Top film quotes list will make your day

The votes have been tallied, and now ...

It’s showtime!

That line from “All That Jazz” (1979) received three votes from e-mailers responding to our call for favorite movie quotes three weeks ago. The occasion was the American Film Institute’s balloting for “100 Years ... 100 Movie Quotes,” the organization’s annual mega-list TV special that will air next June on CBS.

I asked Chicago Tribune readers to help me fill out my ballot, choosing among the 400 semifinalist quotes selected by the AFI. And they helped.

A lot.

Too much.

Do you know how long it takes to tally more than 100 e-mails filled with memorable movie lines? It was fun, actually, like running a movie history greatest-hits reel in my head.

In all, they voted for 135 of the official AFI quotes and many more not on the ballot.

Although “Casablanca” (1942) had seven official nominees, more than any other film, three readers mentioned that they were shocked, shocked by the omission of Captain Renault’s exclamation: “I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!” That line fits the AFI’s stated criteria: It has “legacy,” evoking a classic movie moment, and “cultural impact,” meaning that it’s used in everyday life.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I found myself saying, “I’m shocked, shocked to find that baseball players have been using steroids!”

Almost all of the readers’ top 20, with the possible exception of “I love the smell of napalm in the morning!” (from “Apocalypse Now,” 1979), boast similar practical uses.

But before we get to the countdown, let’s look at more of the write-in suggestions.

A few people thought “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969) got short shrift with just one nominated quote (“Kid, next time I say, ‘Let’s go someplace like Bolivia,’ let’s go someplace like Bolivia”).

“Shoulda been -- ‘I can’t swim.’ ‘Are you crazy? Hell, the fall will kill you!’ ” wrote Jerold J. Kreisman, St. Louis.

And two readers, Susan Klingman and Brian Smith, nominated: “Think ya used enough dynamite there, Butch?”

Nilay Gandhi of Champaign, Ill., lamented the absence of the John Cusack vehicle “High Fidelity” (2000) and submitted six quotes, most of which, alas, aren’t family-newspaper friendly. Here’s his No. 1: “No woman in the history of the world is having better sex than the sex you are having with Ian ... in my head.”

Two readers cited this exchange from “Goldfinger” (1963): James Bond: “Do you expect me to talk?” Goldfinger: “No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die.”

James L. Halverson of Elgin nominated dialogue that David Mamet wrote for his film version of “Glengarry Glen Ross”: “As you all know, first prize is a Cadillac Eldorado. Anyone want to see second prize? Second prize’s a set of steak knives. Third prize is you’re fired.”

Other write-in candidates:

“We play both types, country and western!” -- “The Blues Brothers” (1980).

“It’s twue, it’s twue.” -- “Blazing Saddles” (1974).

“You’re Mr. Lebowski. I’m the Dude.” -- “The Big Lebowski” (1998).

“I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you.” -- “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2003).

Now let’s get to the official nominees. Many people wrote that they had trouble narrowing the field, or as Charlie Blalack put it, “Choosing my favorite movie quotes is like choosing my five favorite toes. They’re all a part of who I am.” (Charlie, the trick is, limit that choice to one foot, and you’re all set.)

Here are the readers’ top vote-getters for “100 Years ... 100 Movie Quotes”:

* In a five-way tie for 19th place, with four votes each, we have:

“Excuse me while I whip this out.” -- “Blazing Saddles.”

“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the war room!” -- “Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” (1964).

“You can’t handle the truth!” -- “A Few Good Men” (1992).

“I’ll be back.” -- “The Terminator” (1984).

“There’s no place like home.” -- “The Wizard of Oz” (1939).

* Tied for 17th, with five votes, are these two:

“I love the smell of napalm in the morning.” -- “Apocalypse Now.”

“You have to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky.’ Well, do ya, punk?” -- “Dirty Harry” (1971).

* Tied for 12th, with six votes:

“Round up the usual suspects.” -- “Casablanca.”

“If you build it, he will come.” -- “Field of Dreams” (1989).

“You don’t understand! I could’ve had class. I could’ve been a contender. I could’ve been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.” -- “On the Waterfront” (1954).

“Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!” -- “The Princess Bride” (1987).

“Go ahead. Make my day.” -- “Sudden Impact” (1983).

* Tied for ninth place, with seven votes:

“Surely, you can’t be serious.” “I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley.” -- “Airplane” (1980).

“May the force be with you.” -- “Star Wars” (1977).

“Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!” -- “The Wizard of Oz.”

* Tied for fifth place, with eight votes:

“Here’s looking at you, kid.” -- “Casablanca.”

“Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.” -- “Casablanca.”

“There’s no crying in baseball!” -- “A League of Their Own” (1992).

“Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” -- “The Wizard of Oz.”

* All alone in fourth place, with nine votes:

“I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.” -- “The Godfather” (1972).

* And, yes, in a three-way tie for 1st place, with 12 votes each, we have:

“What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.” -- “Cool Hand Luke” (1967).

“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” -- “Gone With the Wind” (1939).

And . . .

“Badges? We ain’t got no badges! We don’t need no badges! I don’t have to show you any stinking badges!” -- “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” (1948).