"You Talkin' To Me?": Our Ten Favorite Unscripted Movie Moments
Sometimes the best moments in life are those which are unplanned or unexpected and it seems this is also true in the movies. As it happens some of favorite movie scenes didn't exactly turn out as they were scripted, instead the actors had a moment of inspiration on set leading to some memorable movie magic. Here’s 10 of our favourite unscripted and improvised screen moments.
Goodfellas
Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta were given free reign by Scorsese in their famous restaurant scene. Pesci based the entire exchange on a real life encounter he had with a gangster, where he made the mistake of telling him he was funny. All the dialogue was improvised and none of the other actors knew what was going to happen, making their reactions extra authentic.
The Shining
There’s no doubt that axe wielding Jack Nicholson chopping through a bathroom door in The Shinning is one of cinema’s most iconic scenes. But would it be so well remembered if it wasn't for Nicholson exclaiming Ed McMahon’s famous ‘Tonight Show’ catchphrase, “Here’s Johnny”? Maybe not, but rather than this being part of Kubrick’s original script, this line was actually an improvisation by Nicholson.
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The Dark Knight
Sometimes the most simple touches to a character are the most effective, as Heath Ledger proved more than once during his performance as the Joker. Once such moment, which was entirely improvised on Ledger’s part, was the infamous slow clap delivered from his jail cell. The improv was perfect for the character, creepy and very unsettling.
Zoolander
"Why male models?”, asks Ben Stiller’s Derek Zoolander, when David Duchovny is explaining the role of the fashion industry in political assignations. The question was so potent that even after Duchovny delivered the answer, Stiller asked again. The real reason behind Stiller’s repeat question was simply that he had forgotten his next line so he decided to repeat his last one. Duchovny ad-libbed with "Are you kidding? I just told you like a minute ago.” making one of the movie’s funniest exchanges.
Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark
It turns out that the one thing Indiana Jones can’t defeat is food poisoning. Ok this one might be more Harrison than Indy but it led to a last minute script change that created an iconic scene. Originally when Indy ran into the swordsman dressed in black the two were meant to have a long fight. But when Ford found himself struck down with a bout of food poisoning, he wasn't feeling up to too much action and the scene was changed. Thus Indy and his revolver made short work of the sword wielding villain.
Next: Jaws, Mars Attacks and The Empire Strikes Back go unscripted
Taxi Driver
The script for Travis Bickle’s infamous mirror scene simply read,"Travis talks to himself in the mirror”, the rest was up to DeNiro. During filming, DeNiro dreamt up the infamous line, “You talking to me?” and thus a movie catchphrase was born.
Mars Attacks
Did you think the Mars Attacks script contained a whole alien language? Well actually it contained no dialogue for the martians whatsoever. Instead it was up to actor Frank Welker to create his own alien language.
Jaws
Roy Scheider’s reaction to the sheer size of the great white shark has got to be one of cinema’s most memorable lines. But “You're going to need a bigger boat,” wasn't in the original Jaws script, that was one Scheider made up on the spot.
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Dr Strangelove
Peter Sellers improvised much of the dialogue in Dr Strangelove, where he took on the roles of three different characters. One unexpected moment was when the wheelchair-bound ex-Nazi Dr Strangelove, as if by magic rose from his chair and began to walk at the end of the film. Exclaiming "Mein Führer! I can walk!”, this comic moment wasn't in the script, but simply came after Sellers’ forgot’ his character wasn't able to walk.
Star Wars :The Empire Strikes Back
When you tell someone you love them the last response you probably want is an “I know”, but sadly for Princess Leia that’s all she got from Han Solo. The script actually had Han respond with the much more romantic, “I love you too”, but Harrison Ford didn't feel this fitted with Solo’s character so George Lucas allowed him to respond as he saw fit. Ford decided Hans was the kind of man to say “I know”, rather than get into anything too emotional.