Van Heflin

“When I was in 'Philadelphia Story' I got Joe Cotten to pick out my clothes. He loves clothes and he knows them; never gets the wrong tie and shirt combination.”

“Believe me, you're shooting dice every time you do a part.”

“Entertainment is a good enough product to sell on its own merits. Why should it be given away free to help somebody sell tires or toothpaste?”

“I read scripts movie, TV and theater. I read every novel that is published. I read every book that comes out on the theater or the movies, including the technical ones.”

“The hard part of not working is occupying the mind. If an actor doesn't work, he grows stale.”

“Every film is a comeback, no matter what I did the last time.”

“I think television will do the same thing to radio that talkies did to silent movies.”

“Most fellows learned something about dressing in college. But my fraternity made me stay in the basement whenever we gave a dance.”

“What I like about the independent field is that an actor can pick his roles and his stories and do them without anyone always telling him what he can and can't do.”

“I try to acquire some new approach with each role in order to build up a varied acting technique.”

“If you don't have that indefinable unique personality, you must learn as much as possible about acting in a variety of roles. That's why, at the outset of my career, I decided to learn every facet of my profession.”

“I get $100,000 a picture and if I don't work, that means that's $100,000 I don't make.”

“Too many women without sufficient interest in the home to occupy their time drift into the habit of three-hour lunches with their friends, followed by fashion shows, matinees and shopping sprees.”

“I believe all conscientious actors feel the same way - that there is too much hurry-scurry in TV to permit a sufficient amount of rehearsal time.”

“Sure, I could retire anytime. I don't need to work for money. But retire to what? Sitting around the pool reading? Or even trout fishing. I love trout fishing, and I go every time I get a chance. But a man with pride in his profession need to work.”

“I don't believe in letting the advertising business get a stranglehold on the entertainment industry.”

“I was a 'name' in Europe because the type of picture I appeared in and the characters I played had a special appeal for them.”

“I certainly don't approve of American actors who go to Europe and run down Hollywood.”

“A lot of Europeans have done this, worked with American stars, and become identified over here.”

“I don't think it's fair to a family to uproot them simply because it's profitable for you to do so.”