Quotes From Movies That Made Me Laugh Quiz

Answer: The Return of the Pink Panther

In this scene Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Peter Sellers) is explaining to Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus (Herbert Lom) why he arrested the bank manager in a bank robbery but let the thieves and their lookout go free. The lookout in this case was a "blind" man and his monkey (which Clouseau calls a "minkey" in his wonderful pseudo-French/English accent). Chief Inspector Dreyfus says this quote when he hears Clouseau's report. That leads to the following great exchange: Dreyfus: "The beggar was the lookout man for the gang." Clouseau: "That is impossible. How can a blind man be a lookout?" Dreyfus: "How can an idiot be a police officer?" There were numerous "Pink Panther" movies but this one in my opinion was the funniest. In one memorable scene, Inspector Clouseau (undercover as a telephone repairman) misjudges a doorway, runs into the wall behind the door and emerges to say, "No trouble back there."

In the 1976 Golden Globes "The Return of the Pink Panther" received three nominations: Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy, Best Original Score - Motion Picture for Henry Mancini, and Best Motion Picture Actor - Musical/Comedy for Peter Sellers, but did not win in any category. The role of Jacques Clouseau has been so popular at least three other actors have tried to recreate it in movies: Alan Arkin in "Inspector Clouseau" (1968), Roger Moore (under the odd pseudonym Turk Thrust II) in "Curse of the Pink Panther" (1983), and Steve Martin in "The Pink Panther" (2006) and "The Pink Panther 2" (2009). Not bad, but Peter Seller's version was better (in my opinion).

Historical note:
Contrary to a commonly-held false impression, the movie "A Shot in the Dark" (which also featured Inspector Clouseau but did not have the words "Pink Panther" in the title) was not released prior to the movie "The Pink Panther" (i.e., the "Pink Panther" movies were not spinoffs). "A Shot in the Dark" was released in the U.S. in June 1964. "The Pink Panther" was released in December 1963 in West Germany and March 1964 in the U.S.

Answer: The Birdcage

In this scene Armand Goldman (Robin Williams) is coaching his gay partner Albert Goldman (Nathan Lane) on how to talk and walk when meeting the ultra-conservative, moralistic father of the girl their son wants to marry. US Senator Kevin Keeley (Gene Hackman) and his wife have gone to Miami to meet the parents of their daughter's fiancé, but don't realize the Goldman home is above a female-impersonator nightclub. Armand suggests Albert pretend he is John Wayne striding into a western saloon, and then makes this comment after watching Albert's practice run. There are so many good lines/scenes in this movie - several had me laughing so hard I was gasping for breath!

In the 1997 Academy Awards "The Birdcage" was nominated for one Oscar but didn't win. In my opinion Nathan Lane should been nominated for the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of Albert Goldman (that Oscar was won by Cuba Gooding Jr. for "Jerry Maguire"). Lane did win several minor awards for playing Albert. Hank Azaria's portrayal of the gay Guatemalan house boy Agador Spartacus is hilarious. Azaria is perhaps best known to American audiences for the many voices he provides for the U.S. television show "The Simpsons".

Answer: My Cousin Vinny

In this scene new lawyer Vincent "Vinny" Gambini (Joe Pesci) and his girlfriend Mona Lisa Vito (Marisa Tomei) stop their car in a small town while driving south. They are headed to Alabama to defend Vinny's cousin and his friend in court. He looks critically at her tight-fitting short skirt and pink camera and says, "You stick out like a sore thumb around here." She looks at his all-black outfit, leather jacket and gold chain and replies, "Me? What about you?" After he says, "I fit in better than you. At least I'm wearing cowboy boots," she sarcastically replies with this quote. In the events leading up to this scene, two young men from New York (played by Ralph Macchio and Mitchell Whitfield) are driving across Alabama when they are stopped and jailed on suspicion of murder of a Sac-O-Suds convenience store clerk. The lawyer they choose to represent them is Vinny Gambini, a cousin of one of them, but he has very little experience and none on murder cases.

In the 1993 Academy Awards Marisa won for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. This was the first Oscar she had ever won. The "What-is-a-yute?" scene and Vinnie knocking over the judge's chessboard scene were last-minute additions to the script that were based on real incidents during filming that cracked up director Jonathan Lynn.

Answer: Ghostbusters

In this scene Ghostbuster Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) is inspecting the apartment of classical musician Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver), seeking an explanation for the strange events Dana has experienced in her kitchen. She had heard a growl coming from her refrigerator and when she opened the refrigerator door she saw a temple and a doglike creature that growled the word "Zuul". After Dr. Venkman seems more interested in flirting with her than solving the problem, Dana says this quote and then adds, "You're more like a game show host." "Ghostbusters" tells the story of three professors who specialize in parapsychology. When they are thrown out of their college (because their dean thinks they're a joke), they discuss forming a business that specializes in ghost removal. Dr. Raymond Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) isn't so sure, however, and comments with one of my favorite lines in this movie, "You don't know what it's like out there. I've worked in the private sector. They expect results."

In the 1985 Academy Awards "Ghostbusters" was nominated for Best Visual Effects but the Oscar was won by "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom". The special effects in both of these movies were created by Industrial Light and Magic, the company George Lucas started for his "Star Wars" movies. Ray Parker, Jr. wrote a great theme song for "Ghostbusters" that starts out: "If there's something strange in your neighborhood, Who ya gonna call?..." It was nominated for the Oscar for Best Song From A Movie (but "I Just Called To Say I Love You" by Stevie Wonder in "The Woman in Red" won the Oscar). Parker was sued by Huey Lewis for plagiarizing the melody to his song "I Want A New Drug" and the two settled out of court.

Answer: The Sunshine Boys

In this scene cantankerous retired vaudeville player Willy Clark (Walter Matthau) has the last laugh over his former partner Al Lewis (George Burns). They are both retired, but have reunited to perform their famous doctor sketch one more time for a television special on the golden age of vaudeville. Sketch patient Al Lewis is knocking on the door of sketch doctor Willy Clark and for all their performing years Willy would say, "Come in." For this performance Willy wants to change the wording to "Enter" (his reason is to "freshen up the act"). However, Al is against this and threatens not to do the TV special unless they stick to "Come in". After constant squabbling over this Willy finally agrees to say "Come in", but then says this quote while they are taping the TV special! Walter Matthau and George Burns were last minute casting replacements for Red Skelton and Jack Benny in this movie, respectively. I didn't realize until researching this movie that F. Murray Abraham (at the beginning of his career) played the auto mechanic who gives Willy directions when he is lost going to an audition for the Frumpy's Potato Chips commercial.

In the 1987 Academy Awards "The Sunshine Boys" won one Oscar and was nominated for three more it didn't win. George Burns won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Walter Matthau was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role, but that Oscar was won by Jack Nicholson in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". Neil Simon was nominated in the category Best Writing, Screenplay Adapted From Other Material but that Oscar was won by Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman for "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". When George Burns won an Oscar at the age of 80 years and 69 days, he became the oldest Oscar-winning actor (not counting honorary awards). This record was later broken by Jessica Tandy in 1990 for "Driving Miss Daisy" (at age 80 years and 292 days), and later by Christopher Plummer in 2012 for "Beginners" (age 82). Gloria Stuart was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the age of 87 (she played old Rose in "Titanic"), but that Oscar was won by Kim Basinger in "L.A. Confidential".

Answer: Animal House

In this scene Faber College Dean Vernon Wormer (John Vernon) is reviewing recent grade point averages with five members and pledges of Delta fraternity house. Larry "Pinto" Kroger (Tom Hulce) has a 1.2, which puts him at the top of the Delta pledge class. Kent "Flounder" Dorfman (Stephen Furst), who is drunk, has a 0.2, prompting this quote from Dean Wormer. Robert Hoover, president of Delta house, earned a 1.6. Daniel (D-Day) Simpson Day (Bruce McGill) has no GPA, since all his courses are incomplete. John "Bluto" Blutarsky (John Belushi) has 0.0, which earns a shrug from Bluto. Delta house, notorious for drunken parties, pranks and abysmally-low school grades, has long been a thorn in the side of Dean Wormer. He summarizes their contributions to Faber College life as, "Who dropped a whole truckload of fizzies in the swim meet? Who delivered the medical school cadavers to the alumni dinner? Every Halloween the trees are filled with underwear. Every spring the toilets explode."

"Animal House" won no Oscars but did win a 1979 People's Choice award for "Favorite Non-Musical Motion Picture." The screenplay for this movie was co-written by Doug Kenny, Harold Ramis and Chris Miller, based in part on Chris Miller's own fraternity experiences. In a Biography Channel TV special, Director John Landis confirmed he threw beer bottles near the actors during filming in some interior Delta house scenes to add some "flavor" to the scene! It is a tribute to Bruce McGill's acting abilities that he was so convincing several years later in "The Insider" as Mississippi attorney Ron Motley arguing a tense case. "Animal House" was filmed at and around the University of Oregon in Eugene, OR. The President of the University had denied permission for the 1967 movie "The Graduate" to be filmed there, and he liked that movie so much when it came out that he decided he didn't want to miss another opportunity.

Answer: Moonstruck

In this scene Ronny Cammareri (Nicolas Cage) has just listened to Loretta Castorini (Cher) invite him to her wedding to Ronny's brother, Johnny Cammareri (Danny Aiello). Ronny is working in the basement of the Cammareri Bake Shop, and shop girl Chrissy (Nada Despotovich) has taken Loretta downstairs to see Ronny. Ronny blames Johnny for an accident years earlier with a bread slicer that resulted in Ronny's hand being cut off and is bitter as a result ("I have no life. My brother Johnny took my life from me."). He "threatens" suicide with this quote and an agitated Chrissy (who secretly loves him) cries, "No, Ronny!" "Moonstruck" tells the story of Italian-American Loretta, who is torn between her fiancé and her feelings for his brother, and her interesting family and friends. Loretta's life illustrates one of my favorite sayings (by John Lennon): "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." This movie is one of my all-time favorites.

In the 1988 Academy Awards "Moonstruck" was nominated for Best Picture (but the Oscar was won by "The Last Emperor"). Cher won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of Loretta Castorini and Olympia Dukakis won one for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal of Loretta's mother Rose. Vincent Gardenia was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his role as Loretta's father Cosmo, but that Oscar was won by Sean Connery in "The Untouchables". Norman Jewison was nominated for Best Director but that Oscar was won by Bernardo Bertolucci for "The Last Emperor". John Patrick Shanley won the Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (well deserved, in my opinion).

Answer: Little Shop of Horrors

Despite the wording in the title, this movie is a comedy. In this scene masochist patient Arthur Denton (Bill Murray) is in the dental office of sadistic dentist Orin Scrivello (Steve Martin) and is looking forward to the experience with this quote to the dentist! "Little Shop of Horrors" tells the story of nerdy flower shop employee Seymour Krelborn (Rick Moranis), who finds a mysterious new plant he names Audrey II in honor of fellow co-worker Audrey Fulquard (Ellen Greene), who Seymour has a crush on. The plant soon shows an unusual craving for blood and begins to sing for its supper ("Feed me, Seymour!"). One of its early victims is Audrey's sadistic dentist boyfriend, who Seymour thinks treats Audrey in a very demeaning manner. A dentist friend of mine said he recognized many of Dr. Scrivello's tools as standard dental tools, with additional barbs, hooks, and other painful-looking protuberances welded on!

In the 1987 Academy Awards "Little Shop of Horrors" was nominated for two awards, including Best Special Effects, but didn't win either. The winner of the Oscar for Best Effects, Visual Effects was "Aliens". In the 1976 Golden Globes "Little Shop of Horrors" was nominated for Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical, but that award went to "Hannah and Her Sisters". The voice of the man-eating plant Audrey II was provided by the late Levi Stubbs, the former bass singer for Motown singing group The Four Tops (Levi died in 2008). This movie was based on an off-Broadway musical, which in turn was based on a 1960 low-budget Roger Corman movie called "The Little Shop of Horrors" (his total budget was $27,000!).

Answer: Men in Black

In this scene Men In Black Agent J (Will Smith) has stumbled on a technique that will allow him to comply with the instructions given to him by Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones). A giant cockroach (previously seen wearing the skin of victim Edgar) is trying to escape from Earth on a spaceship, and Agent K is aware this will lead to big trouble for Earth. He has instructed Agent J to keep the cockroach on Earth, but Agent J is having no luck with physical restraint. Then Agent J squishes a normal-size cockroach near him and notices the giant cockroach pause and look at him. Realizing this may be the technique that works, Agent J squishes another nearby cockroach and taunts the giant cockroach with this quote. "Men In Black" follows the activities of a top-secret organization under Chief Zed (Rip Torn) that monitors and polices alien activity on Earth.

In the 1998 Academy Awards, "Men in Black" won one Oscar (for "Best Makeup") and was nominated for two others it didn't win. The special effects in this movie were impressive, but that year they were up against those in "Titanic" and "The Lost World: Jurassic Park". In the 1998 Golden Globes "Men in Black" was nominated for Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical, but that award was won by "As Good as It Gets". The screenplay for "Men in Black" was not based on a book, but was instead inspired by a Marvel comic book series called "The Men in Black" by American writer Lowell Cunningham.

Answer: Young Frankenstein

This movie is full of director Mel Brooks' double entendres and low-brow humor (although Gene Wilder has co-credit for the screenplay, so this quote could be from him). In this scene Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) is reading aloud at breakfast to his young German-born lab assistant Inga (Terri Garr) the notes written by his grandfather (Dr. Victor von Frankenstein, as described in Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's novel "Frankenstein"). When he reads, "For the experiment to be a success, all of the body parts must be enlarged," she extrapolates and makes the comment in this quote. Igor (Marty Feldman) adds, "He's going to be very popular."

In the 1975 Academy Awards "Young Frankenstein" was nominated for two Oscars but didn't win either. Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder were nominated for Best Writing, Screenplay Adapted From Other Material, but that Oscar was won by Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo for "The Godfather: Part II". One scene in this movie that still cracks me up after multiple viewings is when Doctor Frankenstein is holding his well-endowed lab assistant Inga, who is wearing a low-cut dress. He sees some giant-size door knockers on the castle doors and while looking at the castle doors he comments, "What knockers!" She replies, "Oh, thank you doctor." Classic Mel Brooks!