When it comes to legendary lines, certain feature films impress with one or two well-intended sentences. Others, on the other hand, are veritable punchline fests and weave amazing quotes from their opening scene to the end credits without leaving the audience a moment of respite.
Like The Three Brothers, Dinner of Cons or City of Fear, the adventure of OSS 117, directed by Michel Hazanavicius and carried by Jean Dujardin, should be placed in this category.
- 53 years later, we still think of this timeless line from French cinema every time we have to wake someone up.
Dozens of famous replicas
A way to clean the dust “masterful” 1950s spy films that humorously subvert them by exaggerating the hero’s qualities to make him a pretentious macho with very strong ideas, Hubert Bonissor de la Batte’s adventure of a man is a dream field for lovers of iconic lines.
The two dialogue writers of the film, Jean-Francois Hallin and Michel Hazanavicius himself, did their best to reproduce these little phrases, which all fans still know by heart after 18 years, and which wonderfully emphasize the arrogance and stupidity of their hero:
“How’s your blanket?” “I love to fight.” “It’s going to be about growth.” “Yes, I know that theory.” “We’ll talk about it again when we have to carry something heavy.”
Surrender of OSS
It is like that from the first minutesOSS 117, Cairo’s nest of spies (the first part, in which a French spy goes to Egypt to foil a plot) comes up with a little phrase that you’ve no doubt already heard in conversation if you know any fans of the saga.
The OSS has just landed in Cairo, where it is greeted by the mysterious Larmina (played by Bérénice Bejo). As they drive away from the airport, the latter briefly explains to him the basics of Egyptian culture, but when confronted with his interlocutor’s concessions, especially with regard to his native language, he sharply reminds him that “Millions of people speak Arabic.”
“A million, Larmina?”
To which, after rewarding him with his famous boisterous laugh, OSS responds with the following reply:
“Millions? You’re charming, but do you see what a million is yet, Larmina?”
A phrase that remains familiar to all movie fans and easily included in discussions of big fortunes or box office receipts before the word “million” has been uttered.
What is your favorite line in OSS 117?
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Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
