Hollywoodland Quotes

  • Eddie Mannix: I'm in the picture business.

  • Chuck: You're not invited, Simo.

    Louis Simo: Were you?

    Chuck: We're working.

    Louis Simo: Why don't you lay off? Mister Harris!

    Rick Harris: Hello, Louis.

    Louis Simo: You come up from Palos Verdes just to see me?

    Rick Harris: I came here to celebrate my friends' anniversary. You've met Mister Mannix.

    Louis Simo: No. But we've got people in common. Ain't that right, Eddie?

    Eddie Mannix: I've got nothin' in common with you.

    Louis Simo: Bernice, the first missus. You like that car crash gimmick, huh?

    Eddie Mannix: Rick...

    Louis Simo: Riva Watson. She get all clingy? How'd it feel, pounding her face in? Happy times, huh, Ed?

    Eddie Mannix: Richard, please.

    Louis Simo: George Reeves...

    Rick Harris: That's enough, Louis.

    Louis Simo: Am I being indiscreet? Bad for business, huh?

    Rick Harris: Louis, your problems are your own.

    Louis Simo: Ricky, you cover for this prick?

    Rick Harris: Whatever you're pursuing here, whatever fantasy... you've constructed will not alter your past.

    Louis Simo: You had a bullet put in Reeves' head! He used the studio and the cops -

    [Chuck punches him in the stomach]

    Louis Simo: You're gonna burn in hell, you sonofabitch!

    Eddie Mannix: Come here. You don't know me. You don't know what I think. What I do. I don't let you.

    Louis Simo: You're an old man, Eddie. Who's gonna wipe the blood off your hands?

    Eddie Mannix: My hands? I'm in the picture business.

    Louis Simo: No, you're a murderer.

    Eddie Mannix: Prove it. You hear me? Go on, I'm ready. Prove one fuckin' thing.

  • Toni Mannix: [Reeves steps in to get a photograph with Rita Hayworth] Just made it.

    George Reeves: Beg your pardon?

    Toni Mannix: Into the picture.

    George Reeves: Was someone taking a picture? I hadn't noticed.

    [Reeves lights Mannix' cigarette]

    Toni Mannix: My, we're awfully well-trained, Mister...

    George Reeves: George Reeves.

    [Mannix laughs]

    George Reeves: Was it the line or the delivery?

    Toni Mannix: I laugh when I'm happy.

    George Reeves: I see. Well, who is it I'm making so happy?

    Toni Mannix: I'm Toni.

    George Reeves: Just a poor girl with no last name.

    [Mannix laughs again]

    George Reeves: I had no idea I could spread this much joy!

    Toni Mannix: Who knows what you might be spreading?

    [Reeves grins]

    Toni Mannix: Your turn.

    George Reeves: I'm afraid you've got me!

  • Louis Simo: Excuse me. You the Times?

    Times Reporter: I'm the Times.

    Louis Simo: You're the Times? What do you think about Superman offing himself and cutting his beloved fiancee out of the picture, leaving the green to Eddie Mannix's wife? Huh? Like she needs the dough? "Hell hath no fury," huh! I mean, people get killed for less than that.

    Times Reporter: You saying George Reeves was murdered?

    Louis Simo: It's a heck of a question.

    Times Reporter: What's your name?

    Louis Simo: Louis Simo. S-I-M-O.

  • Detective Doug Johnson: The deceased woke up, joined his guests for approximately half an hour, returned to bed. No sign of forced entry or physical struggle. The Luger, found there, on the floor. Heavily oiled, no prints. He kept it in the nightstand. The slug, there.

    [Points at the hole in the roof]

    Detective Doug Johnson: . And the casing on the bed, underneath the body.

    Louis Simo: You want to explain to me how a man can shoot himself and end up on top of the shell?

    James Engelman: Is this your strategy, Mister Simo? To impune the laws of physics?

    Louis Simo: There are no prints on the gun. What, did he wipe it clean after putting that hole in his head?

    Detective Doug Johnson: Fingerprints aren't automatic. Certain conditions have to be present.

    Louis Simo: Did you question the people in the house?

    Detective Doug Johnson: They all signed sworn statements.

    Louis Simo: Forty-five minutes to call the cops, that's plenty of time to come up with some bogus story. But you got sworn statements!

    Detective Doug Johnson: Are you accusing me of something?

    Louis Simo: Was Reeves checked for powder burns? It's a suicide shot to the temple - where's the burn?

    Detective Doug Johnson: When a gun is discharged directly against the ...

    Louis Simo: The coroner never checked! He didn't notice the bruises on the body either - which, by the way, aren't automatic, OK? Certain conditions have to be present. Like, maybe a fight with a guy who's about to... cause your expiration.

    [Jack Paterson notices two more gunshot holes in the floor]

    Louis Simo: Since when do suicides miss twice, lay down a rug, and start over? Is that normal? Just asking.

  • Louis Simo: Sad day, huh, boys? Tell you what's even sadder: calling it suicide when it's really murder. Why would the cops do that?

    Funeral Reporter #1: Sing us a new song, Simo.

    Louis Simo: What, you don't love me anymore? Two months ago, somebody drained all the fluid out of George Reeves's break lines. Almost bought it right then. Coincidence, right? I mean, LAPD don't make mistakes. Huh, Paterson? What's the truth? Huh, boys? Who wanted him dead? You guys might be lazy, but nobody said you're dumb.

    Funeral Reporter #2: I need some names.

    Louis Simo: What, you want me to write it for you, too?

    Funeral Reporter #1: Hey, you got a story or not?

    Louis Simo: You want names? Ask this guy.

    [Gestures to Howard Strickling]

    Louis Simo: . He's got the names. Names, pictures. What's he doing here? MGM never cut Reeves a check in his life. Huh? Come on. Do some work, will you? Hey, cameraboy. Lift the fuckin' camera, will you? There you go. Say cheese.

  • Louis Simo: Let's go outside. You packin'?

    Del: Not when I cross the street for lunch.

    [Simo pulls gun from Del's jacket]

    Del: Lou, I do what I'm told.

    [Simo slams him against the car]

    Louis Simo: You took the cash from that rack, same as me! Twenty-five-hundred for ratting out some hop-head actress, and I never said a word. 'Cause I'm loyal to my fuckin' partner!

    [Strangles Del]

    Del: [Choking] Rick!

    Louis Simo: Why?

    Del: Didn't say, just take care of it.

    [Simo releases him]

    Del: Look, when I helped you out, with the old lady, I should've kept my mouth shut. I had to make good. You would've done the same thing. Don't bullshit me. It's how the mortgage gets paid!

    [Simo punches him in the stomach]

  • Louis Simo: Whatever you want to say...

    Laurie Simo: Are you going to fight everybody?

    Louis Simo: I thought you liked tough guys.

  • Eddie Mannix: People are waitin'. You comin' down?

    Toni Mannix: Help with the dress.

    Eddie Mannix: OK. I'm gonna let some light in. I wanna tell you somethin'. You know I'll always take care of you. Whatever's happened. Whatever might've been done, it doesn't matter. Nobody's gonna hurt you. Nobody gets to ask. I won't allow it. You're safe with me. With your husband. Let me see what you look like. You're beautiful. You always will be.

  • Evan Simo: How come you're not at work?

    Louis Simo: 'Cause I don't sit in an office, okay? That's for suckers. Your pop's an investigator, alright? Come on, let's go.

    Evan Simo: I'm supposed to wait for mom.

    Louis Simo: What?

    Evan Simo: I'm supposed to wait for mom.

    Louis Simo: Your mom and me, we don't...

    [he puts his hand on his son's head]

    Louis Simo: Evan. Evan. Nobody has magic powers. You got to be tough. You got to show them what you're made of, you know? My father never taught me that.

  • Louis Simo: [slurring] I'm his son. He's MY son, he is.

  • George Reeves: [about Leonore Lemmon] She makes me feel young.

    Toni Mannix: [obviously offended] Have you seen yourself, George? Your face is going.

    George Reeves: Don't do this...

    Toni Mannix: Here, your eyes, your hair, your stomach.

    George Reeves: Stop it.

    Toni Mannix: You think no one notices?

    George Reeves: Toni, don't do this.

    Toni Mannix: But you've got your projects, haven't you? You're going to be a director. You'll sit in your little canvas chair polishing your balls. "Thank God I got rid of that hag I had to screw. What was her name? The one who paid for everything! The one who bought me a fucking house!".

    George Reeves: For God's sake...

    Toni Mannix: You want publicity? You'll get it. I'll say you're a Red. And a faggot. A lush. Nobody can call that a lie!

    George Reeves: You know what? You've never helped me. You never helped me! You could've talked to Eddie. You could've gotten me something, but you didn't! Because you liked me where I was, in a fucking red suit! You liked that! Well, that's not who I am, understand? God damn you!

    Toni Mannix: ...But, George, that's all you were good for. Ten-year-olds and shut-ins. That was the best you were ever going to be. I knew that, why didn't you?

  • Toni Mannix: Just made it.

    George Reeves: I beg your pardon?

    Toni Mannix: Into the picture.

    George Reeves: [smirking] Was someone taking a picture? I hadn't noticed.

  • Toni Mannix: She's a lesbian, you know.

    George Reeves: Who?

    Toni Mannix: The one playing Lois.

    George Reeves: Phyllis? Is she really?

    Toni Mannix: No. She is now, as far as you're concerned.

    George Reeves: Well... there it is.

  • George Reeves: They're picking up Superman.

    Toni Mannix: They're what?

    George Reeves: Kellogg's. They bought it.

    Toni Mannix: After two years?

    George Reeves: That's right. And I will be on television in a month. Wearing brown and gray underpants.

  • George Reeves: [after falling from a snapped wire holding him up] I'd like to thank the Academy and all the good people of Galesburg, Illinois, for making me who I am today.

    [turns and walks away]

  • Kenneth Giles: [after defeating villains in a live show] Hey, Superman! Hey, Superman!

    George Reeves: Well, hello there, young man, what's your name?

    Kenneth Giles: [brandishing a gun] Kenneth Giles. Can I shoot you?

    George Reeves: [he sees that it's a real gun and is suddenly very serious] Kenneth, why would you want to do something like that?

    Kenneth Giles: So the bullet bounces off. Can I?

    George Reeves: Well, if you did shoot me and the bullet bounced off, it might accidentally hit someone else. We don't want that to happen, do we?

    Kenneth Giles: No...

    George Reeves: Why don't you just, you and I... Here we go, partner. Why don't you just give me that? Just hand me that...

  • Toni Mannix: Straight arrow George! You go to New York, and you fuck some whore, and you run back to tell me!

    George Reeves: She's not a whore.

    Toni Mannix: She's an actress. A singer? Does she blow smoke rings with her cunt?

  • Toni Mannix: Nobody ever asks to be happy later. Tell me what you want. You can have it.

  • Toni Mannix: [Wryly] I have another seven good years, then my ass drops like a duffel bag.

    George Reeves: Well, it seems alright now.

    Toni Mannix: Thank you for noticing.

  • Art Weissman: An actor can't always act. Sometimes he has to work.

    George Reeves: You're talking to the man who defended Camelot with a cardboard sword.

    Art Weissman: I enjoyed you in that.

    George Reeves: You were the oldest boy in the theater.

    Art Weissman: Look, it's a dirt-cheap kiddie show. It doesn't even have a sponsor. Odds are no one's ever gonna see it.

    George Reeves: [sarcastically] It's just sounding better and better.

  • Louis Simo: I can see the pieces. How they should fit. How I want them to fit.

  • George Reeves: What's that? Someone's in need. You can't see my penis, can you?

  • Louis Simo: [about the bullet holes in George Reeves' floor] Since when do suicides miss twice and start over?

  • George Reeves: [looks at himself in the mirror after putting on Superman costume for the first time] I look like a damned fool!

  • Louis Simo: Why are you telling me now?

    Leonore Lemmon: I'm... I'm just a little blotto, sugar. Kind of horny. And pretty goddamn all alone.

    Louis Simo: So...?

    Leonore Lemmon: I don't know. And I thought maybe we had something in common.

  • George Reeves: Well, you know what they say about land. They - they aren't making any more of it.

  • [last lines]

    George Reeves: Goodnight.

  • Louis Simo: Lady, I can nail you with this.

    Leonore Lemmon: D'Artagnan, you couldn't nail me with roses and a trip to Vegas.

  • Leonore Lemmon: Superman wants to get laid.

  • Eddie Mannix: You're a face. Faces change.

  • Chester Sinclair: We have reason to believe that my wife continues to engage in illicit carnal relations.

  • Chuck: I'm thinking, maybe I ain't the best PI in California, but if I catch a one-eyed Negro Jew sneaking into a house in Beverly Hills, it's time to pack it in.

  • Toni Mannix: I don't have a problem with a man drinking before breakfast, but it is impolite not to offer me any.

  • Leonore Lemmon: You know what he is? A catfish. Go clean the mud out of your whiskers.

  • Eddie Mannix: Tough game.

    George Reeves: Well, I'm always ready to play.

  • Natividad Vacio: We're two steps from the men's room. Anyone sees us, they'll think we're queer.

    George Reeves: You do look fetching tonight.

  • Art Weissman: George, what do you want from life?

    George Reeves: Oh, I don't know. I'd settle for Clark Gable's career.

  • Howard Strickling: The business is changing.

    Eddie Mannix: Fags and television. And what are we, huh? The Last of the Mohicans.

  • Eddie Mannix: That - spic or wop, prick detective.

    Howard Strickling: I sent Jim Engelmann over. He used to work for us. I'm sure you don't want MGM coming into it.

    Eddie Mannix: And?

    Howard Strickling: Louis Simo. Two years with Rick Harris. He shot his mouth off about Susan Humphries to Confidential for $5,000. Harris fired him.

    Eddie Mannix: Susan Humphries?

    Howard Strickling: Jennifer Jones type. Under contract at Fox. Heroin addict.

  • Eddie Mannix: What's the prick want?

    Howard Strickling: Money. Press. Whatever he can grab.

    Eddie Mannix: What's he got?

    Howard Strickling: Some questions.

  • Howard Strickling: You have anything to tell me?

    Eddie Mannix: About what?

    Howard Strickling: Anything I need to have a story ready for.

  • Louis Simo: He shoots himself, you all wait 45 minutes to call the police. That's unusual.

    Carol Van Ronkel: You ever been to a party where a man goes upstairs and blows his head off?

    Louis Simo: No.

    Carol Van Ronkel: Then how do you know what's unusual?

  • Carol Van Ronkel: She's not the way you think she is.

    Louis Simo: Yeah? What way is she?

    Carol Van Ronkel: She was only looking for love.

    Louis Simo: I just want to remember that one. That's good.

  • Leonore Lemmon: I had to take a leak. What's your excuse?

  • Leonore Lemmon: I guess we both deserve to get our bottoms spanked.

  • Leonore Lemmon: You're not a cop. So what the hell are you doing following me into my dead fiancé's bedroom?

  • Helen Bessolo: Do you think my own son would get married without telling me? And to a greedy slut like that?

  • Helen Bessolo: George starred with Sinatra, with Gable. He was an important film actor.

  • Toni Mannix: Well, maybe it wasn't your proudest moment.

    George Reeves: No, I'm quite sure it wasn't.

    Toni Mannix: But you did create a very likable, very attractive, very heroic character.

    George Reeves: Is that right?

    Toni Mannix: I'd fuck you in a second.

  • Louis Simo: Are you threatening me?

    Howard Strickling: I'm offering you an opportunity.

  • Toni Mannix: I'll always take care of my boy.

  • Kit Holliday: What's this about?

    Louis Simo: This murder bullshit I've been slinging. I think it might be true.

  • George Reeves: This makes sense to me. I can set up my own projects. Direct and produce and - we'll get some other sap to jump around in colored underwear.

  • George Reeves: I know when I'm out of my league.

    Leonore Lemmon: Don't sell yourself short. I got a big heart. I'll bet you've got a big one, too.

  • Leonore Lemmon: So, how about an autograph for my poor crippled nephew?

    George Reeves: Is he in an iron lung?

    Leonore Lemmon: He's in Yonkers.

  • Leonore Lemmon: Goddamn! Make room for fucking Daddy! You know what, stallion?

    George Reeves: What?

    Leonore Lemmon: I think you're starting to get the hang of this. Let's do it again.

  • George Reeves: I want to be honest with you.

    Toni Mannix: My, that's noble. What is that, from some script you auditioned for in the '40s?

Extended Reading
  • Shirley 2022-02-28 08:02:06

    In general, Ben's performance is more eye-catching

  • Celia 2022-03-24 09:03:39

    A disorderly account of an unsolved plot