The 10 best sports movies of all time, No. 7: ‘Caddyshack’
A week or so ago, we asked you to vote for the 10 best sports movies of all time. And, 9,280 ballots later, we unveil your picks.
No. 7: “Caddyshack” (102 first-place votes, 19,423 points)
It’s hard to describe “Caddyshack” to people who haven’t seen it, and for those who have, no description is necessary. Because it’s not only one of the best sports movies of all time, it’s also one of the best comedies of all time.
Bill Murray is outstanding as groundskeeper Carl Spackler, and has perhaps one of the most iconic scenes in movie history. But Rodney Dangerfield steals the movie out from under everybody with his portrayal of Al (“Looks good on you though”) Czervik.
Murray’s famous “Cinderella story” scene was entirely improvised, based on director Harold Ramis telling him to act like a kid announcing his own imaginary golf moment. Ramis and Murray have revealed in many interviews through the years that not only was that scene improvised, but Murray’s entire performance was improvised.
Some memorable quotes from the movie:
Carl Spackler: “Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a mirac... It’s in the hole! It’s in the hole! It’s in the hole!”
Carl Spackler: “So, I tell them I’m a pro jock, and who do you think they give me? The Dalai Lama, himself. Twelfth son of the Lama. The flowing robes, the grace, bald... striking. So, I’m on the first tee with him. I give him the driver. He hauls off and whacks one -- big hitter, the Lama -- long, into a 10,000 foot crevasse, right at the base of this glacier. Do you know what the Lama says? Gunga galunga ... gunga, gunga-lagunga. So we finish the 18th and he’s gonna stiff me. And I say, ‘Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know.’ And he says, ‘Oh, uh, there won’t be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness.’ So I got that goin’ for me, which is nice.”
Judge Smails: “You know, you should play with Dr. Beeper and myself. I mean, he’s been club champion for three years running and I’m no slouch myself.”
Ty Webb: “Don’t sell yourself short Judge, you’re a tremendous slouch.”
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