Hotel (1967)

Melvyn Douglas: Warren Trent

Quotes 

• Peter McDermott : How do you feel?

  Warren Trent : LIke a man trying to hold up his britches with one hand and climb a tree with the other.

• Curtis O'Keefe : Old style hospitality doesn't count any more. Oh, a few of the smaller houses might hand on to that, but, a big house like yours has to compete. And you can't compete, unless you think the way I do.

  Warren Trent : I'll continue to think for myself for awhile. There's still plenty of people who like to travel first class.

  Curtis O'Keefe : First class is dead, Warren. Finished! First class means traveling for the pleasure of traveling. The jet plane killed all that. The great luxury trains are gone. The big ships are designed for tourist class. The highways are jammed. There is no pleasure in the act of traveling any more.

• Curtis O'Keefe : I have a blue print for the future. A completely automated hotel. Your baggage will arrive by high-speed conveyor. Everything will be done by conveyor. Room service, laundry, valet, even the bill, will be presented by conveyor.

  Warren Trent : You're talking about a hotel for automatons with punch card brains and lubricants for blood. No, no. There'll still be people Curtis. And there'll still be innkeepers with pride in their houses and a personal interest in their guests. The Saint Gregory will still be here.

  Curtis O'Keefe : If it's still here, it won't be the same.

  Warren Trent : The same.

• Bailey : [on the phone]  Sir, I've got a bit of a problem down here.

  Warren Trent : I'm busy. Get Pete.

  Bailey : Pete isn't here right now. There's a colored couple here with a confirmed reservation.

  Warren Trent : Bailey, I don't have to tell you the policy of this Hotel. You've known it for 20 years.

• Peter McDermott : Bailey just told me about the negro couple you turned away. Now, I want to... find them and give them a room.

  Warren Trent : What?

  Peter McDermott : We've been over this a dozen times. You knew it was going to happen sooner or later. You promised me you'd roll with this.

  Warren Trent : Well, I'm not gonna roll with it until they make me. Why, I'd lose all my own standbys if I started lettin' colored people in the Hotel.

  Peter McDermott : We've got statistics on all of these segged hotels. Their clientele hasn't changed one half of one percent!

  Warren Trent : Now, look, Pete...

  Peter McDermott : Now, Warren! If this is a civil rights action it'll be all over the newspapers tomorrow. Laswell's union has a large membership of negroes. He can't put money into a business were they turn negroes away! He's gonna blow the whistle on our deal.

  Warren Trent : Well, why weren't you here to handle it for me? You know I don't understand things like unions, civil rights, indoor ballgames, I don't understand the whole damn world anymore. That's what I don't understand.