Original artwork, not a still
If I could only have one food for the rest of my life? That's easy. Cherry Pez. Cherry flavor Pez. There's no doubt about it.
— Stand By Me • 1986
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Vern answers a question nobody asked, and that is exactly how twelve-year-olds talk at night. The scene is the film's warmest stretch, a few minutes of nonsense before the boys' fear of the dark returns. The line lives on as the all-purpose answer to desert-island food questions, and as shorthand for a favorite candy held with total conviction.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Stand By MeShow the scene
Rob Reiner's 1986 film, set in 1959 in Castle Rock, Oregon, follows four friends who walk the railway tracks to find a missing boy's body. After Gordie finishes his comic story of Lard Ass Hogan's pie-eating contest at their night camp, the older Gordie's narration says they talked into the night. Gordie starts a game of cartoon animals (Mickey a mouse, Donald a duck, Pluto a dog) and asks what Goofy is. Vern ignores the question and names cherry-flavored Pez as the one food he would keep for life. Teddy and Chris then argue about whether Goofy is a dog.
Sources (3)
- Springfield! Springfield! script: Stand By MeNight-camp conversation after the Lard Ass storyReference checked
- Wikiquote: Stand by Me (film)Goofy exchangeReference checked
- Wikipedia: Stand by Me (film)Lead and infoboxReference checked
Context reviewed
