Posted on 01/14/2015 9:34:54 AM PST by reed13k
Okay so I recently hired a few recent college grads in technical roles and a conversation was struck up at the end of the day. The conversation was a result of a missed movie reference during another conversation earlier in the day. The type of thing where you assume some level of common culture so you don't have to explain in more detail.
What follows in my comment was the result and follow-on question for my fellow Freepers.
I proceeded to explain the movies I could quote from and asked if any of them even knew of them:
1) Monty Python's Search for the Holy Grail (1 of 5 knew and could quote) 2) Airplane - 0/5 3) Caddy Shack - 1/5 4) Animal House - 1/5 5) Blues Brothers - 1/5 6) Princess Bride - 3/5 7) Blazing Saddles - 0/5 8) Young Frankenstein - 0/5 9) Rocky Horror Picture Show - 1/5 (play cast member) 10) History of the World Part I - 0/5 11) Spaceballs - 2/5
I went on to ask about specific classic comedy skits such as: Monty Python's Dead Parrot Skit and Carol Burnett's Tim Conway adlibbed siamese elephants. 0 on both.
But it lead me to my questions to fellow freepers young and old:
1) What comedy movies/skits do you quote from?
2) Do you think quoting from movies/skits is less a part of common culture in today's generation?
3) What comedy movies/skits do you still laugh at when you see them and believe should be on the all time greatest list?
Used Cars!
Toby the beagle seals the deal.
Monty Python’s Holy Grail and Blazing Saddles can be used in almost any situation.
“I don’t know?”
“Third base”
Airplane!
Pretty much any Mel Brooks’ movie.
Ghostbusters
Stripes
Saturday Night Live, the early years
Casablanca. (I’m shocked!)
Blazing Saddles
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. (Or any John Hughes movie)
Sounds like the majority of my conversation starters where I work, especially Blazing Saddles. Most of the people I work with are Baby Boomers, so when I say “ramming speed”, they usually get out of the way.
How many of your movies had they seen?
Fawlty Towers (”Don’t Mention the War”)
Anyway, this guy just gave me a blank stare. I said "you've never heard of Shaft?" He seemed a little embarrassed, but indicated that he had no idea what I was talking about.
I think Major League should be added to that list.
“I didn’t get a HARUMPH out of that guy!” was always useful in any meeting.
Sgt. Major Dickerson: What does three up and three down mean to you, airman?
Adrian Cronauer: End of an inning?
I could quote Blazing Saddles, but my coworkers would complain about the smell.
My wife is discovering old movies as she never was exposed to much American culture growing up. The classics we both still laugh at and quote include: 1) Anything from the Marx Bros. 2) Most of Chaplin. 3) The Thin Man. 4) Arsenic and Old Lace. 5) Harvey. 6) W. C. Fields. Fields probably has the most quotable lines.
How about Let’s Go to Prison?
There are few comedies I can think of that will be timeless. “Something About Mary” is one of my favorites from the last 20 years or so. “Trailer Park Boys” is genius. “Family Guy” had some great seasons.
On my daughter when she won't get out of bed.
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