Gloria Swanson Quotes

Norma Desmond I just want to tell you all how happy I am to be back in the studio, making a picture again! You don't know how much I've missed all of you. And I promise you I'll never desert you again because after Salome we'll make another picture and another picture. You see, this is my life! It always will be! There's nothing else! Just us, the cameras, and those wonderful people out there in the dark!… All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.

Gloria Swanson The mountains - we're so close!

Norma Desmond *Note: bolded portion is ranked #7 in the ] in American cinema.

Norma Desmond We didn't need dialogue. We had faces!

Joe Gillis I didn't know you were planning a comeback.

Norma Desmond I hate that word. It's a return, a return to the millions of people who have never forgiven me for deserting the screen.

Gary Would you hold this please, I'll take care of Miss Swanson. Good Evening, right this way please.

Gloria Swanson Thank you.

Nancy Pryor Good Evening Miss Swanson.

Gloria Swanson Good Evening. I mean, good morning!

Gary Right here, Miss Swanson.

Gloria Swanson Oh yes, put it under my feet. Thank you very much.

Gary It's a pleasure to have with us, Miss Swanson. If there's anything I can do for you, just let me know.

Gloria Swanson I shall.

Sister Beatrice Never mind her Sister, put your ticket away.

Sister Ruth Yes Sister.

Norma Desmond The stars are ageless, aren't they?

Joe Gillis You're Norma Desmond. You used to be in silent pictures. You used to be big.

Norma Desmond I am big. It's the pictures that got small.

Norma Desmond There once was a time in this business when I had the eyes of the whole world! But that wasn't good enough for them, oh no! They had to have the ears of the whole world too. So they opened their big mouths and out came talk. Talk! TALK!

Norma Desmond Without me, there wouldn't be any Paramount studio.

Norma Desmond They took the idols and smashed them, the Fairbankses, the Gilberts, the Valentinos! And who've we got now? Some nobodies!

Norma Desmond No one leaves a star. That's what makes one a star.