20 Dialogue-Free Movie Scenes to Remember

[Fezzik]

It's been 12 days since I let Torgo pick the topic of my first list on the new Match-Cut, and after a lot of research I'm about ready to start.

First, some parameters, because without them (as fasozupow noted) it becomes a list of the "top 25 shots of two or more people."

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1. Songs that are sung by characters in the film count as dialogue and their scenes are disqualified.

2. Songs sung over the background as part of the score do not count as dialogue.

3. Artistic silencing to eliminate the sound of dialogue count as "lacking
dialogue" for purposes of this list.

4. Vocal sounds other than words, such as screams and hums, do not disqualify the scene.

5. Scenes can be as short as a few seconds but can be longer.

6. A lot of these are from recent films, basically due to fuzzy memory and lack of availability of films I may have included on the list normally. This is why I didn't call it "The Top 20" because I am sure there are better ones I cannot remember at this moment. These are the ones that are ingrained in my brain today.

7. If I have remembered incorrectly and there /is/ dialogue in any of these scenes, please feel free to let me know, but be gentle


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Before we start though, a couple of honorable mentions....

[monolith94]

Awesome idea for a list...

[MacGuffin]

Hopefully, you're familiar with Taiwanese cinema.

[Fezzik]

Hopefully, you're familiar with Taiwanese cinema.

I do not think I've seen a single Taiwanese film, to be honest. If I have, I didn't know it.

Sorry

[origami_mustache]

Hopefully, you're familiar with Taiwanese cinema.

That's exactly what I was thinking as well.

[Sven]

I do not think I've seen a single Taiwanese film, to be honest. If I have, I didn't know it.

Sorry

If anything, I shall be glad at more popular films' representations on your list, rather than sitting through a(nother) parade of esoteric or obscure hits. Bring it on, my Fezziwik!

Note: I realize what your screen name actually is and what it's from. I just can't help but combine your moniker with the merry old fellow from Dickens whenever I see you post.

[MacGuffin]

I do not think I've seen a single Taiwanese film, to be honest. If I have, I didn't know it.

Sorry

You should certainly fix that. Taiwanese cinema is where it's at.

[MacGuffin]

If anything, I shall be glad at more popular films' representations on your list, rather than sitting through a(nother) parade of esoteric or obscure hits.

I'd much rather see a list of films I haven't heard of as oppose to a list of safe, mainstream choices.

[Spinal]

I'd much rather see a list of films I haven't heard of as oppose to a list of safe, mainstream choices.

It's just a thread on a movie discussion forum. Chill.

[Winston*]

[Boner M]

I'm more interested in a list of mainstream choices because memorable dialogue-free scenes are more rare, and thus more valuable (I guess...), in that domain.

[origami_mustache]

A list of this nature lends itself to more familiar choices. What good is it to reference scenes from films no one has seen. Recalling the scene is the fun of this kind of list. I do prefer seeing films I haven't seen or heard of in favorites list though.

[DSNT]

It's just a thread on a movie discussion forum. Chill.

Amen. I believe the Clipper Seaman deserves a hearty STFU.

[Sven]

I'm more interested in a list of mainstream choices because memorable dialogue-free scenes are more rare, and thus more valuable (I guess...), in that domain.

A list of this nature lends itself to more familiar choices. What good is it to reference scenes from films no one has seen. Recalling the scene is the fun of this kind of list.

Yeah, this is what I meant, really. I'm sure Hou Hsie Hsen and Tsai Ming Liang or however their names are spelled, have constructed entire films dedicated to silence. That's cool and all, but I'd like to see if Fezziwik can remind me of a time in a popular (read: mainstream and/or taken for granted) picture where the pictures lived up to that "thousand words" dictum.

[Fezzik]

HONORABLE MENTION #1

Film: Casablanca (1942)

Scene: "La Marseillaise"




Description: In response to German Major Strasser's commandeering of Sam's piano so that good strong "German" music could be played at Rick's bar, Victor Laszlo uses the house band to stage a defiant counterpoint - the French National anthem - that eventually has most of the bar singing along.

Corny? Yeah, probably, but even today the scene works. The emotions resonate.

The reason it's not on the list: It broke one of the rules (Characters singing)

[Fezzik]

HONORABLE MENTION #2

Film: Jurassic Park (1993)

Scene: Dinosaurs!




Description: After taking a short jeep ride down a forested trail, Dr. Hammond's guests are stopped in a clearing. Ellie marvels at a prehistoric plant she found while Ian Malcolm and Alan Grant catch something out of the corner of their eye.

I loved the way they stretched the suspense out a few seconds longer by focusing on Sam Neill as he took off his glasses and his expression changed from "whats that over there?" to "OMFG!"

The characters and the audience shared in the awe of seeing that first Brachiosaur and it helped make it a movie going experience I certainly won't forget.

As an added treat, some of John Williams' finer work plays over the scene and adds to its majesty.

The reason it's not on the list: A few words are spoken throughout, disqualifying it. Still, its a great example of a scene that really lets the picture tell the story.

[balmakboor]

What good is it to reference scenes from films no one has seen. Recalling the scene is the fun of this kind of list.

Yeh, I do hope though that obvious movies like 2001: ASO are sitting this one out in the penalty box.

[ledfloyd]

WTF a dinosaur!

[Raiders]

Yeh, I do hope though that obvious movies like 2001: ASO are sitting this one out in the penalty box.

Why? Those scenes are iconic for good reason. They deserve mention because they are among the best and it seems ridiculous to exclude them simply because they are "duh" selections.

[balmakboor]

Why? Those scenes are iconic for good reason. They deserve mention because they are among the best and it seems ridiculous to exclude them simply because they are "duh" selections.

I guess I just like to be surprised. Of course, if 2001 is represented here, it will be interesting to see what scene he singles out.

[Ezee E]

I look forward to this Taiwenese-less, mainstream list.

[Scar]

I look forward to this Taiwenese-less, mainstream list.

As do I.

[lovejuice]

damn the overuse of cgi in today industry. back then, wasn't it awesome just to look at this simple special effect? notice how clean the dinosaur is. this is not cutting egde by today standard, but hot damn i can still remembered that day i was in theatre starring at the screen.

[D_Davis]

Hopefully, you're familiar with Taiwanese cinema.

Goodbye Dragon Inn has like what, one line of dialog?

[balmakboor]

Goodbye Dragon Inn has like what, one line of dialog?

I know it had a shot of an empty movie theater that lasted longer than Gone With the Wind.