Only a handful of movies are iconic enough to not only be known for a single line, but for a line that can instantly place us back in a moment that inspired awe, hilarity, or terror. “Use the Force,” “You’re gonna need a bigger boat,” “They’re here,” “It’s Morbin’ time”… even though we probably first heard them out of context, we still know where we were and what we felt when we witnessed them on screen.
“Is it safe?” used to be an easy inclusion on that list, although it’s more likely to elicit blank stares today. A staple of turn-of-the-millennium rundowns of the greatest thrillers, villains, moments, and quotes, Marathon Man is starting to slip into obscurity as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. That’s natural, but still regrettable, as the movie was always more than its most harrowing scene.
