You don’t become a star. You either are one or you ain’t.[to Manny]
We’ve got to innovate. We’ve got to inspire. We got to dream beyond these pesky shells of flesh and bone. Map those dreams onto celluloid and print them into history. Turn today into tomorrow so that tomorrow’s lonely man may look up at that flickering screen and say for the very first time, “Eureka! I am not alone!” [to Manny]
When in doubt, say something French.
It’s written in the stars. I am a star.
What I do means something to millions of people. My folks didn’t have the money or the education to go to the theater, so they went to the vaudeville houses, and then the nickelodeons. And you know what? There’s beauty there. What happens up on that screen means something. Maybe not to you in your ivory tower. But for real people on the ground, it means something.[to Estelle]
If you could go anywhere in the whole world, where would you go?[to Manny]
I’ve never done nothing except disappoint people my whole life. Teachers told me I was no good. Boys told me I was no good. Every f***ing casting director in the city told me I was too short or I was too fat. Usually I was too fat.
I saw Olga Putti sing to herself in Hungarian, and I think I’m in love. Send two dozen roses to her dressing room every morning this week.[Jack Conrad]You know she doesn’t speak English?[Manny Torres]Neither does love.[Jack Conrad]
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I got here on my terms, not theirs. And when I’m done, I’m gonna dance my ass off into the night. And they’ll know, everyone will f***ing know that they could never control one goddamn f***ing thing.
Aw, Georgie. Who was it this time?[Jack Conrad]Claire.[George Munn]Claire. Well, Claire’s a lesbian. That’s an uphill battle for anyone.[Jack Conrad]
When I first moved to LA, you know what the signs on all the doors read? “No actors or dogs allowed.” Yeah, I changed that. I helped build this place you call home.[to Elinor]
People want the kiss, we give them the kiss. But, madame, I can’t help but wonder, don’t we have a higher calling? [Elinor St. John: So, Jacky boy, how do you think it turned out?]
