Here is the updated list of iconic movie and TV clips that I turn most frequently to when the circumstances demand.

That’s #25 above, from “Saturday Night Live,” expressing the truth that fixing ethics problems is like sticking one’s finger in a leaking dike...

1. To illustrate the folly of suspending or violating the rule of law, the Constitution, or due process for “the greater good” as it appears to some to be at the time…

From “A Man For All Seasons”:

2. To comment on a strikingly incompetent argument, theory or proposal:

From “Murder by Death”:

3. When I feel I should resist the impulse to attack an ethics miscreant with special vigor, but decide to go ahead anyway…

From “McClintock!”

4.  To explain the conduct of some individuals or organizations that cannot be justified by facts, principles of logic, or any other valid motivation:

From “Blazing Saddles”:

5.  To illustrate the impulse to respond to injustice and the abuse of power by resorting to symbolic acts of pure defiance, even when they are likely to fail…

From “Animal House”:

6. When a individual abandons integrity or other ethical values for a non-ethical consideration…

From “A Man For All Seasons”:

7. When an individual feigns indignation and disapproval of conduct that he or she has either participated in or enabled:

From : “Casablanca”:

8. Used to signal that a politician, journalist or scholar has intentionally or negligently used such impenetrable rhetoric as to be completely incomprehensible.

From “Blazing Saddles”:

9. When an incident or argument makes no sense whatsoever, or that drives me to the edge of insanity:

From: “The Bridge Over The River Kwai” :

10. When a politician, a pundit or someone else  uses a term or word incorrectly to support an unethical action or argument:

From “The Princess Bride” :

11. Warning that a likely event or revelation will contribute to an Ethics Train Wreck already in progress or about to get rolling, or that something is so outrageous that reading or seeing it might prompt cognitive damage in the rational and ethical…

From “Jurassic Park”:

12. Commenting on a particularly incompetent, irresponsible, or otherwise unethical decision with disastrous consequences:

From: “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”:

13. To make the point that deciding who are the “good guys” is often hopelessly subjective.

From “The Professionals”:

14. To suggest, often in jest, that things are rapidly spinning out of control.

From “Poltergeist”:

15. When the news media or politicians shrug off, ignore, bury or minimize the importance of a development they find inconvenient to their agendas or interests.

From “The Naked Gun”:

16. When an individual demonstrates the Dunning-Kruger effect or extreme life incompetence:

From “The Godfather, Part 2”:

17. To make the point that an emotional position, act or argument is futile or embarrassing…

From “Moonstruck”:

18. When an individual seems oddly unaware that anyone would find his or her words or conduct unethical…

From “Seinfeld” (TV):

19. Used when someone’s response to a challenge or a situation where character requires opposition, confrontation, or the good fight, is to give up or flee…

From “Monty Python and The Holy Grail”…

20. To indicate an unethical event fueled by notable incompetence or stupidity…

From Ed Wood’s essential “Plan Nine From Outer Space”:

21. A sarcastic clip indicating that expressions of outrage, indignation or offense from activists, the news media or others are out of proportion or contrived…

From “Apocalypse Now”:

22. Indicating that someone’s argument has degenerated into emotional hysteria and hate without substance…

From “The Birds”:

23. Expressing Ethics Alarms frustration at having to return repeatedly to long-standing ethics misconduct…

From The Godfather, Part 3:

24. Pointing out the looming peril of an unethical system, policy, habit or practice…

From “The Hunt for the Red October:

26. When a dire Ethics Alarm analysis proves horribly accurate…

Another from “Jurassic Park”…

27. When a pundit, scholar, social commentator or public official suddenly figures out what should have been clear far earlier, but was not because of the observer’s bias, cowardice, inattention, or incompetence.

From “Die Hard”:

28. When a group, news source or individual lies audaciously despite all evidence indicating that the truth is literally the opposite of what is being asserted. (See also: Jumbo.)

From Planes, Trains and Automobiles…

29. To accompany stories involving denial, willful blindness or contrived ignorance

From “Hogan’s Heroes” (slightly altered)…

30. Used when circumstances of wrongdoing are sufficiently embedded in the culture that the only responsible response is to quit, leave, or otherwise abandon the situation.

From “The Amityville Horror”…

31. When only one, rather vulgar, description will capture the depth of character degradation of certain individuals.

From “Back to the Future, Part 3”…

32. Used when a particular situation, episode, or phony explanation is completely irredeemable…

From “Jurassic Park”…

33. Used when your host seeks affirmation of the fact that his analysis was correct after all…

From “Groundhog Day”:

34. Posted when a politician or a public figure keeps flip-flopping or tries to assert contradictory positions or facts simultaneously…

From “Chinatown”:

35. Employed when Ethics Alarms follows up on a previously discussed episode (not a Hollywood clip, but a radio one):

36. To illustrate the unethical use of the “Think of the Children!” ploy, as in the current effort to demonize Israel in the Gaza war.

From “The Simpsons”:

37. Used to illustrate unethical fearmongering or irrational hysteria.

From “Ghostbusters”:

38. Used as a rye commentary when an event or quote raises suspicion, suggests unethical motives, or otherwise creates doubt regarding an individual’s or group’s character…

From “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In”:

39. An alternative to #11 above, “Hold on to your butts!”

From “All About Eve”:

40. An all purpose clip that should have been #1…

From “Cat on a Hot Tim Roof”:

41. When a fact is being blurred, denied or derided as opinion…

From “My Cousin Vinnie”:

[The “It’s a fact!” moment from the film is suddenly unavailable on YouTube and can’t be embedded. The source I had here has been pulled. I love the clip, and will repost as soon as possible.]

42. To announce a Popeye, the EA designation for outrageous quotes or episodes that I should resist writing about because they are so obviously unethical, but I can’t help myself:

43. When another elected official makes an ass of himself or herself, or displays astounding incompetence…

From “Li’l Abner”:

44. When a President shows signs that he has lost his mind, or had made a statement or decision that is logically indefensible.

From “Bananas”: