Quotes

[on Greta Garbo] She's a ripping gel.

The first thing the British actor learns is clear enunciation and correct speech. Pure speech has been one of the traditions of the stage since the days of Shakespeare. It is a good thing because it fosters the love of pure speech in the public at large. I hope the talkies will do the same thing from the screen.

American baseball has some of the thrills of cricket - it's an interesting game and I like it - but an old hand like me would never be bothered to get the hang of the American pitching.

There is a vast difference between American picture methods and those in England. In America it's so much more organized. You have your producer, your director, production managers, assistants, all working in a well-oiled machine. In England the director is the center of things, as on the stage - and of course much more of the atmosphere of the stage pervades, as the players are practically all stage people. In fact, we haven't got away from simply filming stage plays entirely yet. The hugeness of the organization in Hollywood always astounds me.

A London audience has a certain psychology, and a certain loyalty to players - yet it is a harsh audience if you give it something it doesn't like. Its likes and dislikes are often more positive than those of audiences in America. American audiences have a greater capacity for enthusiasm.

It is an almost everyday occurrence to see a London audience give an ovation to some player who has been a favorite for years and years. In America favorites pass more quickly. Life is faster in the States. Britishers don't like to be hurried in the American manner.