Romance in Manhattan (1934)

Francis Lederer: Karel Novak

Photos 

Quotes 

• Karel Novak : [Enthusiastically]  Smell the river!

  Sylvia Dennis : [Sarcastically]  You take another deep breath like that, and you'll kill yourself.

• Karel Novak : [Rapturously]  Oh, America!

  Sylvia Dennis : The way you say America it sounds like you thought it were Heaven.

  Karel Novak : It might be.

  Sylvia Dennis : Not my idea of Heaven. Too much noise and dirt and worry about eating.

• Karel Novak : This house is so elegant. You have carpet, really.

  Sylvia Dennis : Yes, and cockroaches, too.

  Karel Novak : Cockroaches! Isn't it wonderful.

• Sylvia Dennis : Broke?

  Karel Novak : Broke?

  Sylvia Dennis : Stony? Flat? Cleaned out?

• Karel Novak : Do you mind if I say something?

  Sylvia Dennis : Not at all.

  Karel Novak : Well, I wanted to say that I think you are the loveliest young lady I've ever - I mean, I wanted to say that you are very beautiful, I beg your pardon, my English...

  Sylvia Dennis : Oh, your English is swell.

• Sylvia Dennis : How do you like America?

  Karel Novak : America? Oh, she is wonderful. So beautiful. So big. So friendly. And so warm.

  Sylvia Dennis : Say, who are you talking about?

  Karel Novak : America! Your country.

• Karel Novak : I'm a very good farmer. I went to farming school.

  Sylvia Dennis : Oh, I suppose you're going to start plowing up 42nd Street and sowing it with wild oats.

• Karel Novak : Sorry, I don't understand.

  Sylvia Dennis : Oh, I gotcha. You're one of them foreigners who learn to speak English but don't know it when you hear it.

• Karel Novak : I am a farmer.

  Sylvia Dennis : A farmer - Oh, now I know why you love us. The AAA's been paying you $14 an acre not to grow anything.

• Karel Novak : Do you know how many people want to come to this country of yours? For millions it is the land of dreams and hopes of achievement and happiness.

• Karel Novak : I guess this is the kind of a fellow I am. I remember always only the good things. Yeah, today was a little bit tough. I, I'm ashamed to admit it now; but, this afternoon I was almost desperate. I didn't know what to do. Where to get something to eat or where to sleep. But that's America, something good always turns up. I have met you and you have helped me. Oh, I can't tell you what I feel. I will be grateful to you all my life and I pay you back. Oh, I will work hard. I know everything will come out right.

• Frank Dennis : Don't let that worry you. I made it up.

  Karel Novak : Made what up?

  Frank Dennis : About Sylvia and the million guys.

  Karel Novak : You did?

  Frank Dennis : Of course. A million guys! I bet she hasn't even got a hundred.

• Karel Novak : Everybody looks so happy here. They all smile and look so rich and busy.

  Sylvia Dennis : We all try look rich and busy whether we are or not.

  Karel Novak : But tell me, uh, why do they worry?

  Sylvia Dennis : Why not? We've had a Depression. Everybody scrambling for enough to live on, to pay their rent, buy shoes for their kids, and pay their doctor bills. And maybe see a show occasionally. If most people grin it's because they don't dare not to.

  Karel Novak : But the ones I've seen today they've got so much. Automobiles, good clothes, beautiful houses to sleep in. And they're not hungry, they should be happy.

  Sylvia Dennis : There's more to life than eating and sleeping.

  Karel Novak : Oh, yes, there is, but here in America there's the chance for everyone to get it. Here everybody can get ahead and climb to the height he dreams of. There's opportunity here!

• Karel Novak : Don't let us talk anymore about who's the head of the house. Frank and I are head of the house we come home for dinner every night and complain about how you cook.

  Sylvia Dennis : But I'm good cook.

  Karel Novak : Never mind. We're head of the house, we complain anyway.

• Karel Novak : The taxi company hires me to drive. Say, I get a good salary and maybe if I drive slow with old ladies and fast with the young ones I make plenty of money from the passenger.

• Sylvia Dennis : I'm awfully happy for you, Karel. I wish I had some good news for you.

  Karel Novak : Why, this is enough good news for one day.

  Sylvia Dennis : Mine's bad news. The show's closed.

  Karel Novak : Well, that's fine, I'm glad.

  Sylvia Dennis : You're glad?

  Karel Novak : Yes. Because now I'm the man of the house and not you. Now, listen, Sylvia, I make plenty of money Frank makes some money too, we get along fine and you have a rest from your dancing, huh?

  Sylvia Dennis : Aw, you're sweet.

• Sylvia Dennis : What do you think I went into show business for?

  Karel Novak : I thought that you wanted to get famous.

  Sylvia Dennis : Oh, that was only one reason. The other was so I could contact some of those rich stage-door Johnnies that hand out diamond bracelets and orchids.

• Karel Novak : A girl that would marry a man just for money...

  Sylvia Dennis : Shows a good common sense and a healthy business instinct.

• Karel Novak : The only millionaire you're going to marry is me!

  Sylvia Dennis : Why, Karel, you're turning caveman on me?

  Karel Novak : Yes, sir!

  [kiss] 

• Karel Novak : How many millionaires did you contact so far?'

  Sylvia Dennis : None. I never even got an orchid. Best I could do was to get a masher from a Kansas City undertaker. But I haven't given up.

• Karel Novak : You big flat feet. Just for this, I won't let you be my best man.

  Officer Murphy : You big foreigner, you.

• Sylvia Dennis : Would you, Karel?

  Karel Novak : Would I what?

  Sylvia Dennis : Marry, just for money?

  Karel Novak : If - if you would.

  Sylvia Dennis : Yeah, but it's different with a girl. Any man that would marry a rich girl just for her money...

  Karel Novak : Shows good common sense and a healthy business instinct.