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 James Cagney Quotation"There's not much to say about acting but this. Never settle back on your heels. Never relax. If you relax, the audience relaxes. And always mean everything you say." "All I try to do is to realise the man I'm playing fully, then put as much into my acting as I know how. To do it, I draw upon all that I've ever known, heard, seen or remember." "My biggest concern is that doing a rough-and-tumble scene I might hurt someone accidentally." [In the early 1960's] "In this business you need enthusiasm. I don't have enthusiasm for acting anymore. Acting is not the beginning and end of everything." "They need you. Without you, they have an empty screen. So, when you get on there, just do what you think is right and stick with it." "Where I come from, if there's a buck to be made, you don't ask questions, you go ahead and make it." "With me, a career was the simple matter of putting groceries on the table." "Once a song and dance man, always a song and dance man. Those few words tell as much about me professionally as there is to tell." "I hate the word "superstar". I have never been able to think in those terms. They are overstatements. You don't hear them speak of Shakespeare as a superpoet. You don't hear them call Michelangelo a superpainter. They only apply the word to this mundane market." Movie Title: The Strawberry Blonde (1941) as Biff Grimes: Amy Lind : You're not a very easy person to get to know, Mr. Grimes. Biff Grimes : Well, that's the kind of a hairpin I am. Biff Grimes : I uh, I guess a little kiss is harmless if it's all in fun. Amy Lind : Even if it isn't in fun. Biff Grimes : You mean---? Amy Lind : Exactly. Biff Grimes : Well, wouldn't you like a nice, young man to marry you someday? Amy Lind : No, not particularly. Biff Grimes : So you don't believe in the institution of marriage! Amy Lind : An outmoded, silly convention started by the cavemen and encouraged by the florists and jewelers. After all, what's marriage? Biff Grimes : Wouldn't you like to have a home and kids? Amy Lind : Certainly I would, but that doesn't mean you have to go through all the... Biff Grimes : You mean---? Amy Lind : Exactly. [she winks] Biff Grimes : I'm gonna have a smoke. Amy Lind : May I have one too, please? Biff Grimes : Oh, sure. Hey! Don't tell me you smoke! Amy Lind : Only when I'm bored. Biff Grimes : Well, your mother's a bloomer girl, you're a nicotine fiend, are there any more at home like you? Amy Lind : I have an aunt who's an actress. Biff Grimes : Well, that completes the picture. I've been around, they can say an awful lot of things about Biff Grimes, but not that he ever gave a cigarette to a girl. Amy Lind : There's something about the country air. Biff Grimes : Hm? Amy Lind : I said, there's something about the country air. Biff Grimes : I like city air. Amy Lind : Well... there really isn't any difference between city air and country air. They're both hydrogen, and oxygen, and--- Biff Grimes : Air! You can't even see it, so why talk about it? Movie Title: Taxi! (1932) as Matt Nolan: Matt Nolan : You dirty rat, I'm going to get rid of you just like you gave it to my brother! Movie Title: Torrid Zone (1940) as Nick Butler: Nick Butler : I've never seen such luck! Lee Donley : Lucky in cards, unlucky in love. Movie Title: What Price Glory (1952) as Captain Flagg: Lt. Moore : What about those three men who were supposed to go up to Le Mans to get the Croix de Guerre? Captain Flagg : Oh, yeah. Yes, yes. All right, get 'em out of the guardhouse and have 'em take a bath and send 'em over with an MP escort. Captain Flagg : Quirt loves the bottle, and when he's drunk he is the lousiest, filthiest tramp that ever wore a uniform. He's even worse than I am, and you know I don't allow anybody to get as bad as that. Captain Flagg : It's a lousy war, kid...but it's the only one we've got. Movie Title: The Time of Your Life (1948) as Joe: Joe : Living is an art, it's not bookkeeping. It takes an awful lot of rehearsal for a man to get to be himself. Movie Title: Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) as George M. Cohan: George M. Cohan : My mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I thank you. [George M. Cohan comes into apartment and smells something cooking] George M. Cohan : Mmmmm... ham or bacon? Mary : Bacon. George M. Cohan : Good. Ham makes me self-conscious. Movie Title: 'G' Men (1935) as James 'Brick' Davis: Jeff McCord : They're in that circle somewhere. James 'Brick' Davis : Only six states. We've got them cornered. Movie Title: The Gallant Hours (1960) as Fleet Admiral William F. 'Bull' Halsey Jr.: Fleet Admiral William F. 'Bull' Halsey Jr. : There are no great men, only great challenges that ordinary men are forced by circumstances to meet. Movie Title: Footlight Parade (1933) as Chester Kent: Chester Kent : Sometimes I get the feeling you don't like anybody. Nan Prescott : If you only knew. Chester Kent : Listen, Nan, send a new boy and girl on right away, and make sure they're not in love with each other. Nan Prescott : Right. Chester Kent : Uh, get a couple already married. Charlie Bowers : Is there, is there anything I can do? Chester Kent : Yeah. See that window over there? Charlie Bowers : Yeah. Chester Kent : Take a running jump and I think you can make it. Chester Kent : Aw, talking pictures, it's just a fad. Chester Kent : Hello, Vivian. This is Miss Rich. My secretary, Miss Prescott. Nan Prescott : I know Miss Bi... Rich, if you remember. Movie Title: The Public Enemy (1931) as Tom Powers: Tom Powers : I ain't so tough. Movie Title: White Heat (1949) as Cody Jarrett: [To man locked in trunk.] Cody Jarrett : Stuffy, huh? I'll give it some air. [shoots into trunk] Cody Jarrett : A copper, a copper, how do you like that boys? A copper and his name is Fallon. And we went for it, I went for it. Treated him like a kid brother. And I was gonna split fifty-fifty with a copper! Cody Jarrett : Made it, Ma! Top of the world! Cody Jarrett : You know something, Verna, if I turn my back for long enough for Big Ed to put a hole in it, there'd be a hole in it. Verna Jarrett : I'd look good in a mink coat, honey. Cody Jarrett : You'd look good in a shower curtain. Engineer : What's this, a hold-up? Cody Jarrett : Naw, naw, you're seven minutes late. We're just changin' engineers. [The sound of shooting is heard] Zuckie Hommell : Sounds bad, Cody. Cody Jarrett : Why don't you give 'em my address too.... Gas Station Attendant : Wise guys, didn't even buy gas. [Pardo has just saved Cody's life] Vic Pardo : I saw that just in time. Cody Jarrett : Whaddya want - a medal? Roy Parker : You wouldn't kill me in cold blood, would ya? Cody Jarrett : No, I'll let ya warm up a little. Cody Jarrett : If that battery's dead, it will have company! Reader: That's a phone call that will cost more than a nickel! Cody Jarrett : Next time bring the gun. Movie Title: Blonde Crazy (1931) as Bert Harris: Bert Harris : Now, you play ball with me... and your worrying days will be over. Ann Roberts : Yeah? How about the nights? Bert Harris : [smirks] Well, I'll see what I can do about those too, honey! Bert Harris : Mmm, that dirty, double-crossin' rat! Movie Title: Ragtime (1981) as Rheinlander Waldo: [to Coalhouse Walker, Jr] Rheinlander Waldo : That library over there is worth millions and people keep telling me you're a piece of shit. Movie Title: One, Two, Three (1961) as C.R. MacNamara / C.R. Macnamara: [First line, voiceover] C.R. MacNamara : On Sunday, August 13th, 1961, the eyes of America were on the nation's capital, where Roger Maris was hitting home runs #44 and 45 against the Senators. On that same day, without any warning, the East German Communists sealed off the border between East and West Berlin. I only mention this to show the kind of people we're dealing with - REAL SHIFTY! Phyllis MacNamara : Atlanta! C.R. MacNamara : Yeah, I'm the new vice president in charge of bottle caps. They're kicking me upstairs. Phyllis MacNamara : That's something I've always wanted to do myself. C.R. MacNamara : [voiceover] Some of the East German police were rude and suspicious. Others were suspicious and rude. C.R. MacNamara : Just between us, Schlemmer, what did you do during the war? Schlemmer : I was in der Untergrund: the underground. C.R. MacNamara : Resistance fighter? Schlemmer : No, motorman. In the underground, you know, the subway. C.R. MacNamara : Of course you were anti-Nazi and you never liked Adolf. Schlemmer : Adolf who? [But later, Schlemmer recognizes the reporter Untermeyer (played by Til Kiwe)] Schlemmer : Herr Oberleutnant! C.R. MacNamara : You two know each other? Schlemmer : He was my commanding officer. C.R. MacNamara : In the subway? Schlemmer : No, after that, when I was drafted. C.R. MacNamara : Aha! Gestapo! Schlemmer : No, no, SS. C.R. MacNamara : Any world that can produce the Taj Mahal, William Shakespeare, and striped toothpaste can't be all bad. C.R. MacNamara : Ten minutes early! That's a hell of a way to run an airline! Planes are supposed to be late, not early! C.R. MacNamara : Schlemmer you're back in the SS, small salary! C.R. MacNamara : It's that damned German efficiency. C.R. MacNamara : Cigarette? Cigar? Peripetchikoff : Here, take one of these. C.R. Macnamara : Thanks. Hm, 'Made in Havana'. Peripetchikoff : We have trade agreement with Cuba. They send us cigars, we send them rockets. C.R. Macnamara : Good thinking. C.R. MacNamara : You know something? You guys got cheated. This is a pretty crummy cigar. Peripetchikoff : Do not worry. We send them pretty crummy rockets. Borodenko : When will papers be ready? C.R. Macnamara : I'll put my secretary right to work on it. Mishkin : Your secretary? She's that blond lady? C.R. Macnamara : That's the one. Peripetchikoff : [after conferring with the others] You will send papers to East Berlin with blond lady in triplicate. C.R. Macnamara : You want the papers in triplicate, or the blond in triplicate? Peripetchikoff : See what you can do. Otto : [bursts into room wearing boxers, shirt, tie and morning coat] I'm going to like this job! C.R. MacNamara : It's about time you started cooperating. Otto : You know what the first thing is I'm going to do? I'm going to lead the workers down there in revolt! C.R. MacNamara : Put your pants on, Spartacus! Movie Title: A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935) as Bottom: Bottom : I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream; past the wit of man to say what dream it was. Methought I was - -man is but an ass if he go about to expound this dream. Methought I was - -and methought I had - -man is but a patched fool if he will offer to say [chuckling] Bottom : what methought I was and what methought I had. [breaks into uncontrollable laughter and suddenly brays like a jackass] Quince, the Carpenter : Nick Bottom, you are set down for... Pyramus. Bottom : I play Pyramus! I play Pyramus! I play Pyramus!... What is Pyramus? Quince, the Carpenter : Come, sit down, every mother's son, and rehearse your parts. And we will do it in action as we will do it before the duke. Pyramus, you begin. Bottom : Well, I begin. Oh, Thisny! Quince, the Carpenter : And when you have spoken your speech... Bottom : Then I stop. Quince, the Carpenter : No, no. Bottom : Well, then I go on. Quince, the Carpenter : No, no! Then you enter into that brake; and so everyone according to his cue. Thisby! Stand forth. Speak, Pyramus. Bottom : Oh, Thisny, the flowers - ... Quince, the Carpenter : "Oh, Thisby." Bottom : This-nee. Quince, the Carpenter : This-bee! Bottom : Nay! Quince, the Carpenter : Ay! Bottom : Nay! Quince, the Carpenter : Ay! Bottom : This [he pulls his copy of the script from his waist] Bottom : ... This [he reads the scroll and scowls] Bottom : ... This... neebay. "The flowers of odious - -" Quince, the Carpenter : Odorous, odorous! Bottom : Odorous, odorous. The flowers odi - - the flowers odorous savors sweet. "Oh, Thisby, the flowers of odorous savors sweet; so have thy breath... [He gets a whiff of Flute's breath and recoils] Bottom : Oh, Thisby, my dearest Thisby dear. But hark!" [Flute erupts into a coughing fit. Bottom throws down his scroll, storms off, and is led back by Quince. He points accusatively at Flute] Bottom : Thisny! Quince, the Carpenter : [handing back Bottom's scroll] Thisby. Bottom : "But hark, a voice! Stay you but here a while, and by and by I will to you appear." [He exits the wrong way] Quince, the Carpenter : Into that brake! Bottom : To say the truth, reason and love keep little company together nowadays. Movie Title: Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950) as Ralph Cotter: Ralph Cotter : And now, would one fugitive from justice care to fix another fugitive from justice... a sandwich? Holiday Carleton: He's too smart for you! Ralph Cotter : Oh no, he stopped being smart when he took my money. Joe 'Jinx' Raynor : He ain't to be trusted. Ralph Cotter : Why should *he* be different? Ralph Cotter : Why, I thought you were the law-abiding type. Holiday Carleton: I guess I'm just whatever you make me. Movie Title: A Lion Is in the Streets (1953) as Hank Martin: Verity Wade : It's these folks. They're all so wonderful. Hank Martin : Well, all folks is wonderful. You just have to know the right place to kick 'em in. Verity Wade : What? Hank Martin : Sure. It's like learnin' to play a musical instrument by ear. All you gotta know is what place to push to get what note. Then pretty soon, everybody's dancin'...to your tune. Hank Martin : Brighten up, sweet-face, brighten up, 'cause you married a winner, not a loser! Movie Title: Tribute to a Bad Man (1956) as Jeremy Rodock: Jeremy Rodock : You know, I ain't got you figured yet, McNulty. You act like a man with a lot of ideas. But all of them second rate...and not one honorable. Movie Title: Mister Roberts (1955) as Capt. Morton: Doug Roberts : Captain, you told me... Capt. Morton : Never mind what I told you. I'M TELLING YOU! Doug Roberts : How did you get in the Navy? How did you get on our side? Oh you ignorant, arrogant, ambitious... keeping sixty-two men in prison 'cause you got a palm tree for the work they did. I don't know which I hate worse, you or that other malignant growth that stands outside the door Capt. Morton : Why, you stinking little...! Doug Roberts : How did you ever get command of a ship? I realize in wartime they have to scrape the bottom of the barrel, but where did they ever scrape you up? Capt. Morton : There's just one thing left for you, Mister. A general court martial! Doug Roberts : That suits me fine, court martial me! Capt. Morton : You've got it! Doug Roberts : I'm asking for it! If I can't get transferred, I'll get court martialed off! I'm fed up! But you'll need a witness. Call your messenger - I'll say it all over again in front of him. Go on, call him. You want me to call him? Capt. Morton : No. You're a smart boy, Roberts. But I know how to take care of smart boys. I hate your guts, you smart college guys! I've been seeing your kind around since I was ten years old... working as a busboy. "Oh busboy, it seems my friend has thrown up on the table. Clean up that mess, boy, will'ya?" And then when I went to sea as a steward... people poking at you with umbrellas. "Oh, boy!", "You, boy!", "Careful with that luggage, boy!" And I took it. I took it for years! But I don't have to take it any more. There's a war on, and I'm captain of this vessel, and now YOU can take it for a change! The worst thing I can do to you... is to keep you right here, Mister, and here is where you're going to stay. Now, GET OUT! Capt. Morton : [on the loudspeaker in reference to his "missing" palm tree... ] All right! Who did it? Who did it? You will stand sweating at those battle stations until one of you comes forth and confesses! It's an insult to the honor of this ship! The symbol of our cargo record has been destroyed and I'm going to find out who did it if it takes all night! Movie Title: The Roaring Twenties (1939) as Eddie Bartlett: Eddie Bartlett : You always said you were going to take real good care of me, didn't you George? George Halley : Wait a minute Eddie, I can explain! Eddie Bartlett : Here's one rap you ain't gonna beat! [fires twice] Panama Smith : Things have been pretty tough, haven't they? Eddie Bartlett : They could be tougher. A guy in the cell with me was talkin' about bumpin' himself off. Until I get around to that, I'm doin' all right. Panama Smith : I'm sick of watching you try to put out that torch you carry for her with a lot of cheap hooch. Who does the kid look like? Eddie Bartlett : Like her. Panama Smith : And they got a nice house. Eddie Bartlett : Yeah, it's a nice house if you like that kind of a house, but for me, uh, I'll take a hotel anytime. You know that. Panama Smith : Me too. Ain't it funny how our tastes have always run the same? Ever since the first time we met. I can just picture you living in the suburbs, working in a garden, raising flowers and kids. Wouldn't that be a laugh. Eddie Bartlett : Yeah, wouldn't I look cute? |
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