Quote #47

Moviegoers like to believe that those they have made stars are great actors. People used to say that Gary Cooper was a fine actor - probably because when they looked in his face they were ready to give him their power of attorney.

More from Pauline Kael

  1. If there is any test that can be applied to movies, it's that the good ones never make you feel virtuous.
  2. This is a nature-boy movie, a kid's daydream of being an Indian. When Dunbar has become a Sioux named Dances with Wolves, he writes in his …
  3. Is there something in druggy subjects that encourages directors to make imitation film noir? Film noir itself becomes an addiction.
  4. If you can't make fun of bad movies on serious subjects, what's the point?
  5. What's disgusting about the Dirty Harry movies is that Eastwood plays this angry tension as righteous indignation.
  6. Goodman: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Kael: I hate it. It is very creepy being imitated.
  7. Since I have an aversion to movies in which people say grace at the dinner table (not to the practice but to how movies use it to establish…
  8. Earlier generations went to see what was forbidden in life and developed a real excitement about the movies. Today's rating system keeps ki…

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