Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

Sidney Poitier: John Prentice

Photos 

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Quotes 

• John : You listen to me. You say you don't want to tell me how to live my life. So what do you think you've been doing? You tell me what rights I've got or haven't got, and what I owe to you for what you've done for me. Let me tell you something. I owe you nothing! If you carried that bag a million miles, you did what you're supposed to do! Because you brought me into this world. And from that day you owed me everything you could ever do for me like I will owe my son if I ever have another. But you don't own me! You can't tell me when or where I'm out of line, or try to get me to live my life according to your rules. You don't even know what I am, Dad, you don't know who I am. You don't know how I feel, what I think. And if I tried to explain it the rest of your life you will never understand. You are 30 years older than I am. You and your whole lousy generation believes the way it was for you is the way it's got to be. And not until your whole generation has lain down and died will the dead weight of you be off our backs! You understand, you've got to get off my back! Dad... Dad, you're my father. I'm your son. I love you. I always have and I always will. But you think of yourself as a colored man. I think of myself as a man. Now, I've got a decision to make, hm? And I've got to make it alone, and I gotta make it in a hurry. So would you go out there and see after my mother?

• John : How do you do, Miss Binks?

  Tillie : I got somethin' to say to you, boy. Just exactly what you tryin' to pull here?

  John : I'm not trying to pull *anything*. I was lookin' to find me a wife.

  Tillie : Ain't that just likely! You wanna answer me somethin'? What kind of doctor you supposed to be, anyhow?

  John : Would you believe horse?

  Tillie : Oh! You make with witticisms and all, huh? Well let me tell you somethin'. You may *think* you're foolin' Miss Joey and her folks, but you ain't foolin' me for a minute. You think I don't see what you are? You're one of those smooth-talkin', smart-ass niggers, just out for all you can get, with your Black Power all that other troublemakin' nonsense. And you listen here. I brought up that child from a baby in her cradle, and ain't *nobody* gonna harm her done while I'm here watchin'. And as long as *you* are *anywhere* around this house, I'm right here watchin'. You read me, boy? You bring any trouble in here you just like to find out what Black Power *really* means! And furthermore to that, you ain't even all that good-lookin'!

• John Prentice : Dad... You're my father. I'm your son. I love you. I always have, and I always will. But you think of yourself as a colored man. I think of myself as a man.

• John : After all, a lot of people are going to think we are a shocking pair.

• [first lines] 

  John : You know, I just had a thought. Why don't I go check into a hotel and get some rest, and you go find your folks?

• John : [on phone]  Dad, there's... one or two problems, you see... that I'll write to you about on the plane to New York tonight, alright?

• Matt Drayton : Have you given any thought to the problems your children are going to have?

  John : Yes. And they'll have some. And we'll have the children. Otherwise i don't know what you would call it, but you couldn't call it a marriage.

  Matt Drayton : Is that the way Joey feels?

  John : She feels that every single one of our children will be president of the United States and they'll all have colorful administrations. Well, you made her, Mr. Drayton. I just met her in Hawaii.

  Matt Drayton : But how do you feel about that problem?

  John : Well, frankly, I think your daughter is a bit optimistic. I'd settle for Secretary of State.

• Joanna Drayton : Oh, John. Come meet Tillie. Tillie, this is Dr. Prentice. John, Miss Matilda Binks.

  John : Pleased to meet you, Miss Binks. I've certainly heard a great deal about you.

  Tillie : What are you doing home unexpected? Your folks didn't know you was coming. You told them you're back already?

  Joanna Drayton : I left a message for Mom at the gallery. Oh, it's lovely to see you Tillie! I missed you!

  Tillie : You still ain't told me why you're home early. You want those bags to go upstairs?

  John : Not my two. I'm not staying.

  Joanna Drayton : It's personal reasons Tillie. I'll tell you all about it.

  Tillie : You eat any lunch yet, or you expecting it now?

  Joanna Drayton : Could you make us sandwiches and coffee? We'll have it on the terrace, ok?

  Tillie : Um...

  Joanna Drayton : Do you like it?

  John : It's beautiful.

• Joanna Drayton : Come out and look from the terrace.

  John : Oh!

  Joanna Drayton : What?

  John : Hey, who's that?

  Joanna Drayton : That's Dorothy. Isn't she a knockout? She helps Tillie during the week.

  John : Which days?

  Joanna Drayton : Never mind.

  John : Hey, you know, I ought to call my folks and get that out of the way.

  Joanna Drayton : Okay. Use the phone in the study. Are you going to introduce me?

  John : Not on the phone.

  Joanna Drayton : Aren't you going to tell them about me?

  John : I'd rather write to them.

  Joanna Drayton : I have to meet them, don't I? Before I come to Geneva? Or are we going to keep our marriage a secret from them?

  John : Why didn't I think of that? See, that's a thought.