If I Had a Million (1932)

Richard Bennett: John Glidden

Photos 

Quotes 

• John Glidden : I'm dying and I don't know of one man in all the thousands that I employ that's fit to leave in charge of a peanut stand.

• Mrs. Mary Walker : You wouldn't fool me, would you?

  John Glidden : I wouldn't fool you for a million dollars.

• John Glidden : I want to give somebody a chance at happiness. I don't care who - I just want somebody to have something worthwhile out of what I spent my life to accumulate.

• John Glidden : [in letter]  Herewith is a check for One Million Dollars presented to you by the undersigned. There are no conditions or restrictions attached to its use. I can only caution you to use it wisely and to the best of your ability in the promotion of your own happiness and welfare, for which procedure there seems to be no established precedent. Should you encounter any difficulties regarding this check, you may reach me at the above address. I will not, however, assume the responsibility of advising you what to do with this money. Cordially, John Glidden

• John Glidden : I wish I could collect all my money together in one pile and burn every dollar of it.

• John Glidden : I wanna give somebody a chance at happiness. I don't care who. I just want somebody to have something worthwhile out of what I spent my life to accumulate. That's my major dying desire. For the soul of me, I don't know how to gratify it.

• John Glidden : How long am I gonna live?

  Glidden Associate : [the doctor]  Why, Mr. Glidden. I can't tell you that exactly.

  John Glidden : I can tell you exactly. I'm gonna' live just long enough to go out and give my money away myself. Yessir! To people I never heard of.

• John Glidden : Relatives! Hah! Did you see 'em, roostin' down there like a lot of vultures waitin' for an old steer to die?

• John Glidden : I do mean it, friend, every word of it. I've spent my whole life building up a business, amassing a fortune. Now my life's coming to a close. I want this business and this money that I leave behind to mean something.

• John Glidden : [Glidden's assistant brings him the city directory]  The first name that this drop falls on is going to get one million dollars. What's that name?

  Marvin - Glidden Assistant : John D. Rockefeller.

  John Glidden : What? Pull that book over here.

  [He flips through the city directory and picks other names] 

• John Glidden : I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to leave my money to strangers - people I've never heard of, people that don't expect it. They may get some pleasure out of it.

• John Glidden : My business with you has nothing whatever to do with rabbits or pianos.