This notable scene involves a member of the Mafia named Vincenzo Coccotti, Christopher Walken’s character, paying a visit to Clarence’s father, Clifford, played by Dennis Hopper, to try and discover the whereabouts of his son. Clifford mocks Coccotti, speaking of his Sicilian ancestry in an offensive way, trying to provoke Coccotti’s wrath and his own quick death. He does this because he knows that sooner or later he will buckle under Coccotti’s torture and pressure. This is a classic example of the type of snappy, witty dialogue used in Tarantino’s movies. The elements which make this scene stand out from the rest of the film are that the two characters are both seated for almost the entirety of the scene, and interact with each other through humour, eye contact and head movements, watching and waiting for each others’ reactions. Another major point is the use of music. The use of a classical piece creates a tranquil atmosphere, which contradicts the violence and intensity of the scene.
