The Reluctant Dragon - Missed Opportunities and Delayed Reactions
Mrs. Benchley: [sighs]
So while you were shilly-shallying, they made the picture. I never knew it to fail. In all the years that I've known you, you've always been too late. Really, Robert, I can't understand why you're forever letting these opportunities slip through your fingers. Anyone would've thought of it in time, months ago. But you... Well, why don't you say something?
Robert Benchley: [as Donald Duck; quacking furiously]
Aw, phooey! Phooey!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Reluctant Dragon - A Question of Train Wrecking Preferences
Doris:
How did you like it?
Robert Benchley:
Oh, fine, fine. Only after all, wouldn't it be a lot easier just to wreck a real train?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Reluctant Dragon - Demonstrating Movement in Animation
Robert Benchley:
Yeah, but he still doesn't move.
Donald Duck:
Just a minute, big boy. Give me time, give me time!
Donald Duck:
Look, I'll show ya. I'll show ya. Now look. First my foot is up here, see?
Robert Benchley:
Uh-huh.
Donald Duck:
Then, it's down here, understand?
Robert Benchley:
Now I get it.
Donald Duck:
Like this...
Robert Benchley:
Yeah.
Donald Duck:
And this...
Robert Benchley:
I see.
Donald Duck:
And that. See?
Robert Benchley:
Sure.
Donald Duck:
When I do it faster, I'm walking. Get it?
Robert Benchley:
Yeah, certainly.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Reluctant Dragon - Discussion on Background and Reindeer Placement
Doris: [holding up a cel of [[Bambi]
] in front of her] Like it?
Robert Benchley:
I'd be all right if you could get that reindeer out of the way.
Doris:
I'll see if I can scare up the background that goes with it.
Robert Benchley:
Nothing wrong with the one I just saw.
Doris:
Thanks. This is his background. He fits right on top of it, like this. There.
Robert Benchley: [Bambi suddenly comes to life, hides behind a rock in the background, and peaks his head]
And very cunning, too. I'd like to take him home with me. What do you know? He took me seriously.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Reluctant Dragon - A Journey Under the Stars
Mrs. Benchley: [first line of the film; reading; is interrupted by a toy rifle going off; toy rifle again]
So they set off up the hill, arm in arm, the knight, the dragon, and the boy. The lights in the little village began to go out one by one." "But there were stars and a late moon as they climbed the downs together." Robert, please.
Robert Benchley: [shoots a dart at a duck decoy in the pool]
Go on, I can hear in any position.
Mrs. Benchley: [continues reading]
And as they turned the last corner and disappeared from view, snatches of an old song were borne back on the night breeze. I can't be certain which of them was singing, but I think it was the dragon.
Robert Benchley:
Go on, I'm listening.
Mrs. Benchley:
That was the end, and a very lovely end, too.
Robert Benchley:
Yeah, charming, charming. It's funny. No matter which way I aim, I always hit the same duck.
Mrs. Benchley: [[Walt Disney]
Robert, I have a wonderful idea. We'll sell this book to ].
Robert Benchley: [looks at rifle]
Well, you can't. It belongs to your nephew. So does this, too. I wonder what he'd take for it.
Mrs. Benchley:
I mean the idea, for a movie. I'm sure if you went to his studio and suggested it to him, he'd jump at it.
Robert Benchley:
Me suggest a story to Walt Disney? Why, I hardly know him.
Mrs. Benchley:
Well, you hardly knew me when you suggested marriage.
Robert Benchley:
Yeah, look at the trouble I got into. He can't listen to every crackpot with a wild idea.
Mrs. Benchley:
You might be the exception. All you would have to do would be to go to his studio and show him the book.
Robert Benchley:
I wouldn't dream of it!
Mrs. Benchley:
They're always open to new ideas. Get your things on, and stop shilly-shallying.
Robert Benchley: [stands up on raft; falls through and bubbles come out of his mouth]
I am not shillying and I am not shallying. But once and for all, I will not go to the studio. I will not make myself look ridiculous. And that's final.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.