“What does she do?""She's a producer." Of course, in Los Angeles this doesn't mean much more than "she's a member of the human race.”

“Morris Weissman [on the phone, discussing casting for his movie]: "What about Claudette Colbert? She's British, isn't she? She sounds British. Is she, like, affected or is she British?”

“She preferred to be at the receiving end of envy than pity.”

“She said I'd poison his mind and make him a fascist.I said she'd poison his body and make him an addict.”

“Constance: Tell me, what happened to William's little maid? I never saw her again after that dinner.Mary Maceachran: Elsie? -- She's gone.Constance: Oh, it's a pity, really. I thought it was a good idea to have someone in the house who is actually sorry he's dead.”

“Los Angeles is a town where status is all and status is only given to success. Dukes and millionaires and playboys by the dozen may arrive and be glad-handed for a time, but they are unwise if they choose to live there because the town is, perhaps even creditably, committed to recognising only professional success, and nothing else, to be of lasting value. The burdensome obligation imposed on all its inhabitants is therefore to present themselves as successes, because otherwise they forfeit their right to respect in that environment ... There is no place in that town for the "interesting failure" or for anyone who is not determined on a life that will be shaped in a upward-heading curve.”

“Do you think he's the murderer?""It's worse than that -- he's an actor!”