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“Dying is easy, comedy is hard.” It’s an oft-repeated quote that over the years has been attributed–incorrectly–to both 19th-century Shakespearean stage star Edmund Kean and Hollywood character actor Edmund Gwenn, among others. Gwenn appears to have been the closest, his words coming during a 1959 visit to Gwenn’s nursing home by director and old friend George Seaton. “All this must be terribly difficult for you, Teddy,” Seaton said to the ailing screen Santa, who answered with “Not nearly as difficult as playing comedy.” Gwenn passed away shortly thereafter.
Dying may indeed be easy: after all, lots of folks do it every day. Coming up with the proper phrase on your way out, however, is another matter. No one wants to be like 13th U.S. president Millard Fillmore, who was being fed soup on his deathbed and reportedly gave this ultimate review: “The nourishment is palatable.” Luckily for generations of movie actors and actresses, talented writers have supplied them with eloquent parting words to make their death scenes all the more unforgettable.
Take Citizen Kane, for example. Director/star Orson Welles may have developed the concept of Kane whispering a single word with his final breath. But it was co-screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz who came up with making that word the mysterious and evocative “Rosebud” (and no, we are not going to go into where Mank came up with that particular term. This is a family blog, after all).
With this in mind, here are (MULTIPLE SPOILER ALERT!) 20 classic cinematic dying words that are certain–well, probably certain–to bring a tear to the eye and a tug at the heartstrings:
“Mother of mercy, is this the end of Rico?” – Caesar Enrico “Rico” Bandello (Edward G. Robinson), Little Caesar
“We belong dead!” – The Monster (Boris Karloff), Bride of Frankenstein
“I thought I heard you saying it was a pity… pity I never had any children. But you’re wrong. I have. Thousands of them. Thousands of them… and all boys.” – Charles Edward Chipping (Robert Donat), Goodbye, Mr. Chips
“You cursed brat! Look what you’ve done! I’m melting! melting! Oh, what a world! What a world! Who would have thought a good little girl like you could destroy my beautiful wickedness? Oooooh, look out! I’m going! Oooooh! Ooooooh!” – The Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton), The Wizard of Oz
“I’m pleased to meet’cha.” – Judge Roy Bean (Walter Brennan), The Westerner
“Faster! Faster, Bambi! Don’t look back! Keep running! Keep running!” -Bambi’s mother (Paula Winslowe), Bambi
“Made it, Ma! Top of the world!” – Cody Jarrett (James Cagney), White Heat
“How did he do such fantastic stunts…with such little feet?” Hedy Hedley Lamarr (Harvey Korman), Blazing Saddles
“The horror, the horror” – Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando), Apocalypse Now
“I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I’ve watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.” – Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer), Blade Runner
“I have been and always will be your friend. Live long and prosper.” Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
“You were right about me. Tell your sister… you were right.” Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker (Sebastian Shaw), Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
“You always were an a**hole, Gorman!” – Vasquez (Jenette Goldstein), Aliens
“Freedommm!” – “William Wallace (Mel Gibson), Braveheart
“Never let go.” – Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio), Titanic
“That really was a Hattori Hanzo sword.” – O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu), Kill Bill: Vol. 1
“I am a leaf on the wind. Watch how I…” Hoban “Wash” Washburn (Alan Tudyk), Serenity
“You have your mother’s eyes.” – Severus Snape (Alan Rickman), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
“It’s okay, boss. This was never going to work… if they didn’t have something…to…” – Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg), The Avengers
“Take her to the Moon for me. Okay?” – Bing Bong (Richard Kind), Inside Out
Do you recall a movie character whose death scene words have stuck with you through the years? Share them with us in the comments below.