Top 10 Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Moments
#10: Rick Meets Mr. Schwarzs
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At the start of the film, actor Rick Dalton meets with a quirky talent agent named Marvin Schwarzs. Schwarzs immediately gushes about the actor’s career. While they talk, we get hilarious flashbacks to Rick’s TV show, his cheesy commercial, and an over-the-top scene where he unleashes a flamethrower on Nazi soldiers. But after heaping praise, Schwarz warns Rick that if he keeps playing bad guys and bit parts he’ll fade into obscurity. Rick does not take it well. His sobering conversation with Schwarzs was a great way to kick off the film. It showed us who Rick was while establishing what was at stake for him.
#9: Sharon Tate Goes to the Movies
Sharon Tate decides to take a break from running errands to watch her recently released movie “Wrecking Crew”. After an awkward interaction, the theater staff realizes who she is and lets her in for free. Tate loves every minute of the movie-going experience. She eagerly looks around to see how the audience reacts, laughs at the jokes, and does her fight choreography as it plays on the big screen. What makes her trip to the movies especially poignant is that Margot Robbie didn’t play Tate in the “Wrecking Crew” movie scenes. Tarantino used footage of the real Sharon Tate instead. Having Margot Robbie watch Sharon Tate was a beautiful and subtle tribute to an actress lost too soon.
#8: Cliff’s Nightly Routine
After a day of driving his boss around town, stuntman Cliff Booth heads home. His trailer home, ironically located behind a drive-in theater, is occupied by his loving pit bull, Brandy. After presenting her with a bone, he prepares mac and cheese while making her an elaborate dinner. Despite Brandy’s hunger, she waits until Cliff gives the order before eating. While the scene contains little dialogue, it speaks volumes about Cliff. He cares more about the obedient Brandy’s diet than his own. His love for Brandy pays off hugely in the film’s climax. And comparing Cliff’s small dwelling to Rick's swanky Hollywood house shows us the huge wealth gap between the two men. If Rick fails, Cliff’s humble life could fall apart.
#7: Rick Beats Himself Up
There are few things that frustrate an actor more than forgetting their lines. Unfortunately, Rick keeps flubbing his lines while playing a villain on the TV show “Lancer”. After delaying the shoot several times, he returns to his trailer and has a huge tantrum. Rick throws several objects, criticizes his drinking habits, and starts weeping. At one point he even threatens... himself? Rick's breakdown is a fantastic combination of funny dialogue, improv from Leo, and great physical comedy. Despite the hilarity of the scene, we can't help feeling a little bit sorry for Rick - and hopeful that he can get back on track.
#6: Rick’s Fantastic Performance
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Rick returns to set after his breakdown with a blistering performance. The scene is deceptively simple. Rick is playing an outlaw who holds a little girl for ransom. But he brings a lot of layers to the role this time around, going from charming to menacing at a moment’s notice. He’s become so comfortable with his character that he improvs lines without missing a beat. Although we were all laughing at Rick when we saw him in his trailer, he feels like a genuine threat during the shoot. By the time the scene concludes, Rick has earned every ounce of praise he receives.
#5: Trudi Meets Rick
The most intimidating actor on “Lancer” was eight-year-old Trudi Fraser. When Rick meets her on set, she refuses to give her real name so she can stay in character. After discussing her serious acting philosophy, she displays her intelligence by reading a biography on Walt Disney and coaching Rick on how to pronounce his character’s name. While Trudi initially comes off as a strict professional, she’s willing to comfort her co-star when he has a midlife crisis. Child actor Julia Butters did an excellent job at bringing out so many sides of Trudi in such a short scene. Although Tarantino doesn’t usually do sequels, we’d love to see a spin off with Trudi Fraser.
#4: Rick & Cliff Watch “The F.B.I.”
One of Rick's numerous acting gigs was a guest role on an episode of “The F.B.I.” When Rick and Cliff sit down to watch it, we discover that Tarantino inserted footage of Leo into an actual episode of the show. The visual effects were incredibly convincing on their own. However, Rick and Cliff’s running commentary help make “The F.B.I.” episode feel even more authentic. While this scene initially seems like another fun peek behind the Hollywood curtains, it also helps convince Rick’s agent Schwarzs to put him in Spaghetti Westerns. Once again, Tarantino manages to quietly advance the plot while leaving us thoroughly entertained.
#3: Bruce Lee vs. Cliff Booth
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While waiting around on the lot of “The Green Hornet”, Cliff laughs at Bruce Lee’s claim he could defeat Mohammed Ali - then still known by his birth name, Cassius Clay. After the two men exchange words, they agree to a friendly sparring match. While Lee gets an advantage early on with a jumping kick, Cliff hilariously counters by throwing Lee into a car. Just when the fight is heating up, it's suddenly cut short. Once Janet - played by frequent Tarantino collaborator Zoe Bell - discovers the dent in her car, she loses her mind and gets Cliff fired. Although the scene drew some criticism for its portrayal of Bruce Lee as a cocky fighter, it still contained some praise-worthy choreography and humor.
#2: Cliff Goes to Spahn Ranch
Cliff once performed stunts on his old friend George Spahn’s ranch. When he discovers a group of hippies is now living there, he decides to check up on George. What the stuntman doesn’t know is the hippies are members of the Manson Family. Throughout the scene, creepy imagery and unsettling music seem to foreshadow that something terrible has happened to George. However, in a hilarious twist, it’s revealed that he was just sleeping. Unfortunately for Cliff, his curiosity gets him an earful from George and motivates a hippie named Steve to puncture his tire. After beating Steve up, Cliff makes him replace the tire before driving away. The entire sequence is a great bait-and-switch. Although Cliff leaves unharmed, it still feels like he’s in danger. Before we highlight our top pick, here are some honorable mentions. Did Cliff Kill His Wife? Charles Manson Appears Cliff Rejects Pussycat Sharon Tate Survives Steve McQueen
#1: Final Fight with the Manson Family
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Shortly after taking an acid laced cigarette at Rick’s house, Cliff finds himself surrounded by armed Manson family members Tex, Sadie and Katie. Just when it seems the stuntman is going down, he orders Brandy to attack. As Brandy viciously bites her enemies, Cliff uses quick thinking and his bare fists to brutally take out Tex and Katie. When a wounded Sadie runs into Rick’s backyard, Rick pulls out his flamethrower and ends her. This fight scene shocked everyone for its violence and huge departure from the tragic historical events. But whether audiences loved or hated this twist, the scene is undeniably the most talked about moment of the film.
