In San Francisco, vulgarity, "bad taste," ostentation are regarded as a kind of alien blight, an invasion or encroachment from outside. In Los Angeles, there is so much money and power connected with ostentation that is no longer ludicrous: it commands a kind of respect. For if the mighty behave like this, then quiet good taste means that you can't afford the conspicuous expenditures, and you become a little ashamed of your modesty and propriety.

A book might be written on the injustice of the just.

If there's anything to learn from the history of movies, it's that corruption leads to further corruption, not to innocence.

Television as we have it isn't an art form - it's a piece of furniture that is good for a few things.

Movies are so rarely great art that if we cannot appreciate great trash we have very little reason to be interested in them.

Art doesn't come in measured quantities: it's got to be too much or it's not enough.

What is getting older if it isn't learning more ways that you're vulnerable?