Reservoir Dogs | Ramblings of a cinephile

Sound & Motion Pictures: impromptu dance scenes 2

Here’s another round of unexpected dance scenes: funny, heart-warming, intriguing or slightly disturbing, to each his own. Again, late sixties/seventies/early eighties music is a very popular choice as perfect soundtrack to these scenes, most of the songs were already quite famous before these films came out but they are now even more so. So, without further ado, this is my second list of favorites.

Beettlejuice – Day-O (The Banana Boat song), Harry Belafonte (1956)

Guess what happens if ghosts hijack a dinner party and they have a penchant for Caribbean music? Well, the result is pretty hilarious.

Pride – Shame, Shame, Shame, Shirley & Company (1975)

The comment of Jonathan Blake (Dominic West) at the end of the scene says it all: “God, I miss disco!”

Little Miss Sunshine – Super Freak, Rick James (1981)

Olive’s (Abigail Breslin) dance routine might be a shocker to the pageant judges but it was a loving effort made by her grandfather… even if it’s not age appropriate. The family joins in to show support and that is what’s important!

Michael – Chain of Fools, Aretha Franklin (1968)

After Pulp Fiction it seems that John Travolta has to have a dance number to show off his skills. On the captivating notes of Aretha’s Chain of Fools he shakes, rocks and rolls and become a veritable magnet for all the women in the room.

Reservoir Dogs – Stuck In The Middle With You, Stealers Wheel (1972)

Mr. Blonde’s iconic routine before starting torturing the unlucky cop.

Sound & Motion Pictures: opening credits

I asked myself: self, what’s the best way to start a new series about great music and films? Well, to begin at the beginning… with amazing combinations of songs and opening credits. This is not meant to be a top ten, just ten of my favorite opening credits (the ones I manage to find on youtube, alas From Dusk Till Dawn title scene with the great sound of Dark Night is not there!). Some films use songs that were already famous, others made the song known to a bigger audience and, in a few cases, the combination is iconic, so much that it has been quoted, spoofed and imitated in later films, TV-shows and commercials.

1. Reservoir Dogs – Little Green Bag, George Baker Selection (1970)

After an opening scene that introduces the main characters and Tarantino’s trademark penchant for verbal incontinence and silly topics, we get this: