Capturing a Golden Moment #13: Jaws

In this series I'd like to present some exceptional scenes inspired by cinema's most gifted artists of yesteryear.

Jaws (1975)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Scene: "The Indianapolis"

This scene with no action per se, is perhaps the film's most terrifying. The immensely talented Robert Shaw plays Quint, who recounts his experience aboard the U.S.S. Indianapolis with the actor's customarily unique and intense delivery. The harrowing ordeal Quint describes is enhanced by one's awareness of the real-life incident itself and Shaw's reported authorship of his vivid account. Shaw, an accomplished playwright, submitted his own re-write of the scene after an uncredited John Milius' first draft sparked a disagreement between credited writers Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb. The added realism is in part due to the clever way the moment is foreshadowed by suggesting Quint's subtle reluctance to remind himself of the horrific event. Director Spielberg deserves credit for securing such natural performances from all 3 actors (including Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss).    

Jaws is available on Blu-ray here:

Jaws [Blu-ray]

$11.99

Starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton

Buy on Amazon

It is also available on DVD here:

Jaws

$3.74

Starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton

Buy on Amazon

Capturing a Golden Moment #12: Monkey Business (1931)

In this series I'd like to present some exceptional scenes inspired by cinema's most gifted artists of yesteryear.

Monkey Business (1931)

Director: Norman Z. McLeod

Scene: "Punch and Judy Show"

Harpo is one of the Marx Brothers, all of whom are cruise ship stowaways running from the authorities. His exuberant infiltration of a puppet show fits right in with its slapstick nature, and increases the children's enjoyment, judging by their rambunctious response. Notice their adorable "waves goodbye" as Harpo makes his exit.

Monkey Business is available on DVD along with four other Marx Brothers' movies here:

The Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection (The Cocoanuts / Animal Crackers / Monkey Business / Horse Feathers / Duck Soup)

$17.99

Starring Chico Marx, Groucho Marx, Edgar Kennedy, Harpo Marx, Zeppo Marx

Buy on Amazon

Sterling Silver Dialogue #18

Sterling Silver Dialogue From The Movies:  

Do you know where they're from?

(to her grocer) "What do you have in the way of steaks?"

(reply) "Nothing in the way of steaks, I can get right to them."

(checking his watch) "This sun dial is ten minutes slow."

(his wife) "Yes, the sun is wrong, but your watch is right. Of course."

(a barber) "Would you like to have anything before lunch?"

(reply) "Yes, breakfast."

"I don't like this innuendo."

(reply) "That's what I always say: love flies out the door when money comes innuendo."

"Nice old piece of melodrama, kidnapping a girl. You've been reading too many dime novels."

"Why don't you go home to your wife? I'll tell you what, I'll go home to your wife, and outside of the improvement she'll never know the difference."

"Dad, let me congratulate you. I'm proud to be your son."

(reply) "My boy, you took the words right out of my mouth. I'm ashamed to be your father. You're a disgrace to our family name of Wagstaff, if such a thing is possible."

"I married your mother because I wanted children. Imagine my disappointment when you arrived."

(predicting what kind of "dish" a mob wife is before meeting her) ”Sixty-cent special. Cheap, flashy. Strictly poison under the gravy.”

"You know that because you’re perfectly sane."
(reply) "I’d rather be insane and alive than sane and dead."

"Well, could I get in touch with you?"

(reply) "You've touched enough already!”

"Alright, get lost. Take a couple of drop dead pills."

"She is beautiful as well as interesting, isn't she?"

(reply) "She's beautiful - that's always interesting."

"Well, what did you think of the picture?"

(reply) "Oh, it was fine. It was just a little long - about an hour and a half."

"Well, you see how it is: fools get away with the impossible."

(reply) "That's because they're the only ones who try it."

"They tell me you killed Ferraro. How did it feel?"

(reply) "He didn't say."

“When I get to likin' someone, they ain't around long.”

(reply) “I notice when you get to DISlikin' someone, they ain't around for long neither.”

"A little earlier I gave some thought to stealin' a kiss from you, although you are very young... and you're unattractive to boot. But now I'm of a mind to give you five or six good licks with my belt."

(reply) "Well, one would be as unpleasant as the other."

"Whenever you want sanctuary, babe, here's where you'll find it...(taps thumb to chest) right here, in the ol' temple."

(reply) "Don't tap your heart, you'll break your finger. And if you're sanctuary, I'll take whatever else is lying around."

Answers to Sterling Silver Dialogue #18 are here.