Top 10 Iconic Quotes from Classic Hollywood Movies
#10: “I’m walkin’ here!” “Midnight Cowboy” (1969)
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“Midnight Cowboy” came out at the end of the 1960s, sporting a controversial X-rating for its tale of a wannabe hustler moving to New York City. Jon Voight’s unsuccessful hero Joe Buck strikes up an unlikely partnership with Dustin Hoffman’s con artist Ratso Rizzo. During a scene where the two walk across a city street, a cab almost runs them over and Hoffman offers up this notable line in response. It both captures the danger of the big city and Rizzo’s frantic personality in a highlight from the Oscar-winning masterpiece. While Hoffman claims the line was improvised, director John Schlesinger doesn’t quite remember it the same way. Regardless, it still packs a punch as one of the movie’s funniest moments.
#9: “Rosebud” “Citizen Kane” (1941)
Spoken in the first scene of the movie, Charles Foster Kane's final word provides the inspiration for the rest of "Citizen Kane." A reporter investigates the character's life and attempts to find out the origin of the statement, delving into the magnate’s complicated journey from innocent child to rich businessman. It takes the length of the entire film to figure out the meaning of the word, which is eventually revealed to be the trade name of Kane’s childhood sled. As it becomes more prominent through the flames of the furnace, the true meaning of the line hits like a gut punch. It's a powerful metaphor for long-lost youth that punctuates an important milestone in Hollywood filmmaking.
#8: “Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.” “All About Eve” (1950)
Arguably the most insightful look into the greed of show business, “All About Eve” stands as an impressive showcase for a performer like Bette Davis. Her character, Margo Channing - an aging actress anxious about her future in the biz - trades both piercing and witty lines throughout the film. This party scene wouldn’t be complete without her iconic phrase warning the attendees of the impending celebration. Davis’ tongue-in-cheek delivery fits the part beautifully, establishing her role with an excellent attention to detail and believability. Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s dialogue is outstanding in its own right, but it’s Davis’ performance that enshrines it as one of the most laudable contributions to American cinema.
#7: “You know how to whistle… just put your lips together and blow.” “To Have and Have Not” (1944)
Based on an Ernest Hemingway novel, “To Have and Have Not” was the film debut for Lauren Bacall, who starred opposite the more recognized actor Humphrey Bogart. The on-screen chemistry between the two is palpable throughout the film, virtually flying off the charts in this scene. Just before she exits the room, Bacall leaves Bogart with one passing remark that carries quite the suggestive quality to it. The actress’ ideas about whistling obviously interested co-star Bogart, who later got married to her till he passed away in 1957. This seductive quote reminds audiences of the magic that happens when a script and performance are in complete sync with one another.
#6: “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.” “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946)
“It’s a Wonderful Life” is a holiday classic that follows George Bailey, a miserable man who learns about the wonders of living from his guardian angel. After he is taken through an alternate reality in which he never existed, Bailey quickly realizes his importance in the world. He reunites with his family in a touching end scene, during which Bailey’s daughter delivers this classic saying after a bell on the Christmas tree rings. Saluting the entity who saved his life, the grateful hero finds himself reminded of his earlier run-in with his spiritual guide. The memorable sentiment carries on to this day, as the quote has now become a part of many families’ December traditions.
#5: “Stella! Hey Stella!” “A Streetcar Named Desire” (1951)
Tennessee Williams's play received an iconic screen adaptation featuring several cast members from the stage production. This included names like Karl Malden, Kim Hunter, and a young Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski. The extraordinary actor uses one of his early screen appearances to full effect. Playing the abusive Kowalski, Brando remorsefully cries out the name of his character’s wife after hurting her. The scene became instantly recognizable across film culture and continues to inspire many would-be drama students to this day. “A Streetcar Named Desire” ended up putting two lines from its dialogue on ‘AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes,’ with this one ranking at number 45.
#4: “I could’ve been a contender…” “On the Waterfront” (1954)
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It’s quite easy to see why Marlon Brando won the Oscar for “On the Waterfront.” The film, which detailed union corruption in New Jersey, starred Brando as Terry Malloy, a former boxer who throws a fight at the behest of his brother Charley, to benefit a mob boss. In this now iconic scene, Malloy sits in the back of a car with Charley and gives a spellbinding monologue about how much he regrets that decision. Malloy places all his hopes, dreams, and failures into this one speech, declaring to his brother, as well as himself and the audience, that he could have been great. The actor brings a profound realism to this performance, serving as a testament to his immense acting prowess.
#3: “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” “Gone with the Wind” (1939)
The cinematic epic “Gone with the Wind” features an extensive runtime, but rewards audiences who stick around with the comeback of all comebacks. Caught in a love triangle with his wife Scarlett O’Hara and Ashley Wilkes, Clark Gable’s Rhett Butler finally decides to leave O’Hara behind in this climactic sequence. O’Hara tries to convince Butler to stick around and questions him about the future, prompting a particularly blunt line from the latter. Butler’s turn and subsequent disappearance into the morning fog really encapsulate the film’s title, and only elevate the scene even more. The character’s contempt for his partner in this moment never fails to send a message, making the long wait well worth it.
#2: “...We’re not in Kansas anymore.” “The Wizard of Oz” (1939)
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One of the most exceptional musical fantasy films in Hollywood history, “The Wizard of Oz” set off the imaginations of countless viewers. In the movie, Dorothy and her dog Toto end up in a magical land unlike their Kansas farm home. Observing the elaborate set, Judy Garland’s heroine stops to say this immortal phrase. It’s now become part of the pop culture lexicon, slightly edging out another worthy line about Dorothy’s homesickness. Variations of this quote still can be used for any number of situations, including when something significant has happened or someone arrives in a different place. Garland’s delivery underscores the wonder of the scene and foreshadows many more adventures to come in the enduring classic.
#1: “Here’s looking at you, kid.” “Casablanca” (1942)
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Bringing together two of Hollywood’s greatest stars, “Casablanca” cemented its place as one of Hollywood’s most revered romantic films. This now iconic quote pops up at multiple points of the film, said by Humphrey Bogart’s character Rick to his love interest, Ilsa, played by Ingrid Bergman. It’s mainly remembered as the parting words between the couple, as they share their final moments on an airport tarmac. While it may not seem like the most romantic line at first glance, the way it’s delivered as well as Bergman’s reaction to it, make it an instant tearjerker. It’s an especially effective quote in a script chock-full of iconic dialogue, such as the climactic exchange between the hero and Captain Renault.
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