Blog Archives
Movie Quote of the Day – Wuthering Heights, 1939 (dir. William Wyler )
Heathcliff: What do they know of Heaven or Hell, Cathy, who know nothing of life? Oh, they’re paying for you, Cathy. I’ll pray one prayer with them. I’ll repeat until my tongue stiffens. Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest so long as I live on! I killed you. Haunt me, then! Haunt your murderer! I know that ghosts have wandered on the Earth. Be with me always. Take any form, drive me mad, only do not leave me in this dark alone where I cannot find you. I cannot live without my life! I cannot die without my soul.
Movie Quote of the Day – Rebecca, 1940 (dir. Alfred Hitchcock)
Maxim de Winter: The woman that was washed up at Edgecombe, the woman that is now buried in the family crypt, that was not Rebecca. That was the body of some unknown woman, unclaimed, belonging nowhere. I identified it, but I knew it wasn’t Rebecca. It was all a lie. I knew where Rebecca’s body was. Lying on that cabin floor on the bottom of the sea.
Mrs. de Winter: How did you know, Maxim ?
Maxim de Winter: Because I put it there. Will you look into my eyes and tell me that you love me now ? You see ? I was right. It’s too late.
Movie Quote of the Day – Sleuth, 1972 (dir. Joseph L. Mankiewicz)
Andrew Wyke: One black facemask, one black flat cap, a striped jersey and a bag marked “Swag”.
Milo Tindle: Why not a neon sign with “Burglar” on it?
Movie Quote of the Day – The Prince and the Showgirl, 1957 (dir. Laurence Olivier)
The Queen Dowager: Sweetly pretty. She should use more mascara. When one is young, one should use a lot of mascara. When one is older, one should use much more.
The Oliviers Unhinged: A Streetcar Named Desire and Sleuth
Kendra over at Viv and Larry is hosting an Oliviers appreciation blogathon and I have been trying to figure out what I wanted to write about for my contribution for awhile. Laurence Olivier was nominated for eleven Academy Awards over a five decades (nine for Best Actor, one for Best Supporting Actor and one for Best Director), as well as receiving two honorary awards. His only competitive win was Best Actor for Hamlet (the film also won Best Picture). Vivien Leigh was only nominated for two Academy Awards over the years, both for Best Actress: Gone With The Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire. She won both times. Two were married for twenty years (it ended in divorce), made a handful of films together and worked extensively together in the theater. Have you got all of that? So, obviously, there is a lot of material there and a lot of ways to approach writing about them, together or separately. I finally decided to take a look at two of their Oscar-nominated performances, in separate films, that touch on madness. Beware: there are quite a bit of spoilers after the cut.
Movie Quote of the Day – Marathon Man, 1976 (dir. John Schlesinger)
Dr. Christian Szell: Is it safe?
Thomas “Babe” Levy: Are you talking to me?
Dr. Christian Szell: Is it safe?
Thomas “Babe” Levy: Is what safe?
Dr. Christian Szell: Is it safe?
Thomas “Babe” Levy: I don’t know what you mean. I can’t tell you if something is safe or not unless I know specifically what you’re talking about.
Dr. Christian Szell: Is it safe?
Thomas “Babe” Levy: Tell me what the “it” refers to.
Dr. Christian Szell: Is it safe?
Thomas “Babe” Levy: Yes, it’s safe. It’s very safe. So safe you wouldn’t believe it.
Dr. Christian Szell: Is it safe?
Thomas “Babe” Levy: No, it’s not safe. It’s very dangerous. Be careful.
Dr. Christian Szell: Relax, relax. Come on. Open. Open. It’s OK. That hurt? I should think it would. You should take better care of your teeth. You have quite a cavity here. [beat] Is it safe?
Thomas “Babe” Levy: I told you I can’t tell you [screams in pain]
Dr. Christian Szell: Think he knows? He’s being very stubborn.
Thomas “Babe” Levy: No, please. Please don’t. No.
Dr. Christian Szell: It’s OK. [beat] Is it not remarkable? Simple oil of cloves and how amazing the results. Life can be that simple; relief – discomfort. Now, which of these I next apply, that decision is in your hands, so take your time and tell me. Is it safe?
the diary of a film history fanatic 