#15 - Movie: Armageddon / Song: Leaving on a Jet Plane

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In the movie Armageddon, an unlikely crew of heroes prepare to depart for outer space on a dangerous mission to save the world.  This unlikely setting becomes the stage for my next Musical Moment pick.  Ben Affleck's character, A.J. Frost, is saying goodbye to his fiance, Grace (Liv Tyler, yes Steven Tyler's daughter) and he starts singing Leaving on a Jet Plane.  The rest of the crew joins, and though musically this moment may not win an Oscar or a Grammy, it has earned mention on my list of musical moments.

#14 - Movie: Monkey Business / Chico Marx At The Piano (Delibis Pizzacato)

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This is one of the older, if not the oldest, movie scenes included in my list of musical moments.  It is from the Marx Brothers movie Monkey Business from 1931.  I probably could have my pick of dozens of great musical moments from the many films the Marx Brothers made during the 1930's.  I chose this one as I felt it showcases the uniqueness of Chico Marx's piano style; comedy and creativity, combined with true great musical skill.  The only thing missing is Harpo playing his Harp, but perhaps I'll include one of those moments in a future post.  I think this is brilliant and hope you enjoy!

#13 - Movie: Airplane / Song: We are One

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This musical moment is not the first on my list to involve a mid-air acoustic guitar/vocal performance during a commercial airline flight (see Musical Moment #5).  Airplane is a 1980 satirical film which parodies the 70's disaster movie, Airport, and includes an over-abundance of poor puns and excessive plays on words.  At face value, a movie like Airplane would have run its course and long been forgotten by now. Instead, thanks to casting surprises like veteran actors Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, the genius of the late great Leslie Nielsen, and scenes such as this musical moment, Airplane has endured to be cherished by new generations, and to this day serves as the standard for all modern comedic parodies.

#12 - Movie: Shawshank Redemption / Song: Duettino Sull'Aria-Mozart

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I am shamed to admit that I have yet to watch the Shawshank Redemption in its entirety (scold me if you must, but at least appreciate my honesty). The scenes I have caught, however, leave me yearning for more and aware that I must find time to give this masterpiece my full and undivided attention.  One scene I have been fortunate enough to see is this very powerful musical moment.  Prisoner Andy Dufresne, desperate for solace from prison-life brutality, finds refuge by listening to a captivating Italian Aria from Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro.  Rather than revel alone in his "sanctuary within", he shares it over the prison PA system, and it is received with soulful reverence by the Shawshank population.

#11 - Movie: Sister Act / Song: Oh Maria (Salve Regina)

(CLICK TO WATCH #1)

(CLICK TO WATCH #2)

I feel like I'm cheating using a musical moment from Sister Act -- It's just too easy.  How can you go wrong with Woopi Goldberg and a bunch of nuns.  I'm sharing two scenes, "Click to Watch #1" above is when Woopi's character first takes over St. Katherine's Choir.  Then "Click to Watch #2" to see the progress the choir has made by the time they give their debut performance.  There are many other great musical moments in Sister Act and its sequel.  I'm not yet sure if I'll take the easy road and use more of them in future posts or not.

#10 - Movie: Ferris Bueller's Day Off / Song(s): Danke Schoen & Twist n' Shout

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Ferris Bueller's brazen disregard for authority is an outrage and anyone with a shred of decency would boycott this movie! .... (just kidding).  Ok, seriously.  As the mother of three teenage boys, I should vehemently object to a movie celebrating a high school student's deceiving his parents, cutting school, exploiting his friends, and luring them to join in a day of shere and undeserved self indulgence.  Still, I believe the decerning viewer reconizes, the true message of Ferris Bueller's Day Off is to make finding joy in life a priority and to make sure you "stop and smell the roses" now and then.  For this reason and because of the joyful musical moment of Ferris lipsinc'ing on the parade float, I full heartedly endorse this movie.

#9 - Movie: What's Up Doc / Song: As Time Goes By

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Yes.  This musical moment carries the same song title as the previous entry, As Time Goes By, but this time from the 1972 lost classic comedy, What's Up Doc, staring Barbara Streisand and Ryan O'Neal.  The plot is too zany for me to explain, but if you don't remember this movie or have never seen it, I highly recommend you check it out.  In this scene, which takes place on top of a San Francisco hotel, Barbara's character, Judy Maxwell, repeats word for word a line spoken by Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (see prior post #8). 

#8 - Movie: Casablanca / Song: As Time Goes By

  (CLICK TO WATCH)

The line associated with this musical moment, from the 1942 classic Casablanca, is perhaps one of the most quoted movie lines ever ... "Play it (again) Sam".  I posted two scenes from Casablanca to give a full picture of how important the line and the song associated with it, As Time Goes By, are to the movie.  The above "click to watch" shows the first time the line "Play it (again) Sam" is delivered in the movie, by Ingrid Bergman.  Below is a link to a reprise of the line, spoken this time by a humbled Humphrey Bogart.  Very powerful indeed.

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#7 - Movie: Anchorman / Song: Jazz Flute Improv'

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In this instrumental musical moment, news anchor Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) and future co-anchor Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) are having dinner at a jazz club.  The restaurant owner convinces Ron to entertain everyone with some jazz flute.  He gives quite a performance surprising and impressing Miss Corningstone, and delighting the restaurant guest and anyone watching this movie very funny movie.

#6 - Movie: The Jerk / Song: Tonight You Belong to Me

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In the 1979 comedy, The Jerk, Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters sing a duet of Tonight You Belong to Me while taking a romantic moonlight stroll on the beach.  Steve accompanies them on the ukulele, but the best part is Bernadette's trumpet solo toward the end (almost looks like she is really playing too, I'm not sure).  The entire thing is a bit long including the dialog after the song, but this was the only version I could find and I think it's very cute.

#5 - Movie: The Wedding Singer / Song: Want to Grow Old With You

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This musical moment from The Wedding Singer features a terrific cameo appearance by Billy Idol.  Robbie (Adam Sandler) is flying to Vegas to stop his love, Julia (Drew Barrymore), from marrying someone else.  When he realizes Julia is on the same flight, Robbie's  fellow 1st class passengers (including Billy Idol) help him win Julia's heart by singing a very touching song he wrote for her, I Want to Grow Old With You.  So Good.

#4 - Movie: The Titanic / Song: Nearer My God to Thee

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Though most of my musical moments are light hearted and humorous, here is a more somber and serious moment, from The Titanic.  The string quartet playing on deck during the tragic sinking of the ocean liner disassemble as they finish their final piece.  The violinist tarries a moment, then starts playing an old hymn, Nearer My God to Thee.  The rest of the musicians return and join in.  The song becomes background music for the montage of the passengers realizing their imminent fate.  The sad but peaceful song contrasts with the chaos which abounds, yet couldn't be more appropriate for the moment.

#3 - Movie: The Naked Gun / Song: The Star Spangled Banner

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This hysterical parody pokes fun at police action movies.  Sergeant Frank Drebin of Police Squad (Leslie Neilsen) takes cover as opera singer, Enrico Pallazzo, in order to gain access to a major league baseball game where he believes a terrorist act is going to take place.  He takes the microphone where Mr. Pallazzo (gagged and tied by Drebin) is scheduled to sing The Star Spangled Banner and ......  VERY FUNNY.  Enjoy.

#2 - Movie: Back to the Future / Song: Johnny B Goode

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Since we just welcomed in a new year, and bid farewell to the old one, I thought I'd follow a "past, present, future" theme for my next musical moment, selecting a scene from Back to the Future ... the guitar solo performed by Marty Mcfly (Michael J. Fox) at the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance.  Marty, a time traveler from 1985 stuck in the year 1955 saves the day by filling in for guitarist, Marvin Berry, who had injured his hand.  I love it when Marvin Berry calls his cousin, Chuck (Chuck Berry) so he can hear this new style.  Marty fits in just fine until his 1980's Van Halen influences surface and shock the 1950's crowd.  

#1 - Movie: Elf / Song: Santa Claus is Coming to Town

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I guess it is due to the season that I have chosen for my first "moment" the closing scene from the movie Elf staring Will Ferrell.  In this scene a crowd in Central Park breaks out in spontaneous singing of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" lead by actress Zooey Deschanel.  As  more and more people join in, it adds to the Christmas Spirit needed to fuel Santa's Clausometer, while Santa and Buddy the elf are pursued by the Central Park Security Police.  Prompted by his younger son, Buddy's father (veteran actor James Caan) joins in, reluctant at first, then full-heartedly propelling the movie joyfully into its happy ending.