Glenn Ford Quotes

Blackboard Jungle

Debate on Leaving the School

Gregory W. Miller There's talk you quitting this school, going some place where there's nice little obedient boys and girls.

Richard Dadier Well what do you think?

Gregory W. Miller Aww, I figured it's just talk.

Richard Dadier Why?

Gregory W. Miller Well, you know the ropes around here pretty good now, it would be a shame to waste all that... I guess everybody learns something in school, even teachers.

Richard Dadier Yes, I guess so...

Gregory W. Miller Besides, it would be kinda rough breaking in somebody new. Well, see you tomorrow Mr Dadier?

Richard Dadier I thought you were quitting. Is that right?

Gregory W. Miller Well, we have a pact... you wouldn't want to break that?

Richard Dadier No, I guess we wouldn't.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Blackboard Jungle

Authority and Disciplinary Actions in School Setting

Richard Dadier What is this? The officers club or something? I don't wanna catch you smoking in here again, you understand? Now get out! Come on, you heard what I said. Get out!

[catches some kids smoking in the restroom]

Richard Dadier What's the matter? You two guys privileged or something?

Gregory W. Miller We only just got here, chief.

Richard Dadier You did huh? Well, now just get out.

Gregory W. Miller Can't a man wash his hands, chief?

Richard Dadier Wash them and get out.

Gregory W. Miller Sure, chief. You gonna watch me?

Emmanuel Stoker Maybe he'd like to wash them for us.

Richard Dadier What's your name? You, I'm talking to you!

Emmanuel Stoker Me?

Richard Dadier Yes, you!

Emmanuel Stoker Emmanuel.

Richard Dadier Emmanuel what?

Gregory W. Miller Emmanuel Trades. Don't you know, man? This boy here got the school named after him.

Richard Dadier What's your name, wise guy?

Gregory W. Miller Me? Miller. Gregory Miller. You want me to spell it out for you so you won't forget it?

Richard Dadier You don't have to do that. I'll remember, Miller.

Gregory W. Miller Sure, chief. You do that.

Richard Dadier Or maybe you would like to take a walk down to the principal's office with me right now. Is that what you want?

Gregory W. Miller You're holding all the cards, chief. You wanna take me to see Mr. Warneke, you'll do just that.

Richard Dadier Who's your home-period teacher?

Gregory W. Miller You are, chief.

Richard Dadier Well, why aren't you with the rest of the class?

Gregory W. Miller Already told you. Came in to wash up, chief.

Richard Dadier All right, then wash up. Just cut out that "chief" routine, understand?

Gregory W. Miller Sure, "chief". That's what I been doing all the time. Okay for us to drift now, "chief"?

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Gilda

Faithfulness and Regret After Loss

Johnny Farrell She didn't know then what was happening to her. She didn't know then that what she heard was the door closing on her own cage. She hadn't been faithful to him when he was alive, but she was gonna be faithful to him now that he was dead.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Virus

Communication Amidst a Crisis

President Richardson ], this is the President of the United States.

[[w:Palmer Station|Palmer Station]

Admiral Conway This is Admiral Conway, Mr President.

Richardson I would like the entire American contingent to hear what I have to say. Has the sickness hit your station yet?

Conway No sir, there is no sign of any illness here.

Richardson And the other stations?

Conway There are no reported illnesses at any of the stations, and we are in more or less regular contact. How bad is it, Mr President?

Richardson Patch me through to the other Antarctic bases.

Conway All of them sir?

Richardson All of them, Admiral Conway.

Conway Right away, Mr President.

[signals other Antarctic bases]

Radio Operator Attention, attention all stations! Please stand by for an important message from the President of the United States. I repeat - all personnel, all stations, must listen to the following message. Please stand by.

Richardson It is with great regret and personal sorrow, as well as the position of the government of the United States that I officially confirm what most of you already know. The world has been beset by a horrible plague, and now we are unable to devise an effective vaccine. The United States has sustained... sustained casualties of the greatest magnitude. No country has escaped a similar fate. We do know something about this virus. We know this virus remains dormant under subzero conditions. For this reason, you in Antarctica, have not been affected. Do not leave your sanctuary. Do not allow those from the outside to enter. Under no conditions try to return. I offer you no solutions, no hope other than that, somehow, you may prevail. This time, try to work it out together, please. Please? And may God bless you all.

[pleads; signs off]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Virus

Vaccine Development Challenges Amidst Political Tensions

President Richardson What vaccine? All right. How long it will take to manufacture this vaccine in quantity?

[referring to an item in the news about a vaccine; to officials; slaps table and stands up away from the table]

Science Official Mr President, we haven't been able to isolate the cause. The virus - if it is a virus - it's like the common cold, it is everywhere, it is nowhere!

Sen. Barkley I'd like to say this point, Mr President, I suggest, we might have been in a better position to develop a crash program if it's budget hasn't been slashed against the specific wishes of Congress.

Richardson Damn it senator, I don't have to hear that from you!

[flustered]

Cabinet Official What do you mean, there is no vaccine? Then what is it we're giving the police and fire department personnel? The essential services, the military alert crews if not a vaccine? It's just that we don't have enough for the general populace. Isn't that right?

[to science official; Richardson closes the door of the TV cabinet.]

Science Official We have a vaccine of sorts. We put together a soup of every flu-related vaccine we know. It's effect leaves something to be desired. In fact, it's more of a placebo than anything else.

Cabinet Official You gave me a goddamn placebo?!!?!

[enraged because he was administered a shot]

Science Official We are doing our best!!

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Blackboard Jungle

Fear and Hope in Parenthood

Richard Dadier I'm scared, Anne. I'm really scared. What if the baby doesn't live?

Anne Dadier He will. I know he will.

Richard Dadier Yeah, but what if he doesn't? You know, I wanted that baby. I needed that baby, just as much as you did. And all my life, I wanted to teach kids. And my son was gonna- He was gonna kinda help me with that. Through him, maybe I'd learn to understand.

Anne Dadier Rick.

Richard Dadier Hmmm?

Anne Dadier No matter what happens, I love you. I was silly and vain and selfish, so I doubted you. I was like one of the bad kids in your class. Somebody told me a lie, and I believed that lie. One's as bad as the other.

Richard Dadier I wanna tell you...

Anne Dadier I was wrong about something else too. I wanted you to quit teaching in that school. I understand now why you wanted to keep trying.

Richard Dadier Please.

Anne Dadier I'm glad you didn't quit.

Richard Dadier Now, wait a minute.

Anne Dadier Honey, kids are people. And most people are worthwhile. We all need the same thing. Patience, understanding... love. You've got that to give them, darling. And that's why you'll get through to them.

Dr. Bradley Your son's out of danger. He's gonna make it. Happy new year, Mr. and Mrs. Dadier.

[turns radio on]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Blackboard Jungle

Confrontation Among Classmates in Blackboard Jungle

Artie West All you gotta do is take it. Come on take it.

Richard Dadier That's just what I'm gonna do, big shot.

Richard Dadier Come on, West. Come on... come on... Where you going, boy? Come on.

[West strikes at Dadier and cuts him in the hand]

Artie West Belazi!... Morales!... Stoker!

[starts backing up from Dadier and calling for help from his gang, but none get involved]

Gregory W. Miller You wanna gang fight? You wanna start a rumble? Come on, boy, just make a move.

[challenges Stoker]

Artie West All right, you guys. Bascillo, Rock, move, both!

Richard Dadier What's the matter, West? You need help? Come on. You're holding the handle of that knife. Come on, you're the leader. You're the tough guy. You can't cut alone, huh, West? You're not so tough without a gang, but you were tough that night in the alley, weren't you? Seven to two. That's about your odds, isn't it?

Artie West This time you get cut up!

Richard Dadier Yeah, the gang-up didn't work. You went to the principal with a story about race prejudice. You couldn't get rid of me that way. Then you started sending those foul letters to my wife. Didn't you? Didn't you, West? End of the line boy!

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Blackboard Jungle

Advice for New Teachers

Richard Dadier Got any tips for a rookie?

Jim Murdock Two - don't be a hero, and never turn your back on the class.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Blackboard Jungle

Importance of Name Pronunciation in English

Richard Dadier The name is Dadier. Mr. Dadier. Pronunciation is very important in English. I would hate to fail anyone who couldn't pronounce my name.

Artie West Me too, teach?

Richard Dadier Mr. Dadier.

Artie West Yeah, sure.

Richard Dadier Say it. And take your hat off in this classroom.

Artie West You ever try to fight 35 guys at one time, teach?

Richard Dadier Take your hat off, boy, before I knock it off.

[approaches West and West stands up to challenge him]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Blackboard Jungle

Questioning Assumptions About Young People

Richard Dadier They can't all be bad kids.

Jim Murdock Why not?

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Blackboard Jungle

Teachers Who Care in Blackboard Jungle

Richard Dadier Say now, that wasn't true, what you said about teachers. Some of us do care, you know?

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Blackboard Jungle

Morning Routines and Frustrations Among Friends

Pete V. Morales I get up at 7:30, go wash. But my stinking sister, she's still in the bathroom, so I can't get in.

[talking into a recorder in front of the class]

Richard Dadier That's fine, boy. keep on talking.

Pete V. Morales So then I go to the stinking bathroom. I wash my stinking face. Then I eat some stinking sausages.

Artie West Louder, come on!

Emmanuel Stoker We can't hear you in the balcony.

Pete V. Morales So then I go down the stinking street with my stinking books, and then I meet this stink-face who lives near me. And he says: "You go to school, Pete?" I say, "You stinking right, boy!" So we walked to the stinking El, and wait for the stinking train. What do you think? The stinking train is late. So I gotta get into the stinking crowd. And that's why I'm stinking late to school, teach. How was I? Okay?

De Lica You sure stunk up that record, boy!

Richard Dadier That'll be enough for the day.

Artie West You gonna play it?

Richard Dadier No. Thanks for picking Morales. I'm sure you're his "friend".

Gregory W. Miller Sure enough, chief. Too bad you can't say the same.

Richard Dadier And just what does that mean?

Artie West Morales is a spic, that's what it means. Maybe you don't like spics.

Richard Dadier That will be enough of that, West.

Pete V. Morales What did I do, anyhow?

Artie West All right, sit down... spic.

Belazi You heard him, greaseball.

Pete V. Morales At least I'm no Irish Mick!

Richard Dadier I said, that will be enough! Now, you pick up that magazine, Belazi. Pick it up! I wanna get one thing very clear in this classroom.There's not gonna be any name calling here. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. Now you understand that? All of ya!

Pete V. Morales I was just kidding.

Richard Dadier Yeah, I know you're just kidding. That's how things start. Like a street fight. Somebody pushes somebody in fun. Somebody pushes back, and soon you got a street fight with no kidding. That's the same way with name-calling. All right, West, look. You're of Irish descent. So is Murphy over there. You call him a Mick. He calls you a Mick. Suppose Miller called you a Mick. Is that all right? Then you call him a nigger.

Pete V. Morales I was just kidding.

Richard Dadier Well, stop kidding!

Artie West Sure, sure. Come on, Morales. Tell me all about your stinking sister!

Blackboard Jungle

The Importance of Learning Abbreviations

Richard Dadier Now, pretty soon, you're gonna be reading in the newspapers want ads for jobs, apartments, something to buy. Advertising space is expensive so abbreviations are used. Now, write out the complete words to all the abbreviations in these problem ads. All right, get started.

Richard Dadier Belazi. Let's keep your eyes on your paper.

Belazi Me?

Richard Dadier Cheating won't help you learn those abbreviations, you know.

Artie West He won't look for no job. His old man owns a store.

Belazi Yeah, and I'm not gonna buy me me no Cadillac either.

Artie West No, It's cheaper to steal one. That's arithmetic for ya, teach.

Richard Dadier All right, Belazi. Bring me your paper up here.

Belazi Five points off. What for?

Richard Dadier For having loose eyes. West!

[notices that West is cheating also]

Artie West You talking to me, teach?

Richard Dadier Bring your paper up here West.

Artie West What for?

Richard Dadier I said bring your paper up here.

Artie West And I said , what for?

Gregory W. Miller Come on, Artie. Bring him the paper.

Artie West Now, look, you keep your rotten mouth out of this, black boy.

Richard Dadier Miller!... Hold it... All right. All right, Miller. It's all right. Now, bring your paper up here, West.

Richard Dadier All right, we're going down to see the principal.

Artie West We are? You gonna make me, Daddy-O? How'd you like to go to hell?

Belazi What's the matter, Daddy-O?

Artie West Yeah, how about it, teach? You got a big mouth. Tell me to do this, do that. Are you big enough to take me to the principal's office? Because that's what you're gonna have to do. Take me. So, come on! Take me! Come on!

Artie West Come on. For a bright boy, you didn't learn nothing. Well, take me down. Come on. Step right up and taste a little of this , Daddy-O.

Richard Dadier Give me that knife, West.

Artie West Where do you want it? You want it in the belly? Or how about in the face, huh? Here it is. All you gotta do is take it. Come on, take it! Come on!

Gregory W. Miller Take it easy, chief. He's crazy, he's high, he's floating on Sneaky Pete wine.

Pete V. Morales He's gonna kill him.

Blackboard Jungle

Resilience in the Face of Adversity

Richard Dadier Yeah, I've been beaten up, but I'm not beaten. I'm not beaten, and I'm not quittin'.

Blackboard Jungle

Classroom Dynamics and Student Interaction

Richard Dadier There will be no calling out. You have any questions to ask, just raise your hand. You hear that, Miller?

Gregory W. Miller Sure, teach. You coming in strong. I can't tune you out.

Artie West His name ain't "teach".

Belazi It's "Daddy-O!

Artie West Hey, don't you know his name, jerk?

Belazi Excuse me, Mr. Jerk.

Richard Dadier All right, West, since you're so cooperative, suppose you stay after class and help me out.

Artie West I'm busy.

Belazi Oh, go on, Artie. Help him out.

Emmanuel Stoker Then you could be together, "alone".

Pete V. Morales Oh, "Daddy-O!

[in a effeminate manner]

Richard Dadier All right, all right, fine. We had a few laughs. In a minute, the bell's gonna ring out there. That means you go to your civics class. Tomorrow morning when you come into this class...

Artie West Hey, teach, you're coming back here tomorrow?

[interrupts Dadier]

Richard Dadier Sure, I'm coming back tomorrow.You know why? Because I'll "miss" you, West.

Gilda

A Discreet Observation About a Husband

Johnny Farrell Pardon me, but your husband is showing.

Memorable Quotes from Glenn Ford