What a brilliant topic. Leah. I’m squirming with envy because I did not think of this first.
I also like your method of examples, so I shall follow suit:
(warning: I’m a paraphraser as well as a quote fiend)
When I encounter a situation in which someone is being stubborn about a mistake or a wrongheaded notion, I say “We’re gonna have to help ol’ Luke get his mind right.” (Cool Hand Luke)
When someone gets his or her comeuppance, I say, “That’s how Luke wants it.” (ditto)
If I am 100 percent certain I have accomplished a task, or I’m positive that something is a done deal, I say, “The cat’s in the bag and the bag’s in the river” (Sweet Smell of Success)
When someone tells me that they know an individual about whom I know some rather unpleasant facts, I say, “Everybody knows Manny Davis. Except Mrs. Manny Davis.” (ditto)
If I’m asked about who provides my cell or land line service, I say I have a contract with “American Tell & Tell.” (Ditto)
Whenever I’m concerned that an outsider may gain some advantage over our company, I say, “But they’ll see the big board!” (Dr. Strangelove). I also use, “I’m not saying we won’t get our hair mussed.” for all manner of occassions involving risk.
Lastly, Leah, you will dig this:
When I was interviewed for a promotion, I was asked what my greatest contribution to date was. We have a very hip and loose organization, so I was able to reply, “I saved Latin.”
Everybody got the joke.
I got the promotion.
Well, that’s, uh, just like your, uh, opinion, man.
AUNTIE MAME, one of the most quotable films of all. We have a 20+ year group of the devoted, and each member delights in using a ripe, juicy AM quote most creatively. We’ll even call each other on multiple continents.
One Christmas Eve a friend in Chicago mentioned to a group member in London that his significant other was out at a church, not because she is religious, but because she enjoys the annual “ringing of the bells” act they perform there. Three hours later, a follow-up call came through from London, where it was now well into the wee hours of the morning, that he awakened from a sleep because he hadn’t used the line “You and your damned Swiss Cowbell Act” and was ashamed at missing so perfect a cue.
My own most recent was last fall when the stock market basically tanked, and i called everyone and left the message, “Missy Dennis — stockbroker want to say ‘hallo’ before he jump out a window!”
And remember everyone …
There is no such place as San Francisco!
Although these aren’t what would be considered high-brow filmmaking, my friends/coworkers endlessly quote: Anchorman, Kung-Pow, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
I don’t really quote something for much longer than a couple days after I see it, usually just joking with friends. I think I quote George Carlin the most.
All my life I’ve wanted to be in a position where I could say something like Wilford Brimley did in “Absence of Malice.”
“Come sundown, there’s gonna be two things true that ain’t true now. One is that the United States Department of Justice is goin’ to know what in the good Christ is goin’ on around here. And the other’s I’m gonna have somebody’s ass in my briefcase.”
Unfortunately, I’ve just never quite structured my career in such a way that allows me to represent an agency that holds the fate of people in my hands.
But I can dream.
probably They Live, that movie has the best one liners ever.
Withnail & I is endlessly quotable…
“I feel like a pig shat on my head!”
“I want something’s flesh!”
“I must have some booze. I demand to have some booze!”
“We want the finest wines available to humanity. And we want them here, and we want them now!” (whenever I enter a snobbish establishment, I’m usually ready to go with this one)
“A pair of quadruple whiskies, and another pair of pints.” (when one is especially thirsty and up for getting properly pissed in the least amount of time – though just saying “a pair of quadruple whiskies” is just as good)
“Find your neutral space. You got a rush. It’ll pass. Be seated.” (granted, I usually slightly abbreviate this one into simply “Find your neutral space. Be seated.”)
I always get a kick out of quoting Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.
“These are not the ________s your looking for”
“I can feel your anger”
“YOU SHALL NOT PASS”
“I could carry it for a while. Share the load echo share the load…”
It’s fun
I don’t know why Janet Leigh’s line reading struck me so strongly, but since 1960 I’ve been able use “not inordinately” hundreds of times safely with the listener never once guessing I’m a movie buff.
More from RAISING ARIZONA than I can count:
“I’m talkin’ WIFE SWAPPIN!’”
“You never leave a man behind!”
“You go back in there and get me a toddler!”
“Nope, unless round’s funny”
“You gotta get your dip-tet!”
and most used of all,
“You got your health! What you want with a job?”
When someone has had a few too many and looking quite ill; “I grieve to say that the man is a tower of pain” – Cary Grant in Gunga Din (imagine the Grant accent)
“It’s as easy as parting your hair” for any occasion – also from Gunga Din
and anything from Warren Oates in Two Lane Blacktop
especially, “You know what I mean? Those satisfactions are permanent”.
and “What are you, some kind of car molester?”
If someone were to ever ask me why I had a cut or bandage on my face…..(not exact quote) “Your wife crossed her legs a little to quick. You know what I mean pal?” or something like that. Its from Chinatown.
A funny one is from Amarcord when the guy describing the slut says “I bet she even dips a cock in her morning coffee!” But I’m not mean enough to ever use that one.
The films I quote most are not in context. I am just trading good quotes from films like The Big Lebowski with friends. I often say “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!” and I sometimes say “I knew it was you Fredo! You broke my heart, you broke my heart”. This is always returned with blank stares.
Lemonglow, I’m glad that I’m not the only who quotes “Sweet Smell of Success”—when someone lectures me I respond, “Is this where I’m supposed to whistle the Star Spangled Banner.”
“The force is strong with this one.”—Star Wars
“I have altered our deal. Pray I do not alter it further.”—Empire Strikes Back
“Forget about it Jake, it’s Chinatown.”
“Wrapped in plastic.” Twin Peaks.
“If you do good, you will see me one more time, but if you do bad, you will see me two more times.” Mulholland Drive
“I can’t do that Dave.” 2001 (all in the intonation)
And three from Barton Fink:
“A writer? Why you can’t throw a rock in this town without hitting a writer. But do me a favor: when you throw, throw it hard.”
“I’ll show you the life of the mind!”
“I got a feeling we’ll be hearing from that guy, and I don’t mean just just a postcard. C’mon Sal, it’s late. Naw, it’s early…”
It has dawned on me, after perusing these responses (and then looking again at the list of quotes I first posted)
that I frequently use in everyday conversation more than three dozen lines from various motion pictures.
Lately “A definite type of situation” (Broadway Danny Rose) and “Sedagive?!” (Young Frankenstein) have been prominently featured.
In my darkest moods I draw from a film I don’t really care for (Brimstone and Treacle) “Drop a bomb; drop a bomb.”
It also dawned on me that I use these quotes in all settings, not merely among like-minded cinema fans.
I truly don’t care if anyone gets the reference. It’s all part of my personality now.
Is that cause for concern or celebration?
Celebration! Absolutely. Nobody has any idea what I’m talking about either. And quite frankly, I might even be a little embarassed if they could pick up on my references.
“We have beaucoup movement people!”
Actually, I envy you folks. I don’t have a head for movie quotes or jokes. I suppose a few phrases come to mind once in a while, but I’m not the life of the party. This may not be such a bad thing – there’s a guy at work who constantly quotes The Simpsons. It was funny for a while now I feel sorry for him.
What happens to me is that I’ll have a scene from a film pop into my head, relevant to a present situation. I doubt this is rare.
Lemonglow—“Gabba gabba, we accept you!”
“scarface”. thats the quote movie to end all quote movies for me and my circle of friends. literally any moment in life can be expressed or commented on using a quote from that film. at least, in a way we’ll all understand.
Oh yeah: “It’s a mad house. A mad house!” – Charlton Heston, Planet of the Apes. Good for anywhere, really, but I find it especially good when in a bar or restaurant that’s very crowded.
Also, Steve Martin’s Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (underrated still, I think): “Can I use her underwear to make soup?” One of many great lines.
Armands you cracked me up with Dead Men underwear soup. I like that movie too. How about a cup of java?
“The suspense is killing me. I hope it lasts.” – Gene Wilder from Wonka
I remarked this once or twice, from ‘MANHATTAN’ – “It’s an interesting group of people, your friends are. Like the cast of a Fellini movie.”
This one from ‘OUT OF THE PAST’ – “All women are wonders, because they reduce all men to the obvious.”
Silly, I’ve got to use it twice… it seems to work somehow!
I love this Sterling Hayden line from ‘THE KILLING’ – “… You’ve got a great big dollar sign there where most women have a heart.”
I used it once, unfortunately…
From the opening scene of ‘DAWN OF THE DEAD’ – “Our responsibilities are finished.”
Said it a few times to my troops recently, after hearing Obama’s Iraq withdrawal announcement.
Ah yes, that Manhattan line is one of my favorites from the film.
Well, I haven’t really seen it yet except for the trailer but Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen. “DON’T STOP DON’T HIDE DON’T TAKE A BATHROOM BREAK!!! RUN!!!!!”
Oh man, Shia must be up there in the top 3 actors of all time.
I like this topic, I use these a lot!
“No, I’m in touch with humanity!” American Psycho
“He doesn’t like you, I don’t like you either!” Star Wars
“Quick! Like a bunny!” Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
“What am I to do? I don’t know what to do!” Pierrot le Fou
“Make it sharp!” Bowfinger
I imitate Scorsese’s scene in Travis’ taxi often.
And I often unintentionally embody it.
“You’re killing me, Smalls!”
“Button, button, who’s got the button?”
Odile: “Are there lions in Brazil?”
Franz: “As well as croc…Odiles.”
And I can quote Hot Rod and Heavy Weights from beginning to end. Cinematic masterpieces!
‘Difficult. Not impossible". Rocco in Godfather II
’There’s nothing between us. Just air". Singin’ in the Rain
‘Vultures! Vultures everywhere!’ ‘Dark European’ in Casablanca
’I’m just as capable of being sorry as you are, Dimitri". Strangelove
‘For your Fadda. For your Fadda…’ Enzo, the nervous baker, in Godfather I
‘Politicians, ugly buildings and whores all get respectable if they live long enough, Mr. Gittes’. Chinatown
“How much more shit can we throw on this pile?” Joe Pesci, My Cousin Vinny
‘You can’t stop what’s comin’. That’s vanity…’ Old geezer in No Country for Old Men
I have a friend and coworker who’s a fellow Blazing Saddles fan. Occasionally, today actually, she or I will begin singing ‘I get no kick from champaaaaagne’ and we’ll harmonize the opening lines of ‘I Get a Kick out of You’. Never gets old.
leah
I quote Rushmore off the yin yang.
for example…
If someone tries to tell me I’ve done something wrong I’ll ask, “can I see some documentation on that please?”
or if social class is brought into the equation I’ll swear, “I’m no elitist”
or if someone tries to reason with me I’ll say, “it crossed my mind that you might consider that a possibility, yeah.”
And last, but not least, when I am asked where I would like to attend college, I simply state, “my safety’s Harvard”
I’d love to hear some more of these.