I'm writing a scene set in an inn late at night. The ale is flowing, there's raucous singing, and hushed conversations are happening over shadowy tables in the corners.
This has me thinking back through all of my favorite "pub scenes" -- the hobbits stirring up trouble in Bree, Obi-Wan striking a deal with Solo at Mos Eisley, the Three Amigos singing "My Little Buttercup."
That's inspired me to start another list-thread:
What's your favorite scene set in a pub, tavern, or alehouse?
Full Version: Today's Favorite: Favorite Bar Scenes
Overstreet wrote:
: What's your favorite scene set in a pub, tavern, or alehouse?
Hmmm. Looking at my top three films of all time, I don't see any scenes in pubs, taverns or alehouses, per se. Though a couple scenes might come close.
Lawrence of Arabia (1962) has a scene in the officers' lounge that I've always liked ("We want two large glasses of lemonade." "This is a bar for British officers!" "That's alright, we're not particular." "Lawrence! Are you off your head?" "No, oddly enough, I'm not." . . . "We've taken Aqaba." "Taken Aqaba? Who has?" "We have. Our side in this war have. The wogs have. We have. He likes your lemonade.").
The Family Way (1966) begins with a wedding reception where the groom's father gets rather drunk and loudmouthed and somewhat embarrasses his son (in a scene that nicely sets up the antagonism between them, which is handled very skilfully throughout the rest of the movie and pays off handsomely in the film's final, and for me very emotional, scene). I guess that scene MIGHT take place in a pub, since, after the bride and groom have snuck away to take a long quiet stroll back to the groom's home (he lives with his parents, and this is where he and his bride will spend the wedding night), a man strolls through the reception saying, "Time, gentlemen, please," and so the groom's father decides to move the party back to his place ... and they get there before the bride and groom do.
I don't think there are any pub scenes in The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) whatsoever. A swanky nightclub scene in the movie-within-a-movie, yes (and a very funny one, to boot), but that's not really the same thing, is it?
Just about the whole of Casablanca (1942) might be worth mentioning here.
: What's your favorite scene set in a pub, tavern, or alehouse?
Hmmm. Looking at my top three films of all time, I don't see any scenes in pubs, taverns or alehouses, per se. Though a couple scenes might come close.
Lawrence of Arabia (1962) has a scene in the officers' lounge that I've always liked ("We want two large glasses of lemonade." "This is a bar for British officers!" "That's alright, we're not particular." "Lawrence! Are you off your head?" "No, oddly enough, I'm not." . . . "We've taken Aqaba." "Taken Aqaba? Who has?" "We have. Our side in this war have. The wogs have. We have. He likes your lemonade.").
The Family Way (1966) begins with a wedding reception where the groom's father gets rather drunk and loudmouthed and somewhat embarrasses his son (in a scene that nicely sets up the antagonism between them, which is handled very skilfully throughout the rest of the movie and pays off handsomely in the film's final, and for me very emotional, scene). I guess that scene MIGHT take place in a pub, since, after the bride and groom have snuck away to take a long quiet stroll back to the groom's home (he lives with his parents, and this is where he and his bride will spend the wedding night), a man strolls through the reception saying, "Time, gentlemen, please," and so the groom's father decides to move the party back to his place ... and they get there before the bride and groom do.
I don't think there are any pub scenes in The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) whatsoever. A swanky nightclub scene in the movie-within-a-movie, yes (and a very funny one, to boot), but that's not really the same thing, is it?
Just about the whole of Casablanca (1942) might be worth mentioning here.
Two VERY different scenes come to mind.
The Muppet Movie - The El Sleazo Cafe
and
The Straight Story - Where two old veterans swap stories of guilt.
The Muppet Movie - The El Sleazo Cafe
and
The Straight Story - Where two old veterans swap stories of guilt.
Raiders of the Lost Ark
INDY (weakly): Whisky?
INDY (weakly): Whisky?
That's easy: It's A Wonderful Life--by a landslide.
Nick: Hey look, mister - we serve hard drinks in here for men who want to get drunk fast, and we don't need any characters around to give the joint "atmosphere". Is that clear, or do I have to slip you my left for a convincer?
Nick: Hey look, mister - we serve hard drinks in here for men who want to get drunk fast, and we don't need any characters around to give the joint "atmosphere". Is that clear, or do I have to slip you my left for a convincer?
Most unsettling: The Ninth Configuration.
Most delightful: Ed Wood.
Most delightful: Ed Wood.
Wow, I'd forgotten about Ed Wood.
And that reminds, me, for some reason, of the opening scene in Werckmeister Harmonies!
And that reminds, me, for some reason, of the opening scene in Werckmeister Harmonies!
The bar scene where Damiel and Marion meet for the first time in Wings of Desire.
Eddie Murphy announces, "There's a new sheriff in town... and his name's Reggie Hammond. Y'all be cool!", from 48 Hrs.
Eddie Murphy announces, "There's a new sheriff in town... and his name's Reggie Hammond. Y'all be cool!", from 48 Hrs.
* William H. Macy/ Donnie in Magnolia with Supertramp playing in the background. He dreams of getting braces so he can get the (male) bartender to notice him. Culminating in Donnie by himself in the bathroom mumbling about "sins of the father".
* Deniro/ Johnny Boy in Mean Streets entering the bar in slo-mo while "Jumping Jack Flash" by the Stones plays in the background.
* Paul Schneider in All the Real Girls, smashing his beer glass and asking "Did you ever see an animal make a mistake?" when he realizes he's screwed up with a Zoe Deschanel.
* Deniro/ Johnny Boy in Mean Streets entering the bar in slo-mo while "Jumping Jack Flash" by the Stones plays in the background.
* Paul Schneider in All the Real Girls, smashing his beer glass and asking "Did you ever see an animal make a mistake?" when he realizes he's screwed up with a Zoe Deschanel.
The bar scene in Star Wars, Episode IV.
Denny
Denny
"I really do have a lot of love to give"
"He doesn't like you...I don't like you either"
The Wicker Man.
Oh and one from "Second COming" that I don't think anyone else has seen.
Matt
"He doesn't like you...I don't like you either"
The Wicker Man.
Oh and one from "Second COming" that I don't think anyone else has seen.
Matt
The only flaw in THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES, when Nick Cave strolls through the bar, singing and strumming in a most anachronistic style.
But that's not the question. You wanted most, not least, favourites.
First to come to mind was MAGNOLIA. Second was STAR WARS. Now I'm thinking of 13 CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ONE THING.
But that's not the question. You wanted most, not least, favourites.
First to come to mind was MAGNOLIA. Second was STAR WARS. Now I'm thinking of 13 CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ONE THING.
IKIRU: "Ecce homo – behold this man. This man bears a cross called cancer. He's Christ. If you were diagnosed with cancer, you'd die on the spot. But not this fellow. That's the moment he started living. Right?"
Brilliant call!
We were speaking of Danny Boyle on that other thread and I remembered that Trainspotting's "Worst Toilet in Scotland" is in a bar.
Matt
Matt
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