The Silver Cord (1933)

Joel McCrea: David Phelps

Photos 

Quotes 

• Mrs. Phelps : I used to watch David and Robert's photographs, just as I did their weight. I felt that I wanted a record of the development of their little minds and souls, as well as, their bodies. So, they were photographed every three months until they were 12 years old.

  Hester : Good heavens! What an awful lot of photographs.

  David Phelps : Now mother will be getting out the old family album. I remember one of me sitting in a shell.

  Christina Phelps : In the nude?

• Christina Phelps : Oh, Dave, it looks as though this experiment's really coming out right. Aren't you happy?

  David Phelps : You bet I am. Say, how about a slight demonstration of affection?

  [Christina gives him a long kiss] 

  David Phelps : Mmm. Not bad for a cold blooded scientist.

• Hester : Hello. You're David and Christina, aren't you? I'm Hester.

  David Phelps : You're not. Well. Look, Chris. Here's Hester, who's going to marry my brother, Rob.

  Christina Phelps : Isn't she lovely.

  [reaches out to hold Hester's hands] 

  Hester : I think you're dears, both of you.

  [kisses Christina on the lips] 

• David Phelps : Isn't it about time you let go of mother's apron strings?

• David Phelps : I hope you're going to behave. You ought to be ashamed - when you know how much my mother means to me.

  Christina Phelps : Your mother! Your mother! Always your mother!

• Mrs. Phelps : Now, isn't your mother your best friend?

  David Phelps : You bet you are, Mommy.

  Mrs. Phelps : Oh, how long its been since you've called me that. Bless you my dear, dear boy

  [leans down to David lying in his bed and kisses him on the lips] 

• David Phelps : The whole purpose of this visit was to bring you and mother together. To prove to mother that a lady scientist may not be as bad as she sounds.

• Christina Phelps : You won't listen. You can't even hear me.

  David Phelps : I can hear you and a worst line of hooey I've never listened to in all my life.

• David Phelps : What do you expect me to say?

  Christina Phelps : I don't know. I've never known. That's been the thrill of it.

• David Phelps : If you'd only leave things be, they'll be all right, you may believe it or not.

  Christina Phelps : I can't believe it and I can't leave things be.

• David Phelps : You scared me to death.

  Mrs. Phelps : I scare myself sometimes.