Day for Night (1973)

Jean-Pierre Aumont: Alexandre

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Quotes 

• Alexandre : In 80 movies I've died 24 times - electrocuted twice, hanged twice. I've been knifed, committed suicide, died in accidents, but never a natural death. Anyway, I don't think death is natural.

• Ferrand : Quiet! A full rehearsal. Let's go, Séverine.

  Séverine : "I don't understand you Alexander! You're - "

  Alexandre : "Peculiar"

  Séverine : Oh, yes.

  Ferrand : It's all right! Take it from the top, right away. Let's go, Séverine.

  Séverine : "I don't understand you Alexander! You've been peculiar, lately. Walking out on dinner last night! That was an insult to Julie." Damn! I said Julie instead of Pamela.

  Ferrand : Not to worry.

  Séverine : I've got an idea! I'll use numbers, the way I do for Fellini! Instead of "I don't understand you Alexander..." I'll say, 22, 83, 16, 72, 5, 3, 18, 9, 14, 7, 9. 17, 10, 10, 4, 18, 69...

  Ferrand : Impossible, Séverine. In France, we have to say the lines.

• Alexandre : How's your mother?

  Julie : Very good. I told her we were working together. She sends her love.

  Alexandre : Marvelous woman! Everyone in Hollywood loved her. Too bad she quit when she did.

  Julie : But she's still very busy.

  Alexandre : She hated the way we shoot movies - in bits and pieces! I remember escorting her to the premiere of her first big Hollywood movie. A fantastic evening! When the film ended, she sat there, then turned to me and said: "I did all that? All I remember is the waiting."

  Julie : It's so true!

• Alexandre : Actors are so vulnerable!

  Dr. Michael Nelson : Of course they are. Everyone is afraid of being judged. But actors are always being judged. In your work, and in your life!

  Alexandre : Yes. We wonder what people think of us, if they love us. It must be the same for all performers. As a child, when Mozart was asked to play, he'd reply: "Gladly, but first say you love me."

  Dr. Michael Nelson : And in your job, you're always kissing.

  Alexandre : As you say, yes, we do a lot of kissing. The handshake was invented to show you're unarmed, friendly. We went one better: we show our love.

• Alexandre : Remember when we first met in Hollywood?

  Séverine : No dates! Never mention numbers! Or I'll tell everyone you had a facelift!

  Alexandre : Not yet. It's coming!

  [Séverine laughs] 

• Alphonse : Alexandre, excuse me. Can I ask you something?

  Alexandre : Yes.

  Alphonse : In your opinion, are women magic?

  Alexandre : Some are, yes. Others, no!

• Alexandre : Movie people may be more obvious about it, but love makes the world go round!

• Alexandre : There was an Austrian actress, Hedy Lamarr, became a big Hollywood star. She really missed the rainy climate of her native Tyrol. So, in her garden in California, she installed a rain-making machine.

• Bertrand : That's not nice or friendly. Aren't we one big family?

  Alexandre : So were the people in Greek tragedies!

• Alexandre : Any champagne left?

  Bernard, l'accessoiriste : No, we'll have to move on to Pernod.

  Alexandre : Champagne's gone. You won't get drunk.