Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

AFI Ranks Top Movie Quotes
Yahoo ^ | 6/22/05 | Sarah Hall

Posted on 06/22/2005 4:59:10 AM PDT by TrebleRebel

Frankly, my dear, even those who have never seen Gone with the Wind can still identify Rhett Butler's final words to Scarlett O'Hara.

The level of instantaneous recognition inspired by Clark Gable's final line to Vivien Leigh--"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn"--led the American Film Institute to deem it number one on its list of the top 100 movie quotes.

The listmakers extraordinaire over at the AFI revealed the latest compilation in their 100 Years series--100 Movie Quotes: America's Greatest Quips, Comebacks and Catchphrases--in a three-hour CBS television special Tuesday hosted by Pierce Brosnan.

The winning lines were selected by 1,500 jurors from a list of 400 nominees. Voting criteria included a nominated quote's cultural impact on the national lexicon and whether it was used to invoke the legacy of the film in which it appeared.

In close contention for the top spot on the list were two of Marlon Brando's most famous lines--"I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse," from 1972's The Godfather and "You don't understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am," from 1954's On the Waterfront--which finished second and third, respectively.

In fourth place was Judy Garland's naive proclamation to her loyal canine in 1939's The Wizard of Oz: "Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

Humphrey Bogart's remark to Ingrid Bergman in 1942's Casablanca, "Here's looking at you, kid," was looking at fifth place on the list, but was one of six quotes overall chosen from the film. Others included Bogart's "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" (20th), "We'll always have Paris" (43rd), "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine" (67), and Bergman's "Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By' " (28th).

Gone with the Wind also had multiple entries in the top 100. Leigh's "After all, tomorrow is another day" made the list at number 31, and her "As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again" was number 59.

The earliest quote was Al Jolson's "Wait a minute, wait a minute. You ain't heard nothin' yet," (71st) from 1927's The Jazz Singer. The most recent was Andy Serkis' "My precious," (85th) from 2002's The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.

Numerous sci-fi films inspired list-making quotes, including Harrison Ford's "May the Force be with you" (8th) from 1977's Star Wars, Arnold Schwarzenegger's "I'll be back" (37) from The Terminator and a certain friendly alien's insistence that "E.T. phone home," (15th) from 1982's E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.

On the lighter side, John Belushi's exclamations of "Toga! Toga!" from 1978's Animal House made the list at number 82, while Cuba Gooding Jr.'s rallying cry of "Show me the money!" from 1996's Jerry Maguire placed 25th on the list.

Then there were the lines that inspired fear in the hearts of all but the most intrepid moviegoers, such as Jack Nicholson's "Here's Johnny!" (68th) from 1980's The Shining, and Haley Joel Osment's "I see dead people," from 1999's The Sixth Sense (44th).

Patrick Swayze's solemn declaration that "Nobody puts Baby in a corner," from 1987's Dirty Dancing squeaked onto the list at number 98 and Margaret Hamilton's witchy vow, "I''ll get you, my pretty, and your little dog too!" from The Wizard of Oz came in at number 99.

Rounding out the top 100 was Leonardo DiCaprio's passionate shout-out from 1997's Titanic: "I'm king of the world!" (And, please, let that be the last we hear of it.)

The complete list of 100 Movie Quotes: America's Greatest Quips, Comebacks and Catchphrases can be viewed at www.afi.com.

Here's a rundown of the top 25 most memorable movie quotes as determined by the AFI:

1. "Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn." Gone with the Wind, 1939
2. "I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse." The Godfather, 1972
3. "You don't understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am." On the Waterfront, 1954
4. "Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." The Wizard of Oz, 1939
5. "Here's looking at you, kid." Casablanca, 1942
6. "Go ahead, make my day." Sudden Impact, 1983
7. "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up." Sunset Boulevard., 1950
8. "May the Force be with you." Star Wars, 1977
9. "Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night." All About Eve, 1950
10. "You talking to me?" Taxi Driver, 1976
11. "What we've got here is failure to communicate." Cool Hand Luke, 1967
12. "I love the smell of napalm in the morning." Apocalypse Now, 1979
13. "Love means never having to say you're sorry." Love Story, 1970
14. "The stuff that dreams are made of." The Maltese Falcon, 1941
15. "E.T. phone home." E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, 1982
16. "They call me Mister Tibbs!" In the Heat of the Night, 1967
17. "Rosebud." Citizen Kane, 1941
18. "Made it, Ma! Top of the world!" White Heat, 1949
19. "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!" Network, 1976
20. "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Casablanca, 1942
21. "A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti." The Silence of the Lambs, 1991
22. "Bond. James Bond." Dr. No, 1962
23. "There's no place like home." The Wizard of Oz, 1939
24. "I am big! It's the pictures that got small." Sunset Boulevard, 1950
25. "Show me the money!" Jerry Maguire, 1996


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 361-367 next last
To: Gunrunner2

"Well, raise my rent! You are The Kid!"


61 posted on 06/22/2005 5:44:07 AM PDT by acad1228 ("We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid" - Benjamin Franklin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: American_Centurion

That's some of the best acting I've ever seen!


62 posted on 06/22/2005 5:44:21 AM PDT by SeamusVA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: TrebleRebel

"I don't want my brother coming out of there with just his dick in his hands" The Godfather

"Hey everybody, we're all gonna get laid!" Caddyshack

"I'll make you famous" Young Guns

Lloyd: What are the chances of a guy like you and a girl like me ending up together
Mary: Not good
Lloyd: Not good like one out of a hundred
Mary: More like one out of a million
Lloyd: So you're telling me there's a chance. YEAH!!

Dumb and Dumber

"The first rule of fight club is - you do not talk about fight club" Fight Club (duh)

"Everybody freeze or the nigger gets it"
"Stay back everyone, I think he's serious" Blazing Saddles

"It's good to be the king" History of the World Part I


63 posted on 06/22/2005 5:44:53 AM PDT by frankiep
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fatnotlazy
"Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son."

That's a classic, as is the "eight years of college" line. I'm also partial to the "Knowlege is Good" sign on the college statue.

64 posted on 06/22/2005 5:46:08 AM PDT by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: LibertarianInExile

Doc Holliday: "Yes Darlin, you're an angel..... Then again, you may be the anti-Christ"


65 posted on 06/22/2005 5:46:35 AM PDT by acad1228 ("We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid" - Benjamin Franklin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: All

I don't know if this was made here or overseas, but:

"What did he say? Blessed are the cheesemakers?"

From Monty Python's "Life of Brian"


66 posted on 06/22/2005 5:46:44 AM PDT by fatnotlazy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: TrebleRebel
"I don't know nuthin' 'bout birthin' no babies."


"Soylent Green is people!"


"Get your stinking paws off me, you damned filthy ape."


"Gort, klaatu barada nikto."


"So let it be written, so let it be done."

67 posted on 06/22/2005 5:47:38 AM PDT by Tokra (I think I'll retire to Bedlam.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: TrebleRebel

I watched it last night as I was working on a work PC. The "badges" quote was about #40 on the list.


68 posted on 06/22/2005 5:48:27 AM PDT by theDentist (The Dems have put all their eggs in one basket-case: Howard "Belltower" Dean.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: frankiep

The Waco Kid: "My real name is Jim. But most folks just call me...... Jim."


69 posted on 06/22/2005 5:48:38 AM PDT by acad1228 ("We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid" - Benjamin Franklin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: Aquinasfan

I think I've seen that movie a million times. One of my favorites.

"Pre-law? I thought you were in pre-med."
"Same thing."


70 posted on 06/22/2005 5:48:54 AM PDT by fatnotlazy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: lunarbicep

I vote with you... all time well in the top 100 quotes.


71 posted on 06/22/2005 5:49:11 AM PDT by RedEyeJack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Josh in PA
Open the pod bay doors, HAL.

"I'm afraid I can't do that..."

Wow! A personal favorite, as one of the most chilling movie scenes. This is a great list.

72 posted on 06/22/2005 5:49:29 AM PDT by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: MarkL
"Eight years of college down the drain..."

it was 7 years of college....
http://www.moviesoundscentral.com/sounds/animal_house/down_the_drain.wav

73 posted on 06/22/2005 5:49:59 AM PDT by lunarbicep ("Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve." - G. B. Shaw)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: TrebleRebel
From None But The Brave.

Clint Walker (Marine Captain) to Tommy Samds (Marine 2nd Lieutenant) about Frank Sinatra (Navy Chief Corpsman), "Never pull rank on a Navy Chief."

74 posted on 06/22/2005 5:51:03 AM PDT by CPOSharky (You are born cold, wet, and hungry. Things get worse, then you die.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TrebleRebel
"We've gotta protect our phoney-baloney jobs"

--Blazing Saddles


75 posted on 06/22/2005 5:52:33 AM PDT by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TrebleRebel

Nothing from "Raising Arizona'?!?!

"I'll be taking these here Huggies, and whatever cash ya have." Classic. Holly Hunter's son of a $itch lines were hysterical.


76 posted on 06/22/2005 5:52:49 AM PDT by WV Mountain Mama (Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SlowBoat407

Bad Guy: "I want to hear you scream!"
Bruce Willis: "Play some rap music."
The Last Boy Scout.


77 posted on 06/22/2005 5:52:53 AM PDT by Little Ray (I'm a reactionary, hirsute, gun-owning, knuckle dragging, Christian Neanderthal and proud of it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SlowBoat407

Bad Guy: "I want to hear you scream!"
Bruce Willis: "Play some rap music."
The Last Boy Scout.


78 posted on 06/22/2005 5:52:57 AM PDT by Little Ray (I'm a reactionary, hirsute, gun-owning, knuckle dragging, Christian Neanderthal and proud of it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: TrebleRebel

"What is your major malfunction numbnuts?" Full Metal Jacket


79 posted on 06/22/2005 5:53:37 AM PDT by frankiep
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tokra
"So let it be written, so let it be done."

Oh yea, Yul Brenner in the Ten Commandments.

No quote but just thinking about Edward G. Robinson as an old Roman with a new york accent in that movie makes me laugh. Better yet, was Billy Crystal doing Robinson from that movie. Hysterical.

80 posted on 06/22/2005 5:53:38 AM PDT by mc5cents
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 361-367 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson