Inspired by the brilliant Jason Retiman film, “Thank You For Smoking” and Sigourney’s moment of “Where is my goddamn cigarettes” in Avatar, I was reminded of a time when cigarettes were just as much of a character in film as music and cinematography. Here is my list, which is comprised of what I could manage to think of. It was far more difficult that I had anticipated, and had to seek help from my supportive readers. Even then I’m sure there’s quite a few I’ve missed (feel free to add your own thoughts), I had a lot of fun thinking of these great moments. Some funny, some violent, and some just sexy as hell. The focus is on cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. That other fun smokey business will be reserved for a list all on it’s own soon enough.
10. Aliens-Look Into My Eye
Sgt. Apone has a cigar in his mouth and starts chattering about “Another Glorious Day In The Corps”. The cigar remains for the entirety of his role.
9. Lord Of The Rings-Bilbo and Gandalf
8. Gremlins-In The Bar
When the evil ones take over the town, they take over a bar, and part of that scene has a Gremlin with abot 80-100 cigarettes stuffed in his mouth and lit all at once. Made me kind of jealous. Greedy bugger.
7. Fight Club-Lou Fight
6. Payback-Gasoline Mob
When Porter blows up a car full of mobsters by dropping his cigarette onto a stream of gasoline, his lips part with the slightest gape of satisfaction.
5. Grease- Tell me about it……Stud
4. Inglourious Basterds- Burn It Down
Chapter Five, Revenge Of The Giant Face and David Bowie make the final countdown of this awesome flick boil down to one lit cigarette.
3. Alice In Wonderland- The Catepillar
2. To Have And To Have Not-Anybody Got A Match?
Her first husky, sexy lines to him as she leans in, she makes a simple, deadpan request for a match, but it sounds more like a challenge.
1. Basic Instinct-Arrest me for smoking?
“He gave me a lot of pleasure”
This scene is utterly brilliant and the highlight of Stones Career. Mostly because she’s just so damn cool and sexy as Catherine Tramell.
Honorable Mentions and Readers Choice:
Match Point-Johanssen
Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction-Roll Me One
Vince Vaughn in Old School
Ghostbusters-Ray Cigarette and Slimer
Baby in Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Johnny Depp in Cry Baby
Vincent Vega-smoking while drinking a five dollar shake
Hellboy in any scene.
Leo with Nicholson in The Departed
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Just watched The Exorcist. Even the doctors are smoking in it. It seems that every character besides Linda Blair asks for a cigarette at one point.
Anything pre-nineties with a lot of tension or a thriller in it seems to have people smoking a lot more. Nowadays it’s just the marijuana cigarettes.
Good list – I’d trade out the Fight Club scene you chose for Marla from the same movie lighting up and commenting on reliving her grade school days……
Have you seen the deleted scene on the DVD with the other alterative to that scene?
This is a good list, but I was sooo hoping you’d put Heathers on there. For me, that is the number one best smoking scene, hands down. I mean, who the fuck lights their cigarette off of somebody exploding? It’s so badass. But I liked that you included Payback. And Basic Instinct.
Now that Fight Club has been brought to my mind, how about Marla lighting up at the Cancer support group? So macabrely funny. But it’s hard to argue with Basic Instinct as #1.
How about Good night, and good luck, they all smoke their way through that even whist broadcasting. The standout is when Fred Friendly hands Ed Murrow a lit cigarette and Ed says:
“Funny thing, Freddie, every time you light a cigarette for me, I know you’re lying”
Resevoir Dogs!
that list is smokin! really creative stuff Heather, expect no less from you at this stage. in Zoolander, isnt the petrol station fire started by a stray cigarette?
I haven’t seen that in awhile but I think you’re right Ross.
Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapon movies.
Duke in Fear and Loathing.
And Cruella Deville!
Some brilliant moments in this list Heather. Love the LOTR one as its just so funny.
Grease is also a classic mainly because she does not have the first clue what to do with it, haha.
I actually love the smoking in Chicago as it adds more sex appeal to the film. In the cell block tango scene.
Very nice Caz. It’s hard to really think of these moments off the top of your head, but you know there are so many good ones out there.
You are 100% right about Chicago too.
McG never fails to disappoint… Zoolander is a great pick. I was thinking of Good Night & Good Luck. Great movie with so much smoking I had to visit a respitory therapist after!
Love the site… keep up the good work!
I’ve heard that about Good Night, and Good Luck. There was A LOT of smoking in Shutter Island as well.