Speak Easily (1932)

Jimmy Durante: James Dodge

Photos 

Quotes 

• Eleanor Espere : I think I know what the Professor wants. Does it go something like this?

  [begins dancing] 

  Professor Post : That's something like it. Only there should be more sensuosity of the hips. Such as.

  Eleanor Espere : Oh, you mean like this! Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da...

  Professor Post : Now that is authentic.

  Eleanor Espere : Uh-huh.

  Professor Post : But it would be much more effective - if you were in the nude.

  James : Professor, Professor. That's out. No nudes!

  Professor Post : But, James, it was done so in Athens.

  James : Yeah, they might get away with that in Athens. That's a college town!

• James : Why don't you stop squawkin' Reno. You're no gardenia!

• Reno : No wonder the show does only $42 last night. What the troupe needs is a comedian!

  James : Say, where do you get that stuff? Didn't you hear them clap when I came out?

  Reno : They wasn't clappin'. They was only killin' mosquitos.

  James : Well, how do you like them onions!

• James : Well, goodbye Professor. Don't do anything I would!

• James : Well, how are you, Professor? For the love of Mike, how did you get here?

  Professor Post : Oh, I was vibrated here in a most unusual vehicle.

• James : You slay me with your cracks.

  [laughs] 

  James : Come on back, Professor. You murder me!

• James : Professor, to show that I'm on the level, I'm gonna tell ya what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna let you take over the show and manage it.

  Professor Post : But, I know nothing whatsoever about the, eh, show business.

  James : Well, who does? That's what makes it a great gig. It's packed full of wallops!

  Professor Post : I would be a broadening experience.

  James : You said it! Runnin' a show is one of the most broadening experiences there is.

• James : Can you swing it? I mean, you got the mazuma?

  Professor Post : The what?

  James : The sugar! I mean the kale. You know what kale is, don't ya?

  Professor Post : Yes. Kale is a vegetable resembling a cabbage.

  James : Listen, what I want to say is, have you got the cush? The copecks? The o'day? The cartwheels?

  Professor Post : Can someone tell me what he's trying to say?

• James : New York. What a town. Broadway. What a street. Boy, I've been waitin' for years to get a crack at them Broadway bozos. And now I'm set.

  [singing] 

  James : I know darn well, I can do without Broadway, But can Broadway do without me?

• Professor Post : James, we've been waiting for you. Mr. Rayburn has seen our entertainment.

  Stage Director : I have seen your show; but, not your entertainment.

  Professor Post : Well, what does he mean?

  James : Oh, he's kiddin'.

  Stage Director : No, I'm not kidding. Professor, Broadway stands for a lot of baloney; but, it will never digest a piece of tripe like this!

• James : Are you incineratin'?

• Stage Director : What about comedy?

  Professor Post : Well, we could take something from the Greeks.

  James : What Greek?

  Professor Post : Aristophanes is very humorous.

  James : I never caught his act. But, there's a million Greeks in New York. I'll take somethin' from 'em.

• Eleanor Espere : The Sunrise Supper Club. Say, I put that saloon on it's feet. Made it New York's hottest night spot. And when I first went there, it was a Speak Easy!

  Professor Post : Speak easy?

  Eleanor Espere : Yeah, Speak Easy.

  Professor Post : Speak easy? You have unconsciously committed a solipsism. You should purify the verb and say: Speak easily.

  Eleanor Espere : Speak Easily?

  Professor Post : Speak easily.

  James : It's here. It's here! It's here!

  Professor Post : Did something arrive?

  James : I'll say it has. The title for our show: Speak Easily.

• Pansy Peets : The whole thing seems like a dream. Gee, I hope nothing happens!

  James : There you go! You dames are always lookin' for trouble. What could happen?

• James : Professor, you're marvelous. You expire me.

• Professor Post : [after Eleanor imitates an ancient Greek dance]  Now, that is authentic.

  Eleanor Espere : Uh, huh.

  Professor Post : But it would be much more effective if you were in the nude.

  James : [Falling off the piano stool]  Professor, professor! That's out - no nudes.

  Professor Post : But, James, it was done so in Athens.

  James : Yeah, they might get away with that in Athens --- that's a college town.

• James : A guy goes into a second hand store and he says to the man, "Is this a second hand store?" And the man says, "Yes." Then, the guy says, "Well, give me a second hand for my watch."

  Professor Post : Was he furnish with a second hand?

  James : [to Reno]  It's too subtle. It went over his head like a trapeze act.