5) Quint (Jaws)
There are too many iconic reasons why Quint deserves a place on this list. First of all, he’s played by veteran actor Robert Shaw, an old-schooler who appeared in so many iconic classics from The Sting to From Russian With Love, so right off the bat you’ve got the prestige factor. Also noteworthy is Jaws as a film itself, Steven Spielberg’s smash success story that redefined how we think about blockbuster movies thanks to palpable terror, tense filmmaking, and a mechanical shark that still haunts the dreams of beachgoers everywhere. For these reasons, Quint has become a legend amongst seafaring drinkers, perfectly encapsulating the presence of the small town drunk who no one pays attention to because of his constant nature.
Of course no one can get drunk without quoting Quint anymore, because how many times have we drunkenly sung “Show me the way to go home, I’m tired and I want to go to bed…” after a hard night of partying? Sure, Quint’s just singing an old tune from the 1920s about wandering drunks, but when you read those lyrics, did you immediately think of the original song? No, your mind jumped to Quint and company chanting the tune while floating about at sea. No hidden meanings or anything with Quint’s drinking, just your typical drunken fisherman fighting a gigantic great while shark with a bad attitude.
An epic scene, an epic actor, and an epic freakin’ drinker – easily some of Shaw’s most iconic screentime.
Published: Apr 20, 2014 10:03 pm