What're some of the best scenes from movies in which the music combined with the scene has stuck with you your whole life?
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The one that comes immediately to mind for me is the scene in The Shawshank Redemption when Andy Dufresne locks himself in the office and plays the song over the loudspeaker. I bought the damn soundtrack for that song.
End of 16 candles when Jake Ryan shows up and "If You Were Here" swells. I STILL cry every stupid time.
Another John Huges fave - When Andy goes to prom with Duckie and Blake walks up. Cue to "If You Leave" by OMD. That whole soundtrack kicks ass, actually.
The end of Ocean's 11 when they're standing around the fountain while Suite Bergmanesque is playing.
I don't know if it ~moved~ me, but it's definitely a memorable pairing.
I know it's not quite the same, as the characters are singing, but at the end of "It's a Wonderful Life" when the whole town has gathered in George Bailey's house singing Auld Lang Syne.
It's just the perfect song for George's redemption and it reminds the audience of the importance of appreciating and helping the people around you, no matter how difficult they can make it.
It's my favourite film, can you tell?!
This is so cheesy but the scene in "She's Having a Baby" and Maxwell's "Woman's Work" is playing while she's having that emergency C-section. I saw that movie when I was about 13 and CRIED. Looking back, wasn't it kind of rude that no doctors or nurses told Kevin Bacon that his wife and baby were FINE?! I know it's for dramatic effect but sheesh.
There is a scene from a movie I saw in 1995 (!!) called Burnt By the Sun that haunts me to this day. It features a husband of an unfaithful wife wearing a gas mask while wildly playing a song on the piano.
I swear to you, I don't think I will ever shake the craziness of that scene. I loved it because there are no words (of course) yet SO MUCH is said. So well done.
Anyway... that's what came to mind when I read this question. Obviously, it's solid in memory.
Here's that scene from Shawshank.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAJ2skOJvdY&feature=fvw
Damn, I love that scene.
OMG! The bike scene from Rushmore where The Who's "A Quick One While He's Away" is playing. Hilarious!
In Almost Famous, there is a scene on a tour bus where everyone sings along to Tiny Dancer by Elton John. It always brings a tear to my eye!
I have several, mostly from 80s movies. The first one that came to my mind, however, was the scene from Dirty Dancing when Johnny is saying goodbye to Baby near his car and then speeds off flailing up dust. The song playing is "She's Like the Wind."
Oh, I have another one from Lost in Translation! The last scene where Bill Murray's character is leaving in the cab but then stops to go hug Scarlett Johansson's character. The song playing is "Just Like Honey."
Why are both of mine scenes involving goodbyes?!
The scene in "Into the Wild" where he's playing with cattle in the sunset with "Road to Shambala" in the soundtrack.
I can't remember the name of the move but it's from the 90s some time. The one about the Khmer Rouge horror in Cambodia. It's the scene with the reporter meeting up with his friend finally after years and years. His little friend jumps on him literally, he's so happy. The soundtrack plays "Imagine".
The movie (yeah, I have not brain now that I'm a mom and I can't remember titles) about the Dalai Lama's life. The scene with the chanting when they are feeding the cut up remains of his father to birds on the frozen steppe.
At the end of The Deer Hunter when they all sing God Bless America.
On a not so heavy note, "Sister Christian" during the Boogie Nights firecracker scene
I don't even know why, but one of the most powerful scenes combined with music for me is in Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels at the end of the poker game when the dude realizes he's lost more money than he can even wrap his head around, and when he lays down his cards the first chords of The Stooges "I Wanna Be Your Dog" starts to play. I got goosebumps the first time I saw that scene.
Oooh, and look! Here it is (NSFW):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLGWuWt8wfY&feature=related
There's a scene in Rushmore, where Jason Schwartzman's character is seeking revenge on Bill Murray's character by releasing bees into his hotel room. And the scene opens a slo-mo of the elevator doors opening and Jason walking out with his bees to the song 'A Quick One while he's Away' by the Who. It's really well done. Never fails to make me laugh.
Here's the scene....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yly2UDQp6fc&feature=player_embedded#
SerenityNOW, I totally agree with you about the scene from She's Having a Baby! For such a light film, it really was a moving scene!
I'll also always remember the scene in Say Anything, when John Cusack stands beneath the girl's window with his boom box blaring out In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel.
"Desire" by Ryan Adams was playing in a scene in the last season of The West Wing when Donna and Josh were still dragging their feet before getting together (FINALLY). The song was so perfect for all of that emo longing and sighing and such.
The end of "Closer" when Jane (Natalie Portman) is walking down the crowded street and Damien Rice's "The Blower's Daughter" is playing.
The scene in Big Fish when the father is being carried into the water... Danny Elfman can do no wrong.
The scene at the end of Blood Diamond where Leonardo DiCaprio looks out over the valley. The instrumental music is called "I will carry you."
queenb9- Oooh! Hallelujah playing when Mark Harmon's character got killed on West Wing! That whole sequence was devastating.
And the last scene of the series finale on Six Feet Under where Claire is driving off into the sunset to NYC. I think the song is Sia "Breathe." When they show how all the characters die in the future. Excellent work, Alan Ball.
Forever impressed in my mind is the scene from "Reservoir Dogs" in which Michael Madsen dances to "Stuck in the Middle With You" while torturing the cop. Another is the scene from "Say Anything" in which John Cusack stands outside with the boombox above his head playing "In Your Eyes." Also, in "American Beauty," the very memorable seduction scene between Kevin Spacey and Mena Suvari set to Annie Lennox's "Don't Let it Bring You Down." And, finally, two Scorcese movies come to mind: "Goodfellas" bar beating scene with Donovan's "Atlantis" playing in the background and the scene in "Taxi Driver" where Travis contemplates assassinating the senator with Jackson Browne's "Wait for the Sky" playing. I could go on and on...
DeNiro. Good Fellas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmF_Phk6eIE
Newman. The very end of Color of Money:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=730Q-baXOhE
Beginning of The Big Chill when You Can't Always Get What You Want is playing.
Star Wars Episode IV. Opening credits always give me goosebumps.
The scene with the O Death song, from O Brother.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoIebIKNS4s
and the final scenes of La Vie en Rose.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM945FbjDOE
Oh, and this from the Road to Perdition gives me goosebumps.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTkGFr3NDAI
The Lock, Stock and Closer scenes have already been mentioned... Here's one that reaffirmed my love for Norah Jones. :) I am a sap.
The Princess Diaries 2 (3:53)
Norah Jones - Love Me Tender
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mBZlT6GrLU
Trainspotting. There are a couple of great scenes/montages with music.
Perfect Day where Ewan drops through the floor and ODs.
Detox montage with the baby on the ceiling.
Great film.
Also: The Addiction. Heavy.
beginning of Big Chill when "I Heard it Thru the Grapevine" is playing and you realize later they were dressing his corpse.
Animal House: "Shout" was fun but "Shamma-Lamma-Ding-Dong" with the women's college girls at the bar still makes me cry with laughter
And ALL of Sixteen Candles. Is Sixteen Candles Star Wars iv for 70's girls? it is for me! I taught it to my kid like a religion.
I concur on the Almost Famous/Tiny Dancer scene, also with the Say Anything/In Your Eyes scene as well.
Also? Forrest Gump, when Jenny is singing Blowin' In the Wind by Joan Baez nude on stage and Forrest comes in to save her.
Grandma's Boy-Push It karaoke style.
I remember being particularly affected by the soundtrack to "The Last Emperor" composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto. (It won an Academy Award.)
"Take My Breath Away" the love scene in Top Gun
Serenity Now, that scene from 'She's Having a Baby' always makes me cry... that song is by Kate Bush, so intense.
Also - the entire soundtrack to The Mission, composed by Ennio Morricone, very touching. There's a scene with a little native boy singing (to try to impress their civility upon the visiting bishop) and it's a tremendous scene.
Nobody's mention the most infamous scene ever! Resevoir Dogs, you know the scene...... the ear scene set to 'stuck in the middle with you'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CdW-4TRcDQ&feature=related
baz's romeo and juliet where the lovers first meet through the fish tank and des'ree is singing i'm kissing you.
best soundtrack ever, that one. mostly b/c of talk show host...
and how much do we miss young leo and young claire for that matter.
Super lame BUT: the scene in Night At The Roxbury where the Chris Kattan & Will Ferrel are getting ready to go to the club and Rod Stewart's "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" is playing. It just makes me laugh out loud every time I even think of it.
*nodding wildly about the Resevoir Dogs scene*
I am SO GLAD to see that I am not the only one who adores "She's Having a Baby."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3dnFmwQy04
Also nodding wildly over "Sixteen Candles." One of my favorite movies. But try to find the soundtrack. If you have any luck, let me know. I don't think it exists.
Um..."Sinner Man," Nina Simone, from "The Thomas Crown Affair." HAWT.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr2vA88rHj0
"Layla" from Good Fellas, when they're discovering all the dead bodies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrVG92142QM
"Someone Like You," Van Morrison, from "Bridget Jones' Diary." When they're kissing? In the snow? And she's in her underwear? LURVE.
I know there are more. But the wine won't allow me to remember them...hehehe...
Nick Cave singing "From Her to Eternity" in Wings of Desire...walking up to the microphone saying "I am not going to tell you about a girl, I am not going to tell you about a girl..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjYf9IiB8QE
Royal Tenenbaums; "By Way of the Green Line Bus"
Margot comes out of the bus and "These Days" begins to play. Love.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl6FbeoXeHQ
That's a good one Hawkmoon....
The scene in Bull Durham when Susan Saradon and Kevin Costner are dancing in the kimonos and "Sixty Minute Man" is playing in the background ... I so WANT to dance in my living room with my husband in a kimono before I leave this earth. I know, too much information.
There is a scene from "Moonstruck" where Cher has just finished shopping for the big opera date with Nicholas Cage. She's just sitting in her room, in front of the fire, having some wine and staring at her fabulous new red shoes. I don't know what the song is that's playing, it's an instrumental with some saxaphone but it fits perfectly with the moment which is very female and wonderful. She's content and excited. I love that movie.
This was an awesome question!
The Last of the Mohicans, when the sister, Alice, commits suicide. I bought the soundtrack just for that song. Great instrumental piece.
I also SPECIAL ORDERED the soundtrack to Welcome Home Roxy Carmichael for one song - I Will Never Be the Same, by Melissa Etheridge - and it WASN'T ON IT! I hate it when the BEST song isn't on the soundtrack. And what's up with "Songs Inspired By (insert movie title here)" albums?? Pfft!
OK I just remembered two more:
Big Pig at the beginning of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.
Another Say Anything scene - Ione Skye is studying and the song in the background is Keeping the Dream Alive by Frieheit.
Final scene in "My Dog Skip."
If you had a dog growing up you will know...
All of Kill Bill Volume I, especially the scenes with Lucy Liu, because she's just so damn fierce! By far, this one is my favorite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKLeCjySMi8
Also, I like the ecclectic qualities of this scene from the 5th Element...that movie is just FUN to watch. Cheesy pop + Opera works somehow here (at least to me!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJB5Rqc1m0Y&feature=related
And finally, this song moves me, and so does the movie. To me it accurately represents the innocence of their intentions...this is my favorite movie of all time, Boondock Saints. This is a clip montage that I liked.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w0t5w02gIA
Great answers! Reading this thread makes me want to have a movie marathon! :)
I'm on the Dirty Dancing bandwagon - especially after the 'nobody puts baby in the corner' line, and then the 'I've had, the Time of my Life' dance scene, where Baby finally gets the lift!
That whole movie actually... probably doesn't hurt that I can recite it word for word... and all the dance moves (to the best of my ability in my living room).
Wait!
P.S. I Love You - when they meet in the Irish pub for the first time and he's singing 'Gallway Girl'
*melt*
Muriels Wedding. The whole freakin movie. But especially "Waterloo." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U4kDzwZAMk
I'm down with any portion of Sixteen Candles.
The other thing that pops into my head is in "You've Got Mail" when Joe finally reveals himself to Kathleen in the park, and Over the Rainbow plays while they kiss. *Tear*
SteffernieA, yes!!
I'm surprised no one mentioned this, but maybe I'm the only one? There's a montage with Tom Cruise's dad dying, raining frogs and a bunch of other stuff in Magnolia with Wise Up by Aimee Mann playing. Such a moving scene.
And props to the Six Feet Under final episode and Breathe by Sia.
The ENTIRE soundtrack for Slumdog Millionaire.
Well there have been a few but my absolute favorite which I will sing at top of my lungs and watch over and over when alone and in sappy mood is
Ghost - Pottery Scene and Unchained Melody
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhFdhfwRVhQ
P.S. I really like the final scene from "Marathon Man" straight through the end credits...
I'm going with almost every scene from Love Actually but more specifically, the Norah Jones song, "Turn Me On" when Sarah and Karl are slow dancing for the first time. Gets me every single time.