Idiot's Delight (1939)

Clark Gable: Harry

Photos 

Quotes 

• Irene : But I have talked too much about myself. What about you, my friend?

  Harry : Oh, I'm not very interesting. I'm just what I seem to be.

• Irene : You are a very bad dancer.

  Harry : Hmmm... in Romania they thought I was pretty good.

• Irene : Harry, do you realize the whole world has gone to war? The whole world!

  Harry : I realize it, but don't ask me why. I've stopped trying to figure it out.

  Irene : I know why it is. It's just to kill us - you and me. Because we are the little people. And for us, the deadliest weapons are the most merciful.

  Harry : Easy...

  Irene : I've never cared before, but now I want to live.

  Harry : So do I, but if we don't, let's hope we make a fast exit.

  Irene : Then together.

  Harry : [explosion from a large bomb nearby]  Nice try buddy, but you muffed it!

• Irene : My father was old. The hardships of that terrible journey had broken his body. But his spirit was strong. His spirit, that is Russia.

  Irene : He lay there in that little boat. And he looked up at me. Never can I forget his face. So thin. So white. So beautiful in the starlight.

  Irene : And he said to me, 'Irena, little daughter'. And then... he died.

  Irene : For four days I was alone with his body. Sailing through the storms of the Black Sea. I had no food. No water. I was in agony from the violent wounds of the Bolshevikii. I knew I must die.

  Irene : And then... an American cruiser rescued me. May Heaven bless those good men!

  Harry : Ahem. Excuse me Madame. But it seems to me that the last time you told me about your escape it was different.

  Irene : Well! I made several escapes.

• Irene : Where'd you get your education, Harry?

  Harry : What makes you think I got one?

• Harry : Maybe that's what I like about you, Irene. You're so beautifully phoney.

• Harry : [to the waiter]  Seems to me everyone would be happier in Europe if they learned how to make a decent cup of coffee.

• Harry : Say, what are your plans for supper?

  Irene : Oh, Mr. Van, are you inviting me?

  Harry : Well, don't look at me like that. I'm only offering to buy you a cup of coffee because I appreciate your kind motives in busting up our act tonight.

  Irene : Oh, that's very sweet of you, Mr. Van. I'll get dressed, right away. I'll be proud to be seen in a restaurant with you.

  Harry : Wait till you see the restaurant.

• Harry : Give me a cup of coffee and some donuts. What'll you have, babe?

  Irene : Oyster stew.

• Irene : Do you think we'll ever see each other again?

  Harry : Maybe we will and maybe we won't. You can't predict anything in show business.

  Irene : Or in any other kind of a life, I suppose.

  Harry : No, I guess not. But, I'll be thinking about you, babe.

  Irene : Oh, I'm sure you will.

  Harry : Yes, and as a matter of fact, I'd like to know that - you're thinking about me a little bit, too.

• Quillery : Excuse me, my friend.

  Harry : Another white man in this jungle! How do you do? My name is Harry Van.

  Quillery : My name is Quillery.

  Harry : I got six girls with me. I'm in terrible trouble.

  Quillery : The whole world is in terrible trouble, Mr. Van.

• Donald Navadel : Evidently, Mr. Van, you're not fully aware of the present international situation!

  Harry : Well, I'm aware that the international situation is always regrettable. What's wrong now?

  Donald Navadel : Haven't you been reading the papers?

  Harry : In Bulgaria and Yugoslavia? No.

  Donald Navadel : We're on the verge of a war.

  Harry : What? Another one!

• Harry : The world you live in isn't a world of facts and figures, it's a world of dreams. Maybe that's what I like about you Irene. You're so beautifully phony.

  Irene : And maybe you're wrong my darling. Maybe we two cheap people, with our cheap lives, maybe we're the only ones in this crazy world who are real.

• Harry : [at a train station]  Well, we gotta be pulling out now babe.

  Irene : I know, but not together.

  Harry : No, not together. You go your way and I go mine. But I got a hunch we'll see each other again. Sometime.

• Harry : It's a pleasure to be entertaining, but you can't get away with it.

• Irene : The temple of your memory must be so crowded.

  Harry : Are you sure you've never been in Omaha, Madame?

• Irene : You amuse me very much, indeed. Here we are, on a mountain peak in Bedlam. Tonight, war is breaking over the vorld! And all you vorry about is whether I am a girl you once met casually in Omaha-ha-ha.

  Harry : Ha-ha-ha. Did I say it was casual?

• Harry : Somehow or other I couldn't help feeling touched, that of all the sordid hotels you've been in, that you should have remembered that one.

  Irene : The age of chivalry still lives!

• Harry : [last line domestic version]  Hey, over here boys! Over here! See the big show. See the greatest aggregation of talent in the world.

• Harry : You can call that sentimental, Mrs. Weber, but that is true.

  Irene : Forgive me, but that is not my name.

  Harry : Oh. I thought...

  Irene : I know what you thought. Mr. Weber and I are associated in a sort of business way.

  Harry : I see. Um, business is pretty good, isn't it?

• Irene : Good night.

  Harry : Good night.

  Irene : Thanks for giving me such a good time.

  Harry : Well, thank you, Irene. I always enjoy seeing a woman eat. Don't forget - brush your teeth carefully, tuck yourself in, and have sweet dreams of Old Russia

  [chuckles] 

• Harry : I'm a thinker, not a performer.

• Harry : [to Irene]  Excuse me, but were you always blonde?

• Harry : [to the waiter]  Get me a scotch, and, uh, put ice in it. If you haven't got any ice, go out and scoop up some of that beautiful white snow.

• Jimmy Barzek : Yeah, that's show business.

  Harry : Oh, yes, yes. The gay, carefree world of entertainment.

• Irene : I have something rather important to tell you.

  Harry : What is it, babe?

  Irene : Do you mind if I sit down?

  Harry : Well, as a matter of fact I do, but, anyway, have a seat. And if you see a bottle of champagne standing around, open it up. Now, what's on your mind?

  Irene : I want to confess.

  Harry : You'll find a church right around the corner.

• Irene : I've been watching your act, Mr. Van. I couldn't help picking up some of the code. I mean, your tone of voice when you say - concentrate. There are subtle changes that mean different things.

  Harry : Where did you learn words like subtle?

  Irene : Oh, I haven't always been an acrobat, Mr. Van. I attended the University in Vienna... with Freud, Jung, all the great teachers.

  Harry : From the University in Vienna to the El Dorado in Omaha. Some jump!

  Irene : Yes. Ha-ha. That's been my whole life, today the mountaintops - tomorrow the Dead Sea.

  Harry : Yeah, I guess you're right, sister.

• Harry : I have a great admiration for you.

  Irene : Oh, you like my electrical personality, huh?

  Harry : No, nothing as obvious as that. I think you have a very remarkable brain!

  Irene : So, you noticed that too, hmm?

  Harry : I also have a very remarkable brain.

  Irene : Yeah, and a very remarkable way of talking for a girl who makes her living swinging by her teeth.

  Harry : Why, I was born for excitement, adventure, danger. I've had all the - I'll have a lot more before I come to a violent death.

  Irene : So you've even got that arranged.

• Harry : You've certainly lived on a big scale, babe.

  Irene : My name isn't babe. It's Irene!

• Harry : You know, Irene, I've met a lot of dames in my time. And most of 'em are so dumb you have to talk to 'em in sign language.

• Donald Navadel : Mr. Van, I advise you to be careful how you talk.

  Harry : Why? I'm an American citizen! I can say what I please.

• Harry : Beulah's our bubble dancer and quite a dreamer.

• Harry : Next, Miss Edna Creesh. She's as good as gold and twice as tough.

  Les Blondes - Edna : Hi ya, toots!

• Harry : Well, I guess I might as well register. I'll need three double rooms, two girls to a room. And a single, for me - adjoining. I promised their mothers I'd always be within ear shot.

• Harry : [to Les Blondes]  Alright, alright. Finish your drinks and come on upstairs. I'm gonna give you all a bath.

• Harry : Well, now, listen to me, you dames, you may as well know right now, the act is bankrupt. I got barely enough to get us to Geneva. So don't run up any bills around this dump.

  Les Blondes - Shirley : Say, Harry, there's a hair dresser. Can't I get a finger wave?

  Harry : No!

  Les Blondes - Bebe : Can we go ski?

  Harry : And risk breaking those pretty legs?

  Les Blondes - Edna : But it's healthy.

  Harry : Yeah, but you're not sick. Those gams of yours are my bread and butter.

• Mrs. Cherry : You mean - you read people's minds?

  Harry : Sure. I could see right through 'em.

  Irene : Oh, how embarrassing.

  Harry : I was playing a week in Omaha. Have you ever been in Omaha madame?

  Irene : Oma-ha? O-maw-ha? Where is dat? Persia!

  Harry : It's in Nebraska.

• Irene : I don't think I shall use my own name. No! Americans will mispronounce horribly. I shall call myself - Namoura! Namoura the Great!

  Harry : ...assisted by Harry Van.

• Harry : Say, who gave you permission to wrap my best sock around your head?

• Harry : Say, how much is this piece of junk?

  Newsstand Vendor : 75 cents.

  Harry : 75... six bits?

  Newsstand Vendor : That's right.

  Harry : Say, if that thing's worth more than a nickel, you're crazy.

  Newsstand Vendor : I'm sorry, brother. I don't write the prices. I'm only here to repeat 'em

• Harry : It's a souvenir. See, it says, "Souvenir of Omaha."

  Irene : Did you buy it for me, Harry?

  Harry : Yeah, certainly I did. And what's more, it cost 75 cents. You know, that's the most expensive present I ever bought for any dame.

• Harry : You know, Irene, I've met a lot of dames in my time, and most of 'em are so dumb you have to talk to 'em in sign language. You're the only one I ever met that I couldn't answer.

  Irene : Perhaps that's because I'm the only one who recognizes you for the great man that you are.