The Road (1954)

Anthony Quinn: Zampanò

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Zampanò : [reciting his act by rote before a crowd]  Here we have a piece of chain that is a quarter of an inch thick. It is made of crude iron, stronger than steel. With the simple expansion of my pectoral muscles, or chest, that is, I'll break the hook.

  [collecting money from the crowd] 

  Zampanò : Thank you, thank you. Now, to do this feat, I must fill myself up like a tire. If a blood vessel should break, I would spit blood. For instance, in Milan a man weighing 240 pounds lost his eyesight doing this trick. That is because the optical nerves take a beating, and once you lose your eyes, you are finished. If there's any delicate person in the audience, I would advise him to look away 'cause there could be blood.

  [with seemingly great effort, he breaks the chain] 

• Gelsomina : Where are you from?

  Zampanò : My hometown.

  Gelsomina : You don't talk like us. Where were you born?

  Zampanò : My father's house.

• Zampanò : Come here. There should be something here to fit you. I want you to look elegant. I don't want to see you in rags. My women have always looked smart.

• Zampanò : Do only what I tell you to.

• Prostitute : What line of work are you in?

  Zampanò : I'm a traveling artist. This is my sidekick. I taught her everything. When I took her on, she couldn't even quack.

• Zampanò : Get in.

  Prostitute : Is this piece of junk your car?

  Zampanò : Don't you like it?

  Prostitute : Are you crazy?

  Zampanò : It's American. Hasn't broken down once in seven years.

• Gelsomina : You're one of those men who runs around with women.

  Zampanò : What?

  Gelsomina : Who runs around with women.

  Zampanò : If you want to stay with me, you've got to learn one thing - to keep your mouth shut!

• Zampanò : You always eat standing up like a horse?

  Widow : I always eat on my feet. Who's going to keep the house going if not me?

• Zampanò : Why don't you remarry?

  Widow : What? Another husband? I'm the only one who gives orders around here.

  Zampanò : Is that all a husband is good for? Giving orders?

  Widow : Think I'm not made of flesh and blood? Everybody likes sweets after a good meal.