Old Yeller. The puppycide takes place off screen, but that doesn't make it any less heartbreaking. Look at that doggy face. Go ahead. Every time I do, my throat closes a little.
Brian's Song. Maybe it's a Chicago thing, but the short life of Brian Piccolo, like Walter Payton, has the power to make grown men cry. I know that I once welled up in a bank when the theme was played on the Muzak overhead. The death scene has James Caan as Brian, acknowledging that he has lost his brave battle with cancer by saying, "Can you believe this?" and then closing his eyes. The movie ends with a voice over: "Brian Piccolo died of cancer at the age of 26. He left a wife and three daughters. He also left a great many loving friends who miss and think of him often. But when they think of him, it's not how he died that they remember - but how he lived."
The Godfather. Thinking of James Caan, he also had a very famous death scene in the causeway. Sonny, Sonny, Sonny, your temper always got the best of you!
Bonnie and Clyde. Oh. My. God. It's so violent, so inevitable, so awful. It begins with Clyde looking up at the birds and suddenly knowing what it means. His eyes lock with Bonnie's, and she realizes it, too, and looks at him with such love. Then the shooting starts. It's hard to describe how jarring this scene is upon first viewing (or how liberally Coppola borrowed from it for Sonny's murder in the causeway).
Psycho. Speaking of iconic death scenes, who can forget Janet Leigh's beautiful, horrified face as she tries to defend herself from mother's knife in the shower?
oh yes--Old Yeller was a definite tear jerker!
ReplyDeleteBonnie and Clyde--so horrific it can't leave the memory
Brian's song--very noble
and psycho--very scary
nice pics this week
Right up there with Old Yeller...The Yearling. *Sniff*
ReplyDeleteMy list is here.
Hi Gal-
ReplyDeleteI want to thank you for playing Sunday Stealing. We are excited to announce our new Friday meme, The Dating Profiles Meme, and I'm inviting you to give it a shot. Every Friday we will find 10 of the strangest, lamest profile quotes from sites like Match.com or Yahoo Personals. We will choose gender neutral statements. This meme will ask you to give an honest reply or quip to the statement. Married or single, we know you'll enjoy it!
And whether you join us this Friday or not, thanks for playing with us Sundays.
Cheers!
Judd
Great, memorable deaths!
ReplyDeleteHi Gal,
ReplyDeletePlease join us for The Queen's Meme on Tuesday! #14 ~ Do You Believe In Magic? Hope to see you there.
Wow - it's like a Meme Ad Board over here ;0)
ReplyDeleteAs for Disney being a sadist, I never thought of that - considering Bambi, Old Yeller, even The Lion King (which can't be blamed on him but it was his trend after all). But as I was raised enjoying all of his films my mom made sure to point out how sexist he was. Death and sexism - just what you want in a children's movie ;0)