“Love Story,” the 1970 film starring Ali McGraw and Ryan O’Neal, contained one of the most memorable lines ever included in a movie.
I don’t have to shout it for most people to recall: “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”
That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard anyone say — at least every woman I know thinks so. I thought it was stupid when I heard McGraw say it in the movie theater and certainly I think so even more now, nearly 40 years later. I wonder how many men have tried to work that one — probably with no more success than the one time my husband did so in vain.
I don’t remember the circumstances now, but he did someting that miffed me and I complained, saying, “You could at least act like you’re sorry.”
“But love means never having to say you’re sorry,” Ed said pitifully, hoping to make me laugh, which I did eventually but not right away.
My counter-comment to it is: “Love means you’ll say you’re sorry a million times if you’re smart.”
Before “Love Story,” there was Clark Gable’s (Rhett Butler) 1939 shocking comment that is considered THE movie line of the 20th century. According to the American Film Institute, it’s the most memorable American movie quotation of all time.
You know the one I mean: “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”
I thought about blanking out part of the last word since I don’t use profanity in this column, but it would seem almost sacrilege to change one iota of the statement. That one rocked movie audiences for years and years and years.
Another classic bit was delivered by the president (Peter Sellers) in “Dr. Strangelove” when everybody in the scene is fighting. The big chief yells out: “Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the war room!”
“Casablanca,” that wonderful classic starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and so many other movie giants, produced a bevy of priceless quotes. Among them are:
“Round up the usual suspects.” (I’d love to know how many times we’ve used that one in the newsroom when something has broken and it’s involved a repeat offender, not necessarily for criminal activity but for a ridiculous misstep.)
Also from that flick is: “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.” Bogart’s famous line, incidentally, is among Courier editor Whit Jones’ favorites.
Some other gems from that movie, which is on my best films list, include:
•“Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” (Bogart’s line, of course, to Claude Rains.)
•“Play it, Sam. Play ‘As time Goes By.’” (Bergman’s line to piano man Dooley Wilson, who was really a drummer and faked playing the instrument during the filming. Elliot Carpenter actually was playing while hiding behind a curtain.
“The Wizard of Oz,” another film classic, produced more than its share of noteworthy lines, not the least of which is Dorothy’s (Judy Garland) words to Toto: “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
Then, of course, there is Dorothy’s classic: “There’s no place like home.”
The inimitable Bette Davis delivered an unforgettable gem in “All About Eve,” one of many films in which she proved no one could touch her for iciness. The line I mean was “Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
Then there’s the one-word gem uttered by Orson Wells in the immortal “Citizen Cane”: “Rosebud.”
Can we ever forget Sean Connery saying, in the crisp, deep tone that only he can deliver: “Bond. James Bond.” (They may put others in the role, but Connery is the REAL James Bond. Kind of like Johnny Weismuller, who was the REAL Tarzan.)
“Steel Magnolias,” the popular chick flick made from Robert Harling’s wonderful play, produced a number of quotable gems. Among these is: “That church looks like it’s been hosed down with Pepto Bismol.” Sally Field, as mother of the bride M’Lynn, delivered the line as she arrived at the church for her daughter’s wedding, which was strikingly similar to many Southern nuptial settings I’ve seen. (And let us not forget that Shelby’s chosen colors were “blush” and “bashful.” How truly Southern can you get!)
There also was the charming statement from Dolly Parton as beautician Truvy: “In a good shoe, I wear a size six. But a seven feels so good, I buy a size eight.”
But nothing said in that film, in my opinion, could top dingbat Anelle’s (Daryl Hannah) line as she pleads for a job in Truvy’s beauty parlor: “I promise that my personal tragedy will not interfere with my ability to do good hair.”
I couldn’t leave out Scarlett’s unforgettable line from “Gone with the Wind”: “As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again.” I’ve paraphrased that at least a zillion times, but I haven’t gone so far as to choke on a turnip.
In conclusion, I’ll share the words of George M. Cohan (James Cagney) in “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” one of my husband’s favorite films: “My mother thanks you. My father thanks you. My sister thanks you. And I thank you.”
It doesn’t get better than that.
Lynda Hollenbeck is associate editor of the Courier.
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