# What are the most constantly shown movies or video clips in history? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 13, 2006, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570 "2006-04-13T20:36:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570/1 "2006-04-13T20:36:00Z")
Some years ago _Yesterday_ by P. McCartney was ranked as the most played (and most overplayed) song ever on radio. What would be it’s filmatic equivalents? They can be from television or movies or news or anything in between. I am speaking specific footage, though, and not general- i.e. Zapruder film (which I’ll give a pass to because of it’s historical significance) but not _Law & Order_ (unless it’s a particular episode that always seems to be on). My votes: _SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION_, _FRIED GREEN TOMATOES_ and _STEEL MAGNOLIAS_- one of these movies is on cable at all times by, I believe, a Congressional Act. Ed Ames throwing the tomahawk on _The Tonight Show_- it was hilarious the first 894 times it was shown. Now it needs to go on vacation and just chill for a few years. Anything to add? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570/2 "2006-04-13T20:40:14Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Anything to add? The Zapruder Film of JFK being shot and the footage of Bobby lying there. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570/3 "2006-04-13T20:40:44Z")
How about that clip of the Hindenburg crashing? That’s got a lot of mileage. ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570/4 "2006-04-13T20:42:06Z")
I nominate the standard clip of the nuclear test detonation. ---
**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:** [April 13, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570/5 "2006-04-13T20:53:27Z")
The second plane hitting the World Trade Towers. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570/6 "2006-04-13T21:13:41Z")
The raising of the flag on Iwo Jima or perhaps the footage of JFK Jr saluting his father’s coffin. I’m also trying to think of something more internationally relevant. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570/7 "2006-04-13T21:20:51Z")
> [@Spatial Rift 47](#): > > I nominate the standard clip of the nuclear test detonation. I think we may have a winner! A few others: Lucy in the candy factory Babe Ruth hits a home run (soon to be surpassed by Michael Jordan getting a basket) Bogart in a trench coat The American flag rippling in the breeze that every TV station used to have when they played The Star Spangled Banner. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570/8 "2006-04-13T21:23:12Z")
Bess Truman trying to break that damn champagne bottle over the nose of a C-54 hospital plane. ---
**Author:** ![priapus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@priapus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/priapus)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570/9 "2006-04-13T21:27:56Z")
I nominate the weird airplane crash compilations from silent movies ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570/10 "2006-04-13T22:16:38Z")
Lucy in the candy factory? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570/11 "2006-04-13T22:20:08Z")
Lucy RICCARDO! [smack] I kept thinking Lucy from Peanuts. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570/12 "2006-04-13T23:00:41Z")
That stock footage of the fat guy getting hit in the stomach with a cannonball? ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570/13 "2006-04-13T23:01:05Z")
Assuming we’re disqualifying bumpers and network logo inserts, atomic bomb footage would’ve been my first guess, too. Home run ball going over the wall off of Jose Canseco’s head. This gets played in every baseball blooper reel at every game. It’s still funny. Lucy Ricardo covered in chocolate gets another vote from me. Charlie Chaplin with his dancing rolls. Alternately, the scene where he eat the boot. Even though it’s recently discovered footage of an old event, Babe Ruth calls his shot. The first moon landing, astronaut climbing down the ladder. “It’s A Wonderful Life” or maybe “Miracle on 34th Street.” At one time it would’ve been the footage of the attempted assassination of Reagan. Stock footage of the womens’ auxiliary applauding. Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570/14 "2006-04-13T23:02:20Z")
**Gone With the Wind** **Wizard of Oz** **It’s a Wonderful Life** **A Christmas Story** I can’t imagine any other feature film has been reran more than any one of these three films. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570/15 "2006-04-13T23:03:36Z")
:smack: Errr, these _four_ films! (“A Christmas Story” was a last-second addition to my list.) ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570/16 "2006-04-13T23:22:43Z")
> [@](#): > > …The Zapruder Film of JFK being shot and the footage of Bobby lying there… > …At one time it would’ve been the footage of the attempted assassination of Reagan. Politically speaking (from my US perspective), I’d have to put:2. [Kennedy’s inauguration speech](http://images.encarta.msn.com/xrefmedia/sharemed/targets/images/pho/t045/T045239A.jpg) (With the “ask not what your country can do for you…” audio), 3. [Nixon boarding a helicopter](http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/08/06/nixon.resigns/nixon.leaves.jpg) at the White House on the day of his resignation and 4. [JFK Jr](http://teaching.arts.usyd.edu.au/history/hsty3080/StudentWebSites/AMELIA/My%20Webs/AMELIA%20RFK%20WEB/images/photoalbum/images/john%20jr%20saluting_jpg.jpg) stepping out & saluting at his Dad’s funeral and Nixon climbing into the helicopterbetween the Zapruder Clip (#1), the Reagan assassination attempt (#5) & the RFK assassination (#6). ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570/17 "2006-04-13T23:32:42Z")
The skiier taking a spill from the opening of ABC’s _Wide World of Sports._ ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570/18 "2006-04-13T23:33:27Z")
> [@Fish](#): > > The first moon landing, astronaut climbing down the ladder. Nasa Runners up: The Apollo Rocket leaving the launch pad That clip with the stage of the rocket [disengaging](http://www.antiquark.com/img/saturn-v-separation.jpg) and burning up in the atmosphere Sticking that overly starched flag into the lunar surface The Challenger disaster ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570/19 "2006-04-14T00:14:24Z")
It’s probably the opening title shots of whatever is the most popular long running series in China. Though the atomic explosion is iconic and often used I doubt it really gets aired more than a dozen times in any area in any year. The “20th Century Fox” symbol clip would be aired many more times in a year. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570/20 "2006-04-14T00:54:04Z")
My first thought was the footage of the house being demolished by the atomic bomb explosion–used in dozens of cheesy movies and shown over and over. Black and white footage of a guy being shot out of a cannon (full jumpsuit, helmet, iirc). A helicoter landing in a field in Vietnam–know the one I mean? The separation of the last stage of a NASA rocket, and the engine booster, or whatever it is called, falling back toward the planet Earth. Sir Rhosis [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-constantly-shown-movies-or-video-clips-in-history/352570.md?page=2)