Madame X (1929)

Ruth Chatterton: Jacqueline

Photos 

Quotes 

• Jacqueline : Must we always do the right thing, no matter how much it hurts others?

• Jacqueline : Bring me some absinthe.

• Jacqueline : I've told you twice young man, you mustn't look at me like that.

  Young Officer : Why? Tell me, why?

  Jacqueline : Because you're a boy. And because any boy with such clean, honest eyes, should only look at clean, honest things.

  Young Officer : You're wonderful! I'm mad about you, you hear? I love you.

  Jacqueline : Oh, stop it! Stop it, I tell you. My dear, it's so terribly grotesque! Look at me. What would you think if I should tell you that I've got a son - about half your age?

  Young Officer : You, Madame?

• Jacqueline : I've never been lucky enough to know a man who's analysis of love was anything like mine.

• Jacqueline : He's just a little boy. And one must always forgive little boys anything.

  Oriental Doctor : Little boys playing with matches have started many a fire.

  Colonel Hanby : [laughs]  I'm just beginning to see things. So, so, he was making love to you, eh? Right here on my own porch. Oh, that's good! That's splendid. And you didn't like it, eh?

  Jacqueline : Ah, give me a cigarette.

• Colonel Hanby : There you are and drunk - at nine o'clock in the morning.

  Jacqueline : Well, one might just as well be drunk at nine as at ten.

  Colonel Hanby : I'm sick of you! Sick of you, do you hear? When I picked you up in China, you were something to look at. Now, what are ya?

  Jacqueline : You don't like my looks, huh? Well, I've seen pleasanter things to look at than you! See! No matter what I look like, I'm too good for you - you brutish swine!

• Laroque : What are you doing in South America?

  Jacqueline : I don't remember. What are you doing?

  Laroque : I? Oh, there are so many ways one can earn an honest penny.

  Jacqueline : I hope you won't think I"m rude if I suggest that I don't think an honest penny would interest you a bit.

  Laroque : [laughs]  That's great. I tell you, you are clever. You are devilishly clever, you know.

  Jacqueline : That's why I'm where I am today, because I'm too clever.

  Laroque : [Still laughing]  Never mind, that really was a good one. You are clever. Here, have a drink.

• Laroque : I think you and I could do very well together. Tell me, do you know something about cards?

  Jacqueline : A little, why?

  Laroque : Isn't that funny? Isn't that funny? You know I'm a mind reader, huh? Yes, I knew, you know something about cards. Really! You know, I'm a mind reader.

  Jacqueline : Well?

  Laroque : Well, first of all, I'm going to pay all your bills.

  Jacqueline : Oh, you're a fortune teller too, aren't you?

  Laroque : Yes! I'm a bit of everything.

• Jacqueline : You aren't a Frenchman, are you?

  Laroque : By the grace of heaven, I'm an Alsatian.

• Jacqueline : Are you trying to interest me in your liquor or something more personal?

• Jacqueline : Now, look here, my friend, I've seen a lot of life. Too much. It isn't at all necessary to indulge in all these little niceties. What do you want of me? Now, that you're good enough to take on my obligations. What is it?

  Laroque : That's just what I wish to hear. This is a great country, plenty of rich young men and, eh, you look, why, I mean, you could look quite respectable.

  Jacqueline : Oh, thanks.

  Laroque : Oh, oh, oh, I'm sorry. I beg your pardon. Now, these men love to play cards, you know, bet on horses, you get the idea, don't you?

  Jacqueline : Not being a horse, I'm afraid not.

  Laroque : You really are clever! Really!

• Laroque : I shouldn't like to see a great French lady on the floor.

  Jacqueline : Now, you're being nasty to me again. And I don't want you to be nasty to me.

• Jacqueline : I've been a good comrade of yours, haven't I?

  Laroque : Oh, truly, you have. Certainly! But, when you fill yourself up with that infernal absinthe, you're so contradictory. First you tell me one thing and then you tell me another. Now, I don't care who you were, you understand? Only, baby, it's not nice to lie to me.

  Jacqueline : I don't lie to you. I never have.

• Jacqueline : I'm as common as you are, Laroque. I-I-I hope it won't hurt your feelings any if I say that, heaven knows that's common enough. Where's - where's my bottle? Get my bottle.

• Jacqueline : A lady?

  [laughs] 

  Jacqueline : Me, a lady? Why you poor fool, I was born in the gutter and to the gutter I shall return, if I haven't already done so!

• Jacqueline : You're too young to understand my position. My life has become such a hopeless tangle - that prison, death, anything is better than the life I've been living.