At the movies

by chuckofish

VICTOR LASZLO leading the patrons of Rick’s Cafe in the “Marseillaise” to drown out the Nazis’ “Wacht am Rhine” under the direction of Major Strasser—possibly that moment in Casablanca had as much impact on the World War II generation as the news of Pearl Harbor or the eloquence of Winston Churchill.

Or the African Americans in the Alabama courthouse gallery rising to their feet as Atticus Finch passes by below. Or Dolly Levi sashaying down the grand staircase of the Harmonia Gardens to find Louis Armstrong at the bottom radiant as the sun at noon. Or John Travolta lithe as a panther in his white suit and pompadour dancing in Brooklyn. Or Jimmy Stewart being bailed out by his friends in the last moments of It’s a Wonderful Life.

In a world where there are no longer books we have almost all of us read, the movies we have almost all of us seen are perhaps the richest cultural bond we have. They go on haunting us for years the way our dreams go on haunting us. In a way they are our dreams. The best of them remind us of human truths that would not seem as true without them. They help to remind us that we are all of us humans together.

–Frederick Buechner, Beyond Words

I agree with FB, don’t you? We all know those movie moments that haunt you and make you watch the same movie over and over, right? Sadly, I don’t think many people even know how to watch a movie anymore–not focused from beginning to end–giving it all it deserves. Well, I won’t go into that now, but here are some other moments like the ones Buechner describes. Unfortunately, most people nowadays haven’t seen a movie over twenty years old, but maybe you have…

I just watched The Searchers (1956) again for the umpteenth time. Definitely one of the greats. Iconic scenes abound. Here’s one.

Robin Hood (1938)–“I’ll organize a revolt…”

The Great Escape (1963)–“You’re the first American officer I’ve met…”

Life Is Beautiful (1997)–“Camp rules”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RAF87x23r4

The Professionals (1967)–“Lost causes”

My Darling Clementine (1947)–Sunday go to meeting

Awakenings (1990)–“The simplest things”

Ben-Hur (1959)–“No water for him!”

Chariots of Fire (1982) “Where does the power come from?”

I could go on…and on, but I will cease and desist. Turn up the sound, watch them all. You’ll be glad you did.

Oh, here’s one more: The World of Henry Orient (1964)–“Splitsing!”