Music in Film - some exceptional moments

Musical moments in film
Music is, and has always been, a big part of movies. (Thank you Captain Obvious, I know.) Even in the days of Silent film, the movie would be accompanied by music played by a pianist, organist, or in some cases an orchestra. In the golden age of talking pictures, music was composed and/or compiled for films to help build scene and ambiance, which is a tool of filmmaking that is still used to this day, This is something I talk about in most of my reviews; the quality of the music composed or compiled for the films and how it helps to build the atmosphere of the movie overall. But what about those memorable movie scenes where a song or a melody is used for a few minutes of the film to convey a character’s emotion, set the mood for a scene, or make us laugh? When the action and the music of a moment fit together perfectly what results is the kind of scenes that go on to represent the movie in award shows or retrospectives, and stick in our minds making us want to hear more from the artist behind the piece of music used in the scene. Here is a list of some of my favorite musical moments in film. (Might wanna grab a snack.)

Caddyshack - The scene is a choreographed water ballet in the country club pool set to the “Waltz of the Flowers” from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker.

Reservoir Dogs - A now famous scene involves Mr. Blonde cutting the ear off of a bound and gagged police officer while dancing to Steeler’s Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle with You.”

Fight Club - “Where is My Mind?” by The Pixies is playing while a pair of buildings is demolished in slow motion while the observers watch from an apartment window, as if the very reality of what they’re seeing is in question.

Revenge of the Nerds - The Lambda Lambda Lambda fraternity scores a major victory by performing a high production rap number during their university’s homecoming carnival and winning control of their student government.

Cool Hand Luke - After learning of the death of his mother, Luke sits alone strumming a banjo and sings “Plastic Jesus” as a tear falls from his eye, which shows him to be a human being with a heart that can feel pain, and not just a rebellious troublemaker.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off - Another famous movie scene sees our hero appear on a parade float and lip sync to the songs “Danke Shoen” by Wayne Newton and then “Twist and Shout” by The Beatles.

Dirty Dancing - Arguably, the most famous scene in the film is the final dance sequence. But, my favorite musical moment comes in the middle of the film where Johnny and Baby dance to Solomon Burke’s “Cry to Me.”

Sixteen Candles - Farmer Ted attempts to seduce Sam by “dancing” to Oingo Boingo’s “Wild Sex” which ends…embarrassingly for our lovable geek.

A Clockwork Orange - Another famous scene comes when Malcolm McDowell croons “Singing in the Rain” while he and his “droogs” assault a couple in their own home. While campy and somewhat laughable at first, the scene becomes more and more disturbing as McDowell sings happily and prepares to rape the lady of the house, while showing his glee at causing harm and pain to complete strangers.

Batman (1989) - The Joker and his goons walk into the Gotham City Museum of Art and defaces paintings and sculptures while dancing along to Prince’s “Party Man.” It sounds like the start of a joke, but it is the Joker we are talking about, and the scene is a classic.

Adventures In Babysitting - This is one of my mother’s favorites. To get through a Chicago blues bar and escape her pursuers, Elizabeth Shue must sing a blues number. So, she belts out the “Babysitting Blues” with the help of Keith Coogan, Anthony Rapp, Maia Brewton, and of course, Bo Diddly.

The Big Lebowski - The Dude has been drugged and passed out. While he sleeps he dreams of staring in a Broadway number/porno by name of “Gutterballs,” the opening song of which is “Just Dropped in (To See What Condition my Condition was in” by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition.

The Silence of the Lambs - A unsettling scene in which Buffalo Bill is dancing naked in front of a camera is made all the more disturbing with Q. Lazarus’s “Goodbye Horses” in the background.

American Psycho - Pat Bateman builds his way up to hacking his business rival to death by playing as discussing the song “Hip to be Square” by Huey Lewis and the News in this gruesomely comical scene.

Blue Velvet - A creepy performance takes place in an already tense situation when the character of Ben the Pimp lip syncs to Roy Orbison’s “In Dreams.”

Trainspotting - This film has a good example of how a song can set a scene. The opening scene of the film has Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, and Johnny Lee Miller running from the police to the tune of “Lust for Life” by Iggy Pop, creating a high energy ambience with a air of humor. Later in the movie, the same scene takes place with Blur’s “Sing” playing in the background, which creates a much more somber atmosphere and conveys desperation and sadness. Same scene, different songs, much different impact.

History of the World Pt. 1 - Between the Roman Empire and the French revolution comes an event known as “The Inquisition” which sees the grand inquisitor torture and abuse Jews in an attempt to convert them to Christianity, while performing a Broadway style musical number.

Napoleon Dynamite - Jon Heder improvised his dance scene to the tune of “Canned Heat” by Jamiroquai at the end of the film. Another memorable scene has Napoleon performing alongside the “Happy Hands Club” to the tune of “The Rose” by Bette Midler.

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective - Given the target audience for this film (fans of In Living Color and Friends for example) one would not expect to find death metal on the soundtrack. But, in a scene where the lead character goes to seek help from a friend, the band Cannibal Corpse is on stage belting out “Hammer Smashed Face.”

Office Space - A now famous scene involves Peter, Michael, and Samir issuing a beat down to a faulty printer in slow motion to the tune of “Still” by Geto Boys.

Wayne’s World - The scene where Wayne, Garth, and the crew head bang to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” is not my favorite, but I acknowledge it as a cinema classic.

The Full Monty - While the final striptease is a classic, the scene that sticks out in my mind involves the gentlemen break out into dance in the unemployment line when Donna Summers’s “Hot Stuff” comes over the radio.

The Crow - A truly memorable action sequence ensues as Brandon Lee takes on a group of thugs and bangers in a nightclub office while My Life With the Thrill Kill Cult performs “After the Flesh” on the main stage.

Apocalypse Now - “The End” by The Doors comes both in the beginning as we see a Vietnamese landscape get firebombed and at the end where Martin Sheen, having lost his mind, murders Marlon Brando.

Of course, this is just a few of the great ones out there. What’s your favorite?