RKO 281 (1999 TV Movie)
John Malkovich: Herman Mankiewicz
Photos
Quotes
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Orson Welles : I expected better of you, Mank.
Herman Mankiewicz : Me too, but I got used to it.
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Herman Mankiewicz : What about Marion?
Orson Welles : She's just another piece in his collection. Another animal in his zoo.
Herman Mankiewicz : Well to Hearst, that is love. "I love you, I built you a beautiful cage."
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[last lines]
Herman Mankiewicz : Was it worth it?
Orson Welles : I don't know. I can't imagine doing it any other way. I suppose it's just my character.
Herman Mankiewicz : It won't be easy having made your masterpiece at 26.
Orson Welles : Is that what you think - that I'm just going to burn out at the ripe old age of 26?
Herman Mankiewicz : All stars burn out, Orson. It's the flame that counts.
Orson Welles : [toasting] To the flame.
Herman Mankiewicz : To the flame.
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Orson Welles : [Referring to San Simeon] So how big is this monstrosity?
Herman Mankiewicz : The estate? Half the size of Rhode Island.
Orson Welles : You're kidding?
Herman Mankiewicz : No, it's the place God would have built if he had the money.
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Herman Mankiewicz : Listen to me, you child. He doesn't worry about legalities. Do you know why? Because he has more power than you could even hope to imagine.
Orson Welles : All the more reason to do it.
Herman Mankiewicz : Because he insulted you at a dinner party?
Orson Welles : Because he's a hypocrite. Because he's a... a real turncoat. Because he claims to care about the common man when nothing could be further from the truth.
Herman Mankiewicz : Oh, he's a journalist. He owns Hollywood. We're the shit on his shoes. You better go back to Broadway, kiddo.
Orson Welles : I expected more from you, Mank.
Herman Mankiewicz : Yeah, me too, but I got used to it.
Orson Welles : How does it feel getting used to it? How does it feel going up to the palace and amusing the lords and ladies with the same old stories they've heard a hundred times before? How does it feel being the ugly monkey they keep around to amuse themselves?
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Orson Welles : We need to change the name.
Herman Mankiewicz : What? The title?
Orson Welles : No, no. It's a grand title, "American". I was thinking more the character name. Charles Foster Craig doesn't have the "knives-out" poetry I was looking for.
Herman Mankiewicz : Okay.
Orson Welles : I was thinking of Kane.
Herman Mankiewicz : As in Abel?
Orson Welles : K-A-N-E. One strong syllable, Kane.
Herman Mankiewicz : Craig is one syllable.
Orson Welles : Yes... But it's not a great syllable.
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Herman Mankiewicz : Every man loves, Orson. Or has loved.
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[In the lobby, opening night]
Herman Mankiewicz : Rosebud's a sled! Rosebud's a sled.