Bertha Van Cleve Quotes in Heaven Can Wait (1943)

Albert Van Cleve: I assume you're referring to my future father-in-law, who happens to be one of the great meat packers of our time.

Bertha Van Cleve: Yes, Father Cleve, don't you realize that every piece of beef we eat comes from one of Mr. Strable's many, many plants.

Hugo Van Cleve: Does that include the steak I fought ten rounds with last night?

Albert Van Cleve: Grandfather, you don't seem to have any idea of the importance of Mr. Strable. He created the most famous character in American advertising - Mable the Cow.

Randolph Van Cleve: You've seen her, Father, on billboards.

Bertha Van Cleve: That big happy cow smiling at you over the fence and saying in big letters, um... uh... How does it go, uh...?

Albert Van Cleve: "To the world my name is Mabel, which you'll find on every label; I am packed by E. F. Strable for the pleasure of your table."

Hugo Van Cleve: No cow in its right mind could have said anything like that. Sounds more like Mr. Strable.

Albert Van Cleve: Grandfather, please, I beg of you. The family understands your humor, but it's a typical kind of New York humor.

Hugo Van Cleve: In other words it's not for yokels, hm?

Randolph Van Cleve: Believe me, Bertha, I never knew what a musical comedy girl looked like.

Bertha Van Cleve: Well, what can he possibly derive from their company?

Randolph Van Cleve: To me they were creatures from another planet.

Bertha Van Cleve: Where does he get it from? Nobody in our family was musical.

Randolph Van Cleve: To this day I wouldn't know how to find the stage entrance to a theatre.

Hugo Van Cleve: It's always around in the back, up an alleyway. There's a sign over the door: 'Stage Entrance.' You can't miss it.

Henry Van Cleve: Mother, when one sees a lovely rose...

Bertha Van Cleve: ...one can be certain she comes from a fine rose bush.

Bertha Van Cleve: And when I find a girl for you, she'll be Miss Right. And you know where we'll find her? In the home of Mr. & Mrs. Right.

Bertha Van Cleve: Your heart's always bigger than your father's pocketbook.

Randolph Van Cleve: [coming out of his son's room] Well, this time I was firm!

Bertha Van Cleve: Good, Randolph. What happened?

Randolph Van Cleve: He asked for a hundred dollars, but I told HIM! I told him I'd let him have only fifty.

Bertha Van Cleve: Randolph!

Randolph Van Cleve: And not right away!

Bertha Van Cleve: For the first time in twenty-seven years of marriage I feel like criticizing you.

Bertha Van Cleve: Oh, Randolph, our boy - delirious in a foreign language!