Screenwriting : Best Dialogue Scene Ever by Eisha Marjara

One of the best is Samuel Jackson and John Travolta at coffee shop in Pulp Fiction; and also discussing differences between Europe and America.

Gone with the Wind has some extraordinary scenes. My favorite is Scarlett dispatching the Yankee straggler inside of Tara. Olivia De Havilland as Melanie Wilkes assisting in cleanup duties is some of her best career work. GWTW still stands as a monumental achievement.

That is one tough piece of dialogue for an actor to pull of - and all in one take! It's astounding how something that can come across as wordy somewhat deliberated on paper can seem natural on screen (well almost as Kingsley seems to be losing his focus at times). When you watch a scene like that, the dialogue is enmeshed with the musical score, the setting and cinematography. I was fixated on the glint in Weaver's eye, and what that suggested to me - revenge. It makes one realize how a script is just a blue print, albeit an important one.

Oh yeah, Jacqueline! Good one. Pure melodrama just like the above clip Illimani posted. I heard in an interview that Kate Winslet went on to make smaller more art house movies after the mega produced Titanic. Holy Smoke, Iris, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind...Isn't Titanic the largest grossing film after Avatar? Hmmm. I do think there is a trend towards more naturalistic dialogue and filmmaking however, in the drama genre.

I find dialogue is the easiest part of writing, as long as you first have have an understanding of who your charecters are. When I go about writing a charecter (which ultimatly determines what they're going to say) I make them as multi-demensional as possible. If the charecters a bad guy I ease the reader into that in the first scene they appear in, and then in the next I have them do something horrible which makes you question and hate this charecter and then in the next scene I show that maybe they aren't that bad afterall and then the roller coaster ride really begins. Each charecter has to be different and they have to say and do things which would make them that way but for me I tell the story more through the dialogue and less through they're actions because in real life I know talk is cheap and people don't usually go on psychotic rampages like Liam Neeson did in Taken. Talking about Liam Neeson, arguably one of the best pieces of dialogue was his performance at the end of Schindlers List which sums up the movie perfectly. We were introduced to this arrogant charecter who could only think of himself and how he would make more money but in the end he was willing to give it all away just for the chance to save another life. That's how you write great dialogue, by developing the charecter to the point that everything they say you believe.

My Cousin Vinny has some very witty exchanges between all of the characters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIp_8RNNX4k

I have to watch this film. I adore this actor. When Neeson plays a character he is committed 150%.

Stacey, My Cousin Vinny has some terrific dialogue. Comedy is so much harder for dialogue writing unless comedy is really in your blood. Jeremy, you are right in that a writer has to know their characters inside out in order to provide them with their authentic/ rightful voice. The audience is quick to pick up what rings false.

I'm surprised no one's mentioned Mamet! American Buffalo, Glengarry Glen Ross? But as a Brit, I have to say we are often spoilt for good dialogue, as that's often all the budget will stretch to! A particular favourite of mine is "Withnail and I". A wonderful romp of a film with sparkling, witty and bittersweet dialogue.

Martyn: I remember HG was the only movie I ever laughed at during the opening credits. Superb movie.

This is a terrific question! So many to choose from. I like classics like Casablanca -- each character had a richness to each line. Comedy, I have to agree that My Cousin Vinny and the jail scene when Vinny meets the friend for the first time. Crass, yes, but the double meaning had me laughing.

@Andrew - yes, that scene was hysterical - whenever anyone in my family is in a hurry at the grocery store, we always make it 'an in and out procedure' LOL. Being from the south (New Orleans) I also love the references to grits....and lets not forget what he should wear to go hunting...crap, the whole movie is hysterical.

LOL! I just watched it again the other day, Stacey. Couldn't stop laughing.

Hard not to pick a Tarantino scene from several of his movies, but Network has a few great ones, if you haven't seen Chayefsky's work with words in that film, you don't know what you're missing..... Also Way of the Gun written and directed by Christopher Mcquarrie has some very memorable word play as well

I'm always blown away by Richard Price's dialogue, even in his novels. Truly gifted.

Dialogues are easy to write out if you paid attention to people's conversation and how they talked. In my case, I'm deaf so it's a constant battle to lock down spoken dialogues comparing to sign language, where I can pick up everything. Best dialogues I've come across beside Tarantino's films is Shawshank Redemption. I love Morgan Freeman's narration and the conversation between prisoners.

Indeed Adrean, an added challenge for you. You made me think of two interesting points. One being that one cannot separate dialogue from genre and setting. Comedy vs sci fi or thriller, say vs drama. And also the era and location the movie is set. I do think there is a trend today towards more naturalistic dialogue - which can be comedic too. And the other point being that intent and suggestion holds more weight than words. This works well in improvised scenes - which cannot be written, anyway- but written as well. In a recent film by Heneke "The White Ribbon" there is a gorgeous dialogue scene between two children - as they talk about death. He: "Does everyone die?" The expression on that kid's face - speaks a thousand words. There's a bit in the trailer: http://imdb.to/UKTOu4

I also think there are a few memoriable pieces of dialogue in "On The Waterfront", but reading the script, it had almost as many spelling mistakes as PTA's "The Master". "The Master" was one of my favortite movies of 2012 but the script was a punch in the chest to everyone out there who puts an effort into there writing. Maybe if PTA put more of an effort into the script it would have recieved more then three acting Oscar nominations at the Acadamy Awards but that was PTA's mistake. "I coulda been a contender" was one of the best performed lines in cinema history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QsNXd57Ppw

That is real, I love the way Mr. Brando presented those lines." I could've been somebody" all of us have that same dream.

You have to treat the charecters you write like real people. No two people have the same set of emotions, they will react to situations in different ways, they will have those moments where they say exactly how they feel about something and have those moments where they say more with silence. This scene was a collaberative effort, great piece of dialogue, great actor, one hell of a director, and this was the final product. This is what I always try and do as a writer, become an observer of my charecters , write from their POV and write from their heart.

I think it was the emotional pain and remorse that makes Brando's delivery so powerful there.

I like the scene in "Sideways" when Miles and Maya are talking about wine, but they're really saying how they feel about each other. Perfect example of subtext.

Phillip: Sideways is one of my favorite films of all time. I love the scene you referenced.

I've always admired how nearly everyone of The Joker's lines in The Dark Knight is a monologue yet you never get tired of hearing him talk.

I've actually had this convo with several other writers myself, which pretty much led me to one conclusion: writers for the most part have two main schools of thought 1) action influences character or 2) character influences action. Since I started in acting before moving over to writing I tend to be the latter. I mostly build my stories from character motivations outward, so fine tuning dialogue tends to flow a little easier for me. I agree with Dan Shea that action scenes can be a bigger challenge, and a less is more approach is usually the way to go.

Dan -- isn't it wild how little scene description is found in scripts these days? It's like some kind of puzzle, finding ways to write SD in as few lines as possible. Perhaps I just have to remind myself that most readers will skip those parts anyway!

The best dialogue in cinema is silence. It can also be hard to judge if the film is subtitled. Some of the dialogue in Paris, Texas is pretty good.

Hi Eisha. Paul Newman once said, that Marlon Brando could do in a single look, what some actors needed fifty words to say. In 'The Godfather' when the Don arrives at the funeral parlor with Sonny's riddled body. Brando's expression of sorrow and vulnerability speak volumes. Then the line: "Look how they massacre my boy". He did that scene in one take.

Oh, BTW; Newman also had that magic. Watch 'Cool Hand Luke'.

When the medic dies in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. Wow, the best death scene ever. As many soldiers have done, he was crying for "Momma" with his last breath. Powerful!

Cool Hand Luke was/is extraordinary in several facets. Too many hot points to try to mention one as the best. My favorite movie ever.

Thomas More is about to lose his head when he gets a visit from the Spanish diplomat, who asks, "May I not come simply, to pay my respects to the English Socrates -- as I see your angelic friend Erasmus calls you?" Paul Scofield's More does a pause, and says: "Yes, I'll think of something presently to call Erasmus." 'A Man for All Seasons,' by Robert Bolt

Almost any scene in "Paper Moon". It is one of the best written, directed, acted (Oscar for Best Actress went to Tatum O"Neal at age eight) and shot movies I can think of.

Opening scene of Miller's Crossing. "Mink is Eddy Dane's boy."

Classic Dialogue = 'Dick Van Dyke in May Poppins' A Typical Cockernee.....

Opening scene of QT's "Reservoir Dogs", now known as the "Madonna speech". What made it ironic was the fact that Sean Penn's brother, Chris, was a big part of that dialogue. Overall dialogue, though, no one, IMO, tops Sorkin.

Many a scene from Diner and Tin Men by Barry Levinson, Dog Day Afternoon by Lumet.

I think there are many more great monologue scenes than dialogue scenes. Not an accident I think.

Eleanor: I even made poor Louis take me on Crusade. How's that for blasphemy. I dressed my maids as Amazons and rode bare-breasted halfway to Damascus. Louis had a seizure and I damn near died of windburn... but the troops were dazzled. ~James Goldman, The Lion in Winter

Shakespeare also broke the four line rule, a few years before Tarantino, goes to prove 'if you can do it, do it' if not....Four line rule...

Cool Hand Luke, Newman (Luke) to Dragline as ending, "I bet they'll even give us our old bunks back" Rifle fire, Luke dies... WHAT WE GOT HERE IS A FAILURE TO COMMUNICTAE.

The ones I write.

More than four lines you say, is that meant to be hard or something? >__>

very hard to nail ones down, the bar scene from Glengarry Glen Ross, when Simon Baker's character discovers the company's flaw in Margin Call - I love scenes which aren't afraid to delve into the theatrical. I think one of my favourite scenes is a monologue from Robin Williams, telling Will the facts of life in Good Will Hunting - pitch perfect for the camera and the point they've reached in the plot.

ah cool :), i will do more than a four line dialogue in the movie script i do next :P

Kill Bill 2 where Bill illustrates why Beatrix trying to don the disguise of Suzy Homemaker wouldn't have worked by comparing her plight to Superman's, where he was born different from men, and the persona he uses to blend in, weak and indecisive, is how he views us, and is his commentary on mankind.

HEAT Coffee shop scene - Pacino Vs De Niro. Vincent: So you never wanted a regular type life? Neil: What the fuck is that? Barbeques and ballgames? Classique!

When Harry Met Sally, at Giant Stadium while doing the wave and Harry is telling Jess how he found out his wife is leaving him. Maybe the best "Pope in the pool" ever.

SIDEWAYS. Mia and Miles are talking in the living room at the wine workers house. The dialog is so powerful. On the surface they are conversing about the type of wines they like, but by the end of the scene I felt like I knew them. How the Pinals are temperamental, but haunting and wonderful. The writing is superb. Alexander Payne's dialog is brilliant because the dialog tells the story.

Janet: I gotta agree with you. Sideways is the best indie film of the past ten years. What a funny, touching and beautifully acted film by all primary players. Paul Giamatti is the best homely leading man in the biz. I can watch the film over and over.

Janet: Same to you and thanks for the kind words.

Pretty much all of State and Main (love it) and (forgive me, but I LOVE it) pretty much everything in Talladega Nights. Hillarious.