American in Paris, An quotes

View Quote Henri Baurel: Let's just say I'm old enough to know what to do with my young feelings.

View Quote Adam: [looking at a photo of Henri's 19-year-old girlfriend] Shocking degenerate.
Henri: She was a little girl then. We only became in love after she left.
Adam: She's a little young for you, isn't she kid?
Henri: She has great vitality, joi de vivre, she loves to go out and have fun and dance. She would dance all night...She's an enchanting girl, Adam. Not really beautiful. And yet, she has great beauty.

View Quote Adam: I told you this sponsoring business was complicated. You see what happens today? Women act like men and want to be treated like women.
Jerry: What gets me is, I don't know anything about her [Lise]. We manage to be together for a few moments and then off she goes. Sometimes we have a wonderful time together and other times it's no fun at all. But I got to be with her.

View Quote Henri: [to Jerry] So be happy! You only find the right woman once.
Adam: That many times?

View Quote Jerry: I see it's a formal brawl after all.
Milo: What makes you think that?
Jerry: Well, the more formal the party is, the less you have to wear.
Milo: Oh, no. You're quite wrong. It's most informal.
Jerry: Where is everybody?
Milo: Here.
Jerry: Downstairs?
Milo: No. Here in this room.
Jerry: What about that extra girl?
Milo: Ha, ha. That's me.
Jerry: Ohhh! You mean the party's just you and me.
Milo: That's right.
Jerry: Oh I see. Why that's kind of a little joke, isn't it?
Milo: In a way.
Jerry: You must be out of your mink-lined head. I know I need dough but I don't need it this badly. If you're hard up for companionship, there are guys in town that do this kind of thing for a living. Call one of them.
Milo: I'm simply interested in your work and I want to get to know you better. Now is that such a crime?...I want to help you. I think you have a great deal of talent. Now it doesn't hurt to have somebody rooting for you, does it?

View Quote Jerry: It's got to be when I'm ready, when my stuff is good enough to show to the public and the critics...I'm not manufacturing paper cups.
Milo: Look, you're a painter and a good one. I happen to have a little drive. That's a good combination. Besides, you have to face the critics sometime.

View Quote Jerry: That's, uh, quite a dress you almost have on. What holds it up?
Milo: Modesty.

View Quote Jerry: What about you? Aren't you sick of The Life and Times of Mulligan?
Lise: I'd rather listen to you. I don't like to talk about myself.
Jerry: Oh, you're going to have to get over that.
Lise: Why?
Jerry: Well, uh, with a binding like you've got, people are going to want to know what's in the book.
Lise: What does that mean?
Jerry: Well, uh, primarily it means you're a very pretty girl.
Lise: I am?
Jerry: Yes, you are.
Lise: How do you know?
Jerry: I, uh, heard it on the radio.
Lise: Making fun of me.
Jerry: Doesn't everybody tell you that?
Lise: I haven't been out with many people. And always friends.
Jerry: Honey, believe me. I'm no enemy...Lise, I don't know whether you're a girl of mystery or just a still water that doesn't run deep, but there's one thing I can tell you. I'd been around sooner, you'd know by now that you're very pretty and I'm not making fun with you.

View Quote Lise: Oh Jerry. It's so dreadful standing next to you like this, and not having your arms around me.
Jerry: You'll always be standing next to me Lise.
Lise: Maybe not always. Paris has ways of making people forget.
Jerry: Paris? No, not this city. It's too real and too beautiful. It never lets you forget anything. It reaches in and opens you wide, and you stay that way. I know. I came to Paris to study and to paint because Utrillo did, and Lautrec did, and Roualt did. I loved what they created, and I thought something would happen to me, too. Well, it happened all right. Now what have I got left? Paris. Maybe that's enough for some but it isn't for me anymore because the more beautiful everything is, the more it will hurt without you.
Lise: Jerry. Don't let me leave you this way.

View Quote Milo: I want to bring you to the attention of the important dealers. They know me. I'm a big customer. We have a large collection at home. I could sponsor you, talk about you, encourage you, and then when you've done enough canvasses, I could arrange for your first show. That is, if you'll let me.
Jerry: Sounds great, but, uh, what's in it for you?
Milo: Well, just the excitement of helping somebody I believe in and finding out if I'm right.

View Quote [Narrating, guiding the viewer to find himself in a Paris street] No, that's not me. He's too happy.

View Quote [teasing Jerry about Milo] Tell me, when you get married, will you keep your maiden name?

View Quote [to Jerry, after he has flattered and kissed her] I feel like a woman for a change.

View Quote [to Jerry, after they break up] If it means anything to you, I love you.

View Quote [to Jerry, explaining her name] As in Venus de.