The Palm Beach Story (1942)

Rudy Vallee: J.D. Hackensacker III

Photos 

Quotes 

• John D. Hackensacker III : That's one of the tragedies of this life - that the men who are most in need of a beating up are always enormous.

• Princess Centimillia : I'd marry Captain McGloo tomorrow, even with that name.

  John D. Hackensacker III : And divorce him the next month.

  Princess Centimillia : Nothing is permanent in this world - except for Roosevelt.

• John D. Hackensacker III : Do you happen to remember how much tip I gave the taxi driver?

  Gerry Jeffers : Well, I didn't see the coin, but from his face, I think it was ten cents.

  John D. Hackensacker III : Tipping is un-American.

• Gerry Jeffers : [Gerry has just found out that John is one of the richest men in the world]  I would step on your face!

  John D. Hackensacker III : That's quite all right, I rather enjoyed it.

  Gerry Jeffers : Twice!

  John D. Hackensacker III : You made quite an impression.

• John D. Hackensacker III : You don't marry someone you just met the day before; at least I don't.

  Princess Centimillia : But that's the only way, dear. If you get to know too much about them you'd never marry them.

• John D. Hackensacker III : [Referring to Gerry's husband, whom Gerry has claimed she is divorcing]  There is a name for such reptiles, but I won't sully this sweet ocean breeze by mentioning it. I may not be exactly in the best of shape, but if ever I meet this Mr... "Jeffers," I'll thrash him within an inch of his life.

  Gerry Jeffers : Oh, well then I hope you never meet him.

  John D. Hackensacker III : I suppose he's large?

  Gerry Jeffers : Well, he's not small...

  John D. Hackensacker III : That's one of the tragedies of this life - that the men who are *most* in need of a beating up are ALWAYS enormous.

• John D. Hackensacker III : Tipping is un-American.

• Princess Centimillia : Hello, Snoodles, where'd you get the pretty girl?

  John D. Hackensacker III : She calls me Snoodles.

• Gerry Jeffers : [Seeing Princess Centimilla and her male companion, Toto, for the first time]  Is that the Prince?

  John D. Hackensacker III : No. The Prince is all washed up. This is something new.

  Gerry Jeffers : He might be a Duke.

  John D. Hackensacker III : Might be her tailor, too. She goes out with anything.

• Princess Centimillia : [to "Capt. McGlew"/Tom Jeffers]  Are you still talking about that airport? You really take it on the chin, don't you?

  John D. Hackensacker III : Why not? If an idea has merit, it has merit. Sentiment and business don't belong in the same bed. After all, grandfather loathed oil, ya' know, it made his eyes water. But that didn't stop him from making millions out of it.

• J. D. Hackensacker III : Chivalry is not only dead, it's decomposed.

• John D. Hackensacker III : You know Maude, somebody meeting you for the first time, not knowing you were cracked, might get the wrong impression of you.

• John D. Hackensacker III : Staterooms are un-American.

• John D. Hackensacker III : No, I'm not my grandfather, of course. He's dead, anyway.

• Gerry Jeffers : You're not a burglar, are you?

  John D. Hackensacker III : Oh no, that was my grandfather. At least that's what they called him.

• Gerry Jeffers : [shopping for clothes, trying another outfit with long white gloves]  Do you like this one?

  John D. Hackensacker III : Oh its lovely - but aren't the sleeves a little short?

  Sales Clerk : [heavy French accent]  Oh that is for the bracelet Monsieur - that is what we call the bracelet length.

  John D. Hackensacker III : Oh - would you like a bracelet?

  Gerry Jeffers : [Sales clerk nudges her]  Wha... what kind of a bracelet do you mean?

  John D. Hackensacker III : Any kind you like.

  Gerry Jeffers : You mean with stones?

  Sales Clerk : Certainly with stones, they are all the rage!

  John D. Hackensacker III : Why not, what kind of stones do you like?

  Gerry Jeffers : Well...

  Sales Clerk : Red - that is all the rage!

  John D. Hackensacker III : You mean like garnets?

  Gerry Jeffers : Don't you think garnets are a little lifeless?

  John D. Hackensacker III : Oh...