The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

Myrna Loy: Billie Burke

Photos 

Quotes 

• Billie Burke : I'm here.

  Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. : Yes, and so am I.

  Billie Burke : But it must seem like kindergarten to you.

  Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. : Why?

  Billie Burke : The great Mr. Ziegfeld, producer of the Follies, surrounded by hundreds of beautiful women, sitting on a bench holding hands, watching the riverboats go back and forth. Doesn't sound a bit like you, does it?

  Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. : No, it doesn't. But, here I am, sitting on a bench, holding hands and watching the riverboats go back and forth... And regretting all the years I haven't known you.

  Billie Burke : Didn't Anna Held take up a few of those years?

  Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. : Yes, Billie, she did. She was truly a wonderful woman.

  Billie Burke : I love you for saying that.

  Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. : Look, there's another ferryboat going across to the Palisades. Will you keep your eyes on it while I tell you something?

  Billie Burke : Must I look at a ferryboat to listen to you?

  Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. : Yes, or I won't be able to tell you.

  Billie Burke : You mean the great lady's man is bashful?

  Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. : Strange as it may seem... in your presence, he is.

  Billie Burke : All right, I'm looking.

  Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. : I love you, Billie.

  [Billie turns to look at him. Flo points] 

  Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. : The ferryboat... I haven't anything to offer you, because there's nothing that you really seem to need. You've made the most of yourself unassisted, and that's grand. But

  [Billie starts to face him] 

  Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. : Ferryboat. You're a great star already, so there's little I can offer you. Nothing I can give you... except my love.

  Billie Burke : That isn't enough... I expect part of your ambition, half of your trouble, two-thirds of your worries... and all of your respect.

  [They kiss] 

• Billie Burke : I wonder what General Grant would think if he knew we were using the very shadow of his tomb as our meeting place?

  Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. : Well, I never knew the General personally but I have an idea that he'd approve.

• Billie Burke : Before we were married - you never thought of failure even when you were broke. It was your - sublime superiority, more than anything else, that made me admire you so much. Please don't change, Flo. Don't let Patricia and me become a worry to you. We don't expect you to reduce your life to just us. I want you to go right on being just as you always were. I would never be jealous, because with your love of beauty, you could never be cheap or common. So in whatever you do, you need never fear me. And what is more important: don't be afraid of yourself.

• Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. : Do you know Ziegfeld?

  Billie Burke : No, I don't want to. I understand he's a horrible person.

  Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. : Horrible?

  Billie Burke : Yes, they say he's a terrible lady's man. Well, I suppose that's forgivable. Because he's surrounded by so many beautiful women.

  Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. : Yes, yes. Strange you've never met him.

  Billie Burke : I don't want to. I love his shows. They're beautiful and in such good taste. It would disappoint me to meet him and find him to be a fat, pudgy man with a big stomach.

  Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. : Oh, he's not fat and not really so pudgy.

  Billie Burke : No? You know him?

• Billie Burke : You're sort of a lady's man yourself, aren't you?