Strictly Dynamite (1934)

Jimmy Durante: Moxie Straight

Photos 

Quotes 

• [Moxie is introduced to a child actor of the "legitimate" stage] 

  Moxie Slaight : Well I'm glad he was legitimate once.

• Moxie Slaight : We got a verbal contract, and I'm going to sign it!

• Moxie Slaight : What kind of skullduggery is this?

• Moxie Slaight : You do somthin' to me, Vera. I'm just putty in your hands. Just a tool of a beautiful dame. That's what I am. Just a tool.

  [Vera laughs] 

• Moxie Slaight : Why don't you be nice to me? It seems I'm always at your mercy.

  [singing] 

  Moxie Slaight : I don't - know why, When I'm with you, I'm just like putty.

  Vera : Oh, goodie, goodie.

  Moxie Slaight : Your lips, your nose... they've got me nutty.

  Vera : You're just like putty.

  Moxie Slaight : I don't - know what, It is you've got, Must be something.

  Vera : I got the something.

  Moxie Slaight : Oh, why, why, am I this way with you? And no one but you.

  [Vera kisses Moxie's schnozzola] 

• Nick : If you listen to me, Moxie, I've got a writer, that - why, Moxie, don't you believe me?

  Moxie Slaight : To put it diplomatically: No!

  Nick : Oh, funny fella. He's not a gag man. He's a real writer with - psychology.

  Moxie Slaight : That's just what I need. A cyclist! One who can catch my whims. Capture my moods. And study my complexes.

• Junior : Hey, boss, is this guy a great writer?

  Moxie Slaight : They're all great writers - until they have to write somethin. Then, they smell up the place.

• Nick : He's got it! He's caught the whole spirit of the thing. The philosophy of humor. It's the abstract principal which relates to the macrocosm to the microcosm.

  Moxie Slaight : This guy speaks my language.

• Nick : That's the psychology of humor. Things out of place are funny. Now, now, for instance, you take that window, suppose it was here, in the center of the floor. And that door, was in the ceiling. What would that be?

  Moxie Slaight : Very screwy. Why, it's incredulous!

  Georgie : Well, Moxie, what'll you hear his jokes. They'll kill ya.

  Moxie Slaight : You keep your puss outta this. We're gettin' somewhere. Let's continue with our deductions.

  Nick : Well, its like the absent-minded man who tossed his cigarette outta the window and forgot to let go.

  Moxie Slaight : [laughs]  He smoked 'em!

  Georgie : What do you think of him now, Moxie?

  Moxie Slaight : What do I think of him now? Why, he's a genius!

• Moxie Slaight : Listen, don't use words like 'sous' - when you're referrin' to Vera. She ain't soused! And even if she is, it sounds de-classy.

• Moxie Slaight : Don't ever sneak up on me again - especially in broad daylight.

• Moxie Slaight : [singing]  Again ya turn-a, Again ya turn-a, Again ya turn-a, Again ya turn-a, Again ya turn-a, Again ya turn-a, Again ya turn-a. Stop the music! Leave out the last four turns.

• Nick : Moxie, it was all a mistake. Please, forgive me.

  Moxie Slaight : Forgive ya? Did Napoleon forgive Waterloo? Did he?

  Nick : Well, no. That was...

  Moxie Slaight : Then why should I forgive you! The cases are parallel. I'm dyin'!

• Moxie Slaight : I'm finished. And he's finished. He's all wet and I'm liquidatin' 'em.

• Moxie Slaight : You promised me gags with complexes and monconisms. And what did I get? You know what I got. Garbage!

• Moxie Slaight : If you ever have the nerve to send me another line of that stuff you write, I'll make you eat it! With paprika.

• Moxie Slaight : [to Vera]  Come, sweet meat.

• Moxie Slaight : I don't want to see your puss again either! Where's Vera?

• Moxie Slaight : Puss, is this authentic? Has this been vertified?

• Pussy : She's been gone three weeks and he's been gone three weeks. What do you make of that?

  Moxie Slaight : Six weeks.

• Moxie Slaight : I can see it all now. I was dazzled by a pretty face. Why, when the cats away, love flies out the window.

• Moxie Slaight : Boys, your loyalty to me is the only thing that keeps me from going to the dogs - or vica versa.

• Pussy : You want I should flatten him or just give him a good workin' over?

  Junior : Boss, ain't you gonna let me do it?

  Moxie Slaight : By Jupiter, look at this.

  Pussy : What's the matter?

  Moxie Slaight : It's from him. He wrote it.

  Pussy : Who?

  Moxie Slaight : That Montgomery guy. Say, I never knew he could write poetry.

  Pussy : Oh, well, we'll get him for that too.

• Moxie Slaight : Why didn't you tell me you could write poems? Why, for months I've been lookin' for somethin' that was different. What am I? A clown? A mad Pagliacco?

• Moxie Slaight : Listen. Listen, boys. This'll touch your heartstrings. "Oh, fairest lady of them all, Why does your gaze haunt me? Why do your eyes linger? Like frozen lilies in the twilight." Ain't that beautiful? And this part, "Let your heart hear my heart's cry. There you are and here am I."

  Junior : Oh, boss, that was lovely!

• Moxie Slaight : Puss, look after him. The emotion has infected him.

• Moxie Slaight : Georgie, how much for this one? It haunts me like the will-o'-the-wisp.