Barton Fink Quotes

Geisler Ever act?

Barton ...Huh? No, I'm—

Geisler We need Indians for a Norman Steele western.

Barton I'm a writer. Ted O—

Geisler Think about it, Fink. Writers come and go; we always need Indians.

Charlie I could tell you some stories...

Barton Sure you could and yet many writers do everything in their power to insulate themselves from the common man, from where they live, from where they trade, from where they fight and love and converse and...So naturally their work suffers and regresses into empty formalism and... well I'm spouting off again, but to put it in your language, the theatre becomes as phony as a three-dollar bill!

Charlie Well I guess that's a tragedy right there!

Geisler Look, you confused? You need guidance? Talk to another writer.

Barton Who?

Geisler Jesus, throw a rock in here, you'll hit one. And do me a favor, Fink: throw it hard.

Jack Lipnik We're only interested in one thing, Bart. Can you tell a story? Can you make us laugh? Can you make us cry? Can you make us want to break out in joyous song? Is that more than one thing? Okay!

Jack Lipnik I run this dump, and I don't know the technical mumbo-jumbo. Why do I run it? Cause I got horse sense, goddamit. SHOWMANSHIP! And also, and I hope Lou told you this, I am bigger and meaner and louder than any other kike in this town. Did you tell him that, Lou? And I don't mean my dick is bigger than yours, it's not a sexual thing, although you're the writer, you'd know more about that. Coffee?

Mastrionotti Started in Kansas City. Couple of housewives.

Deutsch Couple days ago we see the same M.O. out in Los Feliz.

Mastrionotti Doctor. Ear, nose and throat man.

Deutsch All of which he's now missin'.

Mastrionotti Well, some of his throat was there.

Deutsch Physician, heal thyself.

Mastrionotti Good luck with no fuckin head.

Deutsch Anyway.

Charlie Meadows Look upon me! I'll show you the life of the mind! I'll show you the life of the mind!

Taglines Between Heaven and Hell There's Always Hollywood!

Deutsch What else?

Barton Trying to think. Nothing, really. He... he said he liked Jack Oakie pictures.

Mastrionotti You know, ordinarily we say anything you might remember could be helpful. But I'll be frank with you, Fink. That is not helpful.

Deutsch Notice how he's not writing it down?

Taglines There's only one thing stranger than what's going on inside his head. What's going on outside.

Jack Lipnik Look, Bart, barring a preference we're going to put you to work on a wrestling picture, Wallace Beery. I say this because they tell me you know the poetry of the streets, so that would rule out westerns, pirate pictures, screwball, Bible, Roman... look, I'm not one of those guys who thinks poetic has got to be fruity. We're together on that, aren't we? I mean I'm from New York myself, well, Minsk if you want to go all the way back. Which we won't, if you don't mind and I ain't asking. Now people are going to say to you, Wallace Beery, wrestling, it's a B picture. You tell them: BULLSHIT! We do NOT make B pictures here at Capitol. Let's put a stop to that rumor RIGHT now!

Barton I'm sorry if I let you down.

Jack You didn't let me down Fink, or even Lou. We don't live or die by what you scribble. You let Ben Geisler down. He liked you, trusted you... and that's why he's gone, he's fired. That man had a heart as big as the all outdoors and you fucked him.

Barton Have you read the Bible, Pete?

Pete Holy Bible?

Barton Yeah.

Pete Yeah, I think so. Anyway, I've heard about it.

Mastrionotti What do you do, Fink?

Barton I write.

Deutsch Oh yeah? What kind of write?

Barton Well, as a matter of fact I write for the pictures.

Mastrionotti Big fuckin deal.

Deutsch You want my partner to kiss your ass?

Mastrionotti Would that be good enough for you?

Barton No, I - I didn't mean to sound...

Deutsch What did you mean?

Barton I - I've got respect for - for working guys, like you...

Mastrionotti Jesus! Ain't that a load off!

Charlie Meadows C'mon, Barton, you think you know about pain? You think I made your life hell? Take a look around this dump. You're just a tourist with a typewriter, Barton, I live here, don't you understand that? And you come into MY home... and you complain that I'M making too... much... noise.