The Front Page (1974)
Jack Lemmon: Hildy Johnson
Photos
Quotes
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Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : Goodbye, Duffy. Watch the diabetes. Walter, it's been fun.
Duffy : What's he mean by that?
Walter Burns : He's leaving us. Getting married.
Duffy : Yeah? That hostess at the Hotsy-Totsy Club?
Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : You're not even close. Why, this is a very classy dame. Philadephia. Studied to be a concert pianist.
Walter Burns : Where in the hell would you meet a concert pianist?
Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : Well, actually, she's a widow. Husband cracked up in a brand-new Packard. Only had 18 miles on it. So, to support herself, she's playing the organ at the Balaban & Katz Theater.
Walter Burns : The one in the Loop?
Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : Yeah. We've been dating three months.
Walter Burns : Jeez, Hildy. why didn't you tell me? Kid, I woulda thrown you a little farewell party...
Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : Oh, no, no, no! I know your farewell parties! When Ben Hecht was leaving for Hollywood, you slipped a micky in his gin fizz. It took four of us to get on the California Limited.
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Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : I'm going straight. I'm quittin' this racket!
Walter Burns : You mean you're going to be writing crap like "I'd walk a mile for a camel", or "Quick, Henry, the Flit"?
Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : You bet! For 150 bucks a week!
Walter Burns : Jesus, Hildy, you're a newspaper man! Not some faggot writing poetry about brassieres and laxatives.
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Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : [as Bensinger's opening his desk] Hold it! Don't move!
Roy Bensinger of the Tribune : What's the matter?
Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : [dabbing Bensinger's nose with a bloody hankie] Uh-huh. Nose bleed. Put your head back.
Roy Bensinger of the Tribune : [gasps] Must be my blood pressure.
Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : Or menopause, or something.
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Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : Oh, shit!
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McHugh : Nobody but fairies goes into advertising.
Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : [lisping with mock effeminacy] Thour grapeth!
[all laugh]
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Rudy Keppler of the Chicago Examiner : [the night before Earl Williams is to be hanged] This is my first hanging.
Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : Yeah. That's OK kid, it's Williams' first hanging too.
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'Honest Pete' Hartman Sheriff of Clark County : [walks into the press room to see the reporters drinking liquor] Ah, what's the idea, fellas? You know better than that. This is a government building!
Kruger : Uh, hi, sheriff.
Endicott : What'll ya have?
'Honest Pete' Hartman Sheriff of Clark County : I got a good mind to have you all locked up!
Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : The state's attorney wouldn't like it, because I bought that stuff from his brother.
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'Honest Pete' Hartman Sheriff of Clark County : [the sheriff is passing out tickets to the execution] Daily News. Examiner.
Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : Here you are, Rudy. The new man.
'Honest Pete' Hartman Sheriff of Clark County : Oh, what happened? They finally fire you?
Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : I'm retiring to my country estate outside Philadelphia.
'Honest Pete' Hartman Sheriff of Clark County : Well, in that case, I will have a drink!
Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : No, you won't. Not my liquor!
Rudy Keppler of the Chicago Examiner : What should I do with the second ticket?
Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : Sell it to a scalper, like the sheriff does.
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Rudy Keppler of the Chicago Examiner : Mr. Johnson? If you have any advice to give me...
Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : Sure kid. Never end a sentence with a preposition, never draw to an inside straight. And never, never get caught in the can with Bensinger.
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Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : I got a few markers here. McHugh you owe me five bucks.
McHugh : I'll pay ya' tomorrow.
Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : I won't be here tomorrow.
McHugh : I'll send it to ya'.
Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : I'll bet it gets lost in the mail. Schwartz, six seventy-five.
Schwartz : For what?
Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : For being a lousy poker player, that's what.
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Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : [the boys are warning Hildy that he might not last in his new job] My girl's uncle, he owns that advertising agency.
Murphy : Well whaddya know, our Hildy going into the nephew business.
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Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : [Looking down at her from behind as she cleans the floor, on her hands and knees] Jennie, old girl, did anybody ever tell you you've got a terrific behind?
Jennie : [Smiling ruefully] Not lately.
Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson : Well, a thing of beauty is a joy forever.