But Not for Me (1959)

Lee J. Cobb: Jeremiah MacDonald

Photos 

Quotes 

• Russell 'Russ' Ward : Whew! What have you got against fresh air?

  [He opens a hotel room window] 

  Jeremiah MacDonald : Well, it's too damp. Irritates my cough.

  Russell 'Russ' Ward : Your cough is an illegitimate child of you and those cigarettes.

  Russell 'Russ' Ward : Well, you

  [cough] 

  Russell 'Russ' Ward : ... you smoke.

  Russell 'Russ' Ward : Yeah, I drink too - as recreation. Not as a disguised form of suicide.

• Russell 'Russ' Ward : Ginger ale straight!

  Jeremiah MacDonald : Russ, you know what that stuff does to me. When I'm sober, I'm insulting, mean, arrogant, argumentative. You wouldn't want to keep working with a fellow like that, now would you?

  Russell 'Russ' Ward : Oh, ho, ho. Yes I would.

• Jeremiah MacDonald : You know, Russ. Aside from your recklessness, there aren't many things about you I admire.

  Russell 'Russ' Ward : Well, good. Now we both feel the same way about me.

• Jeremiah MacDonald : [Holding up his bottle and glass]  Root beer!

  Demetrios Bacos : How's that?

  Kathryn Ward : Man is trying to get off ginger ale. He's having withdrawal symptoms.

• Russell 'Russ' Ward : Business slow?

  Demetrios Bacos : Popcorn's holding up.

  Jeremiah MacDonald : Did you ever stop to think what you owe the American Indian for inventing corn?

  Kathryn Ward : [Handing Russ a drink]  And I always thought you invented it, dear.

• Demetrios Bacos : I'm aware of my debt to the Indian, and I get very sentimental. When I book cowboy shows where they're shooting Indians in cold blood, I always look the other way.

  Jeremiah MacDonald : Toward the ticket booth!

• Demetrios Bacos : I'm a typical ordinary American.

  Jeremiah MacDonald : More like Jesse James

• Jeremiah MacDonald : You wouldn't want to try it again, I suppose?

  Kathryn Ward : Never! I wouldn't go through eight years again for love or money, or both.

  Jeremiah MacDonald : Wish I could believe that.

  Kathryn Ward : Wish I could too.

• Kathryn Ward : [after the maid carries a large birthday cake with many lit candles to the table]  I didn't tell anyone, darling, because I know you wouldn't want to embarrass them into bringing expensive gifts.

  Jeremiah MacDonald : Looks like the Chicago fire.

  Demetrios Bacos : [as Ellie looks quizzically at all the candles]  There must be a hundred candles on it.

  Kathryn Ward : Now, Demi, don't be ridiculous. There are only 51.

  [She look at Russ] 

  Kathryn Ward : Sorry, dear, that's all we had.

• Jeremiah MacDonald : Even seeing this, I don't believe it.

  Russell 'Russ' Ward : That's one of the tragedies of life - people not believing what's right in front of them.

• Russell 'Russ' Ward : This is to celebrate.

  Jeremiah MacDonald : What?

  Russell 'Russ' Ward : My coming of age. Growing up. Finally reaching my real age and looking it straight in the face. Mac, would you believe it? I'm 56 years old. Every day of it.

  Jeremiah MacDonald : [Chuckling]  Well, don't tell me.

• Jeremiah MacDonald : Well, I know a woman on Long Island's been waiting to hear this.

  Russell 'Russ' Ward : Kathryn? Yeah, most unusual girl, Mac. Rich in everything I'm poor in. She just didn't talk about love, she really loved.

• Jeremiah MacDonald : Whatever happened to your child bride?

  Russell 'Russ' Ward : [Chuckling]  Well, right now she's somewhere marrying another child. Which is the way it should be. A funny thing is, she's making me happier than she'll ever make her husband.

• Russell 'Russ' Ward : Which reminds me. I overlooked one thing about President Cleveland.

  Jeremiah MacDonald : Uh, huh?

  Russell 'Russ' Ward : Yeah, he married his 22-year-old girl all right. But he lost the next election.

• Jeremiah MacDonald : And, Russ, welcome to the club.

  Russell 'Russ' Ward : [They shake hands]  Yeah! The kids can have it.