Ali Baba Goes to Town (1937)

Eddie Cantor: Ali Baba

Photos 

Quotes 

• Sultan : I hope you'll enjoy what we've got - if you don't mind taking pot luck?

  Ali Baba : Can I get a hot dog and a bottle of pop?

  Sultan : Hot dog? Pop?

  Ali Baba : That's the great national diet in America. I've just come from there.

  Sultan : America? Where is that?

  Ali Baba : A great open space between New York and Hollywood.

• Ali Baba : Excuse me, who are these fellows? They're not even listening!

  Sultan : They're my new musicians from Africa.

  Ali Baba : Africa?

  [to musicians] 

  Ali Baba : What part of Africa?

  Sultan : I'm afraid they don't understand you. You see, they talk a strange tongue.

  Ali Baba : [to musicians]  Parlez-vous Français?

  [No response] 

  Ali Baba : Se hable espanol? Capisce italian'?

  [No response] 

  Ali Baba : Verstehse bissel Yiddish?

  [No response. Ali Baba has a flash of inspiration] 

  Ali Baba : Wait a minute! Hi de hi de ho?

  Musicians : Hee de hee de hee!

  Ali Baba : Hey de hey de hey!

  Musicians : Ho de ho de ho!

• Ali Baba : Wait, I think I've got something! You don't have to be a sultan - you can resign!

  Sultan : Resign? Desert my throne? Forsake my people? Allah would never forgive me.

  Ali Baba : You don't have to desert your people. You can go on being the head man, but instead of sultan you become a president.

  Sultan : A what?

  Ali Baba : A president, like they have in America.

  Sultan : Well, does he rule the country?

  Ali Baba : Does he rule the country? Hunh! Ask the Republicans!