The Drowning Pool (1975)

Paul Newman: Lew Harper

Photos 

Quotes 

• Schuyler Devereaux : How do you do Mr Harper?

  Lew Harper : Oh sometimes I do better than others.

  Schuyler Devereaux : Well I hope so.

• J.H. Kilbourne : You know what she wants to do with that land, Mr. Harper? She wants to turn it into a Goddam sanctuary for birds!

  Lew Harper : I think that's kind of sweet.

  J.H. Kilbourne : Well now, look, I'm all for saving wildlife like the next fella, but we gotta think about America's future. Energy sources just aren't that easy to come by.

  Lew Harper : Aha! Did you come to that conclusion out of patriotism or just greed?

  J.H. Kilbourne : [after a pause]  Little of both, Mr Harper, - like most men of wealth.

• Lew Harper : You have a problem, you have no talent for swearing.

• J.H. Kilbourne : I ran a check on you, Mr. Harper. You are not stupid.

  Lew Harper : I have my moments.

• Lew Harper : What's Pat Reavis really like?

  Schuyler Devereaux : He was fun. Mild psychopaths often are if you don't cross them.

• Mavis : It's not nice to look up lady's dresses.

  Lew Harper : Everyone's got to look somewhere.

• Iris Devereaux : [as a man is staring at them in an antigue store]  Is he looking at me?

  Lew Harper : I think he was a little more interested in me.

• Bartender : How you like the Coon-Ass Beer, man?

  Lew Harper : [belching]  It works.

• J.H. Kilbourne : You wanna live, don't you? To a ripe old age?

  Lew Harper : I'd hate to think that I was making those Social Security payments for nothing.

• Schuyler Devereaux : Door was unlocked.

  Lew Harper : Still is kid - out!

  Schuyler Devereaux : Come on Lew, gimme a break.

  Lew Harper : You're either a very good guesser or you're a cop.

  Schuyler Devereaux : Swimming's a good way to relax but I know a better way.

• Schuyler Devereaux : Never had anyone turn me down before.

  Lew Harper : There's a first time for everything.

  [She slaps him, then he slaps her] 

  Lew Harper : Sorry about that.

  Schuyler Devereaux : No you're not.

  Lew Harper : That's right, I'm not.

• J.H. Kilbourne : See I'm not like most fols who get their kicks head on, I sort of slide in sideways like. As a matter of fact in High School they used to call me the crab.

  Lew Harper : Oh.

  J.H. Kilbourne : Now you take the oil businesss, my business, it's never any fun to drill straight down. I'm a slant driller by instinct.

  Lew Harper : Are you slant-drilling me?

• Lew Harper : What do you want me to do?

  Iris Devereaux : I want you to make it like it was 6 years ago.

  Lew Harper : Your sense of timing amazes me.

• Lew Harper : I'd just like to try a little conversation first.

  Gretchen : Sure, you wanna call me dirty names?

  Lew Harper : No, I didn't say that.

  Gretchen : You want me to call you dirty names?

• Schuyler Devereaux : How'd you like to help me put on some suntan lotion?

  Lew Harper : Wont help honey, you're gonna be burned out by the time you're 30.

• Lew Harper : All that passion and light-fingered at the same time.

• Lew Harper : [taking off his sunglasses]  Boy, do you look terrific!

  Iris Devereaux : [touching his gray hair]  So do you, except you got a little over your ears there.

  Iris Devereaux : It's the only difference. Everything else works about the same.

• Iris Devereaux : I don't know where to start.

  Lew Harper : Why don't you start where you stopped yesterday.

  Iris Devereaux : [after a pause]  I'm frightened, Lew!

  Lew Harper : That's a good place.

• Lew Harper : Personally I think you help up rather well.

• Lt. Franks : I spotted your car.

  Lew Harper : You spotted my car? I hope it comes off, it's a rental!

• Lt. Franks : You know that you assaulted a police officer?

  Lew Harper : Not important. I don't think Broussard likes you anymore.