Everyone loves a good catchphrase, right? From the line, “I have a bad feeling about this”, which is used repeatedly in the Star Wars movies, to the oft-quoted phrase, “frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn”, from Gone with the Wind, we love it when our favourite characters, in our favourite movies, utter our favourite lines.
If you are a fan of the Jurassic Park movies, then you will know there are a number of memorable phrases in that particular film series. And arguably one of the most iconic phrases is the line, “spared no expense”, which crops up in 1993’s Jurassic Park.
But this line doesn’t just feature once. The phrase “spared no expense” is repeated at various points throughout the movie, which is quite possibly why it is so well remembered.
But how many times is “spared no expense” said in Jurassic Park?
The phrase “spared no expense” is said five times in Jurassic Park. On every occasion, the line is delivered by John Hammond – the CEO and creator of the park.
The first use of the phrase is when John Hammond meets Dr. Alan Grant and Dr. Ellie Sattler for the first time. After greeting them in their trailer, Hammond discusses his dinosaur park, and tells them it is “really spectacular. Spared no expense.”
The second time the phrase is used is during the scene in which Hammond, Grant, Sattler, Dr. Ian Malcolm, and Donald Gennaro sit down for dinner, following the initial tour of the park. Hammond talks about the rides at Jurassic Park and refers to them as “absolutely spectacular designs, spared no expense.”
The third time is when Grant, Sattler, Malcolm, Gennaro, and John Hammond’s grandchildren Lex and Tim are about to set out on a tour of the park’s paddocks. Hammond explains the environmentally friendly features of the electric cars which will be used for the tour, by saying: “they run on this track in the middle of the roadway here. Totally non-pollutant, top of the line. Spared no expense.”
The fourth time Hammond uses the phrase is when the paddock tour begins – a tour which is being narrated in each car by distinguished actor, Richard Kylie. Using a microphone to speak directly to the passengers, Hammond says: “the voice you’re now hearing is Richard Kylie – we spared no expense.”
And finally, the fifth time Hammond says the phrase is following a heated conversation with Dr. Sattler, after Jurassic Park descends into chaos. Hammond is sat eating ice cream, and he tries to convince Sattler that he is still in control of the park, despite the various deaths that have occurred. At the end of the exchange, Sattler tastes some of the ice cream that Hammond is eating, noting how good it is; to which Hammond says: “spared no expense.”
So, there you have it – five times! Did you realise this line was said so often?!
Sometimes great lines become memorable because certain pieces of dialogue strike a chord with audiences. At other times, lines and phrases become iconic simply through repetition.
In the case of Jurassic Park, it is a bit of both. “Spared no expense” is a great line, but by being used so frequently throughout the film, it really stands out.
Oh, and incidentally, this isn’t the only phrase that is repeated in the movie. The lines “welcome to Jurassic Park” and “hold onto your butts” are also repeated in the film.
“Welcome to Jurassic Park” is said by both Hammond and an automated voice recording on the tour, while Ray Arnold says “hold onto your butts” on two separate occasions, when powering down the park’s computer system, and then when booting it back up.
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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this post about Jurassic Park – I spared no expense to bring you this information. For more dino-related goodness, be sure to sink your teeth into the recommended reads below.
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