Yesterday I wrote a piece on my notion of a good death. One commenter rightfully pointed out the best possible death is “going down in a lightsaber fight against a Sith Lord, and then coming back as a sage spirit in the sequels but NEVER in a prequel.” Amen to that.
Well that got me thinking of the best death scenes in movies. I don’t like to use the word cinema as it seems snooty to me. Am I the only one? Anyway, what are your favorite death scenes in the movies. Here are some of my favorites in no particular order.
The Mission Opening scene where the Jesuit missionary gets sent over the falls on a cross.
Braveheart. Two scenes. First when Wallace’s wife has her throat so casually cut as she desperately searches the hillside for her husband who never comes. And of course the end when being eviscerated and tortured, Mel screams freedom. Plus, the death scene has a little person in it. Extra star just for that.
Goodfellas murder montage and Tommy getting whacked. There was nothing we could do.
The Last of the Mohicans 2 scenes. First when Heyward sacrifices himself and Hawkeye shoots him and when Uncas fights and loses to Magua but daddy takes care of business.
True Romance. Walken & Hopper. ’nuff said.
Life is beautiful when Guido marches off to be shot while still protecting his son from the horror.
American History X. The curb scene. This is remarkable for its shocking brutality.
Steel Magnolias. I like to see Julia Roberts die. I rewind. Play. Rewind. Play. Rewind. Play.
Boromir in LOTR (Agreeing with Nzie)
Anybody says Titanic and they are banned from the blog. I mean it.
Oh and the entire movie of Weekend at Bernies. The first one. After that it just got silly.
So what am I missing? What are your favorite scenes?
December 21, 2008 at 1:24 am
The Champ.
Viviene Leigh in Waterloo Bridge – brilliant film.
James Cagney in Angels with Dirty Faces.
Imitation of Life – coffin scene with wayward daughter throwing herself on it.
All the death scenes in Shenandoah.
The Green Mile.
The old soldier dying in that film with Shirley Temple set in India – she wears a little kilt.
December 21, 2008 at 3:05 am
The death of Father Damien Karras at the end of “The Exorcist”. It is so heart wrenching as he is absolved of his sins by a fellow priest by just squeezing his hand. “The Exorcist” is truly a great movie that treats the Catholic priesthood with much respect. If you have not seen it lately, get the Director’s Cut version that replaces some deleted scenes and changes the ending for the better (I think). A great Good vs. Evil movie with Catholic heroes on the Good Team.
December 21, 2008 at 8:14 am
The massive hail of arrows striking down Jet Li’s character in Hero, leaving a silhouette where the arrows struck him instead of the wall.
The scene in Black Hawk Down where SFC Randy Shughart and MSgt Gary Gordon were overrun by Somalians, while trying to protect CWO Mike Durant.
Ofelia’s death at the end of Pan’s Labyrinth. Tragically touching.
December 21, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Braveheart? Puhleeze! Young, beautiful girl tied up and meets violent death? Why didn’t Mel just get it over with and just tie her to railroad tracks and put a top-hat and handle-bar moustache on King Edward? Well, I suppose there is one difference–today we sometimes let the young beautiful girl get run over by the train to turn the lead into victim-hero. Blech!
December 21, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Sean Connery singing in the Man Who Would be King.
December 22, 2008 at 8:00 am
JoeK,
I have ‘The Mission’ on VCR. When Fr. Gabriel is shot and the monstrance falls from his hands, one of his flock immediately picks it up and the faithful continue walking. That is not a depiction of a good death, but of martyrdom.
After that, I suppose I’m with the commentor who mentioned Randy Quaid in ‘Independence Day’ – ‘Hi boys, I’m baaaaack!’
December 22, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I suppose it exposes some character flaw, but I rather enjoy when the Princess of Wales informs the stroke-ridden LongShanks that the King and his son have been cuckolded and Wallace’s seed will sit on the throne.
December 22, 2008 at 4:32 pm
The death of Mrs. Wallace in Braveheart and the death of Prince Edward’s boyfriend in the same.
The death of O’Rourke and Colonel Thusday in Ft. Apache.
The death of Jason Robrds in Once Upon a Time in the West.
December 23, 2008 at 2:43 am
The Passion of Joan of Arc
December 23, 2008 at 11:03 pm
The death of the child in Kubrick’s “Barry Lyndon” – with soaring Handel and a fantastic cut to his coffin being borne on a carriage – is probably the best death scene I’ve ever seen. You can watch it on YouTube, but the whole film is worth watching:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=OQsm4wfoTnk
February 9, 2009 at 11:50 am
John Creasy – man on fire
(remake 2004) version. that final scene on the bridge. absolutely rivetting.