Dying Is an art, like everything else. I do it exceptionally well.-- Sylvia Plath, Lady Lazarus
Nothing jerks tears like a good movie death. Acting with nobility, with grace and honor in light of an inevitable end is among the many reasons people pay $12+ bucks to see your movie. Cathartic moments, something universal they can relate to in their own lives. Make ’em laugh, make ’em cry, right?
Assembled today are a handful of movies that deal with death, that are famous for it. I’ll present the script scene if it’s out there to be had, if not– like the scenes from Bambi and Sid And Nancy, just the movie clips. Break out the Kleenex and damn you Pixar for those killer montages of cartoon death!
- BAMBI’S MOTHER DIES
- SID AND NANCY: TAXI TO HEAVEN
- GREEN MILE: JOHN COFFEE EXECUTION
EXECUTION CHAMBER
Full house tonight. Bill Dodge is waiting at Old Sparky.
Silence as Coffey is led in, all eyes on him...
PAUL
Roll on one.
Van Hay cranks the generator. The lights flare hotter and
brighter. It's just like in Melinda's bedroom the night
Coffey cured her with a kiss. Airless and bright, dreamlike.
MARJORIE
Does it hurt yet? I hope it does!
I hope it hurts like hell!
PAUL
John Coffey...you have been
condemned to die in the electric
chair by a jury of your
peers...sentence imposed by a
judge in good standing in this
state. Do you have anything to say
before sentence is carried out?
John hesitates, nods.
COFFEY
I'm sorry for what I am.
MARJORIE
You ought to be! Oh, you monster,
you damn well ought to be!
Brutal takes the mask from the hook to draw it over Coffey's
head. Coffey looks to Paul with terrified, pleading eyes.
COFFEY
Please, boss, don't put that thing
over my face. Don't put me in the
dark, I's afraid of the dark.
PAUL
All right, John.
Brutal puts the mask back, proceeds with the sponge.
IN TIGHT ANGLES
The cap is lowered, the straps drawn. Coffey is breathing
fast, terrified, muttering under his breath:
COFFEY
...heaven...I'm in heaven...
heaven...heaven...heaven...
- UP: DEATH OF ELLIE & KARL’S LONELINESS
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
Ellie lies in a hospital bed. She looks through her
ADVENTURE BOOK.
A BLUE BALLOON floats in to the room.
Carl stands at the door. He smiles and walks to her bedside.
Ellie pushes her Adventure Book toward him. She weakly pats
his cheek and adjusts his tie.
He kisses her on the forehead.
INT. CHURCH - AFTERNOON
Carl sits alone, next to a huge bouquet of balloons.
EXT. CARL AND ELLIE'S HOUSE - DUSK
Carl walks into the house, holding a single blue balloon.
FADE TO BLACK.
