Well, what about moments of silence for a change? Speaking of Gregory Peck, the whole last scene of Roman Holiday when neither he nor Audrey Hepburn say a word (oh there are words, but....), and he walks out at the end is one of the saddest scenes I can remember, noble too, in a way that has gone completely.

An absolute symphony of silence is much of "The Graduate", though everyone remembers the words. Without the awkward silences, starting with Benjamin and gradually infecting everyone, it would be nothing.

One of the great moments of silence that lasts just the perfect beat and no more is Claude Rains' tour de force in the last scene in Casablanca when he has to decide which horse to back. It is always a great moment, perfect timing -- audiences invariably applaud or laugh with relief, even if they have seen it a hundred times (like me).

yours, Peter T.