Boo-hoo, Wow, and Hooray

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post here at SleuthSayers called "Whoa, Look at THAT," about current YouTube channels showing moviewatchers' reactions--fright, sorrow, delight, shock, etc.--to what they see on the screen, and how those emotion-charged scenes can be an inspiration to us, as fiction writers. After all, we want to make our readers feel those same things. 

Anyhow, since watching a few of those channels told me what movies and parts of movies the "reactors" liked most, I've been doing some thinking about which movie scenes triggered the biggest reactions from me. And the funny thing is, those reactions didn't only happen the first time I saw these movies, some of them many years ago; the feelings are rekindled every time I see them. And I re-watch a lot of movies.

So think of this post as "Whoa, Look at THAT, Part 2." I have listed, below, thirty scenes that always, even now, keep me glued to the screen. I'm sure you won't agree with me on all of them--some aren't even scenes from great or well-known movies--but for me they're all entertaining and bring forth truly strong emotions. 

NOTE 1: I'm including links to the videos, instead of embedding functional clips. Otherwise this post would be a mile long. (Besides, the Blogger program, for some reason, wouldn't allow me to.)

NOTE 2: I'm NOT including the Bates Motel shower scene, Rhett leaving Scarlett, requests for a bigger boat, San Francisco car chases, songs in the rain, napalm in the morning, Sam playing the piano, etc., because most of us have seen those scenes many, many times. Some of the following you actually might not know about. And a warning: big spoilers ahead!

1. Surprise

Poltergeist: TV people

The Usual Suspects: The greatest trick the devil ever pulled

12 Angry Men: It's a very unusual knife

Romancing the Stone: Together, forever

Dead Poets Society: O captain, my captain

The Sixth Sense: They don't know they're dead

Superman (1978): All those powers--and I couldn't even save him

The Natural: Awright, Hobbs, knock the cover off the ball

2. Sadness

Cool Hand Luke: He was smilin'

Somersby: God bless you, Jack

Shane: There aren't any more guns in the valley

Lonesome Dove: Hell of a vision

The Last Sunset: Primroses

Old Yeller: Travis, bring your gun

Dances with Wolves: Do you see that I am your friend?

3. Tension

For a Few Dollars More: Try and shoot me, Colonel

Goldfinger: What kept you?

The Black Stallion: There's some problem with the Mystery Horse

The Thomas Crown Affair (1968): Left early

Star Trek II: Here it comes

Aliens: Punch it, Bishop

Raiders of the Lost Ark: Throw me the idol, I throw you the whip

Once Upon a Time in the West: You bring a horse for me?

4. Happiness

It's a Wonderful Life: Every time a bell rings

Flashdance: What a feeling

Witness: He'll need his city clothes

Forrest Gump: Run, Forrest, run

Rocky: Ain't gonna be no rematch

The Graduate: Elaine!

An Officer and a Gentleman: Way to go, Paula

Something I didn't mention earlier: For me, music plays a big part in how I'm affected by movie scenes. For example, think about how different that final shot in Gone with the Wind would be, as the camera tracks back from Scarlett to show the live oak tree beside her and Tara in the distance, if it weren't for that fantastic Max Steiner score. That, of course, and visual elements like lighting, colors, and camera movement, is something we writers can't create on the page; we have to work a little harder at causing those emotions. But it can be done. I still remember the tears that came to my eyes when the little boy died in the hot car at the end of the novel Cujo (in the movie version, he lives), and when Boo Radley is finally revealed to Scout in the final pages of To Kill a Mockingbird. 

Now, a question for you: Which movie scenes do you recall affecting you the most, emotionally? Happiest, saddest, most surprising, most suspenseful? Are any of them the same as those I've remembered? Have you been influenced by any particular scenes, for your own writing?

I think I'll go see if I can find some more (and yes, Honey, it's still research). 

Go ye and do likewise.