I got a job at Metro and went in to see Louis Mayer, who told me he wanted me to be a producer. I said I wanted to write and direct. He said, 'No, you have to produce first, you have to crawl before you can walk.' Which is as good a definition of producing as I ever heard.

I have a lot to be sad about. Not bitter in any way. But I think it can be fairly said that I've been in on the beginning, the rise, peak, collapse and end of …

Every screenwriter worthy of the name has already directed his film when he has written his script.

I am never quite sure whether I am one of the cinema's elder statesmen or just the oldest whore on the beat.

Confidence is everything in this business.

I'd rather write one good book than ten mediocre ones.

I was born with something that appealed to an audience at that particular time...I acted instinctively. I've had one of the greatest schools of all - a whole r…