The West Point Story (1950)

Gordon MacRae: Tom Fletcher

Photos 

Quotes 

• Tom Fletcher : [after auditioning a song]  How'd you like it, sir?

  Elwin 'Bix' Bixby : Um. Wouldn't hiss and wouldn't cheer.

• Tom Fletcher : We have to spoon up for mess or we'll get slugged.

• Elwin 'Bix' Bixby : No women in the show?

  Lieutenant Colonel Martin : This isn't Broadway, Mr. Bixby. This is West Point.

  Tom Fletcher : You see, sir, all our girls are men. But every ones a lady.

  Elwin 'Bix' Bixby : That makes it cozy.

• Tom Fletcher : Now, the definition of leather, they'll be sure to ask you that one. And put some soul in it.

  Elwin 'Bix' Bixby : The definition of leather - and put some soul into it, right. If - the fresh skin of an animal, cleaned and divested of all hair, fat, and other extraneous matter, be immersed in a dilute solution of tannic acid, a chemical compound ensues. The gelatinous tissue of the skin is converted into a non-putrescible substance impervious to and insoluble in water. This, sir, is leather.

• Tom Fletcher : What do plebes rank?

  Elwin 'Bix' Bixby : The plebes rank, the commandant's dog, the superintendent's cat, the hellcats and all the admirals in the cockeyed Navy.

• Jan Wilson : Do you really want me?

  Tom Fletcher : Want you?

  Jan Wilson : Well, I mean, if you do...

• Tom Fletcher : Well, what do you know. By a fortunate coincidence, we're under the Kissing Rock.

  Jan Wilson : Oh. Nice maneuvering, General. Now what?

  Tom Fletcher : [singing]  Well, you've been kissed, I know, In the very last row

  Jan Wilson : When the love scene is on, At the movie show

  Tom Fletcher : But wait until tonight, And you'll be kissed but right, By the Kissing Rock...

• Tom Fletcher : Mr. Bixby, we've got trouble.

  Elwin 'Bix' Bixby : My girl is walking out on me and you've got trouble.

• Tom Fletcher : Country. Duty, honor, country. This is why the dream materialized into the stone and steel and spirit that is West Point. A dream that can be measured by the names of its giants striding through the pages of American history. Giants whose voices rang so loud that the entire world trembled; yet, who once were cadets, marching nervously across the plain. Cadets like Lee...

• Elwin 'Bix' Bixby : [last lines - singing]  And now that it's over, I'll sure miss the going to classes. Miss you cadets, yes, the brasses. So take my thanks to all the ranks, with love and kisses.

  West Point Chorus , Elwin 'Bix' Bixby , Eve Dillon , Jan Wilson , Tom Fletcher , Bull Gilbert , Hal Courtland : This is the finale, The End.