DAY 12- Month of Movie Quotes: Judgment at Nuremburg (1961)

Ernst Janning: There was a fever over the land. A fever of disgrace, of indignity, of hunger. We had a democracy, yes, but it was torn by elements within. Above all, there was fear. Fear of today, fear of tomorrow, fear of our neighbors, and fear of ourselves.

Only when you understand that – can you understand what Hitler meant to us. Because he said to us: ‘Lift your heads! Be proud to be German! There are devils among us. Communists, Liberals, Jews, Gypsies! Once these devils will be destroyed, your misery will be destroyed.’

It was the old, old story of the sacrificial lamb. . . What difference does it make if a few racial minorities lose their rights? It is only a passing phase. . . The very elements of hate and power about Hitler that mesmerized Germany, mesmerized the world! We found ourselves with sudden powerful allies.

Things that had been denied to us as a democracy were open to us now. The world said ‘go ahead, take it, take it! . . . And then one day we looked around and found that we were in an even more terrible danger. The ritual began in this courtroom swept over the land like a raging, roaring disease.

What was going to be a passing phase had become the way of life. Your honor, I was content to sit silent during this trial. I was content to tend my roses. I was even content to let counsel try to save my name, until I realized that in order to save it, he would have to raise the specter again.

You have seen him do it – he has done it here in this courtroom. He has suggested that the Third Reich worked for the benefit of people. He has suggested that we sterilized men for the welfare of the country. He has suggested that perhaps the old Jew did sleep with the sixteen year old girl, after all. Once more it is being done for love of country. It is not easy to tell the truth; but if there is to be any salvation for Germany, we who know our guilt must admit it… whatever the pain and humiliation.

I add this quote today because I have been thinking a lot lately about our world. More specifically, I have been thinking a lot about individuals and the battle going on in each of us. This quote makes it very clear that FEAR leaves us open for takeover. It is the destroyer of hope and faith. Truth can be distorted and men made to do the most horrendous things if fear creeps into our lives.

I think we would all be wise to study history. For, as George Santayana said, “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.”

DAY 11- Month of Movie Quotes: Rigoletto (1993)

Ribaldi: There is nothing more mean and ugly in this world than to have a beautiful gift, a loving spirit, and a desire to give and share these things, when there is nobody to share them with. You know what I mean, don’t you, Porter? Is it your father?

Porter: I hate. I hate my d-dad.

Ribaldi: Do you know what I think?

Porter: W-what?

Ribaldi: I think that you love your father. And you hate the way you feel. Change the way you feel.

Porter: He doesn’t deserve love! He’s mean and selfish. He doesn’t care about us! He only cares about himself. I hate him! He should love us! He should take us hiking, fishing, teach us how to play ball.

Ribaldi: Sometimes it takes hard times to make us gentle and strong.

Porter: How can it do both? It just makes my dad mean.

Ribaldi: Meanness isn’t strength. Your father is not a strong man. Not yet anyway. But who knows what tomorrow brings?

You mustn’t give up on him. He needs the love of his family now just as you need his love, and someday you’ll both get what you need.

This is not from an award winning film by any means. But I do love this scene. Rigoletto, or Ribaldi, has a disfigured face and lives in a mansion far from a small town. He is viewed as monstrous and cruel but slowly over time he helps the town and its inhabitants.

In this case he talks to a boy Porter, whose father has no job and takes out his frustrations on his family. A little broken hearted , Porter goes out one particular evening when his father’s yelling is too much to bear. That is when he speaks to Ribaldi.

I love this scene because it deals with forgiveness and charitable love. There are so many hurts inside us which can be healed through letting go and loving, regardless of circumstances with others. So much can change from simply loving.

DAY 10- Month of Movie Quotes: The Lion King (1994)

Mufasa’s Ghost: [He appears in the sky as a group of stars] Simba, you have forgotten me.

Adult Simba: No. How could I?

Mufasa’s Ghost: You have forgotten who you are and so have forgotten me. Look inside yourself Simba. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the Circle of life.

Adult Simba: How can I go back? I’m not who I used to be.

Mufasa’s Ghost: [Now fully formed in the sky] Remember who you are. You are my son and the one true king. Remember who you are.

Adult Simba: [Mufasa’s ghost begins to disappear] No! Please! Don’t leave me!

Mufasa’s Ghost: Remember.

One of the tragic scenes in The Lion King is Mufasa’s untimely murder. I remember it from my childhood and it hurt to see such a strong father figure die. But recently I visited my sister Jessica and watched the film again. This time, I watched my nephew Henry along with the movie. My sister explained how it is hard for him to see any films where the parents die. In fact he will cry because it upsets him so. But with The Lion King he didn’t. I thought about it and realized it is because Simba sees his father again. He wasn’t really gone. In his little mind he had connected the two scenes.

My little nephew understood something so beautiful I myself subconsciously believed when I was a child. Death is not the end. The true tragedy is not living our lives to our true potential. We truly all must remember who we are.

DAY 9- Month of Movie Quotes: The Man Who Laughs (1928)

The Man Who Laughs   See my original review. 

1.God closed my eyes so I could see the real Gywplaine.

2.A king made me a clown, a queen made me a lord, but God made me first a man!

I decided to write to quotes because I believe they are connected. The first is the moment when Gwyplaine realizes Dea, despite his fears of losing her, loves him even knowing his face is deformed.

The second is the moment he proclaims from the depths of his soul the essence of who he really is. There is power knowing who we really are. And there is power in truly living and being loved by others.