The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) - Quotes

The Dual Nature of Attention and Neglect

Marge Sherwood: The thing with Dickie... it's like the sun shines on you, and it's glorious. And then he forgets you and it's very, very cold.

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Vanity Reflected in Handwriting

Tom Ripley: Nothing is more naked than your handwriting. See how nothing's quite touching the line? That's vanity.

Dickie Greenleaf: Well, we certainly know that that's true.

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A Tribute to Love and Bargaining

Tom Ripley: That ring is superb.

Marge Sherwood: Oh, Tom, I love you! See?

Dickie Greenleaf: I had to promise, capital p, to never take it off. Otherwise I'd give it to you.

Marge Sherwood: Isn't it great? I found it in Naples. I had to bargain for it for about two weeks!

Dickie Greenleaf: Uh, I hope it wasn't cheap, Marge?

Marge Sherwood: Oh, it was!

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Expressions of Liking Among Friends

Marge Sherwood: [about Tom] I like him.

Dickie Greenleaf: Marge, you like everybody.

Tom Ripley: [Imitating Marge's voice; imitating Dickie's voice] I like him. Marge, you like everybody.

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Talent and Identity in Conversation

Dickie Greenleaf: Everybody should have one talent, what's yours?

Tom Ripley: Telling lies, forging signatures and impersonating almost anybody.

Dickie Greenleaf: That's three. Nobody should have more than one talent. So, do an impression.

Tom Ripley: What, now?

Dickie Greenleaf: Yeah.

Tom Ripley: [imitating Dickie's father] The only talent my son has is for cashing his allowance.

Dickie Greenleaf: [stunned] What?

Tom Ripley: Oh, I love to sail, believe me, I love to sail. Instead, I make sailboats, and other people sail them.

Dickie Greenleaf: Stop! It's too much. You're making the hairs on my neck stand up!

Tom Ripley: Oh, yes, jazz? Let's face it, jazz is insolent noise.

Dickie Greenleaf: It's like he's here. Horrible, like the old bastard's here! That's brilliant! Brilliant! How do you know him?

Tom Ripley: Oh, I met him in New York.

Dickie Greenleaf: Marge, you have to hear this! This is scary. Marge Sherwood, I'd like you to meet my father, Herbert Richard Greenleaf, the First.

Tom Ripley: How do you do, Marge. Dickie's made a fine catch. I know Emily thinks so.

Marge Sherwood: I... I don't get it.

Dickie Greenleaf: It's uncanny!

Tom Ripley: [turning to Dickie] Could you ever conceive of going to Italy, Tom? Bring him back?

Dickie Greenleaf: [confused] What?

Tom Ripley: I'd pay you if you would go to Italy and persuade my son to come home. I'd pay you a thousand dollars.

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Freddie Miles on Timeliness and Consequences

Freddie Miles: Hey, if I'm late, you should hear what her husband's saying!

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Freddie's Repeated Question to Tommy

Freddie Miles: [upon seeing Tom spying on Dickie and Marge] Tommy, how's the peeping? Tommy, how's the peeping? Tommy, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy?

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Desire and Temptation Explored in Relationships

Freddie Miles: Oh God! Don't you want to fuck every woman you see just once?

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Silent Promises and Trust Fund Transfers

Alvin MacCarron: Mr. Greenleaf also feels there was a silent promise in Dickie's letter to you which he intends to honor. He intends to transfer a good part of Dickie's income from his trust into your name. He doesn't intend on giving the Italian police any information about Dickie's past. He's rather hoping that you will feel the same.

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Rejection of Inauthenticity and Falsehood

Alvin MacCarron: I don't care for B.S. I don't care to hear it. I don't care to speak it.

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Complexity of Tom Ripley's Character

Peter Smith Kingsley: Good things about Mr. Ripley? Could take some time. Tom is talented. Tom is tender... Tom is beautiful... Tom is a mystery. Tom is not a nobody. Tom has secrets he doesn't want to tell me, and I wish he would. Tom has nightmares. That's not a good thing. Tom has someone to love him. That is a good thing. Tom is crushing me. Tom is crushing me... Tom, you're crushing me!

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Cultural Perception of Homosexuality in Italy

Peter Smith Kingsley: [[Michelangelo; [Leonardo da Vinci|Leonardo] Officially, there are no Italian homosexuals. It makes ] and ] very inconvenient.

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Frustration with Missed Opportunities and Wastefulness

Herbert Greenleaf: [abruptly turning his attention to a street musician] What a waste of lives and opportunities. I'd pay that fellow $100 right now to shut up.

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The Complexity of Family Relationships

Herbert Greenleaf: You know, people always say that you can't choose your parents, but you can't choose your children...

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Heartbreak and Uncertainty in Relationships

Marge Sherwood: [crying] Dick? Dickie? I know you can hear me. What am I doing, chasing you around...? I was going to say I would count to three and if you didn't open the door, but I won't count any more. On you. I won't count on you any more. Whatever it is, whatever you've done or haven't done, you've broken my heart. That's one thing I know you're guilty of, and I don't know why. I don't know why, I just don't know why...

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Questioning Violence in Male Playfulness

Marge Sherwood: Why is it when men play they always play at killing each other?

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Appreciation for Shakespeare and Clothing Choices

Dickie Greenleaf: I love the fact that you brought Shakespeare with you and no clothes. Ermelinda says you wash the same shirt out every night. Is that true?

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Class Disparities in Social Skills

Dickie Greenleaf: Marge — Ripley can't ski. We'll have to teach him that too. Such low class, Marge. Does this guy know anything?

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The Privilege of Education and Its Limits

Dickie Greenleaf: I can't write and I can't spell. That's the privilege of a first class education.

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Confusion in Famous Expression about Cities

Dickie Greenleaf: [[Naples] * Confusing cities in the famous expression, "See ] and die!

Contemplating Life and Death in Venice

Dickie Greenleaf: [[Rome] See Venice and die," is what they say? Or is it ]?

The Truth Behind Morning Rituals

Dickie Greenleaf: Now you'll find out why Ms. Sherwood shows up for breakfast, Tom. It's not love, it's my coffee machine.

Obsession with Material Possessions

Dickie Greenleaf: I could fuck this ice box, I love it so much.

Perception of Beauty and Identity

Dickie Greenleaf: You know, without the glasses you're not even ugly.

Unrequited Love and Irony in Confession

Tom Ripley: [while planning to kill Marge] And that's the irony, Marge. I loved you. You may as well know it, Marge: I loved you. I don't know... maybe it's grotesque of me to say this now, so just write it on a piece of paper or something and put it in your purse for a rainy day. Tom loves me. Tom loves me.

Perception of Morality in Self-Justification

Tom Ripley: Well, whatever you do, however terrible, however hurtful, it all makes sense, doesn't it, in your head. You never meet anybody that thinks they're a bad person.