Quotes

I adored it from the first moment. The excitement, the thrill, the smell of the theatre went right down to one's toes.

Above all, I was taught to love and respect words. Each word had to be the right word; and each had to be spoken in a way that its weight and importance demanded.

I think that no actor should take Hollywood too seriously; but at the same time it would be wrong to underestimate its professionalism. Really, Hollywood is a caricature of itself, and in particular this is true of the front-office types at the studios. Their enthusiasm towards you is measured precisely to match the success of your last film.

Every time an army, navy or air force part comes up they throw it at me. There is nothing left now but the women's services! (1956)

All of us in the film were sure that we were making something quite unusual, and a long way removed from the Errol Flynn-taking-Burma-single-handed syndrome. This was the period of some very indifferent American war movies, whereas The Cruel Sea (1953) contained no false heroics. That is why we all felt that we were making a genuine example of the way in which a group of men went to war.

[on La Fayette (1962)] A totally forgettable film . . . the only bit of acting I have ever done solely for the money.

[replying to criticism of his portrayal of Gen. Sir Edmund Allenby in Lawrence Xứ Ả Rập (1962)] I agree that the character has been slanted slightly, but Lady Allenby must remember that this is a film about Lawrence - not the Field Marshall.

[asked why he risked his reputation on the TV series The Four Just Men (1959)] I risk my reputation every time, why not on TV?

The most I can hope for is to vary the pitch of the sounds. The actual croaking quality, I'm afraid, is here to stay. It's a damned nuisance, but there you are.