Tony Hunter Quotes in The Band Wagon (1953)

Gabrielle Gerard: Oh, that's a very early Degas, isn't it?

[examines painting]

Gabrielle Gerard: 1877.

Tony Hunter: [playing up their age difference] Yeah, I swiped it from his desk in school. Was he sore.

Tony Hunter: She was bad. She was dangerous. I wouldn't trust her any farther than I could throw her. But... she was my kind of woman.

Tony Hunter: No, don't say it - "Tony Hunter! 1953!" I hereby declare my independence. Tony Hunter, 1776.

[narration during the Girl Hunt ballet]

Tony Hunter: She came at me in sections - more curves than a scenic railway. She was bad! She was dangerous.

Jeffrey Cordova, Lily Marton, Lester Marton, Tony Hunter: [singing] That's En-ter-tain-ment.

Tony Hunter: The city was asleep. The joints were closed. The rats and hoods and killers were in their holes.

Tony Hunter: Oh, I'm afraid I've been awfully rude, I haven't told you how wonderful you were tonight.

Gabrielle Gerard: Oh, thank you, I'm a great admirer of yours too.

Tony Hunter: Oh, I didn't think you'd ever even heard of me.

Gabrielle Gerard: Heard of you? I used to see all your pictures when I was a little girl. And I'm still a fan, I recently went to see a revival of them at the museum.

Tony Hunter: [offended] Museum? 'Step right this way, ladies and gentlemen, Egyptian mummies, extinct reptiles, and Tony Hunter, the grand old man of the dance!"

Gabrielle Gerard: Oh I-I didn't mean...

Tony Hunter: Young lady, I want you to know I can still thread a needle without my eyeglasses and still occasionally do a soft-shoe shuffle! Nothing balletic, of course.

Gabrielle Gerard: You're not a ballet devotee, are you?

Tony Hunter: Oh, yes! I was going to the ballet before you were born. I saw Pavlova, Carsanova, all the real ballet greats. You don't see dancing like that nowadays. Oh, I'm terribly sorry.

Gabrielle Gerard: Oh, that's all right! I don't expect you to class me with Pavlova. In fact, if she were around, I doubt if she'd be good enough to dance with you. You'd probably insist on an audition first!

Tony Hunter: I sure would, I'd audition my own grandmother.

Gabrielle Gerard: Then why don't you audition mine? She'd be just about right for you! Oh, I'm terribly sorry.

Tony Hunter: Oh, no you're not.

Gabrielle Gerard: No I'm not!

Tony Hunter: Neither am I!

Gabrielle Gerard: Good!

Tony Hunter: I could smell trouble a mile off. And this poor kid was in trouble! Big trouble! She was scared! Scared as a turkey in November.

Tony Hunter: [Doubtful] This guy can direct a musical?

Lester Marton: [Enthralled] This guy can do anything!

Man on train 1: Say, your're from sunny Cal, I bet you know a lot of movie stars out there?

Man on train 2: Well, I gotta confess, I'm just like you and me. I only get to see them in the movies. But, I read about them and I know all about them.

Man on train 1: Yeh. Boy, I'd sure like to meet that Ava Gardner.

Man on train 2: Well, you're a little late. She's married, you know.

Man on train 1: Yeh. Oh! You know this one?

[Showing a photo in a magazine]

Man on train 2: Who's that?

Man on train 1: Tony Hunter.

Man on train 2: Oh, him, the singing, dancing fellow.

Man on train 1: My wife used to go to see all of his pictures. Almost broke up our home. Tony Hunter. Tony Hunter.

Man on train 2: Well, he was good 12, 15 years ago, but the columnist out there say he's through.

Tony Hunter: [Face hidden. Speaking behind a magazine] Through? He's washed up. Hasn't made a picture in three years.

Man on train 1: Did you say something mister?

Tony Hunter: [Puts magazine down] I said I agree with you. That Tony Hunter's a has been. Gotta match? I wouldn't go to see him if they gave away five dollar bills with the ticket.

Man on train 1: Well, we should be pulling...

Tony Hunter: Funny thing about what you're saying boys is that your absolutely true. Here, have an exploding cigar.

Train Porter: Those poor movie stars. People just won't let them alone, will they?

Tony Hunter: No. I don't know how they stand it.

Tony Hunter: What's happened to 42nd Street? I just can't get over it! I just can't understand it? I mean, this used to be the great theater street of the town. The New Amsterdam - I had one of my biggest successes there. It ran a year and a half. Noel Coward and Gertie were over here in "Private Lives".

Tony Hunter: Listen, you kids, you go on over to Sardi's and I'll see you later. Driver, take them on over. Order me a steak. See you in a few minutes.

Tony Hunter: [singing] I gotta shine on my shoes, I gotta shine on my shoes, I gotta shine on my shoes, I gotta shine on my shoes, I gotta shine on my shoes, I gotta shine on my shoes, I gotta shine on my shoes, I gotta shine on my shoes, Shine the shoes, Shine the shoes, Shine the shoes, Shine the shoes, Shine the shoes, Shine the shoes, Shine the shoes, Shine the shoes, I gotta shine the shoes, Shine the shoes, Shine the shoes, Shine the shoes, Shine, Shine, Shine on my shoes, I gotta Shine on my shoes, I gotta shine on my shoes, I gotta a shine on my shoes, I gotta a shine on my shoes, I gotta a shoe shine, I gotta a shoe shine, I gotta a shoe shine, I gotta a shoe shine, I gotta a shoe shine, I gotta shoe shine, I gotta a shoe shine, I gotta a shoe shine.

Jeffrey Cordova: You could be greater than you ever were! We're going to make you explode on the theater scene like a skyrocket. Not just the old trademark with the top hat, tie and tails; but, a great artist in the peak of his powers. The new Tony Hunter. Tony Hunter 1953!

Tony Hunter: But, can I do it?

Jeffrey Cordova: Oh, its a challenge. Its a challenge to all of us; but, that's what the theater is about. The challenge!

Tony Hunter: Well, whatever I am, whether its the new me or the old me; remember, I'm still just an entertainer.

Jeffrey Cordova: Well, what do you think I am? What do you think they are? What do you think the theater is? It's all entertainment!

Jeffrey Cordova, Lily Marton, Lester Marton, Tony Hunter: [singing] Some great Shakespearean scene, Where the ghost and a prince meet, And everyone ends in mincemeat...

Jeffrey Cordova, Lily Marton, Lester Marton, Tony Hunter: [singing] The world is stage, The stage is a world of entertainment!

Tony Hunter: This girl, Gerard, its not just her dancing. On top of everything, she's too tall for me. This girl is a giantess!

Tony Hunter: Let's get this straight, I am not Nijinsky. I am not Marlon Brando. I am Mrs. Hunter's little boy, Tony, song and dance man.

Tony Hunter: Now look, now look, I thought I was the only nervous wreck around here. All this time, you've been behaving...

Gabrielle Gerard: [Sobbing] I've behaved terribly to you and I know it. I'm not used to behaving horribly. Its a big strain!

Gabrielle Gerard: Tony, can you and I really dance together?

Tony Hunter: I don't know. Let's find out.

Tony Hunter: El Morocco, please.

Gabrielle Gerard: Oh, no!

Tony Hunter: Well, the Stork? The Waldorf?

Gabrielle Gerard: No, look, I'm not dressed. I just came from rehearsal. I can't go to any of those places.

Tony Hunter: You look fine to me.

Hansom Driver: Where to?

Tony Hunter: Oh, eh, leave it to the horse.

Tony Hunter: Do you know what those are on those benches? People. Happy people. Would you believe it, they don't even care if we have a damnation scene in our show or not.

Gabrielle Gerard: Neither do I.

Cast Party Bartender: What do you say Mr. Hunter? Scotch, rye or beer?

Tony Hunter: Beer's fine.

Cast Party Bartender: Cold beer, coming up.

Tony Hunter: [singing] How I love a glass of beer.

Lester Marton: More beer!

Tony Hunter: Beer goes very good with beer.

Lester Marton, Lily Marton: More beer!

Tony Hunter: When I'm drinking beer, I'm thinking, Ach, life is beer...

Tony Hunter: Oh, sweetie, I just want to say that no matter what happens tonight, its been...

Gabrielle Gerard: I know, Tony, its been that for me too.

Tony Hunter: There was something about this kid that made you want to protect her - from life.

Tony Hunter: [singing] I'll go my way by myself, All alone in a crowd, I'll try to apply myself, And teach my heart how to sing, I'll go my way by myself, Like a bird on the wing, I'll face the unknown, I'll build a world of my own...

Tony Hunter: Will you have a cigarette?

Gabrielle Gerard: No, thanks. I don't smoke.

Tony Hunter: Never?

Gabrielle Gerard: Well, I don't think that dancers should smoke.

Tony Hunter: Oh, I see.

Tony Hunter: Say, who's the pretty girl? Why, this couldn't be the mousy little Miss Gerard. You've been with the firm for years, and I've never seen you with your glasses on. Say, you're beautiful!