This film holds the personal distinction of being my #1 favorite movie of all-time!
“Raising Arizona” was released in 1987 and I first saw it on an all-night PAN AM flight from New York to London. When the flight attendant was announcing the movie before we took off, she called it “Raising THE Arizona”, so, since I am completely unable to sleep on a plane, I figured I was in store for some kind of Pearl Harbor documentary. It seemed that the Pearl Harbor Docs were not real popular in that I appeared to be the only one still awake on the plane when they finally showed the movie.
I proceeded to loudly laugh my butt off for the next 90 minutes and managed to wake all the passengers seated within 20 rows of me. For a movie that I had never heard of, with actors that, at that time, I had never heard of, this flick just blew me away. You have to have a truly twisted and warped sense of humor to appreciate the comedy in “Raising Arizona” and Lord knows, I am twisted and warped, so to me, the film is a comedy classic.
Years later, when I would meet my current day Father-in-Law, I would discover that beneath his mild mannered, calm exterior, lies another warped and twisted sense of humor in that I discovered that he too loves this movie! I have seen this flick around 100 times and I still laugh like I did over 20 years ago when I first saw it.
Though they had done other films prior, this movie really put stars such as Nicholas Cage, Holly Hunter, John Goodman, and Frances McDormand on the Hollywood map.
——————————————————————————–
Gale: All right, ya hayseeds, it’s a stick-up. Everybody freeze. Everybody down on the ground.
Feisty Hayseed: Well, which is it, young feller? You want I should freeze or get down on the ground? Mean to say, if’n I freeze, I can’t rightly drop. And if’n I drop, I’m a-gonna be in motion. You see…
Gale: Shut up!
Feisty Hayseed: Okay then.
Gale: Everybody down on the ground!
Evelle: Y’all can just forget that part about freezin’ now.
Gale: Better still to get down there.
Evelle: Yeah, y’all hear that, don’t ya?
[Everybody lays down. Gale looks at the now-empty teller windows]
Gale: Shit! Where’d all the tellers go?
Teller’s voices: We’re down here, sir.
Evelle: They’re on the floor as you commanded, Gale.
Now, I’d a LOVED to see “Raising The Arizona”. Mind you, most of her upper works are lying on a small island, off limits to the public, rusting away. And her sunken hull has been designated a War Grave, so hands off. C’est la guerre.
Never seen this movie. It’s odd – I don’t care for Nic Cage, but I like a lot of movies he’s been in. “Gone in 60 Seconds” is great – then again, any movie showing a warehouse full of rare Ferraris is a hit in my book. “The Rock” is great – I’d pay money to watch Sean Connery read the phone book. Even the recent “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” was neat, DESPITE Mr. Cage, rather than because of him.
Curious.
Gotta go, “Hitch-Hiker’s Guide To The Galaxy” is on. Yeah, the movie is weak compared to the 4-book trilogy, but it’s good on it’s own, especially Alan Rickman!
By: John Erickson on August 19, 2011
at 5:51 pm
I couldn’t stop laughing at this movie and crack up at various times when I think of it…Especially at the boys pediatrician office when it was time for their “Dip-Tap!” Thanks Maaaaaaaahhhhhhhk!
By: sweetman on August 20, 2011
at 6:13 am
BicycleGirl – You are more than welcome Lizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on August 20, 2011
at 8:30 am
I’ve never seen it. I guess I’ll have to. And wow does Nicholas Cage look different.
By: CMSmith on August 20, 2011
at 11:04 am
This is, and always will be, my absolute favorite movie. To me, movies don’t get more perfect than this. It is the only movie I have purchased both on VHS and DVD. I can’t watch it with people because I annoy them by saying every line right along with the characters. I have loved many of the Coen brothers’ movies, but this one will always take the cake.
I’ve seen you around WP on other people’s comments, but I don’t know why I haven’t stopped by before. I saw you were Freshly Pressed today – congrats! I wasn’t a huge Seinfeld fan, but when I saw Raising Arizona over there on the list to the right, I just had to click on it. And I’m glad I did!
By: Amy on September 13, 2011
at 12:47 pm
Amy – If you love Raising Arizona you are A-OK in my book! I am always quoting that movie and only other RA fans know what the heck I am talking about…… And you are right… the Coens rock!
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on September 13, 2011
at 1:20 pm
BEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME. MAKES ME CRY LAUGH. QUOTE. UNBELIEVABLE PIECE OF FILM HISTORY.
By: roberto fortucci on January 7, 2012
at 2:18 pm