Lady of Burlesque (1943)

Barbara Stanwyck: Deborah Hoople - aka Dixie Daisy

Photos 

Quotes 

• Biff : What's the matter with comics?

  Dixie : I went into show business when I was seven years old. Two days later the first comic I ever met stole my piggy bank in a railroad station in Portland. When I was 11 the comics were looking at my ankles. When I was 14 they were...just looking. When I was 20 I'd been stuck with enough lunch checks to pay for a three-story house. Naw, they're shiftless, dame-chasing, ambitionless...

• Biff : Hey, lady, you left your motor runnin'.

  Dixie : Don't get excited. You didn't start it.

• Biff : Ah, I get it, you're pulling this act to make me feel protective.

  Dixie : Haven't you ever figured on anybody telling the truth?

  Biff : Not burlesque dames, they're used to wriggling out of things.

• Biff : When you dress for our date tonight, blue is my favorite color. And no big hats, either. It'll get in my way.

  Dixie : When I dress for a date with you it'll be a suit of armor and brass knuckles!

• Biff : [discover a dead burlesque dancer in the closet]  Look, around her neck.

  Dixie : It's her g-string.

  Biff : It ain't there for an ornament either.

• Biff : Aren't you a teeny weeny bit glad to see me back?

  Dixie : [pause]  No.

• Dixie : [singing]  Come on and give me heat, Cause I don't like my music sweet, I want to feel my impulse beat, Take it off the e-string, Play it on the g-string. If this gives you a thrill, It happens much against my will, And only cause I caught a chill, Take it off the e-string, Play it on the g-string...

• Dixie : [singing]  Boys, it's a fact, Whenever I'm applauded, You're rewarded...

• Dixie : [singing]  Brother, I'm makin' my eggs and bacon, Earnin' my pay, Just by shakin' this way, Four shows a day...

• Biff : How about a little supper after the show tonight?

  Dixie : The only date I make with comics is with the Sunday funnies.

  Biff : That'd be all right with me. Sunday morning breakfast!

  Dixie : Yeah, I'm sure it would be.

• Dixie : It wasn't a cop that tried to strangle me. That female flapper was wearing gloves.

• Biff : You won't lose any arguments. Not lookin' like that. You won't have time. You know, if this were a real lasso, I'd drag you up here like a calf in a a Western. Only no calf had a hide as pretty as that.

  Dixie : What would you do when you got me? You've had a little trouble putting a brand on, so far.

• Inspector Harrigan : Someone who was in the room immediately after the body was discovered took that g-string for reasons of his or her own.

  Dixie : What g-string?

  Inspector Harrigan : The murder weapon, Miss Daisy.

• The Princess Nirvena : You turned away vrom me!

  Dixie : I turn away from garbage dumps, too.

• Dixie : How long did you have to practice to make like such a heel?

• Dixie : You stuck up for me. That was swell of you.

• Biff : Oh well, maybe that little kiss was worth it.

  Dixie : Good thing for you. It's the last little kiss you'll get from this working girl.

• Dixie : I'm not working burlesque for laughs. This little girl's got her way to make in the world. When you brought me here you promised me the moon. Now, I'm getting green cheese and not liking it. Why? I've been doing all right. My face hasn't fallen apart since yesterday?

• Dixie : It isn't my beautiful diction that gets me by in burlesque.

• Dixie : I've left a lot of jobs in my time; but, I always stuck until the last kick in the pants if the job was worth having. And I'm not gonna be scared outta the best job I ever had by a couple of ghosts!

• Dixie : Once I thought I wanted to get out of burlesque. Now, I'm not so sure. Maybe I'm not so snooty anymore.

• Dixie : Dixie: Where are you going, honey?

  Dolly Baxter : Who, me? Why I'm going down to the Peerless Bar and Grill with the rest of you guys.

  [pauses] 

  Dolly Baxter : For a midnight snack. And a whale of a time.