _shocked_ to find that…”. You hear them quite often. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498/12 "2007-02-09T16:03:52Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] The Crying Game: The chick-with-a-dick scene. [/QUOTE] Post of the day! ---
**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:** [February 9, 2007, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498/13 "2007-02-09T16:04:50Z")
[QUOTE=JThunder] And what about _Snakes on a Plane_? [/QUOTE] All you need to see there is the title. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498/14 "2007-02-09T16:10:41Z")
Dunno if it counts as a classic, but Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. All you really need is the fight scene ending with (slightly paraphrased): Luke: You killed my father! Vader: No, I am your father Luke: Nooooooooo! ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498/15 "2007-02-09T16:15:55Z")
[QUOTE=Zeldar] _A Streetcar named Desire_ is a classic, but all you need to see is the “STELLLLLAAAAH” scene. [/QUOTE] I think you also need to see the “I have always relied on the kindness of strangers” bit too. _On the Waterfront_ is a classic, but the one scene you need to see is “I coulda been a contendah”. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498/16 "2007-02-09T16:19:09Z")
_The Wild Bunch_: The scene as they decide to take on the bad guys, knowing it will be their last battle. It has to include the sequence of them rounding the corner side by side. _The Godfather_: “Make him an offer he can’t refuse.” _Father Goose_: “Married? Goody Two-Shoes and the Filthy Beast?” ---
**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:** [February 9, 2007, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498/17 "2007-02-09T16:22:10Z")
The Godfather also has the horse’s head ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498/18 "2007-02-09T16:24:25Z")
Even though the car chase is about all you need to see of _Bullitt_, I suspect the segment when the Dodge loses the fifth wheel cover would do. Does anything beyond the beans scene in _Blazing Saddles_ need to be seen? The shower scene in _Psycho_ is all you ever see in those montages of trademark scenes. Slim Pickens riding the bomb is about all I can remember of _Dr. Strangelove_, too. The white dove flying away after Roy Batty’s death in _Blade Runner_ would have to be the clip from that one. Do I need to say any more than “ax through the door” to identify this movie? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498/19 "2007-02-09T16:26:16Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] _The Wild Bunch_: The scene as they decide to take on the bad guys, knowing it will be their last battle. It has to include the sequence of them rounding the corner side by side. [/QUOTE] Fuckin’ A! I got chillbumps just reading this! ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498/20 "2007-02-09T16:27:55Z")
Godfather has way too many references to be on this list. _Shane_ Come Back Shane! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-classic-but-all-you-need-to-see/391498.md?page=2)