The two movies that fishermen gravitate to are Jaws and A River Runs Through It. Other than some crazy big fish action the movies are disparate in countless ways. Yet they are quoted by the same anglers, often on the same trip, and sometimes to the point where you want to punch the quoter in the sternum in hopes of jarring some original material.
But there is one common unifying thread to both movies: That song. It takes on a major role in the shark flick, but you could blink and miss it in River, when Norman walks in to bail Paul out of the drunk tank and the little old man is singing it. So any future fishing movie better have this song somewhere in the story line or it won’t amount to much that’s worth watching. Take heed:
Show me the way to go home I'm tired and I want to go to bed I had a little drink about an hour ago And it went right to my head Where ever I may roam On land or sea or foam You will always hear me singing this song Show me the way to go home.
Pete McDonald
Bono also sings this in Zoo TV: Live from Sydney, which was the only concert U2′s ever done without all four band members present. Bass player Adam Clayton was too hungover to play, and he’s been off the hooch ever since. And, you know, bass (the instrument) and bass (the fish) are spelled the same way.
So there ya’ go.
I went drinking with Adam Clayton once back in the day. Good times, until he stole my sexy model girlfriend. Git.
Songs and quotes aside, the premier moment in Jaws for me was a scene on the boat. Brody and Hooper engaged in some chit-chat, Quint in the fighting chair, rod at his side. A tremble in line. That big saltwater reel “tick tick tick.” Quint looks looks down at the reel adjusts the toothpick in his mouth, “tick tick.”
Who hasn’t been in that moment at one time or another? Something, possibly momentous, telegraphed through your line. Heightened perception, tension, calm before the storm.
A brilliant piece of film making there.
Let’s not forget this connection. Before Oceanic 815 crashed, I do believe that Sawyer was a con man and a loan SHARK…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKdHfFzpfcY&feature=related
I may need to break out my dusty River Runs through it DVD and see if I can catch it. I swear I never quote the movies out on a fishing trip and typically only watch them at home when I’m feeling fishing deprived and desperate to live vicariously through something, anything, fishing~
In other words, I’m certain I’m safe from irritation punches.
I need to go back and watch A River Runs Through It.