Tag Archives: Scenes I Love

Scenes I Love: Scum of the Earth

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Here is a scene that should be familiar to anyone who has ever watched anything from Something Weird, the infamous “you’re damaged goods and this is a fire sale!” monologue from Herschell Gordon Lewis’s 1963 expose of the Hollywood smut trade, Scum of the Earth.

Scenes That I Love: The Opening of Patton

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today’s scene that I love comes from 1970’s Patton.

This scene, which occurs at the start of the film, won George C. Scott an Oscar …. which he refused to accept.  Scott announced, even before he was nominated, that he wouldn’t accept the Oscar.  One gets the feeling that probably made it all the more likely that he would win.  To Scott’s credit, he did not send someone else to refuse the Oscar (and take the boos) in his place.

Would George Patton have refused the Oscar?  Probably not.

Scene of the Day: Malcolm McDowell in O Lucky Man!

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

In this scene from 1973’s O Lucky Man, Mick Travis (Malcolm McDowell) comes to the end of his very long journey and finds himself auditioning for a role in a Lindsay Anderson film.

Anderson, of course, was also the director of O Lucky Man! and it’s obvious that the film that Mick is auditioning for is meant to be Anderson’s previous film, If.

McDowell, of course, actually did star in If.  In fact, he played a character named Mick Travis.

After all of his surreal adventures, can Mick still smile enough to get the part?

Scenes I Love: The “Head Over Heels” Montage from Donnie Darko

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

This Saturday, while I was live tweeting 2001’s Donnie Darko, I was reminded of how much I enjoy today’s scene that I love.  Not only does this scene introduce us to the film’s ensemble cast but it also makes perfect use of a great song.

Scenes That I Love: Harry Meets The Mayor From Dirty Harry

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today, we wish a happy 96th birthday to the one and only Clint Eastwood!

Clint Eastwood is an American icon.  In many ways, his persona epitomizes all of the contrasts and extremes of the American experience.  A political conservative who specializes in playing taciturn and rather grouchy men, he is also one of our most humanistic directors, specializing in films that often question the traditional view of history and morality.  He may have first become a star in Europe but Clint Eastwood is definitely an American original.

In honor of his birthday, I’m sharing a scene that I love from 1971’s Dirty Harry.  In this scene, Detective Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) meets the Mayor of San Francisco (John Vernon).  The mayor is concerned that there’s a psycho on the loose, gunning people down and demanding money.  Callahan’s annoyed that he’s spent a lot of time sitting in a waiting room.  Things pretty much go downhill from there.

There’s so much that I love about this scene.  Both Eastwood and Vernon do a wonderful job playing off of each other.  The Mayor may be in charge of the city but Callahan probably didn’t vote for him.  One thing that I especially love about this scene is the look of annoyance that crosses Harry’s face whenever he’s interrupted.

And, of course, there’s that final line!  Eastwood does a great job explaining Harry’s “policy” but ultimately, it’s Vernon’s “I think he’s got a point,” that provides the perfect closing note.

Happy birthday, Mr. Eastwood!

Scene That I Love: The End of Franklin J. Schaffner’s Planet of the Apes

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

The late director Franklin J. Schaffner was born 106 years ago today.

Though Schaffner won an Oscar for directing Patton, my favorite Schaffner film will always be Planet of the Apes.  In this scene, Charlton Heston discovers where he’s actually been for the entire movie.