One of my favorite scenes is a lightning quick scene from "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World." It's a short comedic bit but it's difficult to describe without some set-up.
J. Russell Finch (Milton Berle) and his wife Emeline Marcus-Finch (Dorothy Provine) are trying to convince Finch's caricature of a Mother-in-law, Mrs. Marcus, played throughout the movie as harping, shrewish, annoying, and very loud by Ethel Merman, that they need to rent an airplane to find the treasure under the "Big W" before all the others.
Mrs. Marcus responds loudly:
Mrs. Marcus: "Nobody's gonna get me up in the air!"
A micro-second after Mrs. Marcus' proclamation, an out of control vehicle careening down the road barrels into the tail end of the car containing Mrs. Marcus (Merman) flinging Mrs. Marcus airborne then upside down with her legs sticking straight up in the air.
Mrs. Marcus, as played by Ethel Merman, survives and continues to provide similar laugh generating moments throughout the movie.
My second scene is from the 1949 movie "Twelve O'Clock High." I first saw this movie in 2004.
Before seeing this movie, I had been puzzled over the acclaim Gregory Peck had received for his extensive acting career. Then I watched this movie.
Throughout the movie, and especially in the following scene, Peck was so completely convincing it felt as if I was witnessing something live.
Even though it's "just a movie" every line, every move Peck makes as his character, Brig. General Savage, feels brand new, unexpected. Every nuance is so real, that no matter how many times I've seen this movie in the past four years, there's always a sense that I really don't know what General Savage is going to say or do next.
Brigadier General Savage, played by Gregory Peck is assigned as new Commander of the Squadron in hopes of getting the World War II Air Squadron back into shape.
The Squadron had experienced higher than normal losses, including the mental and physical break-down of the Squadron's highly respected and popular previous Commander. Then Peck's General Savage is assigned to replace the Squadron's hospitalized Commander.
It's felt that the Squadron's decline in morale and discipline is due in part to air combat stress, and heavy loss of life in air combat. This Squadron had been ordered to begin making daylight bombing missions over Germany.
As new Commander, Peck's General Savage imposes strict military standards upon the broken-spirited squadron.
One Air Exec, Lt. Col. Gately catches the wrath of Peck's General Savage when Gately is found to be drunk and in dereliction of duty.
This is the scene where Peck's General Savage orders that Lt. Col. Gately paint the name "Leper Colony" on the nose of his plane.
Brig. General Savage: "...I take it you don't really care about the part you had in breaking one of the best men you'll ever know.
Add to it that as Air Exec you were automatically in command the moment Colonel Davenport left - and you met that responsibility exactly as you met his need: you ran out on it. You left the station to get drunk.
Gately, as far as I'm concerned, you're yellow. A traitor to yourself, to this group, to the uniform you wear.
It would be the easiest course for me to transfer you out, to saddle some unsuspecting guy with a deadbeat. Maybe you think that's what you're gonna get out of this, a free ride in some combat unit.
But I'm not gonna pass the buck. I'm gonna keep you right here. I hate a man like you so much that I'm gonna get your head down in the mud and tramp on it. I'm gonna make you wish you'd never been born."
Lt. Col. Ben R. Gately: "If that's all, sir..."
Brig. Gen. Frank Savage: "I'm just getting started. You're gonna stay right here and get a bellyful of flying.
You're gonna make every mission.
You're not air exec anymore. You're just an airplane commander.
And I want you to paint this name on the nose of your ship: Leper Colony. Because in it you're gonna get every deadbeat in the outfit.
Every man with a penchant for head colds.
If there's a bombardier who can't hit his plate with his fork, you get him.
If there's a navigator who can't find the men's room, you get him. Because you rate him."
Wonderful memories, bd........and kudos also for the well-written synopsis of each scene which I read with great interest.
Five stars for you!
Freepers, six days left to get your entries posted in this contest which benefits FR. You've read lots of entries on these threads which I hope will stimulate your memories of all the great films you've seen and enjoyed.
Details on how to enter the contest are on # 19 of this thread. You can enter two times. So those of you who have one posted already, you can play it again, Sam.
Your premier Hollyweird gossip
Louella Parsons