Stage Fright (1950)

Jane Wyman: Eve Gill

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Eve Gill : I appreciate you, father. You and Captain Kidd are my favorite heroes.

  Commodore Gill : My child, I am not deceived. If there's one thing I cannot bear, it's insincerity.

• Eve Gill : I'm an actress. I ought to face up to all sorts of experiences, oughtin' I?

  Det. Insp. Wilfred 'Ordinary' Smith : Oh, I don't know. Supposing I happened to be a - a librarian? A librarian doesn't have to encounter much violence except an occasional encyclopedia falling on his head.

  Eve Gill : But, you're not a librarian. Are you?

  Det. Insp. Wilfred 'Ordinary' Smith : No, I'm not. How do you know?

  Eve Gill : You just don't look like a librarian.

  Det. Insp. Wilfred 'Ordinary' Smith : You don't look like an actress.

  Eve Gill : Oh? I thought I did.

• Eve Gill : I can't tell you how much I appreciate this. You've been extraordinarily kind and you know nothing whatsoever about me.

  Det. Insp. Wilfred 'Ordinary' Smith : Oh, I don't know, Miss Gill. You were born in South Africa, the 17th of September, wasn't it? You're educated in America and now you're studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. Your mother and father don't live together. You were a very well behaved young lady until today. But, you're allergic to murder and that drove you to drink. I hope its only temporary.

  Eve Gill : But, I don't even know your name.

• Det. Insp. Wilfred 'Ordinary' Smith : My name is Smith.

  Eve Gill : Just, ordinary Smith?

• Eve Gill : When we were in the taxi together I felt as though I were on a great golden cloud.

• Eve Gill : There's nothing the matter with your reputation!

  Commodore Gill : Oh, indeed? I'd rather flattered myself that there was...

• Det. Insp. Wilfred 'Ordinary' Smith : I once had a cousin who had an ulcer and an extremely funny face, both at the same time. Everybody laughed at him when he was telling his symptoms. His name was Jim.

  Eve Gill : That must've been terrible!

  Det. Insp. Wilfred 'Ordinary' Smith : Oh, I don't know, Jim is quite a common name.

• Eve Gill : I played the fourth deadly sin.

  Det. Insp. Wilfred 'Ordinary' Smith : Were you good?

  Eve Gill : I was... pretty deadly.

• Commodore Gill : More than a friend, eh?

  Eve Gill : When I'm with him, I get a feeling in here that... that's sort of...

  Commodore Gill : Yes, well, we'll go into the symptoms later. Meanwhile, I take it you're either keen on him, or still hungry.

• [first lines] 

  Eve Gill : Any sign of the police?

  Jonathan Cooper : No, no sign. Looks like we're getting away with it.

  Eve Gill : Good.

  Jonathan Cooper : How far is it to your father's boat?

  Eve Gill : Two hours, with luck. You're luck seems to be very good. Touching wood.

• Jonathan Cooper : Eve, do you hate me? Now that you know about Charlotte and me?

  Eve Gill : Why, I could never hate you Jonathan; because, we're - we're such old friends. And - well, just because. But, I do wish I'd taken lessons on the second fiddle.

• Eve Gill : I hear that Charlotte Inwood's going back into the show in a couple of days. It must be dreadful to sing and dance and be gay with that horrible picture still burning in one's mind.

• Eve Gill : I do still feel a bit wobbly.

• Eve Gill : And I could take your place.

  Nellie Goode : You'd never get away with it. What makes you think you could be a maid?

  Eve Gill : Well, it would only be for a day or two.

  Nellie Goode : You'd have to be a dresser down at the theater, too. You couldn't do that. That's very highly skilled work.

  Eve Gill : Well, I could if you told me how.

• Nellie Goode : It sounds phony to me. All this trouble, just to get a newspaper story?

  Eve Gill : Well, we women reporters have a tough job competing with the men, especially on important stories like this.

• Eve Gill : I could do it, really I could. I've done a bit of acting.

  Nellie Goode : Character acting?

  Eve Gill : Yes.

  Nellie Goode : I see. All you got to do is put on some of your old clothes and make yourself look common like me.

• Eve Gill : My Dad says that man on the run might turn up here. Might even get into the dressing room. Might even murder me, madame.

  Charlotte Inwood : The scene of the crime, the murderer returns to - not the theater.

• Eve Gill : I have to phone Smith tomorrow. Why don't I invite him to the theatrical garden party with me? I have to sell programs there.

  Commodore Gill : I don't quite follow you, my dear Holmes.

  Eve Gill : In order to make him see! Nobody suspects our Charlotte yet. And they've got to!

• Eve Gill : After all, there must be a lot that doesn't appear on the surface. I mean, like wheels within wheels. Who - who knows what goes on in a woman's mind? I don't know.

• Charlotte Inwood : Oh, this is a pleasure. Where have you been? I thought you were dead.

  Eve Gill : Oh, no, Madame. I wasn't. As a matter of fact...

  Charlotte Inwood : You needn't go into detail, darling. I hope you're not going to turn into one of those explicit people who always tell you exactly how they feel when you ask them.

• Charlotte Inwood : Darling! Whatever happened to that peculiar figure of your's?

  Eve Gill : It's a new dress, Madame.

  Charlotte Inwood : Keep it, dear. What it does for you is worth thousands.

• Eve Gill : No matter how my feelings toward him change, I still can't let Jonathan down, can I?

  Commodore Gill : Not while he's hiding in our house.

• Charlotte Inwood : We may never see each other again. Ships that pass in or something or other. I like you. You're so very sweet and patient. I don't suppose I'm easy to get along with.

  Eve Gill : Oh, but you are, Madame. It's been wonderful working with you. And I do love the theater so.

  Charlotte Inwood : I don't see why. It's an awful life, really. Here darling, a little something extra for you.

  [hands "Doris" a few pounds] 

  Eve Gill : I couldn't, Madame, honestly.

  Charlotte Inwood : Don't be an idiot. Put it in the bank or go out and get drunk or something.

• Eve Gill : Do you think I've behaved like a fool?

  Commodore Gill : On the whole, I think so. I think your boyfriend has behaved like a fool. I have a strong premonition that I'm going to behave like a fool. It's infectious.