#32 - Movie: Jaws / Song: Show Me The Way to Go Home

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Suspense and surprise permeate the 1970's thriller, Jaws.  In this movie the director, a young Steven Spielberg, surely kept us on the edge of our seats, under our chairs, and out of the water.  This musical moment precedes a pivotal scene in the movie, one of the surprisingly few appearances of .... Da Da Da Da Da Da .... The Shark.  The characters' carefree drunken singing of Show Me the Way to Go Home give us that settled-in-for-the-night feeling, leaving us too inebriated and unprepared to handled what comes next. "Looks like we're going to need a bigger boat!" 

#31 - Movie: European Vacation / Song: Hey Big Spender

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European Vacation is the second in a series of comedies where the Griswold's bring us along on their family vacations.  Like the first vacation movie (final destination: Wally World) this movie takes us through many unexpected challenges which the Griswold's encounter, creating an abundance of humorous situations along the way.  This time they are touring Europe when Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and his wife Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo) are sharing some alone time.  Clark convinces Ellen to perform a show tune from her college days "Hey Big Spender".  After the song is finished, the camera keeps rolling creating some rather interesting 'special features'.  Do you really think Clark erases the tape like he says he will?

#30 - Movie: Deliverance / Song: Dueling Banjos

 

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This musical moment from the 1972 film Deliverance propelled a simple banjo tune into an iconic work now synonymous with the instrument.  Be patient watching the clip, it starts out slowly but builds beautifully with the end well worth waiting for.  The director obviously took great care in creating this very well choreographed scene, with every sound, gesture and movement purposefully placed.  Showcasing a musical performance of this magnitude within this action/thriller may seem gratuitous.  However, it is not really about the music at all.  Its true purpose is to establish the setting and culture of the mountain people, an element vital to the rest of the movie, which this musical moment achieves wonderfully.

#29 - Movie: Close Encounters... / Song: Five Notes

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This musical moment from Steven Spielberg's 1977 UFO invasion movie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, features five unforgettable notes ... Da Do Da Dum Du.  Ah, music the universal language!  These notes begin a dialog of extraterrestrial communication, observed with wonder and amazement as the musical conversation builds to a magnificent banter, then is resolved, receding into a wistful murmur.  Perhaps we should reply back with a Beethoven symphony, or better still some classic Led Zeppelin.  This is certainly a unique musical movie moment and one I hope you find interesting. 

#28 - Movie: Pee Wee's Big Adventure / Song: Tequila

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Here's a great musical moment from Pee Wee's Big Adventure.  This moment has special meaning for me (No! Not because of the bikers, tequila, and big white shoes).  My father-in-law actually performed this dance at my wedding nearly 25 years ago, and I must say he was outstanding!  I apologize that the clip is so long but felt it important to show the musical moment in the full context of the movie, so it includes the scene leading up to the dance and a bit of closure after.  If you can't wait to get to the actual moment, it's about half way through the clip.  I, for one, will never be able to hear tequila (or even drink it) without seeing Pee Wee Herman and the 'Big White Shoe Dance'.

#27 - Movie: Crossroads / Song: Guitar Duel

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In this great instrumental musical moment famous guitarist Steve Vai plays a metal-blues guitar master who battles a young classically-trained-but-blues-inspired musician (Ralph Macchio) for his soul.  This is, of course, over simplifying the plot, but you get the idea .... a kind of "Charlie Daniels' Devil Went Down to Georgia" scenario, but with guitars as the weapon of choice.  This masterful performance is the climax of the movie and leaves the viewer satisfied and justice served in regard to the age old "good versus evil" theme. 

#26 - Movie: Mr. Holland's Opus / Song: Beautiful Boy

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The movie Holland's Opus follows the life of fictional character Glenn Holland (Richard Dreyfuss) from the beginning of his music teaching career as a young adult, to his involuntary retirement in his later years.  One of several themes portrayed in this movie is the relationship between Mr. Holland, whose passion in life is music, and his son Cole, who ironically is born deaf.  Over the years Mr. Holland has difficulty bonding with his son, assuming Cole will never appreciate his great love of music.  This scene, however, shows how the power of music and a parent's love can transcend the obvious barriers.  Mr. Holland hosts a touching musical performance at Cole's school for the deaf which connects with the student body and especially with his son, Cole.