Is it possible for one scene to make a movie a classic?
By Burbanked on Jul 10, 2007 in Movies | 4,567 views |
I was commuting home in the blistering 90° heat in my tragically A/C-impaired car yesterday when I decided to focus in on the droning coming from the radio so as to alleviate the feverish hallucinations that are unique to the combination of heatstroke and the effects of an ordinary soul-killing day in Corporate America.
The radio story was about how some are calling for the elimination of aluminum baseball bats because of the potentially unfair advantage and/or safety hazard that they pose for little leaguers.
But that’s not exactly what got me thinking. My thought string was something like this:
aluminum bats –> wooden bats –> wooden bats break and aluminum bats don’t –> how often do wooden bats break? –> hey there was that scene in that movie where Robert Redford broke his special magical bat –> The Natural –> what a great scene at the end of that movie –> hey you know what I don’t think I’ve ever watched that entire movie –> cool is that an apparition of Jim Morrison talking to me?
And so on. I may have driven off the road at some point and bumped my head.
But it did make me think. I’ve watched this stirring sequence from The Natural probably about a hundred times:
…but I’ve never watched the movie! And I know that The Natural isn’t truly a classic, but it’s regarded as a fairly strong movie, right? Perhaps a solid double?
I’ve never watched it, never felt all that compelled. But I do love that scene and I feel like it’s one of the best examples of Hollywood schmaltz that just barely scrapes the edge of being overdone. It still retains its magic and wonder even though it’s a completely manipulative piece of film.
So how about you? What famous cinematic scene do you love even though you’ve never actually seen the movie it’s from?
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Piper | Jul 11, 2007 | Reply
You know, I’ve never seen the movie either, but I’ve always seen that movie. And I bet if the Hollywood put together a montage of classic scenes and sent it up in a rocket ship for aliens to see, this might be one of the first scenes they put on there because it is so well done and has such a classic feel.
You raise a good question and I’m not sure I can answer it, but this is a very good scene and although I haven’t seen The Natural all the way through, I have filed it away as a really good movie based solely on this scene.
Scripty | Jul 11, 2007 | Reply
The music in that scene is killer! You can’t help but feel great watching it.
Burbanked | Jul 12, 2007 | Reply
Scripty – You’re absolutely right. The score really sells the scene and in fact, I think that piece of music is right up there with the music from Star Wars or Indiana Jones in terms of its immediate ability to be recognized and associated with that piece of film.
dougie p | Jul 12, 2007 | Reply
I’ve never watched On The Waterfront, but the “I could have been a contender” scene is clearly iconic.
Also, I’ve seen the plane crash from The English Patient many times, yet I’m not compelled to rent it.
Burbanked | Jul 12, 2007 | Reply
Good catch, dougie p! I’ve never seen On the Waterfront, either, but I definitely know that scene.
DJWJR | Jul 13, 2007 | Reply
Marathon Man. Everyone knows the classic exchange between Dustin Hoffman and Lawrence Olivier — “Is it safe?” But does anyone know what “it” is or why that scene is included on classics lists? Primo example, methinks.
Oh, and I have never seen that complete film either…
Burbanked | Jul 13, 2007 | Reply
VERY primo, DJWJR. People always talk about what a squirm-inducing scene that is, but I’ve always watched it kind of out of context because I haven’t seen the whole movie, either.
Steven Kirk | Jul 16, 2007 | Reply
“Roooosebuuuddd…..”
Citizen Kane…THE classic according to AFI, but how many people have actually sat down to watch it in the last 20 years?
But anyone who even has a passing interest in film knows “Rosebud”.
Steve
dougie p | Jul 23, 2007 | Reply
I’ve never seen “Gone With The Wind”, should I give a damn?
dougie p | Aug 1, 2007 | Reply
Oh, I just remembered another . . .
I’ve seen ‘Vince’ shoot pool with Paul Newman but I’ve never seen The Color of Money and I don’t think I’m missing anything.