Scene That I Love: Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster in From Here To Eternity


Today’s scene that I love is perhaps the most famous scene from 1953’s From Here To Eternity.  It’s amazing what you can do with Deborah Kerr, Burt Lancaster, the beach, and the ocean!

 

Scene That I Love: A Meeting With Jimmy Hoffa from The Irishman


Today’s scene comes from 2019’s The Irishman.  In this scene, Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino) asks a former rival for an endorsement to once again be president of the Teamsters union.  Needless to say, things don’t get well.  I’m on Hoffa’s side here.  Showing up 12 and a half minutes late?  Wearing shorts to meeting?  Someone is definitely owed an apology.

Once you get over the admittedly jarring de-aging effect, this scene reminds us of what a great actor Al Pacino truly is.

A Scene That I Love: Jack Nicholson Sings In Tommy


Today’s scene that I love comes from 1975’s Tommy.  Based on The Who’s rock opera and directed by Ken Russell, Tommy featured several actors who weren’t necessarily known as singers.  Oliver Reed is the most obvious example.

And then there’s Jack Nicholson!  Jack’s role is pretty small.  He’s the therapist who examines Tommy and who eye flirts with Ann-Margaret.  And, of course, he gets his check.

Scenes that I Love: Low Rider From Dazed and Confused


In order to celebrate San Jacinto Day, here’s one of my favorite scenes from Richard Linklater’s 1993 Texas film, Dazed and Confused.  Not only does this montage introduce the viewer to the suburban Texas nightlife of 1976 but it’s also perfectly set to War’s Low Rider.

And, of course, it also features that classic line, “It’d be a lot cooler if you did.”

Scenes that I Love: Edie Sedgwick and Gerard Malanga Dance in Andy Warhol’s Vinyl


Today’s scene that I love comes to use from an underground 1965 film called Vinyl!  This film, believe it or not, was actually an adaptation of the novel A Clockwork Orange, one that was filmed six years before the better-known Stanley Kubrick version.

In this scene below, Gerard Malanga and Edie Sedgwick dance to Nowhere to Run by Martha and The Vandellas.  Malanga is playing the role that would later be made famous by Malcom McDowell.  Edie is playing …. well, Edie is basically playing herself.  No one smoked a cigarette with as much style as Edie Sedgwick.

Watching her in this scene, it’s sad to think that, in just six years (and at the same time that Stanley Kubrick was releasing his version of A Clockwork Orange), Edie Sedgwick would die at the age of 28.  Like all of us, she deserved much better than what the world was willing to give her.

Scenes That I Love: Hayden Christensen in Shattered Glass


Today, we wish a happy birthday to actor Hayden Christensen.

This scene that I love comes from the 2003 film Shattered Glass, in which Christensen played real-life journalist and fabulist Stephen Glass.  In this wonderfully-acted scene, Glass’s (fake) reporting is challenged by another media outlet and Glass scrambles to keep his deception from being uncovered.

Scenes I Love: James Woods and Eric Roberts In The Specialist


Since both Eric Roberts and James Woods are celebrating a birthday today, it seems only appropriate that today’s scene of the day should feature both of them.  In this scene from 1994’s The Specialist, Woods, Roberts, and Rod Steiger all compete to see who can steal a relatively simple conversational scene.