The Greatest Motion Picture Sequences -- Part 2
Continuing a series of articles where I reflect on the best motion picture sequences in film history, here are some more of the snippets from cinema history which I felt were the best of all time.
E.T. and Eliott fly in his bicycle from E.T. THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL (1982) -- Steven Spielberg's classic film E.T. is filled with some truly magical moments, but perhaps the best is this scene where Eliott, riding his bicycle with his new alien friend in front, lifts off the ground thanks to E.T.'s powers and rides over the forest, and of course, the famous shot over the moon. Accompanied by John Williams's soaring musical score, we all are embraced by the magic of our youth, and the wonder we had then. The wonder of experiencing something truly magical and special, which describes the entire experience of seeing E.T.
The opening crane shot all shot in one take from TOUCH OF EVIL (1958) -- Some call these kinds of shots just the directors showing off. But when done well, these scenes are true wonders of cinematic achievement. What I'm referring to is sequences where a film director shoots one seamless shot with no cuts or edits, meaning everything has to be timed exactly right -- one of the best earliest sequences of this type was Orson Welles's opening crane shot during the beginning credits for his film TOUCH OF EVIL. The shot moves around the dark city streets showing a variety of different action over about 3 or 4 minutes. It's a great opening shot, and a great achievement by Orson Welles.
Ending scene on the Statue of Liberty from SABOTEUR (1942) -- This is one of the most classic moments of thrills and tension from Alfred Hitchcock's broad range of film experiences. This thrilling ending takes place on the Statue of Liberty, where a man is hanging from the top of the great statue as another man attempts to rescue him. The scene is very quiet, with no music and very little dialogue. Once the man gets a hold of his sleeve, we think he'll be saved. But the sleeve slowly starts to tear until finally he falls. It's a classic Hitchcock moment.
Henry Fonda's speech "I'll be there..." from THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940) -- A true film classic, John Ford directed Henry Fonda in this adaptation of Steinbeck's novel. This film sequence is also one of cinema's true memorable classics, as Fonda says "Wherever there's a cop beating up a guy, I'll be there" going on to say wherever there's a hungry person, he'll be there. A great piece of film acting from a great Hollywood actor.
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