Quotes

All the men in our family as far back as I cam remember were ministers. We had a corner on the market. It just figured that I would follow along.

I like to play things for real, and we Americans kid ourselves a lot about other people. I was in Europe for 10 years making movies, many of them behind the Iron Curtain, and those people over there are miserable, but the Commie leaders told them it's because of Yankee imperialism. If we'd pull out of Vietnam right now, that argument would collapse and the Commies with it. I wish just one of our presidential candidates had the sense to see that.

[1958, when replacing an ill actor in the York Little Theater's production of "Inherit the Wind"] It's a great part, just right for my father, but not for me.

[upon being released from jail for not paying his alimony on time] This comes like a shot out of the blue. I don't know if she wants to slowly kill me, you know, privately and professionally, I just don't know; but I'm not bitter.

[In 1961] I have to live too. 40% for her [his ex-wife], 10% to an agent, 5% to a manager and on and on. It all comes to about 128%.

[In 1973, after he married a widow] I love her very much. She's a real Southern belle, so much so that she reminds me of Scarlett O'Hara. I'm very much in love with her.

What people forget is that a professional actor works hard at his job; even when a vehicle is terrible an actor can be good, though the public may not give him credit.

[In 1974] I have only $26 in two bank accounts despite receiving $200,000 in movie residuals during the last two years.

[In 1975] Still, I like to act, because I don't like myself very much, and acting is an escape.

[Of his globe-trotting lifestyle] I feel like Willy Loman, because I'm always packing my suitcases. I don't think anybody's traveled more than I have.

[About his taste in movies] Many years ago I liked every picture--and today, I don't like any!

[about why he doesn't bet on golf games, though he is an inveterate gambler] I like to bet the dogs, but I enjoy golf too much to spoil it with gambling.

[In 1970, about his golf game] I was playing badly and when I asked my partner for help in selecting a club for that par-three, he cracked, "The way you're hitting it, you might as well use a putter". I retorted that I could get it at least hole high with a putter and he said he'd give me $50 if I could.

[In 1968] I was almost mobbed when I went into the black compound. All those lousy movies I made in Europe were the only ones those poor people could afford to see. I was a big star to them.

I must admit that I rather enjoyed the laughter.

[about making westerns] I guess Adventures of Gallant Bess (1948) was my first western. The horse in that film was remarkable. She knew a couple hundred verbal commands.

[about the popularity of his character, the 50-something Buck Cannon, on The High Chaparral (1967)] You should see the letters I get. A mother asked me for some pictures of Buck which she's going to mount against a background of other western stuff and give to her son for his graduation gift. I got a 47-page letter from a 65-year-old gal in Pittsburgh who thinks I'm the greatest thing on her TV set. These things move me. When a person believes something, you've got to take him seriously.

I ride Prince, an 11-year-old bay. He's a smart horse--smart enough to occasionally get impatient with all the fooling around required when filming. He can steal a scene, too. I'll be doing dialogue and he'll come up and nibble my sleeve or rub his head.

[Of his role on The High Chaparral (1967)] Here in Hollywood it's another Bonanza (1959), but just alone out there in the desert, you have a feeling you're doing something that really happened to somebody 100 years ago.

[In 1969] They are not used to this sun. They are so keen to see us that they forget. They're not even dressed properly. Every weekend during the summer season there's an average of 25 people who collapse as they watch.

[In 1994] That was from the play "Liliom" by Ferenc Molnar. Originally Frank Sinatra was supposed to play the lead part in that, and we were all on location in Boothbay Harbor, Maine--beautiful place. Frank and I had left California on a Thursday, and on Sunday Frank quit. But we had prerecorded all of his songs, including a duet with me! It was a comedy number and we had a long sustained note, and I was nervous about it because I'm no singer, and I had heard that Frank only did things one time.

I don't like gore pictures, I won't see them. I make them, but I don't have to look at them.

[about his passion for golf] I've played the game for years. My real problem is that I'm a compulsive club buyer. I've got a real collection. In fact, I've got more than 100 clubs in my hotel room right now. You think I don't catch the devil from my wife, having those things scattered all over the place?

[While playing Buck Cannon, he discussed the bad grammar his character Buck was using] These cowhands, most of them were illiterate and when you showed them a watch they weren't too sure whether it was the big hand or the little one that told the hour.

[when asked if The High Chaparral (1967) was a "dirty" western] . . . NBC complained about [the dirt] at first . . . well, you ride for two hours in that stuff around Tucson and try not to look dirty. I'm that kind of a guy, anyway. I spill more things in real life than most people.