Top 10 Greatest Scenes of All-Time

[ExtremeSleuth]

#10

Singin' In the Rain. Singin' In the Rain

#9
Empire Strikes Back-

"No, I am your father"

#8
Angels With Dirty Faces. Where Rocky gets taken to the electric chair

#7
Godfather II.

"I know it was you Fredo. You broke my heart"

#6
Braveheart.

"FREEDOM!"

#5
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington.

Smith: I guess this is just another lost cause, Mr. Paine. All you people don't know about lost causes. Mr. Paine does. He said once they were the only causes worth fighting for. And he fought for them once, for the only reason any man ever fights for them. Because of just one plain, simple rule: "Love thy neighbor."

And in this world today full of hatred, a man who knows that one rule has a great trust. You know that rule, Mr. Paine. And I loved you for it -- just as my father did. And you know that you fight for the lost causes harder than for any others. Yes, you even die for them -- like a man we both knew, Mr. Paine.

You think I'm licked. You all think I'm licked! Well, I'm not licked. And I'm going to stay right here and fight for this lost cause, even if this room gets filled with lies like these; and the Taylors and all their armies come marching into this place. Somebody will listen to me

#4
It's A Wonderful Life.

A toast...to my big brother, George. The richest man in town.

#3
Raiders of the Lost Ark. The big ball rolling towards Indiana.

#2
Star Wars A New Hope. "The Force Will Be With You. Always"


#1
Casablanca-

Rick: Last night we said a great many things. You said I was to do the thinking for both of us. Well, I've done a lot of it since then, and it all adds up to one thing: you're getting on that plane with Victor where you belong.
Ilsa: But, Richard, no, I... I...
Rick: Now, you've got to listen to me! You have any idea what you'd have to look forward to if you stayed here? Nine chances out of ten, we'd both wind up in a concentration camp. Isn't that true, Louie?
Captain Renault: I'm afraid Major Strasser would insist.
Ilsa: You're saying this only to make me go.
Rick: I'm saying it because it's true. Inside of us, we both know you belong with Victor. You're part of his work, the thing that keeps him going. 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.
Ilsa: But what about us?
Rick: We'll always have Paris. We didn't have, we, we lost it until you came to Casablanca. We got it back last night.
Ilsa: When I said I would never leave you.
Rick: And you never will. But I've got a job to do, too. Where I'm going, you can't follow. What I've got to do, you can't be any part of. Ilsa, I'm no good at being noble, but 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. Someday you'll understand that. Now, now... Here's looking at you kid.

 

[bartoy]

Hate to be a broken record, but no one has brought it up.

I think that the intro segment of Amelie could be one of the best "scenes" of all times although I guess it would be more of a montage.

 

[Ogrus]

Derek St Holmes telling his manager Ian Smalls who has just given him a test pressing of the new album "smell the glove" (which is completely black)
"This Record Sleeve is so black that if i ask, how much blacker can it be, the answer is none more black"

Every single rock/metal fan - musician knows this scene as the most famous "music film" scene ever!

 

[JoshuaNitschke]

In No Particular Order

Schindler's List - "I didn't do enough!"

Moulin Rouge! - El Tango De Roxanne

Lethal Weapon - when Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) has his 9mm in his mouth, contemplating suicide.

Saw - the very last scene. Talk about trippy.

Pulp Fiction - "That was f*ckin' trippy" That whole chapter of the movie was great.

The Matrix - Fight scene with Neo and Smith at the Subway. That western throwback shot is so cool.

The Good The Bad and The Ugly - 3way dual

Reservoir Dogs - "Stuck in the Middle With You."

Not really a scene, but:

Pirates of the Caribbean - Jack's intro.

The Great Escape - I always loved the 4th of July stuff.

"Whoaaaah."
"Whoaaah
"Whoah"

 

[J.R. Hudson]

OMG

Those are great picks !

Especially PULP FICTION

That whole chapter is just perfect

 

[JoshuaNitschke]

:dankk2:

I forgot one though.... The Usual Suspects

If you've seen it there is no way you don't know what scene I'm talking about. It might be a long movie, but daaaaamn, that end makes it worth it.

(Am I movie-wise beyond my years or what? jk )

 

[spidey]

i gave up on singer. one movie and a few bombs shouldnt still make you great...

 

[The Machinist]

Here are a few of my favs in no particular order:

*The Cowboy meets the Indian*

*I just love everything about this scene.

He was exactly like me. A naked sword. He didn't stay in his sheath.

I'll never forget the night i watched optimus die.

The end of a great chase.

 

[The Machinist]

Speaking of great chases.

Probably my favorite part of every Rocky movie: The Training Montage with the inspirational rock song.

Oh that's Cosmo.... He's chinese.

He's taken off his shoes and one of his socks and... actually, I think he's crying.

This is probably one of my all time favorite scenes but as you may have been able to garner from some of my choices above I'm a sucker for the Showdown.

 

[Jeremy Ordan]

I agree with most of the picks here, so pretty much, just a couple of choices:

1. Citizen Kane - Kane & Wife eating breakfast and moving further apart... I know how cheesy it is to pick this film but the imagery is amazing.

2. Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid - Butch & Co. riding off the cliff into the bullets...

3. Bonnie & Clyde - When they get gunned down

4. Field of Dreams - "Dad, you wanna have a catch?" perfect lighting perfect acting

5. The Natural - Ball going into the lights and Roy Hobbes rounding the bases

6. Rudy - Rudy running out onto the field at the end

7. 12 Angry Men - just the whole movie, it really is just one scene

8. Psycho - Shower Scene... trendy pick I know, but brilliant cutting and shooting.

9. Basic Instinct - The interogation scene... c'mon, you know you LOVE it.

10. Shaun of the Dead - The openning scene where the shot just keeps expanding to include the friends into the conversation.

-Jeremy

 

[Hairy Lime]

I may have to stop posting on this site. I can't believe we've got this many responses and nobody has mentioned the greatest scene in cinema history ...

"My Daughter. My Sister."

 

[Blaine]

Here's a couple more(in addition to the aforementioned Psycho shower scene and the goodbye scene in Casablanca):

Cool Hand Luke when Luke is talking to God

Luke: Anybody here? Hey, Old Man. You home tonight? Can You spare a minute. It's about time we had a little talk. I know I'm a pretty evil fellow... killed people in the war and got drunk... and chewed up municipal property and the like. I know I got no call to ask for much... but even so, You've got to admit You ain't dealt me no cards in a long time. It's beginning to look like You got things fixed so I can't never win out. Inside, outside, all of them... rules and regulations and bosses. You made me like I am. Now just where am I supposed to fit in? Old Man, I gotta tell You. I started out pretty strong and fast. But it's beginning to get to me. When does it end? What do You got in mind for me? What do I do now? Right. All right. [Gets on knees, closes eyes and begins to pray] On my knees, asking.
Luke: Yeah, that's what I thought. I guess I'm pretty tough to deal with, huh? A hard case.
Luke: Yeah. I guess I gotta find my own way.
Dragline: Luke?
Luke: [Shakes head and smiles] Is that Your answer, Old Man? I guess You're a hard case, too.

And what about the "What we've got here, is failure to communitcate" scene?


The courtroom scene at the end of ...And Justice for All:

Arthur Kirkland: The one thing that bothered me, the one thing that stayed in my mind and I couldn't get rid of it, that haunted me, was why. Why would she lie? What was her motive for lying? If my client is innocent, she's lying, why? Was it blackmail? No. Was it jealousy? No. Yesterday I found out why. She doesn't have a motive, you know why? Because she's not lying... And ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the prosecution is not going to get that man today, no, because I'm gonna get him! my client, the Honorable Henry T. Fleming, should go right to ****ing jail!

And the scene from Body Heat, in Ned Racine's office when he should start to realize that everything is unraveling:
INT. RACINE'S OFFICE - DAY
Racine comes into the reception room from the hall. He's
surprised the door is unlocked. He crosses the room and
opens the door to his office.
Matty is sitting in one of the chairs in front of his
desk. She jumps up at the sight of him and moves up to
embrace him.
RACINE
Jesus! Did Beverly see you?
Matty kisses him on the mouth, then shakes her head "no."
MATTY
I waited till I saw her leave. Please
don't be angry with me.
RACINE
Angry? I'm not angry -- How'd you
get in?
MATTY
It didn't lock. Oh. Ned, hold me.
Please just hold me, God, I love
you.
Racine reaches over and locks the door to his office.
MATTY
He left this morning. I had to see
you.
RACINE
(kissing her)
I know.
MATTY
I couldn't call. I'm afraid to call.
I was afraid you wouldn't let me
come.
RACINE
Yes, that's right. You can't call.
Never call. We have to be very
careful now about the phone. The
phone company keeps records.
MATTY
I'm careful. I hated it, Ned. I
hated sitting there with the two of
you. I thought I was going to scream.
RACINE
(distracted,
thinking)
You did good.
(finds his thought)
You've called my apartment from the
house.
MATTY
No, never.
RACINE
No? Those two times --
MATTY
I went to phone booths. I'm afraid
of him, Ned. I'm always afraid.
RACINE
That's good. We have to be careful
about the phones now.
MATTY
Why, Ned, why do you say this now?
RACINE
(in his own thoughts)
We could account for a couple calls.
We've had some contact. That would
make sense.
Matty grasps his face in her hands and looks into his
face.
MATTY
Why, Ned? What's happened?
RACINE
Because we're going to kill him. We
both know that.
Matty's face looks different than we've seen it. There's
a fire burning behind there and the heat it's throwing is
bringing her equal portions of dread and relief. She
stares at him,
RACINE
That's what you want, isn't it? We
knew it was coming. It's the only
way we can get everything we want,
isn't it?
Matty's nod is barely perceptible.
RACINE
The man's gonna die for no reason
but we want him dead. He doesn't deserve it. Let's not
ever say that. We're doing it for
us. And you're going to inherit
half of everything he owns. That's
what the will says, right?
Again, the tiny nod. He pulls her head close, so he
doesn't have to look into her eyes anymore.
RACINE
That's it then. We're gonna kill
him. And I think I know how.
Matty reacts to this.
MATTY
It's real, then?
RACINE
Yeah, it's real all right, and if
we're not careful, it's gonna be the
last real thing we do.



Finally, the famous lipstick scene from The Postman Always Rings Twice:

Frank's first look at hot-blooded, voluptuous Cora (Lana Turner) [he doesn't know she's the wife of the cafe owner] is prefaced by her lipstick case noisily rolling across the floor of the cafe toward him. The camera tracks back to her nude slim legs in the doorway. Frank looks at all of her - she is provocatively sexy and scantily clad in white shorts, white halter top, and white turban. [She continues to dress in ironically virginal white (except for two scenes) throughout the entire picture, accentuating even further her passionate, white-hot, torrid steaminess.] He sets his eyes on the whitish platinum-blonde woman, bends down and picks up her lipstick, and asks: "You dropped this?" She stands with her hand outstretched, waiting for him to bring it over to her. But he holds onto her possession in the palm of his own hand and then leans back on the counter - she struts over and takes the case out of his hand.

 

[Brandon Rice]

The courtroom scene in A Few Good Men.

 

[The Machinist]

I may have to stop posting on this site. I can't believe we've got this many responses and nobody has mentioned the greatest scene in cinema history ...

"My Daughter. My Sister."

Ohh man. So money. I feel like a cad for not mentioning any polanski but this one in particular.

 

[LukeJ]

Great Cool hand post. And Chinatown got me thinking. How come nobody talks about Platoon when they're naming the all-time greats? Is it because kind of got sandwiched in between Apocolypse and Full Metal Jacket? Is it because Charley Sheen turned into a joke and tarnished it a little? Because when I think of that movie, I think of great scenes.

"Nothing like a piece of poosy every once in a while....except maybe the Idie 500"

"I sheet on you all."

And I loved the scene where they danced all effed up to The Tracks of my tears.
Platoon. Underrated in my book.

 

[The Machinist]

I dig Platoon and I own it.

But in the vein of Vietnam War films i just don't think its the best so it kinda does get overshadowed.

However the Berenger - DaFoe contention was money.

 

[CallaghanFilms]

I dig Platoon and I own it.

But in the vein of Vietnam War films i just don't think its the best so it kinda does get overshadowed.

However the Berenger - DaFoe contention was money.

I say We Were Soldiers edged out Apocalypse for that top Vietnam film spot.

 

[Blaine]

I say We Were Soldiers edged out Apocalypse for that top Vietnam film spot.

That's a tough one. One's based on a true story, the other's a mythological journey. I love them both for different reasons. I still rate Apocalypse higher (just barely).

 

[MarcusX]

Some more scenes:

Desperado - the beginning, where Buscemi tells the story of the mariachi to the bartender

Léon the professional - when Reno pushes Portman down the shaft, turns around and starts to scream. Then *boooom*

JFK - Costners monologue in the courtroom

Blade runner - Ford hanging down the building

Back to the future - Fox making it back to the 80s

Heat - Showdown at the airport

 

[The Machinist]

I dunno what it was about We Were Soldiers.

It just didn't do it for me and I couldn't explain to you why.

It had all the elements there. Maybe i was just in the wrong frame of mind when i watched it.

For me its still far and away an Apocalyptic world.