Record stores are going extinct, but they fortunately will be memorialized in films forever. Here are five of my favorite scenes that take place in this dying breed of music sales.
“Thorn in My Side” in Empire Records
Record Store: …Empire Records
It feels kind of unfair but also sort of necessary to use a scene from this movie. It’s kind of one never-ending record store scene but if I were to narrow it down to one, I have to go with this. Watching this movie growing up I always thought this would be the coolest work environment. Hanging out, listening to music all day, getting into hijinks, throwing fake funerals.. you know the good stuff. I always liked Renée Zellweger’s character, Gina, with her “shock me, shock me, shock me with your deviant behavior” line and “Sugar High” performance on the roof. It’s not only Rex Manning Day, but the store is probably selling out and becoming a Music Town. Gina tries on the MT uniform and the line “May I service you?” cracks me up.
Ringo Starr moments in 500 Days of Summer
Record Store: Old Bank DVD
The scenes in the record (/movie/book) store in 500 Days of Summer are really brief, but I love how they fit into the story. First you have the “Nobody loves Ringo Starr” moment, which I think is one of the many perfectly sweet relationship moments in this film. Just the sort of snippet you might hear a couple saying in the midst of conversation, especially one just getting to know each other. The other scenes that I’m counting in here are the perfect book ends to Tom’s perception of his relationship vs. Summer’s. Later in the film Tom playfully holds up the Ringo Starr record and Summer seems to find it cute, later you see the scene again and she’s actually not feeling it at all. Marc Webb got a lot of mileage out of these small record store scenes.
“Walking on Sunshine” in High Fidelity
Record Store: Championship Vinyl
How much you enjoy this scene might depend on how funny you find Jack Black, but this scene is the one I automatically think of when I think of him. In the midst of Rob Gordon’s break up, he is all about the “sad bastard music”, like Belle & Sebastian, but Barry isn’t about that depression. In he marches with his Monday Morning Tape and it’s hilarious when “Walking on Sunshine” starts blasting. You can see all over Rob’s face that his elitist ass not only isn’t going to stand for that kind of music playing in his shop but that he’s not emotionally ready for the joy it evokes.
“Come Here” in Before Sunrise
Record Store: Teuchtler Schallplattenhandlung
I quickly connected with the pair of Jesse and Céline when I first saw this film, but it was during this scene that I fell hard. During their day of wasting time in the sweetest ways possible in Vienna, the two wander into a record store. They browse through the racks of vinyl before settling on a Kath Bloom record. As they quietly sit in the listening booth you can practically see the chemistry in the small room. Their little smiles and shoulders brushing is such a charming character moment, with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy expressing so much in this brief scene. One of the best parts is that they don’t actually go for the kiss just yet. What a tease.
“Try A Little Tenderness” in Pretty in Pink
Record Store: TRAX
Pretty in Pink might not have as good of a reputation as other Molly Ringwald classics, but I love it. One of the biggest reasons to watch this 80’s romance is for a little character called Duckie, the best friend to Andie, his unrequited love despite his best efforts. In this record store scene, Jon Cryer completely sells his lip syncing of this Otis Redding classic. His impersonation is hilarious and adorable. The ultimate moment for Duckie-lovers and Two & A Half Men be damned, Cryer’s best moment put to screen.
What are some of your favorite record store scenes?