Nickelodeon (1976)

Brian Keith: H.H. Cobb

Photos 

Quotes 

• H.H. Cobb : Think of it! All those people, goin' to see the pictures... and a lot of 'em can't even talk American. And then they don't have to, because pictures are a language that everybody understands - like music, for the eyes. And if you're good, if you're really good, then maybe... what you're doin' is... you're givin' 'em little... tiny pieces of... time, that they never forget.

• H.H. Cobb : We'll have to leave now. This room is on fire.

• H.H. Cobb : I like the way you announce it.

• H.H. Cobb : Of course she has to lose her teeth. If she doesn't lose her teeth, the story has no bite. Teeth. Bite. That's pretty good. Write that down.

• H.H. Cobb : Get it figured out boys. Come on, I'm falling asleep.

• H.H. Cobb : We're heading into the bush country, men. Get my snake bite fatigues.

• H.H. Cobb : Want to get in pictures, I suppose?

  Alice Forsyte : Me? No sir, I'm a lawyer.

• H.H. Cobb : You don't look dangerous enough.

  Leo Harrigan : I'm a lawyer, sir.

• H.H. Cobb : Make it seven or eight scenes. Two for the beginning. Three in the middle. Two for the finish. Three if it's a real lollapalooza!

• H.H. Cobb : Independents, Clancy, pay attention.

  Leo Harrigan : Harrigan, sir.

  H.H. Cobb : What?

  Leo Harrigan : Harrigan, sir. H-A-double R-I-G-A-N. Like the man in the song.

  H.H. Cobb : What song?

  Leo Harrigan : By George M. Cohen, sir. It's a big hit.

  H.H. Cobb : I don't need singers, O'Haleran. This is war!

• H.H. Cobb : Pictures? Moving pictures! Gallopin' tintypes, Muldoon. Haven't you ever been to a Nickelodeon?

  Leo Harrigan : Harrigan.

  H.H. Cobb : Nickelodeon!

• H.H. Cobb : D.W. Griffith is the best thing that's happened to pictures since the invention of the camera.

• H.H. Cobb : I tell you what you do, Herbert. Take the first sequence, put it where the second one is. And take the third sequence and put it where the first one was!

  Nickelodeon Projectionist : But, that won't make any sense?

  H.H. Cobb : No, but, it'll get a laugh and that will make sense. Dollars and cents. Call it the "Tale Tell Night", kid. Better title. Lights!

• H.H. Cobb : Remember, it's war! Give 'em Hell, boy.

• H.H. Cobb : He claims he's another Griffith. Ha! He's another Griffith, all right. Max Griffith the butcher down the block.

  Leo Harrigan : Who's Griffith?

  H.H. Cobb : What?

  Leo Harrigan : I was just wondering.

  H.H. Cobb : Who is Griffith? You mean to say that you don't know who David Wark Griffith is? D.W. Griffith!

  Leo Harrigan : Well, I think I've heard the name.

  H.H. Cobb : You think you've heard? Why, he's only the greatest film director in the world. God damn, him!

• H.H. Cobb : All right, Harrigan, think fast: two guys in a desert, no food, no water, no horses - what happens to them?

  Leo Harrigan : They die.

  H.H. Cobb : A comedy.

• H.H. Cobb : What are you all standing around here for? This is the beginning of the world!

• H.H. Cobb : The time of the Nickelodeon is over! A new day has dawned. The epoch of the Picture Palace. Big pictures. Big theaters. Six reels. Eight reels. Look at this thing tonight. Fifteen reels!

  Alice Forsyte : Twelve.

  H.H. Cobb : See what I mean? Of course, I don't want to go that far. Griffith's a genius; but, he is a little crazy.

  Leo Harrigan : *He's* a little crazy?

  Marty Reeves : He's a little crazy. You said it!

• Leo Harrigan : Mr. Cobb, you're trying to bribe us.

  H.H. Cobb : You can't bribe somebody that doesn't trust you, Irish.