The Gypsy Moths (1969)

Gene Hackman: Joe Browdy

Photos 

Quotes 

• V. John Brandon : What I don't understand is, why you do this thing at all.

  Joe Browdy : To me, it's a business.

  V. John Brandon : And you, Mr. Rettig? What's it to you? If you don't mind my asking.

  Mike Rettig : I had a friend in the Army, a sergeant, a parachutist for about twenty years. He used to say that jumping was not only a way to live, but also a way to die. Damn few things are.

• Joe Browdy : We'll be jumping from a Howard DGA-15. "DGA": that stands for "Damn Good Airplane", which if course it is. Very tricky to land though. Heh heh. You're much better off jumping out if it than you are taking a chance on landing in it. This one's in good shape.

  Malcolm Webson : To Browdy, a airplane is in good shape if it has wings and a prop.

• Joe Browdy : Look, kid, this is a business. They don't pay to watch us walk across the street. Now, when are yuh gonna get that through your head? If you're so concerned with Rettig doing the jump, I mean, you can learn it yourself. Then you wouldn't have to worry about him.

  Malcolm Webson : I have a better idea. Why don't you do it?

  Joe Browdy : Because I recognize my limitations. It's the secret to my success in life.

• Joe Browdy : Hey Kid... Next time you get in an airplane, make sure it's got a door on it!

• Malcolm Webson : [Browdy has dropped Malcolm off at the train station]  What are you going to do, Browdy?

  Joe Browdy : Well, I thought I might head west. I've been thinking about that a lot lately... I think I might just head west. But you never can tell what might turn up. Right?

  Malcolm Webson : You don't mind my not staying, do you? For tomorrow? I...

  Joe Browdy : Get lost, will ya'?

  [Malcolm turns and heads into the station] 

  Joe Browdy : Hey, kid? Next time you get in an airplane, make sure it's got a door on it.

  [Browdy grins and drives off] 

• Joe Browdy : You just describe what you see and add a little color. Use your imagination.

  Dick Donford : [from the local radio station]  All right. I've done a lot of sports events, you know, basketball games - that sort of stuff.

  Joe Browdy : That's right, just call it like a basketball game.

• Joe Browdy : [over the public address system about his costume which fell off during a skydive]  Oh, uh, incidentally, there's a reward for that, uh, jump suit. Anybody finding that jump suit gets a free parachute jump.

  [there are groans and chuckles from the crowd] 

• V. John Brandon : Pays well, then, this sort of thing?

  Joe Browdy : If we make it interesting enough.

  Elizabeth Brandon : Oh? How do you do that?

  Joe Browdy : Make it interesting?

  Elizabeth Brandon : Yes, I mean, I shouldn't think you'd have to do anything in particular to make it more interesting than it is to begin with.

  Mike Rettig : What Browdy means is the closer we come to the ground - the more interesting it is for the customers. And for us too, of course.

  Elizabeth Brandon : [pause]  How terrifying.

• V. John Brandon : Are you a religious man, Mr. Browdy?

  Joe Browdy : What's religion have to do with it?

• Joe Browdy : I'll tell you one thing, though: She's one good-looking woman. Class.

• Joe Browdy : [observing a stripper at "The Paradise"]  That doesn't look like small-town stuff to me.

• V. John Brandon : "He is at liberty to die, who does not wish to live."

  Mike Rettig : Do you believe that?

  Joe Browdy : That's dead wrong.

• Joe Browdy : You gonna come out tomorrow and watch us jump?

  Waitress : Jump what?

• Joe Browdy : What is your name?

  Waitress : Mary.

  Joe Browdy : You're kidding?

  Waitress : No. And if you say anything about my being contrary or how my garden grows, I scream.

  Joe Browdy : I love her, I really do. Will you marry me?

• Waitress : Oooh, you're them!

  Joe Browdy : Yeah, we're them!