(James Arness, IIRC) -- the seconds of silence leading up to the Thing's vegetable-FIST coming through a door ... (everyone in audience twitched on That) several other suspense scenes.

Probably several scenes in any movie with Toshiro Mifune.
Shogun (series) -- several, but for poignancy: death of female lead, Mariko (the Lovely Yôko Shimada);
Earthquake scene wherein Blackthorne saves (Lord) Toronaga.
Blackthorne attemps seppuku - Really Meaning It ...
All Action.. {sigh} but much more.

Probably scenes in Chushingura, I don't recall.

Was it Vanishing Point? .... cross-US car chase, culminating in a macho Maxi-car hi-speed encounter with a pair of bulldozer blades, across the road.

Hard to do a funnel sort on this er, exact theme.. maybe more will surface.

For a closer, there's always ... Well.. Do Ya, PUNK ?!?