The Earrings of Madame De... (1953)

Charles Boyer: Général André de...

Photos 

Quotes 

• Général André de... : Unhappiness is our own invention. At times I'm sad that I lack the imagination for it.

• Général André de... : To please you, I forced myself to play a role I do not like.

• Général André de... : I'll tell you a secret. Our conjugal bliss is a reflection of ourselves. It's only superficially superficial.

• Général André de... : Napoleon was only wrong twice in his life: at Waterloo, and when he said, "The only victory in love is to flee."

• Lola : In just 15 minutes, I must begin to forget you. I hope it won't take too long.

  Général André de... : You're incredible. You would think it was I leaving you.

  Lola : One way of leaving a woman is to let her leave.

• Général André de... : Believe me, she'll find you very entertaining. But, I'm warning you: She's a incorrigible flirt.

  Baron Fabrizio Donati : Really?

  Général André de... : She' an expert at dashing men's hopes. You know, torture through hope.

• Général André de... : What are you suffering from exactly?

  Comtesse Louise de... : Humiliation.

  Général André de... : Nothing's more quickly cured.

• Général André de... : I'm not angry. I simply pity you. You're ill. You're not seeing clearly. You're trying to tun remorse into memories.

• Général André de... : Our marriage is only superficially superficial.

• Général André de... : [Remy shows a pair of earrings]  What's that?

  Monsieur Rémy : I couldn't believe she'd sell them without your knowledge.

  Général André de... : Sell them?

  Monsieur Rémy : I thought that by buying them...

  Général André de... : What are you saying, Monsieur Remy?

  Monsieur Rémy : I thought I was doing both of you a favor.

  Général André de... : I don't follow, Monsieur Remy. I sometimes do favors for others but I avoid letting others do them for me.

  Monsieur Rémy : A good policy.

• Général André de... : [Angrily, as the jeweler, Monsieur Remy, tries to sell him the wife's earrings for a fourth time]  Don't bother me with those infernal earrings!

• Général André de... : We'll be dining at home.

  Comtesse Louise de... : Why? All your friends are waiting.

  Général André de... : Your suitors annoy me. Each by himself is a bore. Together, they're insufferable.

• Opera Patron : Mr. Paramere wishes me to ask you a question.

  Général André de... : Ask away. I love questions.

  Opera Patron : He feels that while looking for those earrings, you gave his wife a rather unpleasant stare.

  Général André de... : Meaning I suspected she stole them?

  Opera Patron : I wouldn't go that far.

  Général André de... : Good. Tell him he should have chosen a less attractive wife and that I've often caught him looking at my wife, yet surely he never suspected her of theft.

• Comtesse Louise de... : Let's never speak of it again, all right?

  Général André de... : Never! What's done is done.

• Général André de... : I'd appreciate it if you didn't let your fainting spells go on so long. They've never exceeded three minutes before, as befits a woman of your breeding.

• Baron Fabrizio Donati : I beg your pardon for this morning. I'm not a very good horseman.

  Général André de... : It didn't show. You pranced like D'Artagnan himself.

• Général André de... : You know, I appreciate your considering going away. Of course, only a woman of your good breeding would think of it.

• Général André de... : Women are all the same, my friend. The simplest things become mysteries.

• Général André de... : Give me those earrings.

  Comtesse Louise de... : Why?

  Général André de... : You have your secrets and I have mine.

• Général André de... : Constantinople?

  Baron Fabrizio Donati : Yes.

  Général André de... : Beautiful city. Beautiful women. Beautiful jewels.

• Général André de... : You understand, my friend, that it's incompatible with your dignity and mine for my wife to accept a gift of such value from you. Of course, I don't know just how intimate a confidant you are.

• Général André de... : Enough playacting. Learn to hide your feelings as well as you lie.

  Comtesse Louise de... : Why did you ask for my earrings?

  Général André de... : Let's go to the theater. I hear Sarah Bernhardt is wonderful.

• Général André de... : There was camaraderie, even gaiety between us.