Hmm, the only thing I can think of is the Rosebud sled in Citizen Kane. It represents the mystery, a more innocent time and his lost youth.

Also Cast Away. We have Wilson the volleyball but I think the bigger symbol was the wings on the FEDEX package represented hope to escape the island.

In the script, Red almost tries it out. But in the movie, he actually tries it. Red sits in his cell that night, looks at this "pretty", shiny thing that he received and seems to contemplate Andy's question from earlier: "You gonna play it?" When he does play it, out comes this lonely E-major chord that seems completely out of place in that dark cell, in that violent prison, just like Red's idea of hope having no place there either. It's a startling contrast to the visuals and dark musical score and an extra reminder of what that talisman represents. In my view, it was a good choice to actually get to hear the harmonica. It shows that Red has it in him to eventually embrace Andy's view of hope. All he has to do is "play it", return to that young man he once was that "played a mean harmonica", before he lost hope. It is only one lonely chord but it's a start and it underscores the theme of the film beautifully.

Good call, Chris. The sled is perhaps the single most important cinematic talisman of all time. Another oldie but goodie: The Maltese Falcon. "It's the stuff dreams are made of."

Another good call, Chris. Wilson becomes at Attractor figure, but certainly a physical object with psychological meaning. That FedEx package is a talisman in that it's important for Chuck to deliver it, and a projection of his own soul, weather-beaten and bruised, but still alive.

Absolutely Red gives the harmonica a little toot in the movie. And your commentary is awesome: E-major chord, of course is stands in stark contrast to the moment. Of course, being a major chord, that suggests a bit of positive harmonic convergence later on when Red finds the tree, stone, box, money, map, note, and such from Andy. You know every time I talk about Shawshank, I'm reminded of how awesome it is.

Yup. It's awesome. I popped in the DVD earlier to make sure I remembered that scene correctly and I might just watch the whole film again right now. I mean, the disc is already in the player and all. It would be a shame to take it out without watching it... right? Yes. Sounds like a a plan.

I thought I'd suggest some more Talismans so I went to Movieclips.com, but apparently you have to login with your Facebook account in order to watch clips now. That sucks big time. I don't use Facebook. Did they buy Movieclips or something? Anyone know if there's another way to log in? I can't find any info on their site.

I emailed Movieclips and received a reply almost immediately: We're temporarily testing this functionality to better market the site. You can always create a fake facebook account. Additionally, just because you connect with facebook doesn't mean you have to have everything you watch autoshare. If you want to turn sharing off, go to your top right of your facebook page where the arrow is, click on the arrow, then on account settings. On the left side is a tab called APPS, click on this. You will see Movieclips.com (and other apps). Click on Moviclips.com and it will open larger. Where you see the line that reads "POST ON YOUR BEHALF", change that to read "ONLY ME". Now all the facebook connect does is verify you are a real user. Additionally, you're also welcome to view our content on youtube at http://youtube.com/movieclips Quick response!

I'm pretty sure the Dodge Charger in The Fast And The Furious is a talisman, but the way it's used seems a little... wobbly. It's Dominic's father's car, that he used on the pro racing circuit, and Dominic has never driven it because, he says, it frightens him. So it symbolises his dead father and the effect that had on Dominic. But at the end of the movie, with the police closing in and his own car wrecked, he has to take it to get away - and ends up totalling it. So what does that symbolise? Never been able to work that out... Elsewhere - how about the ship in Serenity? It's practically a character, but it also symbolises freedom, independence, family, and at the end, what's been lost and regained during the movie...

The watch in PULP FICTION. One example of a talisman that felt forced was the locket the kid gives to the monster in SUPER 8. It was significant to the kid but there's really no reason it would have been significant to the monster. I could picture it thinking "what the hell am I supposed to do with this thing?" The religious pendant that Merrin finds during the dig in THE EXORCIST. It also appears in Karras's nightmare and Regan gives the same pendant to the priest at the end.

Braveheart, the wedding cloth signifying unity.

Forgot to add Zsu Zsu's petals in It's a Wonderful Life.

My first thought with this exercise "ZEN MASTER SCOTT" was the first Superman when Clark finds the crystal in the barn before he leaves Smallville and heads North.He knows his destiny and the unveiling of that destiny are tied to the crystal. But I thought a few seconds more to another film-"The Natural"-the bat Wonderboy was a talisman if ever there was one!!! and at the end when he broke that bat and the ball boy gives him the bat the kid made himself with Roy-well what happens? He knocks out the lights with it and destroys the evil owner Judge and the gambler.Interesting how "props" can have so much significance in showing what can not be said son the page or with words!

Debbie, the ship in Serenity, absolutely. There's that one great episode in the series where we see how Mal happened to find the ship and buy it. It definitely represents freedom. And after he had been screwed by geopolitics, that independence -- his ability to do things HIS way -- was a very big deal for him.

All examples of talismans. The watch in Pulp Fiction: Remember Walken's speech to the kid about the watch's origins? Over the top and funny, but the kid KNEW it meant a hell of a lot, enough to drive him back to go get it when he should have been splitting town. The locket in Super 8: That's all about that final moment where the locket flies up to the space ship, symbolic of Joe letting go of his mother and his mother going up to heaven. The pendant in The Exorcist: Creepy good symbol of evil.

Oh, God, yes. It symbolized his first love. In fact, as he's dying, he 'sees' her in the crowd, then lets go of the cloth, and expires. Definitely adds to the emotional wallop of that moment.

Oh, yeah, the bat in The Natural. That represents Roy's almost magical talent, tied to a seminal event in his youth. Then when it breaks and Bobby picks out one, clearly that he made in honor of Roy's bat? Damn, that whole last 30 minutes from the time Roy is in the hospital, and says, "God, I love baseball," to the ending is incredible. Over the top, perhaps. But if I'm channel surfing and I hit on the movie, I just HAVE to watch the ending. Mythic stuff!

I got some from the movie Up: How about the grape soda medal that Ellie gives to Carl... then Carl gives to Russell? Or the house, how it represents Ellie? Or "cross your heart." Or Paradise Falls. Or...

Yes, but I think there's a deeper overall theme of unity there - marriage being just one facet of it. Recall that Craig came to seek a meeting with Wallace, saying every man was ready to swear loyalty to him (Wallace) now. Wallace So let them swear publicly. Craig We cannot. Some scarcely believe you are alive. Others think you’ll pay them Mornay’s wages. We bid you to Edinburgh. Meet us at the city gates, two days from now, at sunset. Pledge us your pardon and we will unite behind you. Scotland will be one. (my emphasis). When Wallace balks, Craig produces the wedding cloth and says something like "I mean this" as proof of Robert the Bruce's intent. I've always looked at Wallace's vision of Muron during his execution was something of being re-united with her near his moment of death - the falling cloth signifying such.

Forgot to mention that the wedding cloth was left by Wallace on the battlefield after Robert the Bruce's betrayal. There it signifies disunity. Robert picks it up, sees it and realizes what he's done... then we get the scene above after Wallace goes on his revenge spree.

How about Blue Steel and Magnum in Zoolander? :)

Not exactly on point, but I just finished rereading The Talisman by Stephen Kind and Peter Straub. Great book!

Oops, King not Kind.