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#1

Snappy Dialogue Movies

I'm looking to watch (or rewatch) some of the old movies that had snappy, witty dialogue. Probably many from the '30s and '40s. What are your favorites?
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#2

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

Anything with Astaire and Rogers is always very snappy. Also, what was that one with Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell? The newspaper one? Also It Happened One Night. Yay!
You promised me poems. ~Tricky
#3

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

The newspaper one is "His Girl Friday".

I'd have to say ALL of The Thin Man movies with William Powell and Myrna Loy. They've always been favorites of mine.
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mamie4 5/14/03
#5

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

All About Eve...Whatever Happened to Baby Jane...Steel Magnolias. (One of these things is not like the other!)
Suzanne: I never use catalogs. I'd rather go in the store and see all the salespeople groveling and sucking up to you. Julia: Pardon me, I never knew they were so solicitous at the K-Mart.
#6

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

Oooh, sherman, The Women! Nice one!
You promised me poems. ~Tricky
#7

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

The Philadelphia Story
Casablanca
All About Eve
Sullivan's Travels
Double Indemnity
Laura
Some Like it Hot
#8

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

Marx Brothers movies, definitely

A silly but amusing contemporary film in that style is "Brain Donors"

Grosse Point Blanke (contemporary) also has a lot of sharp dialogue between John Cusack and Dan Aykroyd

other than that, the ones listed in posts above are great
"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men" - Willy Wonka
#9

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

I would also suggest "Stage Door" and any comedy with Rosalind Russell.
#10

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

Everything everyone suggested plus...

Charade (the original with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn - not the remake!)

Pulp Fiction (contemporary)

ETA: Just a caveat - if you haven't seen Pulp Fiction, it has strong language and violence so it's not for everyone. But the dialogue is well-orchestrated! I put this caveat here in the event someone young reads this thread and says "gee, think I'll check that out!" Don't want to mislead anyone...



Updated On: 1/10/06 at 05:17 PM

#11

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

Ooh, I love Charade. Anyway, the remake was called The Truth About Charlie, I think, so it's hard to mix them up.

Updated On: 1/10/06 at 05:27 PM

#12

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn on the same screen? It's like heaven!

Thanks Plum - good point on the remake's name. I had forgotten what it was called.

Updated On: 1/10/06 at 05:28 PM

#13

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

Murder by Death.

Maggie Smith is hilarious.
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#14

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

The Awful Truth
Any of the Goldigger movies of the 1930's (33,35,37)
42nd Street
BabyFace

I'm trying to come up with ones that are available for viewing on DVD..some of the best dialogue is in pre-codes, most of which are not readily available.
"My dreams, watching me said, one to the other...this life has let us down."
#15

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

I have to third The Women. One of my favorite movies.

I really can't add any... just agree with those already posted.
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Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. - Randy Pausch

#18

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

DESK SET
" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."
#19

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

"Midnight" - Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche & John Barrymore

Written by Bracket & Wilder... and absolutely brilliant.

Favorite line: "That hat does something for your face... Oh, I know, it gives you a chin."
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
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#20

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

THE LADY EVE. "I need him like the axe needs the turkey."

WHAT'S UP, DOC? "Yeah, you know, with a hyphen?"

THEODORA GOES WILD

THE AWFUL TRUTH

THE PALM BEACH STORY "The only thing permanent nowadays dear is Roosevelt."

MY MAN GODFREY



Do you know what happens when you let Veal Prince Orloff sit in an oven too long?
#21

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

The first two things I thought of were the already-oft-mentioned "His Girl Friday" and "The Women." Both are musts.
"In my own little corner..."
#22

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

Adding:
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
&
Pillow Talk
" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."
#23

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

"The Front Page" There were a few versions of it through the years. The most recent one was in the 80s with Kathleen Turner and Burt Reynolds, called "Switching Channels."
#24

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

Oh, my favorite snappish line from any movie will probably forever be:

"You are physically repulsive, intellectually retarded, you're morally reprehensable, vulgar, insensitive, selfish, stupid, you have no taste, a lousy sense of humor, and you smell!"

One of the few redeeming lines from The Witches of Eastwick.
Pretty pretty please don't you ever ever feel like you're less than f**ckin' perfect!
#25

re: Snappy Dialogue Movies

The best screen version of The Front Page is "His Girl Friday" when the roles switched gender.

A brilliant film.. and a "must' on this list (particularly for any Roz Russell and Cary Grant fans).

EDIT: I mentioned "Midnight" earlier, because it's fairly obscure. After you see it, you'll be scratching your head as to why. It's a minor masterpiece... and a "modern" take on Cinderella (circa 1939).
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

Updated On: 1/10/06 at 08:52 PM

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