# What Actor is Responsible for Delivering the Most Iconic Lines? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 20, 2011, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253 "2011-10-20T14:47:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/61 "2011-10-21T23:16:28Z")
The website you linked to just seems like a lot of youtube videos and a couple of obscure bands that referenced it. I pulled up the Casablanca page on [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034583/movieconnections) and did a find search for “tomorrow” and a lot more stuff comes up. Not to mention the other lines that are referenced. I’m sure a lot of people like Predator but for cultural relevance, I think Casablanca’s the clear winner. ---
**Author:** ![George\_Kaplin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3e96dc/32.png) [@George\_Kaplin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/George_Kaplin)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/62 "2011-10-21T23:28:38Z")
> [@x-ray vision](#): > > [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/get-to...a#.TqH6jnKyBlo](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/get-to...a#.TqH6jnKyBlo) > > [Yahoo Search - Web Search](http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...0233827AAymbKY) > > [http://gettothechopper.ytmnd.com/](http://gettothechopper.ytmnd.com/) That last link, by the way, is _terrifying!_ ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/63 "2011-10-21T23:42:42Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Because most people know the first one. I knew it years before I even knew what Casablanca was just from seeing it get parodied or hearing it quoted. I still don’t know what “Get to the chopper” is from, and I’ve never heard anyone quote it or parody it. I’ve seen them both parodied loads. This image: [http://legacy-cdn.smosh.com/smosh-pit/062010/angrybaby-15.jpg](http://legacy-cdn.smosh.com/smosh-pit/062010/angrybaby-15.jpg) has cropped up many times. Arnie’s probably leading the field for the most quotable lines from the most movies. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/64 "2011-10-21T23:45:30Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > The website you linked to just seems like a lot of youtube videos and a couple of obscure bands that referenced it. From the link: \ ***“Get To The Choppa!”** is a catchphrase often used in playful manner to indicate there is an imminent danger and everyone must evacuate immediately to the helicopter site. Originally spoken by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1987 sci-fi action film Predator, this phrase caught on due to his thick European accent and and the humor it caused in such a serious scene. Also that month, an achievement was added to the game World of Warcraft called Get to the Choppa!, unlocked once a user obtains a Mechano-hog or Mekgineer’s Chopper, both motorcycles. The Library of Congress used the phrase in April 2009 as the title of their Wise Guide to Helicopters. The phrase also appears as an unlockable title in November 2009’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 once the player completes the “Chopper Gunner Veteran I” challenge by calling in 3 Chopper Gunners.\* > [@](#): > > I pulled up the Casablanca page on [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034583/movieconnections) and did a find search for “tomorrow” and a lot more stuff comes up. Almost all of which has zero to do with the line in question. > [@](#): > > I’m sure a lot of people like Predator but for cultural relevance, I think Casablanca’s the clear winner. Who cares? This isn’t a contest between the two movies or even between the two quotes. I brought up the line from Casablanca in a question to **Left Hand of Dorkness** so he can explain why that should count but the line from Predator shouldn’t. You said you’ve never heard anyone quote it or parody the chopper quote and I proved to you it’s a large part of the culture. You then asked me: \*How often in pop culture do you hear someone mention the chopper quote versus how often is Casablanca (and that particular quote) referenced? \* and I showed you how popular the quote alone is by showing you the number of Google hits it gets. Are you still not convinced it’s an iconic line after the cites I gave even though before this thread you’ve never heard of it? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/65 "2011-10-22T00:20:04Z")
Ladies and gentlemen, I submit for your approval Mr. Mel Blanc: “Eh–What’s up, Doc?” “Th-Th-That’as all, folks!” “Mah biscuits are burnin’!” “Wotta maroon!” “Thanks for the sour persimmons, cousin!” “Is this any way to run a railroad?” “Ain’t I a stinker?” “Look, let’s meet each other halfway. You go your way, and I’ll go mine. Live and let live, whaddya say?” “Ah have them numbered foah this very occasion!” And many more. Mike Myers is probably a contender at this point, between Wayne, Austin Powers, Dr. Evil and Shrek. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/66 "2011-10-22T00:39:26Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > Google hits for “If that plane leaves the ground and you’re not with him” - about 71,600. > > Google hits for “get to the chopper” - about 2,000,000. > > Google hits for “get to the choppa” - about 871,000. Ah, young grasshopper, your Google-fu is strong. You have made your strike. Now it is my turn. [Google hits for “maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow” - about 25,000,000](http://www.google.com/search?q=maybe+not+today+maybe+not+tomorrow). I suspect Casablanca is responsible for that phrasing. And, of course, that was the weakest of the quotes I included from Casablanca. If it’s that important to you, knock that one from my list; the rest stand as far more iconic than "get to the chopper, according to the standards that have already been proposed and discussed in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/67 "2011-10-22T02:04:27Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Ah, young grasshopper, your Google-fu is strong. > > You have made your strike. > > Now it is my turn. > > [Google hits for “maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow” - about 25,000,000](http://www.google.com/search?q=maybe+not+today+maybe+not+tomorrow). > > I suspect Casablanca is responsible for that phrasing. Wrong. You didn’t put the line in quotes so you’re going to get millions and millions of hits where those words are used on any one web page and not in any particular order. Put it in quotes and see how low the number drops. Then skip to page 10 and see how few times even then that phrase references the movie. The part of the quote I used and kept it in quotes is the more reliable way to search. Young grasshopper. Pfff. > [@](#): > > If it’s that important to you, knock that one from my list; the rest stand as far more iconic than "get to the chopper Again, who cares if that or any lines from a particular movie are _more_ iconic? This thread is about what actor has the most iconic lines and the majority of posts by you in this thread is you judging what counts and what doesn’t. > [@](#): > > according to the standards that have already been proposed and discussed in this thread. All by you, right? Are you talking about this?: > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > The [Wikipedia article about the AFI list](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFI%27s_100_Years...100_Movie_Quotes) suggests criteria: > > > [@](#): > > > > Movie Quotation: A statement, phrase or brief exchange of dialogue spoken in an American film.[1] Lyrics from songs are not eligible. > > Cultural Impact: Movie quotations that viewers use in their own lives and situations; circulating through popular culture, they become part of the national lexicon. > > Legacy: Movie quotations that viewers use to evoke the memory of a treasured film, thus ensuring and enlivening its historical legacy. Nowhere is the word “iconic” used, but okay, I take it that that’s what you’re going with. So how does the line I quoted from _Predator_ not count as being iconic? ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/68 "2011-10-22T02:12:03Z")
Too late to ETA. Google hits for _get to the chopper_ without the quotes: about 30,700,000 (and “chopper” isn’t a common word). ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/69 "2011-10-22T03:49:24Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > From the link: > **“Get To The Choppa!”** is a catchphrase often used in playful manner to indicate there is an imminent danger and everyone must evacuate immediately to the helicopter site. Just how often does a person have to tell people there’s an imminent danger that require immediate evacuation to a helicopter site? Seriously, I have never, ever heard someone use this line in jest, and my friends will quote movies lines for fun more often than they’ll speak original thoughts. Perhaps it’s a popular Internet line - it appears to be - but in real life conversation I doubnt it’s in the top thousand of movie quotes used as conversational references. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/70 "2011-10-22T04:24:58Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Just how often does a person have to tell people there’s an imminent danger that require immediate evacuation to a helicopter site? It’s used jokingly, not when there’s really imminent danger or a situation involving a helicopter. That’s why it says “in a playful manner.” Whoever wrote that should have phrased it differently as to not confuse anyone. > [@](#): > > Seriously, I have never, ever heard someone use this line in jest, and my friends will quote movies lines for fun more often than they’ll speak original thoughts. I have. How many times have you heard one of your friends say: \*"If that plane leaves the ground and you’re not with him, you’ll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life. \* If your friends do use it, I’m betting there’s not a actual plane involved. How often do they use these lines: From the list of AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movie Quotes: _“Listen to me, mister. You’re my knight in shining armor. Don’t you forget it. You’re going to get back on that horse, and I’m going to be right behind you, holding on tight, and away we’re gonna go, go, go!”_ From the first response in this thread: _I don’t want to kill everyone, Tom. Just my enemies._ From the second: _“In this world, there’s two kinds of people. Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig.”_ From the fifth: _“Your name is Kal-El. You are the only survivor of the planet Krypton.”_ From the eigth: _“I’d love to kiss you, but I just washed my hair.”_ > [@](#): > > Perhaps it’s a popular Internet line - it appears to be - but in real life conversation I doubnt it’s in the top thousand of movie quotes used as conversational references. The point of the thread is to help find what actor delivered the largest number of iconic lines. Honestly, do you think I’ve failed to prove that _“get to the chopper!”_ is an iconic line? BTW, if people use lines on the internet, they generally use them in real life. I can’t count how many times there’s been a scene on television (including the news) where troops are running towards a helicopter and one of my friends have blurted out using a bad Arnold impersonation “get to the choppa!” ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/71 "2011-10-22T09:29:23Z")
I think the hidden point here is that Casablanca is classy, internet memes from The Predator are not. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/72 "2011-10-22T15:42:50Z")
I’m gonna go with Bogart as well. (BTW, Googling “but soon, and for the rest of your life” in quotes yields 1.4 million results. Not bad for a 65-year-old movie. And that’s what makes it iconic. You think in 65 years “Get to the chopper” will still be around?) Hell, the original list didn’t even include all of the iconic lines Bogard uses from _Casablanca_. Here’s a more complete list, starting with those LHoD came up with: > [@](#): > > Here’s looking at you, kid. > > Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine. > > Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. > > We’ll always have Paris. > > If that plane leaves the ground and you’re not with him, you’ll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life. And others, still from _Casablanca_: > [@](#): > > “I was misinformed.” > > “I stick my neck out for nobody.” > > “You played it for her, you can play it for me. Play it!” (Incorrectly rendered as “Play it again, Sam,” but even if it’s often misquoted, it’s iconic!) > > “I never make plans that far ahead.” > > (In fairness, that one might not count, as it’s usually best paired with the whole exchange: “Where were you last night?”“That was so long ago I don’t remember.” “Will I see you tonight?” “I never make plans that far ahead.”) > > And finally… > > “It doesn’t take much to see that the problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.” There’s also two from _The Maltese Falcon_:" > [@](#): > > “The stuff that dreams are made of.” > > “You’ll take it and like it.” ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/73 "2011-10-22T23:08:19Z")
> [@cactus\_waltz](#): > > I think the hidden point here is that Casablanca is classy, internet memes from The Predator are not. 😃 There may be something to this. The lines from Casablanca are famous because they’re totally, without irony, wonderful lines, well-delivered and encapsulating something fundamental. “Get to da choppa!” appears to have derived its faddish fame from ironic hipstergeeks laughing at Schwarzenegger’s terrible acting and its comic relief in a moment of tension. Instead of being famous for representing the best movies have to offer, it’s famous for being something especially mockable about a B movie. I don’t think you can go from “bad acting makes an Internet meme” to “iconic.” But maybe that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/74 "2011-10-23T00:08:43Z")
Yeah, there’s a big difference between a meme and an iconic line. “You’re the man now, dog!” inspired the website [ytmnd.com](http://ytmnd.com) and is popular in a campy way but I don’t think it rises to the level of iconic. Or “Shoot her!” and “Clever girl!” from Jurassic Park. They’re fun to quote but again, not iconic. ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/75 "2011-10-23T00:56:29Z")
It is difficult to distinguish between an iconic line and a meme, especially since they often overlap. “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” I think the first is iconic. Vengeance summed up in one line. The second I wouldn’t call iconic. Also extremely memorable and usable, which makes it a great line, but it doesn’t symbolize anything about the character, and could have been delivered by someone else. “I’ll be back.” “Get to the choppa!” Again, I’d say only the first is iconic. The terminator is an iconic character in the first place, and aside from being extremely memorable and usable, the line seems to represent what he is all about. The second is arguably iconic, due to Arnold being such an iconic actor, but I don’t think it is because it isn’t nearly as memorable without knowing the meme (I’ve seen the movie several times and didn’t remember the line) and doesn’t represent much. I’m surprised AFI had no Die Hard lines on their list. At the very least: “Welcome to the party, pal!” ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/76 "2011-10-23T01:21:02Z")
> [@Carmady](#): > > I’m surprised AFI had no Die Hard lines on their list. At the very least: > > “Welcome to the party, pal!” “Yippee ki-ay motherfucker!” ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/77 "2011-10-23T10:15:12Z")
If you want to go by sheer volume of often-quoted lines spoken by one actor, I think Dan Castellaneta has most of these guys beat. ---
**Author:** ![kjckjc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@kjckjc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kjckjc)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/78 "2011-10-23T12:32:30Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > Ladies and gentlemen, I submit for your approval Mr. Mel Blanc This. ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/79 "2011-10-23T15:30:26Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > “I want you to hold it between your knees.” I don’t remember that movie. I think I’ve seen most of his, and he always gets the best lines. To add to yours and **Labtrash** ’s; “I think of a man, and I take away reason and accountability.” which was delivered perfectly, not that I agree with his sentiment! “I’m not gonna hurt ya, I’m just gonna bash your brains in.” as above! “I’m just your average horny little devil.” can you think of that line and not hear him? “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Gotta be the best unspoken line, no? ---
**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:** [October 23, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/80 "2011-10-23T19:17:11Z")
How about Alan Rickman? From Robin Hood: “I’ll cut is heart out with a blunt spoon!” “No more merciful beheadings … and cancel Christmas.” “Do you mind? We’ve just been married.” From Die Hard: “And who put you in charge?” “That’s a very nice suit.” And so on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253.md?page=5)