I always try to do true endings and that's where I got into trouble always because Hollywood wants to do happy endings.

They do the same thing [with cigarette] that they do in the kind of action picture where you know 200 people are killed and then there's no pain.

I worry that we are approaching a time when that which is shocking is squeezed out by the Stalinism of political correctness.

If they gave a Nobel Peace Prize for work against big tobacco, not just in the industry, but also with the California tax initiative, he really deserves one.

I have only one loyalty - to my writing. I never wanted to be the head of a studio or a producer.

I think that Hollywood is sort of guilty of having a moral blind eye on this subject. While at the same time, you know, being involved in a lot of liberal causes and being involved very militantly, Hollywood is, in fact, guilty of helping to addict people to smoke.

Sirens wailed; the revolution had come to Harrisonville. Blood was flowing on Pearl Street.