Carry On quip voted funniest one-liner

"Infamy! Infamy! They've all got it in for me!"
11 April 2012
The Weekender

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Kenneth Williams' Carry On gag "Infamy! Infamy! They've all got it in for me!" has been voted the funniest film one-liner.

Williams uttered the words as Julius Caesar in 1964 romp Carry On Cleo.

It was named the best one-liner in a poll of 1,000 comedians, industry figures and film fans by Sky Movies Comedy.

Second in the survey was from the Life of Brian: "He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy."

Third was the Airplane! classic in which Leslie Nielseon is told: "Surely you can't be serious," and replies: "I am serious - and don't call me Shirley."

Nine of the top 10 one-liners were delivered by men.

They include Woody Allen's famous quip from Annie Hall: "Don't knock masturbation. It's sex with someone I love."

Bob McCabe, film critic and author of The Rough Guide To Comedy, said: "It's great to see two British movies in the top three and well-established classics with great lasting power.

"I thought that Kenneth Williams would win, as it is a great stand-alone joke, the joke is simple and no build-up to the line is needed."

Top 10:

1) "Infamy! Infamy! They've all got it in for me!"

Kenneth Williams as Julius Caesar - Carry On Cleo (1964)

2) "He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy."

Terry Jones as Brian's mum - Life Of Brian (1979)<

3) "Surely you can't be serious?" "I am serious - and don't call me Shirley."

Leslie Nielsen as Dr Rumack - Airplane! (1980)

4) "Remember you're fighting for this woman's honour, which is probably more than she ever did."

Groucho Marx as Rufus T Firefly - Duck Soup (1933)

5) "Don't knock masturbation. It's sex with someone I love."

Woody Allen as Alvy Singer - Annie Hall (1977)

6) "Do you have a licence for your minkey?"

Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau - The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)

7) "Is that... is that hair gel?"

Cameron Diaz as Mary Jensen - There's Something About Mary (1998)

8) Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the War Room."

Peter Sellers as President Merkin Muffley - Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb (1963)

9) "Nice beaver!" "Thank you. I just had it stuffed."

Leslie Nielsen as Lt Frank Drebin and Priscilla Presley as Jane Spencer - The Naked Gun: From The Files of Police Squad! (1988)

10) "When I met Mary I got that old-fashioned romantic feeling where I'd do anything to bone her."

Jim Carrey as Lloyd Christmas - Dumb and Dumber (1994)

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