Some Famous Famous Last Words

If you've seen Wanted, you know that for all the special effects wizardry and incredible action, what's likely to stick with you is the film's closing speech by Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy). We won't spoil the fun for you if you haven't seen it, but it's quotable, easy to remember, and fits almost any occasion. There is quite a cinematic precedent for famous last words, of course. Billy Wilder alone is on this list three times. Not surprisingly, he has 12 Oscar nominations for writing. The screenplay for Casablanca, always at the top of anyone's list, is featured, too. Some of these you may have heard from time to time but don't know where they're from. And this is certainly not a complete list; these are more or less off the top of my head. Feel free to throw some others at us. “Oh, no! It wasn't the airplanes. It was Beauty killed the Beast.” - King Kong, 1933 “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” - Casablanca, 1942 “Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” “That's right, that's right. Attaboy, Clarence.” - It's a Wonderful Life, 1946 “There are eight million stories in the naked city. This has been one of them.” - The Naked City, 1948 "All right, Mr. De Mille, I'm ready for my close-up.” - Sunset Boulevard, 1950 "Shane. Shane! Come back! 'Bye, Shane.” - Shane, 1953 “Madness. Madness.” - Bridge on the River Kwai, 1957 “He was some kind of a man. What does it matter what you say about people?...Adios!” - Touch of Evil, 1958 “Well, nobody’s perfect.” - Some Like It Hot, 1959 “Shut up and deal.” - The Apartment, 1960 “I'm not even gonna swat that fly. I hope they are watching. They'll see. They'll see and they'll know and they'll say, 'Why, she wouldn't even harm a fly.’” - Psycho, 1960 “Mein Fuehrer, I can walk!” - Dr. Strangelove, 1963 “Love means never having to say you're sorry.” - Love Story, 1970 “This was the story of Howard Beale, the first known instance of a man who was killed because he had lousy ratings.” - Network, 1976 “It...was the boogey-man.” “As a matter of fact, it was.” - Halloween, 1978 “The horror. The horror.” - Apocalypse Now, 1979 “I’ll be right here.” - E.T., 1982 “Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads.” - Back to the Future, 1985 "The next record goes out to Radio Raheem. We love you, brother.” - Do the Right Thing, 1989 "I do wish we could chat longer, but I'm having an old friend for dinner. Bye..." - Silence of the Lambs, 1991

"The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist. And like that, he's gone.” - The Usual Suspects, 1995

Comments

[anonymous]

where's maltese falcon: "the stuff dreams are made of." "huh"

[krypki]

I'm Finished! (There Will Be Blood)

[hcb]

you know colin, it occured to me that "bond, james bond" are famous first words (Dr No) and famous last words (Casino Royale). Of course that record goes down the tubes when the next picture opens, I guess, but for now it has a certain frightful symmetry, yes?

[hcb]

Gangsters and gangster pictures had the best tags

I ain't so tough--Public Enemy
All right, fellas... let's go and say a prayer for a boy who couldn't run as fast as I could. --Angels With Dirty Faces
He used to be a big shot.--The Roaring Twenties
Mother of Mercy! Is this the end of Rico? --Little Caesar

[Get The Big Picture]

Indeed, Henry, some great symmetry. I think we could make an exception for Casino Royale in this instance.

[Kelly]

I feel the need... the need for speed! (Top Gun)

[bobbygoode1]

"I hope" from Shawshank Redemption.

And PS "I ain't so stuff" in Public Enemy is not actually the last words in the film, and they aren't even Cagney's last words. So you're stretching it a bit.

[bobbygoode1]

Sorry "I ain't so TOUGH."