Orson Welles
Who are these men you're afraid of? Who are these tiny **** men? They're accountants.
Most-quoted character in RKO 281 (1999): in 9 of its 13 quotes
Most scenes with: Herman Mankiewicz (5)
Everything I am, everything I could be is in that picture!
More lines from Orson Welles
2 quotes
Orson Welles
[Addressing the RKO shareholders]
Good afternoon. Today, a man from Germany invaded Greece. He's already swallowed Poland, Denmark, Norway and Belgium. He's bombing London as I speak. Everywhere this man goes, he crushes the life and the freedom of his subjects. He sews yellow stars on their lapels, he takes their voices. In this country, we still have our voices. We can argue with them, and we can sing, and we can be heard because we are, for the moment, free. No one can tell us what to say or how to say it, can they? Gentlemen, I am one voice; that is all. My picture is one voice, one view, one opinion, nothing more. Men are dying in Europe now, and Americans soon will be so that we can surmount the tyrants and the dictators. Will you send a message across America that one man can take away our voices? So, who is Mr. Hearst, and who is Mr. Welles? Well, Mr. Hearst built a palace of brick and mortar, and little wars and corpses piled high. Mr. Welles built a palace of illusion. It's a, what we call a matte painting, it's a camera trick, it's nothing. Nothing but a dream. Today, you have the chance to let the dream triumph. Thank you.
Scenes with Orson Welles
6 scenes
Listen to me, you child. He doesn't worry about legalities. Do you know why? Because he has more power than you could even hope to imagine.
Orson
All the more reason to do it!
'Cause he insulted you at a dinner party?
Orson
Because he's a hypocrite! Because he's a... A political turncoat. He claims to care about the common man when nothing could be further from the truth!
Oh, he's a journalist. He owns Hollywood. We're the shit on his shoes. You better go back to Broadway, kiddo.
Orson
I expected more from you, Mank.
Yeah, me too, but I got used to it.
Orson
How does that feel getting used to it? How does that feel going up to the palace and amusing the lords and ladies with the same old stories they've heard a hundred times before? How does it feel being the ugly, little monkey they keep around to amuse themselves?
What about Marion?
Orson Welles
She's just another piece in his collection. Another animal in his zoo.
Well to Hearst, that is love. "I love you, I built you a beautiful cage."
Orson Welles
[Referring to San Simeon]
So how big is this monstrosity?
The estate? Half the size of Rhode Island.
Orson Welles
You're kidding.
No, it's the place God would have built if he had the money.
Orson Welles
We need to change the name.
What? The title?
Orson Welles
No, no. It's a grand title, "American". I was thinking more the character name. Charles Foster Craig doesn't have the "knives-out" poetry I was looking for.
Okay.
Orson Welles
I was thinking of Kane.
As in Abel?
Orson Welles
K-A-N-E. One strong syllable, Kane.
Craig is one syllable.
Orson Welles
Yes... But it's not a great syllable.
My battle with the world is almost over. Yours I'm afraid has just begun.
Orson Welles
Kane would've taken the tickets.
Was it worth it?
Orson Welles
I don't know. I can't imagine doing it any other way. I suppose it's just my character.
It won't be easy having made your masterpiece at 26.
Orson Welles
Is that what you think - that I'm just going to burn out at the ripe old age of 26?
All stars burn out, Orson. It's the flame that counts.
Orson Welles
[toasting]
To the flame.
To the flame.