WHAT’S MY LINE?
BY IRENE FRANK
“All that glitters is not
gold.”
“Out, out damn spot!”
“‘Tis better to have
loved and lost than never
to have loved at all.”
“I regret that I have
but one life to lose for
my country.”
“How do I love
thee, let me count the
ways…”
Memorable and quotable
lines. But what
makes a line memorable?
Is it who has said it
or how it was said? Is it
a recognizable truth or a
comment on a moment
in history? Is it the
sound of the words or
the message?
Historic moments
beget memorable lines.
“The only thing to
fear is fear itself.”
“I shall return;!”
“Tear down this wall.”
“You won’t have Nixon to kick
around anymore.”
“I never had sex with that
woman.”
“We’re rounding the corner and
Covid will just disappear.”
There are inspirational lines
which motivate us to look into
ourselves to change our behavior.
“It is more blessed to give than
to receive.”
“He who lies down with dogs
shall rise up with fleas.”
“God helps those who helps
themselves.”
“Everything I need to know I
learned in kindergarten.”
“When you get to the fork in
the road, take it.”
Whether the line appears in
literature, political rhetoric or
a Hollywood film, we recognize
the power of the words and often
repeat them in our own contexts.
There have been countless
memorable lines spoken by actors
that we know so well that upon
hearing just one word, we can
finish the sentence. We can recall
the scene, the body language, the
look and voice of the actor speaking
the words.
The American Film Institute is
quoted as saying that the most
memorable lines in film history
were those found in movies starring
Humphrey Bogart:
“Here’s looking at you, kid.”
“Play it, Sam.”
“It’s the stuff that dreams are
made of.”
“If you want me, just whistle.”
In 1939, Gone with the Wind
exploded onto the screen and
Clark Gable shocked the viewing
audience with the line, “Frankly
my dear, I don’t give a damn.”
The word “damn” was considered
blasphemous and people held
their breaths in horror or delight,
depending on their religious,
political or moral principles.
Vivien Leigh had her own
memorable lines: “I’ll think
about that tomorrow. After all,
tomorrow is another day”; “As
God is my witness, I’ll never go
hungry again.” In A Streetcar
Named Desire, she oozed flirtatiously,
2021
January ¢COURIER TOWERS you’re gonna get.” Although this
is the winter of our discontent,
SHORE ask not what your co-op can do
for you, ask what you can do for
your co-op.
NORTH So go ahead, make my day.
Think of your favorite lines and
“I’ve always depended on
send them to me at artnfact@aol.
28 the kindness of strangers.” I’ve
com. You’ll be glad you did! used that line myself when I’ve
needed a strong arm to help lift
my carry-on bag onto an overhead
compartment…a different context,
but just as important!
Also in 1939, MGM introduced
Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz
and we loved hearing the lines:
“There’s no place like home”; “I
have a feeling we’re not in Kansas
anymore”; “I’ll get you, my pretty,
and your little dog, too!” How
delicious were those lines, and
how quotable.
Marlon Brando uttered lines
which tugged at the heartstrings
or made us furious.
“I coulda been a contenda, a
somebody, not like the bum I am.”
“I’m gonna make him an offer
he can’t refuse.”
Remember the lines, “Show me
the money”; “Fasten your seatbelts,
it’s going to be a bumpy
night”; Snap out of it!”
Did Carl Reiner know ahead
of time that the line, “I’ll have
what she’s having” would cause
such hilarity and how often
people would use it in casual
conversation? Just the other day
I heard someone in
the elevator yell, “I’m
mad as hell and I’m
not going to take it
anymore!” (He was
referring to the pandemic
rules of safety.)
Some memorable
lines consist of only
one word:
“Rosebud”
“Stella!”
“Plastics”
Each word sums
up the plot of an
iconic movie. I have
a friend who still
ends each phone
conversation with
“La-di-dah, la-di-da.”
Memorable lines
can come from ads.
Successful ads have
slogans which draw
attention to a produce
or brand, and
sometimes it can be
in the form of a jingle:
“The best part of
waking up in Folgers
in your cup.” Words matter. Camel
Cigarettes’ original slogan was,
“Leaves no unpleasant cigaretty
aftertaste.” It became America’s
favorite cigarette when the company
changed the line to “I’d walk
a mile for a Camel.” Emotional
appeal works. L’Oreal appealed
to a woman’s self-confidence with
the line, “Because I’m worth it.”
All that being said, today’s
commercials are changing. They
are more about optics and brand
recognition. My favorite cartoon
shows a man and wife watching
TV on their sofa. The woman
says, “Do you know what they’re
selling?” The man replies, “No,
but I want one!”
But you ain’t heard nothin’
yet. “Life is like a box of chocolates—
you never know what
link