RELATED
RIP Tony Scott: A Tribute To The True Romance Eggplant Scene
The news that Tony Scott committed suicide is achingly sad. Among all his great scenes, this one has to be our favourite. “Now, if that’s a fact, tell me, am I lying? Cause you, you’re part eggplant”.
It’s hard to believe that Quentin Tarantino sold the script for True Romance for the lowest amount legally possible. Just $50,000 for, in my opinion, his greatest work to date.
Perhaps he simply didn’t know that in the rich folds of that screenplay lay the most poignant scene he would ever write.
It was one of those rare “perfect storms” in cinema – a moment when everything comes together and electrifies every unsuspecting hair on the back of your neck.
Tarantino certainly laid the foundations, but the whole dark spectacle surely belongs to Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken, who executed every word and twisted laugh with deadly perfection. It’s full of stand out quotes. And let’s not forget, that in a scene thick with suppressed rage, the delicate addition of Delibes’ Flower Duet rolling in the background is a stroke of musical genius.
Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken execute every word and twisted laugh with deadly perfection.
As far as insults go, this one is on the button. Although I can’t support the use of certain naughty language, the intensity is undeniable, swelling to its inevitable climax. If you’re going to offend the Sicilian mafia, you might as start with their lineage and go from there. Hopper delivers each word so calmly and, having made various claims about promiscuous grandparents, European history and fucking, he signs off with the film’s best line:
“Now, if that’s a fact, tell me, am I lying? Cause you, you’re part eggplant.”
The “eggplant” word was added by Hopper himself, but who ever you give the credit to, the whole moment is so perfect, it leaves every other Tarantino scene lying in pools of syrupy blood.
Click here for more stories about TV & Film
Click here to follow Sabotage Times on Twitter
Click here to follow Sabotage Times on Facebook
If you like it, Pass it on
COMMENTS
Epic. My favourite scene in any film, ever!
Utter genius!
Great article. My sentiments exactly. It's my favourite movie scene of all time. It's a total act off between 2 of the finest actors of our or any other generation.
I wanted to read more about that.
great shout, a raging 12" gold carat boner of a scene. Walken lays down the gauntlet with that bit about the pantomimes "womans got 20, but a mans got 17" fucking funny, we're off. Then its all down to Hopper who wipes the floor with him thinking: "I'm not selling my son out to you mother fucka, you're gonna have to kill me bitch" smokes his last fag brilliantly, then humiliates the don in front of his zip henchmen before steadying himself for his execution... A movie legend RIP Dennis. Tony Scott did a blinding job on this and the whole film actually, I wonder how Tarantino would have tackled it?? I'm not sure he could have bettered it myself, I think the film is superb, unlike Natural Born Killers which was ripped apart by Oliver Stone. Tarantino should have been all over that film, but I guess he was still working in a video shop at that time in his life.
"And you're a cantaloupe!". Genius!
Cracking scene. After his initial defiance, Hopper knows he's gonna get popped so decides to take Walken up on that cigarette after all. A deeply great movie which everyone should have seen at least once.
Another thing to remember is the don's boast that he has the Sicilian born ability to sniff out a lie. So Hopper's character lays an uneasy truth upon him: that his race was spawned by Africans. His last shining moment in life was to leave an indelible thought bomb with the racist don. Mission accomplished. I, too, believe this is Tarantino's best script. Though tied for best line of dialogue has to be "So, we'd both fuck Elvis?"
"...before I do some damage you wont walk away from." Hopper knows he is about to get tortured/butchered. So he insults the whole of Siciliy to ensure a swift death at the hands of Walken... who had not killed anyone since 1984. It's not just the lines... everything about this scene is perfect.
Wonderful scene from a truly great film. Hopper realizing he's not long for this world trying to hasten his exit. Nobody does menace like Walken. Gary Oldman's character also brilliant. Inspired casting.
I have nothing to add, agree with you all, great film, great scene
''Mr Warley, you can tell the angels up in heaven that you never saw evil so singularly personified as that in the face of the man that killed you'' ~ Christopher Walken How the fuck do you think up a line like that?
great article, again not much to add , but what a sad loss,rip tony.
I second that. Poor bloke. Terrible way out even if it was inoperable brain cancer
It's funny how this supposed tribute article for Tony Scott doesn't actually mention him at all.
SABOTAGE
