I was watching the "Comanche Moon" prequel to "Lonesome Dove" today, and was reminded that the best death scene in a movie that I ever saw was done by Robert Duvall (as Augustus McRae) in the original "Lonesome Dove" mini-series. A runner-up for me would be James Caan (as Brian Picolo) in "Brian's Song", the early 70's TV movie about Gayle Sayers, the Chicago Bears running back. Anyone else have any particularly poignant favorites?

The one that stands out for me is from "Deliverance". The redneck that is shot with an arrow, and subsequent expiration is a classic, imo.

Not quite a classic, but Paul Reubens' death scene in Buffy the Vampire Slayer that continues through the credits is hysterical.

Ray

For sheer overkill how about Sonny Corleone's in Godfather one.

Tom

Oh without a doubt the guy that Robert Duvalls charactor Blue Bonnet Spearman shoots with the shotgun right through the plank wall of the building he's hiding in. It blows the guy across the alleyway and he's laying there when his foot starts to shake a little. A very realistic experation.

Rutger Hauer in Blade Runner

I can't remember the movie but it was a mob film where they make a couple of guys dig there grave then beat them to death with base ball bats.That almost made me sick.

Rutger Hauer in Blade Runner

You're right - that one was quite exceptional. It now moves up to my No. 2 now that you've jogged my memory banks.

I can't remember the movie but it was a mob film where they make a couple of guys dig there grave then beat them to death with base ball bats.That almost made me sick.

Casino

How about Jimmy Durante kicking the bucket in "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad Mad World" :D

Zed, the "hillbilly rapist" in Pulp Fiction. We don't see him die, (although Marcellus) does shoot him with a shotgun) but his death was certain and not very pretty, to say the least, according to what Marcellus had to say about his impending fate.

We are left to our own imaginations as to the severity of his slow and torturous demise. This can be more chilling than watching a scene, no matter how well done.

The final scene in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". Fuego! Fuego!

More grim (and chilling), the Kraut soldier killing the GI in hand-to-hand in "Saving Private Ryan". "Relax, give in, quit struggling."

The Blade Runner scene was fairly excellent...and it reminded me of another film that affected me in an unexpected way: Moulin Rouge! I'm no Nicole Kidman fan, but damn if she wasn't really superb in that film. Her death scene really choked me up!

How about Alec Guinness as Lieutenant Colonel Nicholson in The Bridge on the River Kwai? Did he intend to blow up the bridge?

Funniest-the punk (Duke, played by Dick Rude) on the floor in the convenience store in Repo Man while talking to Emilio Estavez' character, Otto.

Duke-"The lights are growing dim.
I know a life of crime led me
to this sorry fate...
And yet,
I blame society.
Society made me
what I am."

Otto-"Bullshit! You're a white
suburban punk, just like me."

Duke-"But it still hurts."

Otto-"You're gonna be all right."
(Duke dramatically & noisily dies.)
Otto-"Maybe not."

OK, another for "funniest"-
Slim Pickens at the end of Dr. Strangelove.

Yeah for me it would be Brian's Song and the actor James Caan who played Brian. There are a few more but that one I saw the year it came out and it was the only time I have ever shed a tear watching any show.

-Mike

How about Terminator 2 when they lower Arnold into the molten steel and he dissolves. I cried my eyes out at that....

All good choices, but how about "Made it Ma, top of the world!" James Cagney in "White Heat" Note how he is laughing as he takes multiple bullets...

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjzKiEs_pHI

Not quite a classic, but Paul Reubens' death scene in Buffy the Vampire Slayer that continues through the credits is hysterical.

Ray

I'll second that, it's what came to mind when I saw the title of this thread!

As I search my memory bank I am sure I will add others, but these stand out to me like a sore thumb!

Bone Collector: The two scenes in this movie classic, where the lady is faced with the impending fate of being boiled alive is horrifying indeed. Also, the man that has been captured with his captor pacing about him trying to decide where to lacerate him where just enough blood flow alerts the nearby rats senses to a warm meal just blows my mind. I cannot imagine how horrible his first moment of seeing the rat coming down the plank to bite into his face. Wow!

Terms of Endearment: Shirley MacLaine & Debra Winger gives us a portrait of how fragile life really is in this Oscar winning movie. A parent should never IMHO be placed in a situation to see their child die before them. As a father, I was placed in that same situation seeing my at that time 27 year old daughter lying in a coma never to wake up again. My ex-wife & I had to make the gut wrenching decision to take her off life support. It has been very hard for me to carry on since that day, but we still a son & grandson, so I am grateful to God.

Training Day: A movie that left many with a distaste for Denzel Washington, but it is only just that. His role as a rouge cop is riveting & when he tells someone to "close the blinds & hand me the bitch" keeps me glued to my chair. Again, can you imagine what the guy was thinking to himself at that time, knowing that he was going to die? Denzel utters a much profound, yet callous statement to him after pulling the trigger to give him a shotgun blast. Breathe, Breathe, Dawg! as if he was going to recover. Stellar!

Rome

Probably the epic demise of Al Pacino in "Scarface", as he gets pumped full of a few thousand bullets then falls face first into a pool, where the blood slowly drifts out of him, as some eerie synth music plays... truly amazing. Masterfully done.

The killing during the baptism in "The Godfather" is really good too... with all the organ music.

Surprised no one has said the shower scene from "Psycho"!

James Cagney at the end of "Roaring Twenties" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-amhUAWy6Ns

Helps if you have seen the complete film to become more emotionally invested

All of Kill Bill 1 and 2...

If you've seen it, you get it.

I think the very worst ever was passion of the Christ.The most horrable slow torcherus death,the cat o nine tails with hooks and when they flipped the cross over to bend the nails over with him on it.
The cross would have been 16 foot long and very rough cut out of heavy aulder berry wood or ukaliptus.possably more than 200 lbs.and would have been dragged almost a 1/4 mile to the top of a steep hill top after being beaten and flogged with only a loin cloth so that ruff heavy wood on your bare sholder digging into the deep gashes from the whip.Also the crown of thorns digging and being pushed deeper into your head by the post of the cross resting ageinst your head as you carry it.Your leggs would be weak at best from the flogging and the stones and hot ground under your bare feet just getting to the hill top.Before they nail you up.what could be worse.
It was rarly exposure that killed you,after you are up there they break your leggs so all your weight is supported by your arms compressing your lungs so after 10 hours or more you would slowly suffacate to death in 120 degree sun with no water or cloths.
Id rather be thrown feet first into a large chipper shreader,grusum but reasonably fast.Yup that is the worst death sean ever and made me sick to watch it.

All good choices, but how about "Made it Ma, top of the world!" James Cagney in "White Heat" Note how he is laughing as he takes multiple bullets...

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjzKiEs_pHI

related--Little Caeser, Edward G. Robinson. "Mother of mercy!..is this the end of Rico?" m, yes.

Buffy (the Vampire Slayer), end of S5, when she must sacrifice herself to close the dimensional portal and save the world; we hear the voice-over of her last words to her sister (Dawn) and a slo-mo of her making the leap. The music--an instrumental piece called 'The Sacrifice' by Christophe Beck--is the greatest I've ever heard on a tv show. Closing shot is of her gravestone; 'She saved the world. A lot.'

end of S2 'Veronica Mars'; the culprit behind the school bus crash is cornered on a roof and decides to jump. "Don't do this" says another character. "Can you give me one reason why not?" Silence. "I didn't think so." -jump. background music is the haunting 'See my Friends' by Gravenhurst, way appropriate. a sadly underwatched show imho.

This is not quite to the point of the post, but you mentioned Duvall. I saw an interview w/ Duvall. He said one of the best jobs he's done in his acting career was the scene he did (his response) when they hung Robert Urich.

Cagny was a death scene master -- he redeemed the twisted souls he played. +1 on the "Roaring Twenties" and Edward G. "Rico" scenes.

One more Cagny reference: in "Angels With Dirty Faces" as Rocky he plays tough all the way to the electric chair. Friend from childhood (Pat O'Brien as a priest) asks him to reconsider his extreme tough-guy image so that all the youngsters planning on a life of gangsterism (based on Rocky's exploits) will not go down this evil path.

Rocky/Cagney almost spits his disgust at this suggestion he turn yellow -- he's going out as tough as he always was. As he enters the electric chair area, the scene is shot from behind showing his and the guards shadows. He starts breaking down, and wailing and begging, and convinces everyone he was yellow all along. How this all blasts off the screen in B&W is a marvel.

OK, why hasn't anyone mentioned Orson Wells' "Rosebud" scene in "Citizen Cane"?

John Wayne as Davy Crockett in "The Alamo".

He gets impaled to the door of the chapel by a lance, breaks it off, un-impales himself, and with torch in hand staggers into the powder magazine and blows it up.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mqqh-CHKVvM/SOf4fOyQxHI/AAAAAAAAAA0/zlTCic1x5SE/s320/Wayne+as+Crocket+UA+1960.jpg

Joe Morton in Terminator 2, gasped beathing as he blows up the building. Classic!

Zed, the "hillbilly rapist" in Pulp Fiction. We don't see him die, (although Marcellus) does shoot him with a shotgun) but his death was certain and not very pretty, to say the least, according to what Marcellus had to say about his impending fate.

We are left to our own imaginations as to the severity of his slow and torturous demise. This can be more chilling than watching a scene, no matter how well done.

x2 great scene. my new fav was in death proof when stuntman mike went head-on with the chicks in the car and his tire ran over the face of "arlene" in the back seat. :tresbon:

Jim Brown as Jefferson in The Dirty Dozen. Always gets me verklemt.

Jim Brown as Jefferson in The Dirty Dozen. Always gets me verklemt.

I always cry when Jefferson gets kilt :tears::tears::tears:

How about the frenchman in "THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS" who was burned than shot by his friend so he didn't have to suffer, thats was a disturbing scene. Another one is in a more recent film called "PRIDE AND GLORY" where collin farrel is beat to death.

Duel at Diablo
How about the scene where Dennis Weaver is abducted, tied to wheel that is turned by the Indians so that his head is close to a pile of hot coals? You hear him screaming from dusk to dawn then all is quiet.

At the end of the movie James Garner finds him & even he has to turn away. Horrible!
Weaver begs him to kill him, but Garner just gives him the gun as he walks away a shot rings out!
Classic!

Rome

Christopher Lloyd /aka Judge Doom in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?":D

Well, one that is memorable (and quite repellent) is the bar fight in "Irreversible" where a guy gets his head hammered in with a fire extinguisher. The shots are very 'on camera' and I still am not sure how they pulled that off; it looks just unplesantly real.

Well, one that is memorable (and quite repellent) is the bar fight in "Irreversible" where a guy gets his head hammered in with a fire extinguisher. The shots are very 'on camera' and I still am not sure how they pulled that off; it looks just unplesantly real.

That whole movie was disturbing....


I still hate watching the original Alien movie....when John Hurt gets an upset tummy. Ugly death there, baby.

Agree with the hand-to-hand scene from Saving Private Ryan

My nominee is the Doc Holliday / Johnny Ringo duel from "Tombstone":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGpajGj07BU

Steve A.

Can't believe no one put Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke.

Also the last scene in Blade Runner, and when Brooks passes in Shawshank...

Billy Thorton in 'The Alamo'. Talk about defiance.

As far as car movies go, Kowalski in Vanishing Point.

I like when OJ almost died in the first Police Squad movie. They did have his outline in the water.

Michael Keaton in the movie "My Life"

Or, Nicholas Cage in "Leaving Las Vegas"

1. goose in 'top gun'
2. someone mentioned the frenchman in 'the last of the mohicans' - how about after that when the huron guy gets it on the cliff. that's got to be up there.
3. mel in 'braveheart'

Old Yeller (1957) One of the most :tears: scenes in cinema.

Donnie Darko, maybe not so much the visuals (just the death scene) but the feeling.

Iron Giant "superman".

a fair number of the death scenes in "Dead Like Me" including the main character's.

V for Vendetta

The Oxbow Incident

Gran Torino

vicariously... I live, while the whole world dies, you all need it too, don't lie! -tool


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hii17sjSwfA

Hands down favorite for me is Dennis Hopper/Christopher Walken scene in True Romance. Both actors nail the scene perfectly.

Language warning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_svnsF5OLbI&feature=related

Saddam Hussain in the South Park Movie

Belloch and the Nazi's at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark

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

Hands down favorite for me is Dennis Hopper/Christopher Walken scene in True Romance. Both actors nail the scene perfectly.

Language warning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_svnsF5OLbI&feature=related

how'd it take four pages in for someone to remember that one??

The death of Tom Hanks' character in Philadelphia...

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, where at the end Lightfoot (brilliantly played by Jeff Bridges) finally succumbs to his injuries and dies in the Cadillac. Thunderbolt puts the cigar in his top pocket and just drives off - all quite moving :(

how'd it take four pages in for someone to remember that one??

Yeah, Im always a day late and a dollar short...I couldnt believe it was not mentioned.

That movie has another great death scene between Slater and Oldman.

for me, John Wayne in "The Fighting Seabees", mortally wounded, he falls forward on the bull dozer controls, classic Duke,

runner up, Bruce Willis in "Armageddon"

Twin Peaks; Leland Palmer (played by Ray Wise) suffers breakdown and death in jail while being drenched by the sprinkler system, guided to the other side by Dale Cooper (Kyle Mclaughlin). "Into the light, Leland, into the light..." high point of the series.

"Once Upon A Time In The West" - Henry Fonda's character, "Frank," being shot by Charles Bronson's character who is refered to as "Harmonica." This was Henry Fonda's first role as a villain, and a better actor could not have been chosen. Another scene in which "Frank" shoots a young boy, Fonda has stated was the most emotionally difficult one that he had ever done.The scene with Jason Robard's character dying is also classic.
IMO, this is the greatest western film made and scenes like these show what a great director Sergio Leone was. BTW, Sergio Leone did not speak English, yet directed this film with English speaking actors, genius!
If you haven't seen this movie, it is a must see! If it's been a long time since you've watched it, it's time to watch it again.

not in the movies but on the tube,

When Tony Soprano got taken out was the most powerful IMHO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnT7nYbCSvM

Tom Hanks at the end of Road to Perdition and the end of Saving Private Ryan.

How about the Toecutter in Mad Max? Nothing like running head-on into a tractor trailer....Ouch!

Some great choices!

A few of mine:

Cagney dies a man in "13 Rue Madeleine."
George Foster Kane (Orson Welles) finally feels regrets as he dies in "Citizen Kane."
Margaret Hamilton's wicked witch melting in "The Wizard of Oz."
Gene Tierney's death in "Heaven Can Wait."
Judith Anderson in flames in "Rebecca."
Yoda's final moments in "Return of the Jedi."
Paul Newman and Richard Boone shooting each other in "Hombre."
Capt. Quint (Robert Shaw) being eaten by the shark in "Jaws."
Slim Pickens' dying scene in "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid."
Slim Pickens riding the H-bomb to oblivion in "Dr. Strangelove."
Jennifer Jones speaks to "the beautiful lady" as she lay dying in "Song of Bernadette."
Laurence Olivier as the dying king in his magnificent "King Lear."

The sniper scene in Full Metal Jacket. Both the GI's and then the 12 year old sniper. The whole segment gives you a gut check with your moral compass.

Also the final scene when Joan of Arc is burned at the stake in The Messenger.

But the one that always sticks in my mind is where John Wayne is killed as a cowboy, I think his characters name was Heath? Anyway, this was the first time I saw John Wayne die in a movie. Kind of threw a 10 year old kid for a loop.

I kind of always liked the unknown person in Titanic, with ship sinking, standing straight up, falls off the deck, dropping the length of the ship, and with a "PANG" bounces off the propeller blade. ouch!

Russellc

Zed, the "hillbilly rapist" in Pulp Fiction. We don't see him die, (although Marcellus) does shoot him with a shotgun) but his death was certain and not very pretty, to say the least, according to what Marcellus had to say about his impending fate.

We are left to our own imaginations as to the severity of his slow and torturous demise. This can be more chilling than watching a scene, no matter how well done.

Isn't that the scene where, before he dies from the shotgun blast, Marcellus sends some goons over to "get medieval on yo @$$" ? They didn't bother to show that part.

Another radical killing was Denzel Washington in Man On Fire with what he did to that guy tied to the hood of his car.

Okay.... think we're getting too off topic here. The OP is about best death scenes which doesn't mean most violent killings.

More grim (and chilling), the Kraut soldier killing the GI in hand-to-hand in "Saving Private Ryan". "Relax, give in, quit struggling."

Oh man, that's brutal. On the flip side, but the same battle, pretty much, one of the worst death scenes I think I've ever seen, at least in a first-rate movie, is Eddie Albert getting killed near the end of The Longest Day.

I dunno if he just couldn't stop himself from over-acting or what, but it's so awful even my kids laugh at it.

El Guapo in Three Amigos. :D