Sampson Quotes in The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

Sampson: This is about talent.

Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.: Something good and cheap no doubt?

Sampson: Exactly! It's a young girl named Brice... Fanny... Fanny Brice. She;s working in burlesque.

Gene Buck: Say, I've seen that girl, Flo!

Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.: Pretty?

Gene Buck: Well, yes and no. Shut your eyes and listen - yes! Open 'em and look - no, but a great performer!

Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.: We shall have a look at her at once - tonight!

Sampson: They want the cash.

Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.: Did you mean they're telling me that they sent the costumes for this show COD?

Sampson: No, sir, not this show. They want some money on the last show.

Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.: [referring to Fanny Brice, after her audition performance] She's all right. She's gonna' be great.

Sampson: And I discovered her!

Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.: [to Sampson] That's right, Sam, and you deserve a raise.

Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.: [to the other men in the room] And I'd give it to him, but I'm afraid he wouldn't approve of the expense.

Sampson: Goddamn queer's gotta squat to take a leak.

Ainsley: [Sampson keeps telling him to shut up] No matter what I say, it's always 'Shut up, Ainsley!' or 'You're a queer, Ainsley!' or 'Why can't you be more like you're sister, Ainsley!'

Sampson: I said shut up, you little queer!

Ainsley: See?

Sampson: [to Gregory] I will bite my thumb at them, which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it.

[bites thumb]

Gregory: [Abra revs car and moves closer] Go forth! I will back thee!

Abra: Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?

Sampson: I... I do bite my thumb, sir.

Abra: Do you bite your thumb at *us*, sir?

Sampson: [to Gregory] Is the law on our side if I say aye?

Gregory: NO!

Sampson: No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb, sir!

Gregory: Do you quarrel, sir?

Abra: Quarrel, sir? No, sir!

Sampson: I will bite my thumb at them, which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it.

Sampson: [singing] A pretty piece of flesh I am!

Abraham: Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?

Sampson: I do bite my thumb, sir.

Abraham: Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?

Sampson: Is the law of our side if I say ay?

Gregory: No.

Sampson: No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you sir; but I bite my thumb, sir.

Gregory: Do you quarrel, sir?

Abraham: Quarrel, sir? No, sir.

Sampson: If you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as good a man as you.

Abraham: No better.

Sampson: Well, sir.

Gregory: Say 'better'; here comes one of my master's kinsmen.

Sampson: Yes, better, sir.

Abraham: You lie.

Sampson: Draw, if you be men! Gregory, remember thy swashing blow.