Trapeze (1956)

Burt Lancaster: Mike Ribble

Photos 

Quotes 

• Tino Orsini : You know, I always modeled my style after yours.

  Mike Ribble : You'll always be a second-rater. Make your own style!

• Mike Ribble : Why do you think I've always wanted a two-act? Because one flies and one catches - and no one comes between.

• Mike Ribble : You think they'll pay more to see her in spangles than they would to see a triple? Well, you're wrong!

  Bouglione : I fill my circus in my way or I empty it in my way. In my circus there's room for *only* my way.

• Mike Ribble : [chugs a glass of beer]  You'll never throw a triple! You know why? Because you drink too much!

  [grabs Tino's beer and drinks it] 

• Mike Ribble : Are you happy with Chikki?

  Rosa O'Flynn : I'm not unhappy. Eat the soup.

  Mike Ribble : Stop mothering me.

  Rosa O'Flynn : Why? Isn't that what all loves come to?

• Mike Ribble : When circus was real, flying was a religion. Now what have you got? Pink lights, ballet girls, blue sawdust. A lot of hoopla!

• Mike Ribble : Boy, next time you try a double, get that time right. Their's a clock inside you, always knows what time it is. Keep it tickin' alongside of mine. We'll never get a triple until we keep the same time.

• Lola : My style is okay?

  Mike Ribble : On a rope there's nothing I can teach you.

  Lola : [seductively]  I want to *learn* all I can.

• Mike Ribble : Paul, a small bottle of brandy.

  Paul : Brandy?

  Mike Ribble : And a couple of cups.

  Paul : 400 francs.

  Mike Ribble : Shh. I'll pay you tomorrow.

  Paul : Maybe I'm dead tomorrow.

  Mike Ribble : I'll put the money in your coffin.

• Lola : How do you like my costume?

  Mike Ribble : That's an awful lot of spangles.

  Lola : It's for opening night. I wanted to make sure it wouldn't split. It would be terrible if something happened in front of all those people.

• Mike Ribble : [to Lola]  Let's you and I drink to Ribble and Orsini, the first pure act in years.

  Bouglione : Let's hope the public like it. They never asked for purity before.

• Mike Ribble : You think we could work well together?

  Lola : I know we could.

  Mike Ribble : Can you stand heights?

  Lola : The higher the better.

  Mike Ribble : How are your wrists?

  Lola : Strong enough.

  Mike Ribble : Legs?

  Lola : I was always strong in the legs.

  Mike Ribble : How about your hocks?

  Lola : What?

  Mike Ribble : Here.

  [feels down on part of Lola's leg] 

  Lola : Fine.

  Mike Ribble : You'll really fly high?

  Lola : Because I'm not afraid of - anything.

• Mike Ribble : Our act's pretty dangerous.

  Lola : I don't care how dangerous, so long as I am with the best. With you, for example.

• Bouglione : I give you my word, the act will be improved.

  Mike Ribble : Improved? By a dame? I'm tryin' to give you a pure trapeze act...

  Bouglione : I know all about your act, its purity, its perfection. I also know what the public wants.

• Mike Ribble : Come on, we'll work on a new trick.

  Lola : What we try?

• [last lines] 

  Mike Ribble : Now that he's got it, don't let him lose it.

• Mike Ribble : Last night. How do I explain last night?