Jack Woltz Quotes in The Godfather (1972)

Tom Hagen: Mr Corleone is Johnny Fontane's godfather. Now Italians regard that as a very close, a very sacred religious relationship.

Jack Woltz: Tell your boss he can ask for anything else, but this is one favour I can't grant him.

Tom Hagen: Mr. Corleone never asks a second favor once he's refused the first, understood?

Jack Woltz: You don't understand. Johnny Fontane never gets that movie. That part is perfect for him. It'll make him a big star. I'm gonna run him out of the movies. And let me tell you why. Johnny Fontane ruined one of Woltz International's most valuable proteges. For three years we had her under contract, singing lessons, dancing lessons, acting lessons. I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars. I was gonna make her a big star. And let me be even more frank, just to show you that I'm not a hard-hearted man, that it's not all dollars and cents. She was beautiful! She was young, she was innocent. She was the greatest piece of ass I've ever had, and I've had 'em all over the world. And then Johnny Fontaine comes along with his olive oil voice and guinea charm and she runs off. She threw it all away just to make me look ridiculous. And a man in my position can't afford to be made to look ridiculous. Now you get the hell out of here! And if that goomba tries any rough stuff, you tell him I ain't no bandleader. Yeah, I heard that story.

[Hagen has been calmly eating his meal throughout Woltz's tirade]

Tom Hagen: Thank you for the dinner and a very pleasant evening. Have your car take me to the airport. Mr Corleone is a man who insists on hearing bad news at once.

Jack Woltz: All right, start talking!

Tom Hagen: I come from a personal friend of Mr Johnny Fontane. That friend promises his undying friendship if you would do him a small favour.

Jack Woltz: What's that?

Tom Hagen: Give Johnny a part in that war movie you're starting next week.

[Woltz signs a document with a smile and walks away, Hagen alongside him]

Jack Woltz: And what favours does this friend promise in exchange for giving Johnny the part?

Tom Hagen: You've got some labour trouble coming up. My client promises to make that trouble disappear. You have a top star who makes a lot of money, but he just graduated from marijuana to heroin...

Jack Woltz: [all East Side now] Are you trying to muscle me?

Tom Hagen: Absolutely not. I've come to ask a service for a friend...

Jack Woltz: Now you listen to me, you smooth-talking son-of-a-bitch, let me lay it on the line for you and your boss, whoever he is! Johnny Fontane will never get that movie! I don't care how many dago guinea wop greaseball goombahs come out of the woodwork!

Tom Hagen: I'm German-Irish.

Jack Woltz: Well, let me tell you something, my kraut-mick friend, I'm gonna make so much trouble for you, you won t know what hit you!

Tom Hagen: Mr. Woltz, I'm a lawyer. I have not threatened you.

Jack Woltz: I know almost every big lawyer in New York, who the hell are you?

Tom Hagen: I have a special practice. I handle one client. Now you have my number, I'll wait for your call. By the way, I admire your pictures very much.

[Hagen leaves, with Woltz staring after him]

Jack Woltz: [to an underling] Check him out...