Quotes

The humanist writer did not meekly deliver what the philistine ordered, but struggled tenaciously to preserve human values in all his work; ... Hollywood writers in particular, dealing like all their kind in the radioactive commodity of ideas, were accountable to the peoples of the world for the effects of their ideas. - Speech delivered at 'A Salue to John Howard Lawson,' November 12, 1955

The cynical screenwriter is finished before he starts. He cannot possibly do his best work if he is convinced it will never be filmed. The good writer pursues the illusory goal of getting his own way. Falling short of one's mark usually produces a better picture than a cop-out.

Most tampering by actors occurs when the producer and/or director are weak and insecure. I have a strange feeling about actors - such respect for the best of them that I expect they'll write better dialogue than my own. They never do.