The Last Tycoon (1976)

Jack Nicholson: Brimmer

Photos 

Quotes 

• Brimmer : [after punching Stahr unconscious]  I always wanted to hit ten million dollars.

• Monroe Stahr : Your name's well-known here.

  Brimmer : And yours is well-known in New York, Mr. Stahr.

  Cecilia Brady : [serving Monroe and Brimmer]  You have done well by water and you by land.

  Monroe Stahr : What?

  Cecilia Brady : Anthony and Cleopatra, didn't you recognize it?

  Monroe Stahr : Shakespeare? No, l didn't get any Shakespeare at school. How about you, Mr. Brimmer?

  Brimmer : Oh, a bit.

  Monroe Stahr : Where do you come from?

  Brimmer : Tennessee. Baptist.

  Monroe Stahr : l'm New York. Jewish.

  Brimmer : l know.

  Monroe Stahr : Oh, at least we're all Americans.

  Brimmer : We sure are, Mr. Stahr.

  [Monroe smiles and nods; Brimmer takes a sip from his coffee; Cecilia smiles and looks on the both men] 

  Brimmer : Well?

  Monroe Stahr : Well, l'm glad you came out here. l wanted to talk to you. You've got my writers all upset.

  Brimmer : Keeps them from going to sleep, doesn't it?

  Monroe Stahr : l want them awake, but l don't want them crazy.

  [Brimmer stretches himself comfortably on his chair] 

  Brimmer : Well, we're simply concerned that they have the proper protection, that's all.

  Monroe Stahr : [eyeing Brimmer irritably]  Who from, me?

  Brimmer : You're a very good employer, Mr. Stahr, but, uh... we still think that the position can be... rationalized.

  [smiles] 

  Monroe Stahr : l'll tell you three things: All writers are children. Fifty percent are drunks. And up till very recently, writers in Hollywood were gag-men; most of them are still gag-men, but we call them writers.

  Brimmer : [nods and smiles]  Uh-huh. But they're still the farmers in this business. They grow the grain, but they're not in at the feast.

  Monroe Stahr : This looks to me like a try for power, Mr. Brimmer, and I will not give them power. I'll give them money, I won't give them power. Anyway, they're not equipped for authority.

  [Cecilia continues to look on the two; Brimmer laughes] 

  Cecilia Brady : More coffee, Mr. Brimmer?

  Brimmer : No, thank you.