We all love film quotations but some of the most famous ones are actually misquotes of the original. This is a list of the top 15 film misquotes.
1. Dracula
Misquote: I want to suck your blood!
This quote, usually attributed to Bela Lugosi who played Dracula in 1931, was actually never spoken by Lugosi. However, it was used for humor in Tim Burton’s 1994 Ed Wood. Muahaha!
2. Frankenstein
Misquote: He’s Alive!
The actual phrase used is “It’s Alive”. This is true of both the original 1931 film and the comedy version in 1974 starring Gene Wilder.
3. Cagney
Misquote: You dirty rat!
Attributed to James Cagney, he never said this line in a movie. The closest he ever came to saying this phrase was “Mmm, that dirty, double-crossin’ rat”, in the 1931 Blonde Crazy.
4. Tarzan
Misquote: Me Tarzan, you Jane!
As believable as it seems, this line was not spoken in the 1932 film Tarzan, the Ape Man. Here is what was actually said:
Tarzan: (he points at her) Jane.
Jane: And you? (she points at him) You?
Tarzan: (stabbing himself proudly in the chest) Tarzan, Tarzan.
Jane: (emphasizing his correct response) Tarzan.
Tarzan: (poking back and forth each time) Jane. Tarzan. Jane. Tarzan…
Ah, such eloquence!
5. Darling Buds of Mae
Misquote: Come up and see me sometime.
Close but not close enough. What Mae West actually said in She Done Him Wrong (1933) was “Why don’t you come up sometime ‘n see me?”
6. Bengal Lancer
Misquote: “We have ways of making you talk.”
This is allegedly from the 1935 film Lives of a Bengal Lancer. The actual statement was “We have ways of making men talk.”
7. Snow White
Misquote: “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?”
This is an incorrect quotation. In Disney’s animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), the wicked Queen asked: “Magic Mirror on the Wall, who is the Fairest one of all?”
8. Elementary
Misquote: “Elementary, my dear Watson!”
This is a big misquote – because Sherlock Holmes never said it – at least not in any of the books! This quote was rather found in a film review in the New York Times on October 19, 1929. It became popularized only after its trademark use in The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1929) (the first Holmes film with sound), with Clive Brook and H. Reeves-Smith.
9. Casablanca
Misquote: “Play it again, Sam”
This is often believed to have been said by Bogart in Casablanca. In fact, he closest Bogart came to the phrase was this: “You played it for her, you can play it for me…If she can stand it, I can. Play it!” Interestingly, Ingrid Bergman’s character comes closest when she says: “Play it, Sam.”
10. White Heat!
Misquote: “Top of the world, Ma!”
Nope, before the tank explodes, James Cagney, in white heat, actually says: “Made it, Ma. Top of the world!”
11. Star Wars
Misquote: May the Force be With You
This quote is wrongly attributed to Obi Wan Kenobi who actually said: “The Force will be with you…always”, and “Remember, the Force will be with you…always”. Han Solo, on the other hand, did say this at one point in the film.
12. Star Trek
Misquote: “Beam me up, Scotty!”
This line was never uttered by Captain Kirk in Star Trek. The closest he ever came was “Scotty, beam me up”.
13. Forrest Gump
Misquote: “My mama always said, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”
Okay – it is a minor point, but he actually says “Life was like a box of chocolates.”
14. Apollo 13
Misquote: “Houston, we have a problem.”
Also sometimes misquoted as: “Houston, we’ve got a problem.” Both are wrong. The correct historical phrase was: “Houston, we’ve had a problem.”
15. Badges
Misquote: “Badges? We don’t need no stinkin’ badges!”
In its original form in director John Huston’s The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), it was actually: “Badges? We ain’t got no badges. We don’t need no badges. I don’t have to show you any stinkin’ badges!”
Bonus: Star Wars
Misquote: “Luke, I am your father”
Commonly believed to have been said by Darth Vader, this quote did not actually occur at all. The actual quote was “No, I am your father” and it was not even delivered on camera – it was dubbed in later; what was originally said on camera was “Obi-Wan killed your father”.
Sources: Great Film Misquotes
Wow, interesting list! I have never seen Casablanca (*gasp* scandal!) but I still could have sworn that I had heard that line played in some kind of montage. Crazy. =p
Kelsi, I know what you mean by the “(*gasp* scandal!) part and I used to be like that, but I finally did see Casablanca for a college English assignment and I promise you, it really is a good movie– try catching it in the theater maybe, if you can, I know its playing around here soon for the anniversary… but it is that popular with that much hype because it really is good
I’ll have to disagree with you on the Star Wars line: May the Force be with You. This was a tag line from the movie, used on posters and such. It may not have been used in the movie but it was used for merchandising.
1- we're talking about film quotes, not movie tags and such
2- They said that it was said in the movie but not by Obi Wan Kenobi
Dan-the star wars line was used in the sequals by Han as well as others but obi wan never said it which is what is being implied
I think that the sentence that most people quote wrong, is the sentence “Luke, I’m your father”. Darth Vader doesn’t actually say this.
Luke says that he (Darth Vader) has killed his father and DV answers with: “No. *I* am your father.”
EDIT: here’s the proof:
^^ Good point, a lot of people do get that wrong as well. Should be an honorable mention at least
Martin is right, I was just going to post that before I read his. My friend is a Star Wars superfan and constantly corrects people on this error.
That would make your friend a colossal nerd and pain in the ass.
Gee – how did I know that Star Wars would be the main topic of discussion on this post?
Because us Star Wars Nerds are deeply disturbed by misquotes. It is an offense that creates a disturbance in the Force SOO great that …. blah blah blah …Jedi Council …. Dark Side …. George Lucas ….blah blah blah …. Evil Goiter!
Juggz- fair enough
Jamie: Because Star Wars rules!
Juggz: hehe very unbiased
On a non Star Wars note, I use “Badges” all the time. So what if it’s wrong.
Jeremy Brett was the best Sherlock Holmes ever. Now if I can just save up the money for that massive DVD box set. I’m not sure but I think he says the line a few times in that series.
Jamie: What? I though it was fact!
But I’m one of those wierdos who loves the prequals to.
i’m not quite sure what it says about me but i’m familiar w/ all these misquotes. *sigh* maybe i should get out more?
Sean the pryo: it is said in adaptations of the books – but it is not said at all in the books – so it is a film misquoting a book to be exact.
Juggz: hehe – I lost you at the prequels though sorry. Shame on you!
Cyn: maybe you should just rent foreign films and turn off the subtitles? Less likely to get quotes stuck in your head
Since you are the top commentor on here, I would agree that you need to get out more lol.
Sean the pryo: haha – poor Cyn!
okay..i am a quote hound so there’s that. as for Sean..i can not live w/out listverse. i would sooner die than not keep up here and comment.
uh…too dramatic? *wink*
Regarding the “Badges” quote, it was used in Blazing Saddles.
Jamie: I wont say the acting was top notch and there were mistakes made. But i thought the prequals fleshed out the story line enough and made it a very well rounded story.
One can’t forget “Dirty Harry”. “Do you feel lucky, punk?” was never said by Eastwood. I have seen this in print, internet articles, on t-shirts… it drives me crazy when people use movie quotes wrong. Most of the time, these are the same people who think that the only quotes worth (mis)using are the ones used in the trailer. These are the same morons, that when asked what their favorite part of a movie was, will invariably select a scene that was prominent in the trailer. Why do they bother seeing the entire movie, when obviously, all that is remembered are scenes/quotes from the trailer?
Harry Callahan: I know what you’re thinking. “Did he fire six shots or only five?” Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you’ve got to ask yourself a question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?
Another hack list… Jeez whats going on here? Whoever wrote this was MAJORLY stretching on some of those. Especially #’s 2, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13.
tekno: Thanks for the comment. As far as number 5 goes, I have never heard it quoted correctly so it seemed a worthy inclusion. And don’t forget – a quote is meant to be verbatim – so they all technically fit
juggz: I must confess I did enjoy number 1 – but not 2 and 3 so much.
Cary Grant’s alleged “Judy, Judy, Judy” is another famous-quote-never-said.
Ill admit it Im just a sucker for lightsabers, i supose it doesn’t mater who is swinging them or what there saying while swinging them. You have to admit though that Darth Maul was awesome.
The big one for me is from “Sunset Boulevard.”
The quote, “I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille,” is never uttered.
It’s “And now, Mr. DeMille, I am ready for my close-up.”
this list sucks. how old are the people who wrote it – 75? i’m 35, so i’m not young, but this list has absolutely no relevance to me, or anyone else my age.
The cleaned up the original Badges quote for the movie actually.
While they listed the 1948 movie as the source, the original source from the 1927 book was:
“”Badges, to ***-****** **** with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you ***-****** ****** and *****’ tu madre! Come out there from that ****-**** of yours. I have to speak to you.”
Full quote can be found on wikipedia
“We don’t need no stinkin badges.” comes from one of my all time favorites:
BLAZING SADDLES
Tissot- you have to be the most mature 35 year old I have had the pleasure of meeting. /sarcasm
I forgot all about blazing saddles, how could I miss that.
One of the biggest is from The Empire Strikes Back. The line, “No, I am your father” is always misquoted as Luke, I am your father.
I don’t know about the Snow White quote. It may never have been said in the film, but the story has been around for hundreds of years pre-dating the film.
a fun list, yup. It’s gotta be they way of reducing to a jist or to a catch- phrase- sreamlining the basic essence of the form. Or like it says simple…”misquotes”
I dont see Casablanca t-shirts or Hallmark cards selling well with the caption under Bogart’s mug, saying “You played it for her, you can play it for me…If she can stand it, I can. Play it!”
then again, maybe.
#15 was actually used in Blazing Saddles.
Yeah, I agree with TTFK, I was going to make the same point that #15 is used in Blazing Saddles(Mel Brooks classic) when Hedley Lamarr (Harvey Korman) is recruiting an army to run the Sheriff out of town.
Two thirds or so into the movie.
I think it's worth noting that one of the best films in history isnt even on this list.
"Hello, Clarice" is one of the most popular quotes from The Silence of The Lambs and it was NEVER said in the film. Hannibal either says "Good evening Clarice" or he just goes right into his hyper-intelligent clues.
Hannibal says it to her on the phone in the film “Hannibal”.
Can’t believe ‘No Luke, I am your father’ isn’t on the list.
where the hell was the infamous “luke, i’m your father line”?
I’m not quite sure about the Frankenstein misquote. I’ve never heard anyone say “He’s alive!” instead of “It’s alive!”
Okay – due to popular demand (and rather angry commenters) I have put “Luke, I am your father” on the list! enjoy.
Diogenes: great comment
If you’re going with the historical verson of the Apollo 13 quote you have to remember there’s an “origi*****” version of the Snow White quote in the fairytale, and your “misquote” is the exact translation of the brothers Grimm’s German original.
Cecilia: hehe okay – either way, someone is misquoting something in Snow White history
Another misquote is “Are you trying to seduce me, Mrs. Robinson?”
Misquote: “Badges? We don’t need no stinkin’ badges!”
this is not a misquote, it was said like this in the film Blazing Saddles.
“Play it Again, Sam” is not a misquote exactly: there is a point later in the film where Rick leans into Sam’s ear and whispers something. Sam glances at him with pity, then relents. Due to the brilliant screenplay and the restraint of the director the line was there but not heard… and audiences loved it because they were “in” on the whisper — they didn’t need to hear it, because they heard it in his head. Most current directors would Foley in the line, and is yet more more example of why this is one of the best films of all time.
Great list but I have to agree with MarcDom7 that the line from Sunset Blvd. is missing.
I’m not sure but maybe Woody Allen’s Play It Again, Sam popularized the line of the same name.
The actual German quote from Snow White is “Spieglein, Spieglein an der Wand, wer ist die Schönste im ganzen Land?” (Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the most beautiful in the country?) I know the word-for-word translation isn’t very catchy.
And yes, Star Wars rules (even the prequels)!!!
I thought the title was Top 15 film mosquitos.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t have clicked it…
I’m glad so many people are aware that Darth Vader never says “Luke, I am your father!”
Being as that my name is Luke, I constantly hear people misquote that line (and with very bad Darth Vader impressions at that).
Staaxyo: heh I hope you didn’t mind the content anyway
Luke: Haha – I can just imagine what you are describing. Tell your friends to come here to sort them out
jamie, this list is on today’s IMDB hit list at the bottom
Jackie: wow – how exciting – thanks for pointing that out
I love IMDB.
how cool to be on IMDB! congrats.
What about “Frankly, Scarlett, I don’t give a damn”? In Gone with the Wind (both the book and the movie) the phrase is correctly “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”
Just a bit of info to break up all the Star Wars commentary…
its nice to see that people are as weird as me about misquoting…..it drives me insane when people misquote a beloved movie…..I feel the need to correct them and then I become a freak
Donna: I have never heard it at “Frankly Scarlet”. Everytime I hear it quoted it IS quotes as “Frankly My Dear”
cyn: thanks
K: Welcome to the site – we are all freaks so it is okay
I agree with most of these but I think Forrest Gump IS splitting hairs! And, as someone whose mother was one of the biggest Star Trek fans ever, I grew up knowing “Beam me up, Scotty,” was incorrect. It doesn’t even have a *ring* to it like some of the quotes do.
PS – Staaxyo – that is hilarious!!! And I actually thought I read that at first, too! I was like, “Mosquitos? What the…?”