Best Running Scenes in Hollywood Films

Most of us watch the Academy Awards to see who will win the Oscar for Best Actor/Best Actress and last but not least, Best Film. I watch it for the wardrobe malfunctions but most watch to catch a glimpse of Hollywood rewarding its finest film performances of the year.

As Oscar nominees listen in anticipation for their name to be called I realized no one has ever been nominated for Best Running Scene. The Academy has neglected to acknowledge this phenomenal feat of foot swiftness. In honor of this snubbed category I decided to nominate my five personal favorite running scenes.

Dustin Hoffman as "Benjamin Braddock" in The Graduate: When his car ran out of gas on his frantic way to the church Ben decided to take the "Two Footy Express." This classic running scene to save his ex-girlfriend Elaine, who just happens to be the daugher of the woman he's been having an affair with - the infamous Mrs. Robinson showed off Dustin Hoffman's speed and agility. The running scene to stop Elaine from marrying the wrong guy is a dashing turning point in what I believe to be one of his finest films.

Tom Hanks as "Forest Gump" in Forest Gump: After the love of his life Jenny Curran abandoned Forest to go "find herself" Forest ran after her and continued to run! Was he running away or towards something only Forest knew. His running took him from the east coast all the way to the west coast Pacific Ocean back and forth with the tune of "Running on Empty" song by Jackson Browne playing in the background. Along the way his character naively creates the famous catch-phrase, "Shit Happens" and the most annoying American iconic symbol "The Yellow Smiley Face." His running scenes made such an impact on my psyche, anytime I see a person running for no apparent reason I'm programmed to shout, "Run Forest Run!"

Ben Cross and Ian Charleson as "Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell" in Chariots of Fire": The film depicts a story of two British track athletes, one a determined Jew, and the other a devout Christian who compete in the 1924 Olympics. I double-dog-dare you to see a guy running on a beach in white cotton short without humming the inspiring title theme. Chariots of Fire's instrumental theme score was written and recorded by Vangelis.

Bo Derek as "Jenny Hanley" in 10: This braided haired beauty stopped the hearts of men and women when she ran from the surf onto the beach in her flesh toned one-piece bathing suit. With the outstanding film score by Henry Mancini and additional music from Ravel's Boléro, Derek's sexy slow motion beach run still mesmerizes us. Noted as one of the most parodied movie scenes comedian Martin Lawrence used it in his sequal, Big Momma's House 2. The sight of a 300lb woman running on the beach with the same skimpy bathing suit was a scene I never want to see again, parody or otherwise! Nonetheless, this iconic scene was a tour de force runner's dream come true.

And the Oscar for Best Running Scene goes to . . . ya' know . . . (I love you Kirk Douglas!) . . .

Johnny Depp as "Captain Jack Sparrow" in Pirates of the Caribbean, Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man's Chest and At World's End: Captain Jack being the impetuous pirate that he is, has a knack for getting into trouble. And when he's in trouble . . . he runs! Whether he being chased by pissed off lady friend(s) in foreign port or sought after by angry island natives his running scenes are always entertaining. Personally, I would enjoy watch an entire film of him running. Jack Sparrow's style (if you can call it a style) is that of an exuberant 3-year old who has eaten way too much sugar and the terrified motions of someone fleeing from a burning building. Unsexy combination, perhaps; however when performed by Johnny Depp, it's like rogue poetry in motion.

Source(s)
http://www.imdb.com
Actor and Legendary Film Star Kirk Douglas