Carry On quip tops one-liner poll
Kenneth Williams’ Carry On pun “Infamy! Infamy! They’ve all got it in for me!” from Carry on Cleo has been voted the funniest one-liner in film history.
A Sky Movies poll of 1,000 UK film fans and critics picked the Life of Brian quote “He’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy” as second favourite.
The often-quoted Airplane! quip “don’t call me Shirley”, delivered by Leslie Nielsen, came third.
Nielsen and Peter Sellers both had two quotes included in the top 10.
“Do you have a licence for your minkey,” said by Sellers as Inspector Clouseau in Pink Panther: The Return of the Pink Panther was voted the sixth favourite.
The oldest quote in the top 10 was uttered by Groucho Marx in the classic 1933 comedy Duck Soup, which came in at number four.
Film critic Bob McCabe said: “It is great to see two British movies are in the top three and well established classics with great lasting power.
“I thought that Kenneth Williams would win as it is a great stand-alone joke, the joke is simple and no build-up to the line is needed. Kenneth Williams’ delivery of the line is extremely dramatic, ending in a camp style.”
Top five classic one liners
* 1) “Infamy! Infamy! They’ve all got it in for me!” – Kenneth Williams (Julius Caesar) Carry On Cleo (1964)
* 2) “He’s not the messiah, he’s a very naughty boy.” – Terry Jones (Brian’s Mum) Life Of Brian (1979)
* 3) Robert Hays (Ted Striker): “Surely you can’t be serious.” Leslie Nielsen (Rumack): “I am serious… and don’t call me Shirley.” – Airplane (1980)
* 4) “Remember you’re fighting for this woman’s honour, which is probably more than she ever did.” – Groucho Marx (Rufus T Firefly) Duck Soup (1933)
* 5) “Don’t knock masturbation, it’s sex with someone I love.” – Woody Allen, (Alvy Singer) Annie Hall (1977)
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Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/entertainment/6524729.stm
Published: 2007/04/04 08:26:02 GMT
© BBC MMVII
excellent choices!
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excellent choices!
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Dang, and to think, all these years, I went without ever hearing the funniest one-liner ever. I guess I’d have to hear it to fully appreciate it, eh? Also, I can think of many lines better than #3. As for “Life of Brian” quotes, I was always partial to Crowd: “Yes! We’re all different!” Man: *sullenly* “I’m not.”
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Dang, and to think, all these years, I went without ever hearing the funniest one-liner ever. I guess I’d have to hear it to fully appreciate it, eh? Also, I can think of many lines better than #3. As for “Life of Brian” quotes, I was always partial to Crowd: “Yes! We’re all different!” Man: *sullenly* “I’m not.”
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My favourite from Airplane is about Striker’s drinking problem. That line regularly saves me from social embarrassment.
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My favourite from Airplane is about Striker’s drinking problem. That line regularly saves me from social embarrassment.
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Well, a bit of research has told me that, to the letter of the law, any organisatin offering discount to students, must offer it to STUDENTS, not NUS members. So in theory, you shouldnt have to be in the NUS to enjoy student discount.
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Well, a bit of research has told me that, to the letter of the law, any organisatin offering discount to students, must offer it to STUDENTS, not NUS members. So in theory, you shouldnt have to be in the NUS to enjoy student discount.
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