George Hayden Quotes in Chaplin (1992)

[after telling an obviously made-up story of how he created the Little Tramp characters]

George Hayden: That's bullshit, and you know it.

Charlie Chaplin: But the truth is so boring, George!

[about Hetty Kelly]

George Hayden: But you didn't even kiss her!

Charlie Chaplin: Don't you think I know that?

George Hayden: My Charlie, you weren't even thirty. You was the most famous man in the world, with your own studio, named after you. Couldn't you just enjoy it?

Charlie Chaplin: I can now, but couldn't then. It meant too much.

Charlie Chaplin: That's not what dogged me, George. It wasn't that.

Charlie Chaplin: It was... it was the knowledge that if you did what I did for a living-if you were a clown-and you had a passion to tell a particular kind of story... something... beyond... but you only had the one chance to get it right. And I never did.

Charlie Chaplin: One never does, but, uh, you know that. That's not... the problem. It's when you feel you're getting really close... but you can't make it the rest of the way. You're not good enough. You're not complete enough. And despite all your fantasies you're second rate.

George Hayden: Charlie.

Charlie Chaplin: Human. That's very hard.

[first lines]

George Hayden: Ha ha ha ha ha. Come on Charlie stop messing about, we really have to get down to it now. I just hope our friendship survives the day, that's all.

Charlie Chaplin: Ha George, don't be so melodramatic.

George Hayden: Well, it's your autobiography Charlie. And as your editor I have to tell you that parts of the manuscript are pretty vague, to say the least. I mean for instance, your mother. Now when did she first lose control? We need to know those facts.

Charlie Chaplin: It's hard to say. She could be so wonderful, on good days...