Scenes I Love: The Final Scene of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: The Return


“What year is this?”

The final scene of Twin Peaks: The Return has haunted me ever since I first watched it 2017.  I’m still not sure what the ending meant or where Cooper and Laura were but somehow, as enigmatic as it all was, it felt like the only proper way to end the saga of Twin Peaks.

And really, this is a scene that only Lynch could have made work.  Another director would have tried too hard to tell the audience what to think or how to react.  Of course, many directors probably wouldn’t have had the guts to end things on such on open-ended note.  But Lynch not only had the courage to stick to his vision but he also had the faith to trust his audience to figure it out for themselves.  Courage and faith are two of the main reasons why David Lynch was one of the greatest directors of his time.

Scenes That I Love: Vincent Price Performs The Raven


As today is the anniversary of the birth of Edgar Allan Poe, today’s scene that I love features Poe’s most famous interpreter, Vincent Price, reciting and performing The Raven.  This scene comes from a 1985 television special that was called The Teller and the Tale.

 

Scene That I Love: Dueling Banjos from John Boorman’s Deliverance


Diliverance (1972,dir by John Boorman, DP: Vilmos Zsigmond)

Today’s scene that I love comes from John Boorman’s 1972 film, Deliverance.  For the longest time, I thought that this scene was improvised and the kid with the banjo just happened to be hanging out around the set.  That makes for a nice story but I have recently read that this scene was actually scripted and the kid, while a local, was hired ahead-of-time to show up and play the banjo.

From Deliverance, here are the Dueling Banjos!

Scene That I Love: “Obey” from John Carpenter’s They Live


They Live (1988, dir by John Carpenter, DP: Gary B. Kibbe)

Today, we continue to wish John Carpenter a truly happy birthday!  Needless to say, today’s scene that I love comes from a Carpenter film, 1988’s They Live.  Though They Live was apparently not a huge box office success when it was first released, it’s a film that feels more relevant with each passing day.  Carpenter is often described as being a great horror director but, with this film and The Thing, he shows that he’s a master of capturing cinematic paranoia.

There’s definitely a reason why They Live continues to find new fans over 30 years since it was originally released.  Who hasn’t experienced that secret message of “OBEY!”

Scenes I Love: Mr Inbetween


There’s something to say about an individual who follows a code of behavior and has a moral compass that may seem archaic for today’s sensibilities, but when one really thinks about it…well, they’re not wrong.

We may hate that such people may be correct in their way of thinking and that it may offend certain sensibilities but that doesn’t necessarily means its wrong.

And on that note let me introduce you to Ray Shoesmith aka Mr Inbetween. This scene of him attending an anger management class best describes not just who Ray is but sets the tone for what this series is all about.

Scenes That I Love: Marjoe Gortner in Earthquake


Today is Marjoe Gortner’s 81st birthday!

The former child evangelist-turned-whistleblower-turned-recording-artist-turned-golf-tournmanet-organizer appeared in some of the most memorable exploitation films of the 70s and 80s, usually playing villains.  (Personally, I’ve always liked his heroic performance in Starcrash.)

In today’s scene, from 1974’s Earthquake, Marjoe gives au unforgettably creepy performance as the type of character who, today, would probably be called an incel.  Usually, no one takes him serious but, when an earthquake hits, he puts on his uniform and becomes a mini-tyrant.  Few actors were as effective at playing crazy as Marjoe Gortner.

 

Scenes That We Love: Robert Stack in Airplane!


106 years ago today, actor Robert Stack was born in Los Angeles, California.

Though Stack found his greatest success on television and as the original host of Unsolved Mysteries, he also had an active film career.  Here he is in 1980’s Airplane!, demonstrating how to provide encouragement and build up confidence.

Scenes That I Love: The Cockpit Fight from Money Plane


Today is Andrew Lawrence’s birthday!

Who is Andrew Lawrence?  He is the director of the greatest film ever made, Money Plane!  Today’s scene that I love comes from that 2020 masterpiece.  In this scene, Adam Copeland learns that it’s not as easy to take over a plane as one might think.  I just love this super-powered co-pilot!

Scenes I Love: Marion Meets The Patrolman in Psycho


116 years ago, an actor named Mort Mills was born.

Mort Mills may have never been a household name but he will be forever remembered for playing the suspicious highway patrolman in 1960’s Psycho.  Anyone was have ever had to deal with a grim-faced, flat-voiced highway patrolman will automatically be able to relate to Janet Leigh’s fear in today’s scene that I love.  I’ve watched this film numerous times and I still don’t know if the patrolman was just doing his job or if he really was suspicious of Marion.  Mort Mills, with those dark glasses and flat affect, keeps you guessing.  In this brief role, Mills makes an impression that will never be forgotten.