I am a movie buff. I like to watch movies very much. It’s a little known fact how many of the most famous movie quotes actually were originally written very differently and had they not been re-written they would not have had nearly the same impact.
I did a lot of research on this and the research I do for this web site is well documented. In fact, there is a document on my desk right now that says I actually do research, despite what anybody else says.
Here are some examples of how some famous quotes were changed, and it’s lucky they were:
One of the most famous movie quotes of all time by Clark Gable in Gone with the Wind, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn,” was originally quite different. The first version went like this, “Gee, Scarlett, (Gables’ eyes start to tear up) maybe we can sit down and discuss this and come to a compromise that will work equally well for both of us…No? Okay, I guess I’ll be leaving then, but remember the door will always be open for reconciliation.”
I think we can all agree that the flavor of the movie would have been changed if they gone with the original version.
Here’s another example of how re-writing can make a huge difference. In the Godfather, Marlon Brando said, “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.” The original version was like this, “I’m hoping and praying I can come up with something that will work for all of us.” That may have weakened the movie a bit.
Then there was the famous quote from Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz, “Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” This one was vastly different with the original one being, “Toto, where the f*** are we now? Oh, what the hell am I asking a damn dog for? That damn wicked witch must have put a f***ing spell on me.” If they had stuck with that line it would have hurt the Dorothy character’s likability.
Another classic movie quote was from Robert Duvall in Apocalypse Now. The line was originally going to be, “I love the smell of flowers in the morning.” That didn’t work. So they decided it needed more of an edge and they made it, “I love the smell of coffee in the morning.” Still no good. Finally they settled on, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning,” and the rest is history.
I know what you are thinking now. You are thinking I’m making this all up and you are probably saying to me now, “I WANT THE TRUTH.” And my answer to that is, “YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH.” So that’s all I have to say about that, at least until next time when I might just do more of these because I’m having fun..and that’s the truth.
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