Quotes

It's titillating to do an occasional film, but really, I don't need it. Oh, I suppose, if you were a Helen Hayes, it might mean something if you left the business. You'd be depriving the show world of something. I'm depriving that world of nothing.

There was a quality about Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer that was so special . . . it was just the most exciting studio in the world. They looked after their people so perfectly. And then to go to a place [Lippert Pictures, a low-budget "B" company[ where you don't know anybody and they don't know you and they don't give a rip, it was not a happy time. I got so ticked off, I got married!

[to MGM chief Louis B. Mayer, after he told her he wouldn't loan her out to appear in Gone with the Wind (1939) because they wanted her for a "nothing" part] I don't care--I want to be in that film! I would even be a gate or part of the scenery just to be in it!

[on working with Wallace Beery in Wyoming (1940)] I don't like to speak ill of the dead. But this poor soul--he would steal scenes from that lovable child actor Bobs Watson! He would take to scratching his crotch, or pick his ear and examine the wax. Anything to get attention on himself and off the other actors. We had a scene together. We rehearsed it and when we shot it, Mr. Beery did a monologue--saying both his and my lines! He took all my dialogue and I said, "Cut! I didn't know this was a monologue" and I went to my dressing room. I was right. This was an old trick of his! He was also a kleptomaniac--he would take stuff off the set before we were finished with it. They'd need to shoot at a different angle and things would be missing--he'd swiped them! He drove the script girls crazy!

[on working with Vera Ralston in Murder in the Music Hall (1946) for Republic Pictues] Herbert J. Yates, the head of the studio and her future husband, put a full page picture of her in the trades once a week, with a caption underneath the photo stating she was the most beautiful woman in the world. I know this embarrassed her. She is dear, sweet and kind. But she married the old toad.

[on turning down the audition for 'Old Rose' in 'Titanic'] Honey, I retired over twenty five years ago! They wanted me to read for the part, and I just don't do that anymore. They told me I would have to go for location shooting in Mexico, and Poland. I said 'Mexico? Are you crazy?!' I've been to location shoots in Mexico before, and everyone ends up getting sick. And me, playing someone who's 101 years old? I'm not there yet!