10 great improvised moments in films


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SALT LAKE CITY — Most of us can quote our favorite lines from movies all day long. We even have moments that aren't spoken, but they stick out to us as brilliant spots in our favorite films.

Usually famous lines and moments are the brainchild of the screenwriter as he or she types away at their computer, but a few of our favorite scenes in movies are totally ad-libbed.

While there are hundreds of wonderful ad-libbed moments in film, here are 10 that we thought were some of the greatest unscripted moments.

Ghostbusters - Party Scene

Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters

The 1984 film "Ghostbusters" is now a classic and we have been quoting the film for nearly 30 years now. While a great deal of the movie was ad-libbed by the cast, one of the greatest unscripted moments is the party scene with Rick Moranis.

Moranis' character, Louis Tully, is having a party at his apartment when a devil dog ruins the fun.

Leading up to the climax of the scene Moranis ad-libbed nearly every line during the minute-long clip. For some reason knowing that it was improvised makes hearing about Ted and Annette Fleming's small carpet cleaning business so much funnier.

Jaws - You're gonna need a bigger boat

Jaws
Jaws

Steven Spielberg's film "Jaws" is an amazing cinematic experience and Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider are incredible in the film that still makes all of us think twice before getting in the water.

One of the most famous lines in movie history comes from "Jaws" and it was improvised.

When Scheider's character, Brody, sees the size of the shark for the first time he backs into the bridge of The Orca and tells Quint, Shaw, "You're gonna need a bigger boat."

Scheider came up with the line on the spot and it's now a part of movie history.

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back - I know

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

While, "I am your father," is probably the most recognizable line from "Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back," Han Solo's line "I know" is a close second among fans.

One of the final scenes of "The Empire Strikes Back" is a touching moment when Princess Leia tells Han Solo, "I love you." The original script called for Solo to reply, "I love you too." But Harrison Ford thought that was a bit boring, so he changed it up. Instead Ford simply replied, "I know."

It was a brilliant turn that further solidified Solo as a scoundrel that we can't help but love.

Raiders of the Lost Ark - Indy Pulls His Gun

Raiders of the Lost Ark
Raiders of the Lost Ark

Let's stick with the one and only Harrison Ford.

"Raiders of the Lost Ark" is the original Indiana Jones film and arguably the best. One of the best moments of the film comes when a skilled swordsman does a few fancy moves and prepares to battle Indy. Instead of going toe-to-toe Indy decides to pull out his pistol and shot the swordsman.

The original script called for a duel between Indy and the swordsman, but the day they filmed the scene Ford was ill and decided to just pull out his gun and shoot the villain. Spielberg loved the idea and it became one of the most memorable moments of the movie.

Zoolander - Why male models?

Zoolander
Zoolander

The 2001 comedy about male models is not a classic like many of the others on this list, but the film has some pretty great moments and one of them was not planned.

At one point during the film Ben Stiller's character, Derek Zoolander, meets up with former hand model J.P. Prewitt, David Duchovny. Prewitt explains to Zoolander that male models are being used as assassins to which Zoolander asks, "Why male models?" Prewitt explains the reasoning and Zoolander asks again, "Why male models?" Prewitt responds, "Are you serious? I just told you that a minute ago."

During filming Stiller actually forgot his line so he just repeated the question, "Why male models?" and Duchovny ran with it and it resulted in one of the best lines in the film.

Dumb & Dumber - The most annoying sound in the world

Dumb & Dumber
Dumb & Dumber

"Dumb and Dumber" is considered one of the funniest movies of all time and everyone knows the "most annoying sound in the world" scene. What many people don't know is that it was totally improvised.

While filming Jim Carrey asked Mike Starr's character if he wanted to hear the most annoying sound in the world. Carrey then let's out a horrendous noise, which Jeff Daniels joins in on, and Starr loses it telling the guys to stop.

While the entire scene was improvised on the spot it's very possible Starr's reaction was sincere.

The Fugitive - I don't care

The Fugitive
The Fugitive

1993's "The Fugitive" won Tommy Lee Jones an Academy Award and also gave him what's possibly the most recognizable line of his career, which he ad-libbed.

When Jones' character, Gerard, chases down Harrison Ford's Dr. Richard Kimble in a water duct Kimble tells Gerard, "I didn't kill my wife," to which Jones improvised, "I don't care."

The line wasn't scripted, but it helped us understand that Jones' character didn't care if Kimble killed his wife or not because he was going to get his man.

Casablanca - Here's looking at you kid

Casablanca
Casablanca

The best picture winner "Casablanca" is considered one of the greatest movies of all time and it gave birth to famous lines like "Play it, Sam" and "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine."

But the most famous line from the film was totally unscripted. As Humphrey Bogart's character Rick sends Ilsa, Ingrid Bergman, on a plane back to America he says, "Here's looking at you, kid."

That line was all Bogart. According to some who worked on the film, Bogart would teach Bergman how to play poker between takes and always tell her, "here's looking at you, kid."

The Dark Knight - The Slow Clap and Hospital Explosion

The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight

We actually have two moments from Christopher Nolan's epic comic book movie "The Dark Knight," and both come from Heath Ledger's brilliant turn as The Joker.

After The Joker has been caught, Jim Gordon is promoted to commissioner and all of the officers start clapping for Gordon. As they do a very distinct slow clap stands out from the crowd. It's The Joker sitting in his cell clapping for the new commissioner.

The moment is darkly humorous and plays perfectly to The Joker's character, but the clap was nowhere to be found in the final script.

Another moment in the film is when The Joker blows up Gotham General Hospital. The way the scene was scripted The Joker would hit the detonator and there would be a smaller explosion and then a pause. During the pause The Joker would hop onto the school bus and pull away as the rest of the building exploded. However, when cameras were rolling Ledger had a different idea.

The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight

Ledger hit the detonator and the first explosion went off. Then, during the pause, he looks at the detonator wondering where the big fireball is, suddenly the building starts to explode. The explosion startles The Joker, and then he jumps on the bus and pulls away.

This was another moment that made us chuckle at a serious and disturbing moment of the film. Both of these unscripted moments are just further proof that Ledger's portrayal in "The Dark Knight" is one of the best performances of his generation.

There are many more examples of great unscripted and improvised moments in film. What comes to your mind? Let us know on the comment boards, Facebook or send an email.

Thanks to Glenn Swan for helping with the concept of the story.

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John Clyde

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