The John Ford pictures I made are highly regarded, but at the time they didn't seem like that.

When I was little I thought, isn't it nice that everybody celebrates on my birthday? Because it's July 4th.

I never had a great role in a great film.

I had been told by so many people that I was going to be nominated, that I should be nominated, that there wasn't any question about my being nominated. I don't think it was a surprise.

Claude Rains was what we call an actor's actor. He was very involved with himself and his performance.

There's no point in working if I'm not involved and interested.

I quit after my seven-year contract with Universal was up. I quit for 33 years.