The scene in Steel Magnolias where M’Lynn has her emotional breakdown:
M’Lynn: …I can jog all the way to Texas and back, but my daughter can’t! She never could! Oh God! I am so mad I don’t know what to do! I wanna know why! I wanna know why Shelby’s life is over! I wanna know how that baby will ever know how wonderful his mother was! Will he ever know what she went through for him! Oh God I wanna know why? Why? Lord, I wish I could understand!
I’ve seen that movie about a million times, and that scene gets me every.single.time. Maybe it’s because I’m a parent. Maybe it’s because I think Sally Field is one of the best actresses working today.
Maybe the single most effective use of underplaying for maximum dramatic power was demonstrated in GF1 by Brando and Duvall when Tom tells Don Vito about Sonny’s slaughter. Both actors reel in almost all emotion yet manage to reveal just the right amount for their characters. This scene mocks all scenery-chewing and hamming by less skilled performers. If you want a lesson in “the Method” watch this scene.
I’m sitting here in class and I am finding it difficult to not tear up just at the thought of the Marseillaise scene and the ‘Superman’ scene from Iron Giant. And I have to throw my support behind Spock’s death scene, simply the best death ever.
I must also add in the scene from ‘The Lion in Winter’ just after Henry learns that all three of his sons have betrayed him and he practically collapses down the stairwell cursing God and declaring that he has no sons.
Trivia time: The script of “Casablanca” was written by Philip and Julius Epstein, grandfather and great-uncle of Boston Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein.
Not to mention Howard Koch, who wrote the script for Orson Welles’ notorious “War of the Worlds”, and went on to be a Hollywood producer, producing “The Odd Couple”, among others.
And other folks, too. “Casablanca” was a group effort.
In an interview with Elia Kazan on Fresh Air Kazan said that he contributed zero to that scene. Brando and Steiger did that all by themselves. It was in a set piece “taxi” with blinds over the rear window because it wasn’t even a moving car.
And even though “Stellllaaaahh” was the line most identified with the early Brando, the “I cudda been a contendah” scene must be the most quoted scene.
The scene in “Gone With the Wind” where Scarlett is looking for Dr. Meade at the Atlanta train station. She runs from one wounded man to the next, as the camera pulls back and away to reveal thousands of wounded lying there on the ground moaning. Finally as the camera finishes pulling back, there’s a tattered confederate flag flying in the foreground. An unbelievably powerful scene!
Charlie: Look, kid, I - how much you weigh, son? When you weighed one hundred and sixty-eight pounds you were beautiful. You coulda been another Billy Conn, and that skunk we got you for a manager, he brought you along too fast. Terry: It wasn’t him, Charley, it was you. Remember that night in the Garden you came down to my dressing room and you said, “Kid, this ain’t your night. We’re going for the price on Wilson.” You remember that? “This ain’t your night”! My night! I coulda taken Wilson apart! So what happens? He gets the title shot outdoors on the ballpark and what do I get? A one-way ticket to Palooka-ville! You was my brother, Charley, you shoulda looked out for me a little bit. You shoulda taken care of me just a little bit so I wouldn’t have to take them dives for the short-end money. Charlie: Oh I had some bets down for you. You saw some money. Terry: You don’t understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let’s face it. It was you, Charley.
Reading it on the page doesn’t do it justice unless you’ve seen it.
Actually, I own the movie and have seen it many times…I just didn’t know the name of any of the anthems and was trying to remember what, or who, Marseillaise was the name of. But thanks for the in depth rundown anyways. Here’s hoping more people are encouraged to see it.
Alright, my pick for most dramatic scene is going to have to be the big confrontation between Biff and Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to remember…extremely heartwrenching stuff:
Of course, you have to see it performed, with all of the characters raging at each other, crying, shaking, and doing everything possible to just try and stay sane. Powerful stuff.
The Flight of the Valkries helicopter attack scene in Apocalypse Now
The breakdown of one of the brothers on the witness stand in the documentary Brother’s Keeper
Inigo Montoya: Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father: prepare to die. Now, offer me money.
Count Rugen: Yes.
Inigo Montoya: Power too. Promise me that.
Count Rugen: All that I have and more. Please…
Inigo Montoya: Offer me everything I ask for.
Count Rugen: Any thing you want.
Inigo Montoya: I want my father back, you son of bitch. Princess Bride
If it is old movies you’re after, check around to local libraries. I had been deprived of many classics growing up, since Greensboro isn’t a big cinema town. Checking around, I found a local public library that had all the great classics I could want, from Kurosawa to Casablanca.
As for me, the most dramatic scene I can think of that has not already been mentioned would probably have to be in Kurosawa’s Ran, when the red and yellow armies have taken over the castle and the old man is being sieged by both of his sons. Amazing, beautiful, hauntingly tragic scene.
Either that, or just about every scene in City of God. I can’t think of one scene that is exceptionally more dramatic than every other scene in that movie, so I’ll nominate the entire thing.