Beau James (1957)

Bob Hope: Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker

Photos 

Quotes 

• Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : Goodbye... but remember this: the voters always get what they deserve. I wasn't the only chump in this city. It took a lot of you to elect me.

• Allie Walker : You've had a drink.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : It's a free country.

  Allie Walker : There is such a thing as prohibition.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : All right, so it isn't a free country. Let's drink to that, and to the republic for which it stands.

• Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : [after hearing about the stock market crash in 1929]  Macarthur, I've only got one rule about money. If you have to worry about it, don't have any.

  Arthur Julian : Well, Jimmy, you don't have to worry about it anymore.

• Flower Woman : Buy a flower for luck.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : Can't have too much luck. I'll take two of 'em.

  [He puts one in the woman's hair] 

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : Hazy, takes only a rose in your hair to make you the queen of Tralee.

  Flower Woman : Save it! I vote the straight socialist ticket.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : Some days it's hardly worthwhile being Irish.

• Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : There's three things a man has to do by himself - be born, die, and testify. One down and two to go.

• Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : I'll match my private life with any man's.

  Charley Hand : Any man's - like Henry the Eighth?

• Charley Hand : You're a married man. Worse than that, you're a married mayor.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : Allie and I are only united in the holy bond of politics, Charley. You'll find there's nothing holier than that.

• Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : I'm giving up politics and I'm going back into show business.

  Allie Walker : You don't know the difference.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : Does anybody?

• Allie Walker : Chris Nolan phoned me.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : From my phone, no doubt.

  Allie Walker : Sometimes you have to play along to get ahead.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : Why get ahead?

  Allie Walker : You haven't changed, have you?

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : No, I'm still the fun-loving rover boy.

• Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : [Before his first public appearance with Betty]  You're trembling.

  Betty Compton : Why, it's cold out here.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : This is nothing. Wait'll you get inside.

• Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : This town would corrupt the angels.

• Allie Walker : A lot of people think our marriage broke up because there weren't any children. But they were wrong. There was always one around the house.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : And now you wanna turn him into a man.

  Allie Walker : Why not? He'll never make a husband.

• Allie Walker : Aren't you taking a lot for granted? You didn't get enough votes to carry the bedroom - not for a while.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : I thought once I was mayor, I'd be off probation. You holding out for the presidency?

• Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : Charley, how'd you like to work for the new administration?

  Charley Hand : Come on, you didn't even get my vote.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : I need a second opinion.

  Charley Hand : What do you want an enemy in your own office for?

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : I just got a look at my friends. Come around and see me. Everyone else will.

• Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : [Entering the mayor's office after his election]  I've never seen a room this size without a floor show.

  Charley Hand : It's got one now.

• Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : And remember, you can't really run a city on brotherly love - not even Philadelphia.

• Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : Did you get ahold of Judge Harrison?

  Spectator : ....He took 200 grand from his bank account and headed for Mexico. Your old professor.

• Reporter : I've made it clear to Mayor Walker that I have no strings and no political allegiance. If anyone gets out of line, no matter what his connections. I'm throwing the book at him. Good day.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : Bye

  Spectator : Who recommended that guy, the Republican National Committee?

• Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : Get Wilson to open up all my records for the court. They'll answer for every nickel and dime.

  Spectator : Wilson? He's on the Mauritania headed for Europe.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : Join the Party and see the world.

• Allie Walker : [to Jimmy, before he leaves their dinner table to take the stage]  Jim, suppose I ask you not to go up there?

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : What?

  Allie Walker : Just leave New York with me now, and open up a grocery store somewhere. What would you... what would you say?

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : Leave New York? Where else is there?

• Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : I was raised in the Church, Chris. I wanna die n it.

  Spectator : Well, you're on your way.

• Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : I'll be home early.

  Chris Nolan : In case you forgot, the address is 6 St. Luke's Place.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : I know, I grew up there.

  Chris Nolan : You never grew up anywhere, Jim.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : Until today. I'm starting in two new jobs.

• Spectator : Who are you all of a sudden, George Washington?

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : No, but I'm the mayor - red nose, baggy pants, and all. I'm still the mayor. Tell the boys at the hall they could at least consult me before making out a list.

• Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : [to Chris Nolan]  I know you and your recordings. You've got one of Aimee Semple McPherson that ends with "Vote for three point two beer."

• Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : I never really wanted this job, but now that I've got it, if I ever knowingly do anything to hurt this city, I'm gonna turn in my uniform.

• Arthur Julian : And being honest, Jim, doesn't protect you from being stupid.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : Yeah, but if you're so clever, what are you doing working for a stupid mayor?

• Spectator : They're holding prayer meetings against you all over town. You're running second to Judas Iscariot.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : Look who I've got for a jockey.

• Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : Have you thought over what I asked?

  Allie Walker : No divorce. We were both married in the Church. We knew it was for life. Still is for me.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : Ours hasn't been a marriage for years, and you know it.

  Allie Walker : I haven't interfered in your personal life, have I, Jim? Don't destroy your public life.

• Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : [Walking in the St. Patrick's Day Parade, beside Chris Nolan]  If we can get by St. Patrick's without being struck my lightning, I may run for president.

• Chris Nolan : [Coaxing Jimmy to walk in the St. Patrick's Day Parade, to help FDR's candidacy]  He needs New York State. To carry the state, he needs New York City. Now you go out there and show 'em who owns it.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : Yeah, with 2,000 cops behind me, all of 'em out on bail. Look at 'em. Even the horses look like they're on the take.

• Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : [Appearing with his wife at the Albany hearing on his corruption charges]  You're a brave girl, Allie.

  Allie Walker : You're a lot of things, and I've called you all of them. But you're not a thief, and I'll fight any who says... .

• Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : I was reelected because I told the public I was honest. I might as well tell the truth about everything.

• Chris Nolan : I'll give your regards to Broadway, Jim.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : What makes you think you'll still be here?

  Chris Nolan : I'm always here. It's the glory boys like you that come and go.

  Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker : Don't be so sure. The voters are wising up.