The Philadelphia Story (1940) · 82 quotes
7th most-quoted character in The Philadelphia Story (1940): in 8 of its 82 quotes
Most scenes with: Tracy Samantha Lord (7), Macaulay 'Mike' Connor (4), Dexter (4)
George Well I thought maybe you, you being one of the oldest families in Philadelphia and me getting fairly important myself, it's luck of course...
Of all the filthy ideas - coming into a private house with a camera.
I guess this must be love.
George Your guess is correct, Mr. Connor.
I'm just his faithful old dog Tray.
George Give me your paw!
You've got it. [He takes her hand and kisses it]
You don't look as well as when I last saw you, Kittredge. Oh, you poor fellow. I know just how you feel...Why, you don't look old enough to get married. Not even the first time. And then you never did. She needs trouble to mature her, Kittredge. Give her lots of it.
George I'm afraid she can't count on me for that.
No, that's too bad. Sometimes, for your own sake, Red, I think you should have stuck to me longer.
I thought it was for life, but the nice Judge gave me a full pardon.
Aw, that's the old redhead, no bitterness, no recrimination, just a good swift left in the jaw.
George You know, we're gonna represent something, Tracy, you and I in our home, something straight, sound, and fine. Then perhaps your friend Mr. Haven will be somewhat less condescending.
George, you, you don't really mind him, do you? I mean, the fact of him...I mean...that he ever was my lord and master. That we ever were...
George I don't believe he ever was, Tracy, not really. I don't believe that anyone ever was - or ever will be. That's the wonderful thing about you, Tracy.
What? How?
George Well, you're like some marvelous, distant, well, queen, I guess. You're so cool and fine and - and always so much your own. There's a kind of beautiful purity about you, Tracy, like, like a statue...
George -
George Oh, it's grand, Tracy. It's what everybody feels about you. It's what I first worshipped you for from afar.
George, listen -
George First, now, and always! Only from a little nearer now, eh, darling!
I-I don't want to be worshipped. I want to be loved!
George Well, you're that too, Tracy. Oh, you're that all right.
I mean really loved.
George But that goes without saying, Tracy.
No. No, now it's you who doesn't see what I mean.
In China we'd be married by now - or perhaps it's only yesterday.
George I'm going home after this dance.
There was a Chinese poet who was drowned while trying to kiss the moon in the river. He was drunk.
George I'd say as much.
But he wrote beautiful poetry.
Now easy old man! [To Mike] She's not hurt?
No, no.
Not wounded, sire, but dead.
It seems the minute she hit the water, the wine hit her.
George Now look here, Connor.
A likely story, Connor.
Hello, Dexter. Hello, George. Hello, Mike. My feet are made of clay. Made of clay, did you know? Good niiiggghhhttt little man!
How are the mighty fallen! But if I know Tracy - and I know her well, she'll remember little of this. For the second time in her life, she'll draw quite a tidy blank.
George Hey listen! What right have...?
A husband's, till tomorrow, Kittredge.
I know. I know. I'm sorry. But I thought I'd better hit you before he did. He's in better shape than I am.
Well, you're enough.
My dear Tracy: I want you to know that you will always be my friend, but your conduct last night was so shocking to my ideals of womanhood...that my attitude toward you and the prospect of a happy and useful life together has been changed materially. Your breach of common decency...
It's only a letter from a friend. They're my friends too. [continues to read] ...certainly entitles me to a full explanation before going through with our proposed marriage. In the light of day, I am sure that you will agree with me. Otherwise, with profound regrets and all best wishes, yours very sincerely...Yes, George, I quite agree with you - in the light of day and the dark of night, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sickness and in health - and thank you so very much for your good wishes at this time...I wish for your sake, as well as mine, I had an explanation, but unfortunately I've none. You'd better just say, 'Good riddance,' George.
George On the very eve of your wedding, an affair with another man.
Kittredge, it may interest you to know that the so-called 'affair' consisted of exactly two kisses and a rather late swim...All of which I thoroughly enjoyed, and the memory of which I wouldn't part with for anything... After which I deposited Tracy on her bed in her room, and promptly returned down here to you two - which doubtless you'll remember.
Why? Was I so unattractive, so distant, so forbidding, or something - that - ?
George Well, this is fine talk, too.
I'm asking a question.
You were extremely attractive, and as for distant and forbidding, on the contrary. But you also were a little the worse - or the better - for wine, and there are rules about that.
Thank you, Mike. I think men are wonderful.
We all go haywire at times and if we don't, maybe we ought to.
George A man expects his wife to ...
...behave herself, naturally.
To behave herself naturally.
George If it hadn't been for that drink last night, all this might not have happened.
Apparently nothing did. What made you think it had?
George Well, it didn't take much imagination!
Not much, perhaps, but just of a certain kind.
George It seems you didn't think anything too well of yourself.
That's the odd thing, George. Somehow I would have hoped that you'd think better of me than I did.
George I'm not going to quibble, Tracy. All the evidence was there!
And I was guilty. Straight off. That is, until I was proved innocent.
George Let's let bygones be bygones. What do ya say?
Yes, and goodbye George...You're too good for me, George. You're a hundred times too good...And I'd make you most unhappy, most - That is, I'd do my best to.
