The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)

Edward Norton: Alan Isaacman

Photos 

Quotes 

• Isaacman : You don't see me running around, pissing off everybody we're trying to get to help us.

  Larry Flynt : Yeah, well, you can walk and you can fuck and I'm in this chair! And I got money, okay, and I got money and that gives me the power to shake up this system.

  Isaacman : Well, find somebody else to help you the; because, this is not what I signed on for. I don't even know what we're engaged in anymore, Larry. If you get on that plane, I quit.

  Larry Flynt : Alan, don't be so melodramatic. You don't wanna quit me. I'm your dream client: I'm the most fun, I'm rich and I'm always in trouble.

• [Isaacman on the phone with Flynt] 

  Alan Isaacman : Listen, I'm sitting here with the eminently reasonable District Attorney of the state of Georgia.

  [Larry makes an off screen comment on the other end of the line] 

  Alan Isaacman : Right. He's very impressed by your conversion, he wants to cut us a plea bargain.

  Larry Flynt : A plea bargain? Because I've found God?

  Isaacman : Larry, listen to me for a second: Don't argue with me on this, ok. Just say yes because I've pulled a lot of strings to make this happen.

  Larry Flynt : Is he sitting there with you?

  Isaacman : Yes, he is.

  Larry Flynt : Would you do me a favor? Just tell that miserable old gray-haired bastard to go fuck himself, we're going to trial.

  Isaacman : Ok, right.

  Larry Flynt : Oh, and praise the lord.

• Alan Isaacman : Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you have heard a lot today, and I'm not gonna go back over it, but you have to go into that room and make some decisions. But before you do, there's something you need to know. I am not trying to suggest that you should like what Larry Flynt does. I don't like what Larry Flynt does, but what I do like is the fact that I live in a country where you and I can make that decision for ourselves. I like the fact that I live in a country where I can pick up Hustler magazine and read it, or throw it in the garbage can if that's where I think it belongs.

• Isaacman : Unpopular speech is absolutely vital to the health of our nation.

• Isaacman : Larry, thousands of people petition the Supreme Court, OK? Thousands.

  Larry Flynt : Yeah, and our case is as good as any.

  Isaacman : Our case is better than most, you're missing my point, and that is they will never pick you. Because you're a nightmare. They're afraid if they let you in there, you're gonna wear a diaper, or throw oranges at the justices, and they should be, Larry, because in all the times you've gone to the court asking for help, you've never once demonstrated any respect for its institutions and procedures.

• Isaacman : At the heart of the First Amendment is the recognition of the fundamental importance of the free flow of ideas, freedom to speak one's mind is not only an aspect of an individual liberty but is essential to the quest for truth and the vitality of society as a whole, in the world of debate about public affairs many things done with motives that are less than admirable are none of the less protected by the first amendment.

• Isaacman : [Addressing the Supreme Court]  Mr. Chief Justice and, may it please the court one of the cherished ideas, that we hold in this country is that there should be uninhibited public debate and freedom of speech. Now, the question you have before you today is whether a public' figure's right to protection from emotional distress should outweigh the public interest in allowing every citizen of this country to freely express his views.

  Chief Justice William Rehnquist : But, what was the view expressed in Exhibit A?

  Isaacman : Well, to begin with this is a parody of a known Campari ad.

  Chief Justice William Rehnquist : I understand. Go ahead.

  Isaacman : Okay. Also, and more importantly, it was a satire of a public figure, of Jerry Falwell. Who in this case, was really a prime candidate for such a satire, because he's such an unlikely person to appear in a liquor ad. This is a person we are used to seeing at the pulpit, Bible in hand, preaching with a famously beatific smile on his face

  Chief Justice William Rehnquist : But, what is the public interest you're describing? That there is some interest in making him look ludicrous?

  Isaacman : Yes. Yes, Your Honor, there is a public interest in making Jerry Falwell look ludicrous, insofar as there is a public interest in having Hustler magazine express the point of view, that Jerry Falwell is full of BS. And, Hustler magazine has every right to express this view! They have the right to say that somebody who has campaigned, actively against their magazine, who has told people not to buy it, who has publicly said it poisons the minds of Americans, who in addition has told people that sex out of wedlock is immoral, that they shouldn't drink. Hustler magazine has a First Amendment right, to publicly respond to these comments, by saying that Jerry Falwell is full of BS. It says let's deflate this stuffed shirt and bring him down to our level.Our level, in this case being, admittedly a lower level then most people would like to be brought to.

  [laughter] 

  Isaacman : I apologize, I know I'm not supposed to joke, but that's sort of the point.

  Justice Scalia : Mr. Isaacman, the First Amendment is not everything. I mean, it's a very important value, but it's not the only value in our society. What about another value that says good people, should be able to enter public life, and public service. The rule you give us says that if you stand for public office, or become a public figure in any way, you cannot protect yourself, or indeed your mother against a parody of you committing incest with her, in an outhouse? Now, do you think that George Washington would have stood for public office if that was the consequence?

  Isaacman : It's interesting you mentioned George Washington Justice Scalia because very recently I saw a political cartoon that's over two hundred years old it depicts George Washington riding on a donkey being led by a man and the caption suggests this man is leading an ass to Washington

  Justice Scalia : I can handle that, I think George can handle that but that's a far cry from committing incest with your mother in an outhouse. I mean, there's no line in-between the two?

  Isaacman : No, Justice Scalia, I would say there is no line between two, because really what you're talking about is a matter of taste, and not law. As you yourself said, I believe in Pope vs. Illinois It's useless to argue about taste, and even more useless to litigate it, and that is the case here. The jury has already determined for us that this is a matter of taste and not a matter of law, because they've said that there is no libelous speech, that nobody could reasonably believe that Hustler was *actually suggesting* that Jerry Falwell had sex with his mother.

  Justice Thurgood Marshall : So why did Hustler have him and his mother together?

  Isaacman : Hustler puts him and his mother together as an example of literary travesty, if you will.

  Justice Thurgood Marshall : And what public purpose does this serve?

  Isaacman : Well, it serves the same public purpose as having Gary Trudeau say that Reagan has no brain, or that George Bush is a wimp. It let's us look at public figures a little bit differently. We have a long tradition in this country of satiric commentary. Now, if Jerry Falwell can sue, when there has been no libelous speech, purely on the grounds of emotional distress, then so can other public figures. And, imagine if you will, suits against people like Gary Trudeau, and Johnny Carson for what says on The Tonight Show tonight. Obviously, when people criticize public figure, they're going to experience emotional distress, we all know that. It's the easiest thing in the world to claim, and it's impossible to refute, and that's what makes it a meaningless standard. Really all it does is allow us to punish unpopular speech, and this country is founded, at least in part, on the firm belief that unpopular speech, is absolutely vital to the health of our nation.

• Alan Isaacman : I'm not trying to convince you to like what Larry Flynt does. I don't like what Larry Flynt does.

• Isaacman : [Closing statement in the Cincinnati Court]  I can exercise my right and not buy Hustler Magazine I like that I have that right I care about it and you should care about it too because we live in a free country we say that a lot but sometimes I think we forget what that really means so listen to it again " we live in a free country" and that is a powerful idea that is a magnificent way to live but there is a price for that freedom which is sometimes we have to tolerate things we don't necessarily like, so go back into that room where you are free to think whatever you want to think about Larry Flynt and Hustler Magazine but then ask yourselves if you want to make that decision for the rest of us because the freedom that everyone in this room enjoys is in a very real way in your hands and if we start throwing up walls against where some of us think is obscene we may very well wake up one morning and realize that walls have been thrown up in all kinds of places we never expected and we can't see anything or do anything and that's not freedom, that is not freedom so be careful, thank you.

• Larry Flynt : I wanna appeal the Falwell case.

  Alan Isaacman : This is over. Over!

  Larry Flynt : No, it's not over. We can go higher.

  Alan Isaacman : Higher?

  Larry Flynt : The Supreme Court. Yeah, give them a call.

  Alan Isaacman : It's not that simple, Larry, thousands of people petition the Supreme Court, okay? Thousands.

  Larry Flynt : Yeah, and our case is as good as any.

  Alan Isaacman : Our case is better than most. But you're missing my point, and my point is: they will never pick you. Because you're a nightmare. They're afraid if they let you in there, you're gonna wear a diaper, or throw oranges at the justices. And they should be, Larry. Because in all the times you've gone to the court asking for help, you've never once demonstrated any respect for its institutions and procedures. So as far as they're concerned, you're just a pig.

  Larry Flynt : Yeah, well you always said, and it's the principle: "A pig has the same rights as a president."

  Alan Isaacman : yeah, yeah, yeah... You know, people get tired of a pig.

  Larry Flynt : Bullshit! You're scared, Alan! You're scared! You're letting these guys steamroll all over us!

  Alan Isaacman : Look, it's not just them, Larry, okay? It's me! It's me! I am not taking you! Lawyers dream about a case like this in front of the Supreme Court, they dream of it. And they would probably hear us, if you want the truth. But I am not going with you! I have been giving you my best since back when people were laughing at you. And every time I come in there now, you fuck me with this bullshit circus act! I won't do it again. I can't. I'm not gonna do it in front of the Supreme Court of the United States. Your sentimental speeches and your cornball patriotism, they don't work on me anymore, Larry, because I don't believe you. I don't believe you.

  Larry Flynt : You're my friend, Alan. We're friends. You know, I would love to be remembered for something meaningful.

• Isaacman : I have giving you my best since back when people were laughing at you, and every time we come in there now, you fuck me with this bullshit circus act.

• Roy Grutman : Would please state your full name for the record?

  Larry Flynt : [while on the witness stand, intentionally making a mockery of the court by responding disrespectfully and jokingly]  Christopher Columbus Cornwallis, IPQ, Harvey, APU.

  Roy Grutman : That's very interesting, but aren't you also known as Larry Flynt?

  Larry Flynt : AKA Jesus H. Flynt Esquire.

  Roy Grutman : Are you the publisher and Editor in Chief of Hustler Magazine?

  Larry Flynt : I am the publisher of the most tasteless, sleaziest, most disgusting, greatest porn magazine on the face of the earth.

  Roy Grutman : Thank you. Do you have a version of organized religion?

  Larry Flynt : [intentionally misunderstanding his question]  A virgin?

  Roy Grutman : No, a "version". You heard me correctly. A "version".

  Larry Flynt : You bet your sweet ass I do.

  Roy Grutman : Do you think that gives you the license to mock the leaders of great religious movements?

  Larry Flynt : Goddamn right.

  Roy Grutman : I hold in my hand exhibit B, which is a typed, written script of a Campari ad. When you approved this ad, did you have any specific knowledge that the Reverend Falwell had ever engaged in sexual intercourse with his mother in an outhouse?

  Larry Flynt : No, but I have a photograph of Falwell having fellatio with a sheep.

  Alan Isaacman : [to the judge]  Your honor, my client is in a heavily medicated and mentally agitated state. We will stipulate that no such document exists.

  Larry Flynt : [intentionally mispronouncing his name]  I have it and that Mr. Fartwell is a liar.

  Roy Grutman : My client's name is Jerry Falwell. "Jerry Falwell".

  Larry Flynt : [jokingly]  That's what I said, Jerry Fartwell.

• Isaacman : [after leaving jail]  I've gotten the bail all taken care of so you don't have to worry about that, we should talk about the case after you have a little rest.

  Larry Flynt : Wait, who hired you?

  Isaacman : Your wife hired me.

  Larry Flynt : My wife? Are you "doing" her?

  Isaacman : [confused]  Wait a minute, am I what?

  Larry Flynt : I'm just kidding, I like you, give me a call after you graduate from law school.

  Isaacman : I'm out of law school.

  Larry Flynt : How old are you? Twenty two?

  Isaacman : Twenty seven, Harvard law school, three years in the public defender's office obviously you can get whoever you want to represent you in this case let me say this: your pretty far out there even for the guys that do a lot of this stuff. I am interested in your case, the problem you've got is definitely what I know best and I am good at what I do.

  Larry Flynt : You specialize in porn?

  Isaacman : No, I don't specialize in porn, I'll be perfectly honest I don't particularly like what you do, I specialize in civil liberties.

• Larry Flynt : [In Alan's office]  I don't understand why they singled me out.

  Isaacman : This case is bigger than just you and your magazine in your case what's a little more troubling is this "organized crime" charge.

  Althea : Organized crime? Larry's not in the mob.

  Isaacman : I've got to ask you this one time: do you have any connection to organized crime?

  Larry Flynt : Absolutely not.

  Isaacman : Then this is a completely bullshit charge but we have to take this seriously because you can conceivably looking at seven to twenty five years in prison.

  Althea : My cousin Bobby shot a preacher in the back, he got six months for it.

  Larry Flynt : Bobby shot a preacher?

  Althea : Yeah. You didn't know that?

  Larry Flynt : What denomination?

  Althea : Baptist.

  Larry Flynt : I always liked that kid.

  Isaacman : Can we discuss the fate of Cousin Bobby later, Larry? I think we need to discuss this very seriously, if you want my opinion.

  Larry Flynt : I am serious, I'm taking notes

• Isaacman : Your Honor, with the court's permission, at this time, the defense would like to introduce into evidence 27 other men's magazines sold in the Cincinnati area. Titles such as "Penthouse", "Playboy"...

  Simon Leis : Objection!

  Judge Morrissey - Cincinnati Court : Sustained.

  Isaacman : Sustained?

• Jimmy Flynt : Who the hell would wanna shoot you anyway, Larry?

  Larry Flynt : Who wouldn't want to shoot me, Jimmy?

  Arlo : I'd say it was the CIA.

  Althea : Why?

  Arlo : Because of the million dollars that was offered for JFK's killers.

  Althea : No. I think it was the interracial photo spreads - and the KKK.

  Jimmy Flynt : The KKK? It wasn't the KKK. It was the Mob!

  Arlo : The extreme religious right. They're the ones that control all of the fanatics.

  Alan Isaacman : Well, you've just named every American psycho.

• Isaacman : Why are you suing my client for libel?

  Jerry Falwell : I am not a lawyer, Mr. Isaacman.

  Isaacman : I am a lawyer, okay, and I can't figure it out either.