Ed Wood Quotes

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: I met Bela Lugosi.

Dolores Fuller: Why, I thought he was dead.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: No, he's very much alive. Well, sort of.

[Bela Lugosi casts a love spell on Vampira who is on TV while moving his fingers like Dracula]

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: My Gosh, Bela, how do you do that?

Bela Lugosi: You must be double-jointed. And you must be Hungarian.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Boy, Mr. Lugosi, you must lead such an exciting life! When is your next picture coming out?

Bela Lugosi: I have no next picture.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: You gotta be joking, a great star like you? You must have dozens of them lined up!

Bela Lugosi: Back in the old days, yes... Now, no one gives two fucks for Bela.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: But you're a big star!

Bela Lugosi: No more. I haven't worked in four years. This business, this town, it chews you up, then spits you out.

[pauses]

Bela Lugosi: I'm just an ex-boogeyman.

[Bela Lugosi answers the door on Halloween night wearing his Dracula costume]

Children: Trick or treat!

[At the sight of Dracula, all but one little boy scream and run away]

Bela Lugosi: Aren't you scared, little boy? I'm going to drink your blood!

Trick-or-Treating Kid: You're not a real vampire. Those teeth don't frighten me.

[Bela looks puzzled. Ed Wood appears next to him in the doorway]

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: How 'bout these?

[Pulls out his entire row of front teeth]

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: [Little boy screams and runs away]

Bela Lugosi: Hey... How d'you do that?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Dentures!

[Holds them up]

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Lost my pearlies in the war!

Georgie Weiss: Why would Lugosi wanna do a sex-change flick?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Because he's my friend!

[On the phone, agitated]

Georgie Weiss: Look, look, look, when I said that you could have the western territories, I didn't mean all 11 states! I meant California, Oregon, and, uh, what's that one on top...

[Looks at map]

Georgie Weiss: Washington! Yeah, yeah. Oh, really? Well, *screw you*!

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Listen, I was wondering if you'd like to go out sometime, grab some dinner, maybe?

Vampira: You mean a date? I thought you were a fag.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: No, no, I'm just a transvestite.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: I like to dress in women's clothing.

Georgie Weiss: You're a fruit?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: No, not at all. I love women. Wearing their clothes makes me feel closer to them.

Georgie Weiss: You're not a fruit?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: No, I'm all man. I even fought in W.W.2. Of course, I was wearing women's undergarments under my uniform.

Dolores Fuller: Ed, what's *my* motivation?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: You're the file clerk. You're running into the next room and you run into Janet.

Dolores Fuller: But are we good friends or is she just a casual acquaintance?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Dolores, I have five days to complete this picture. Don't get goofy on me.

[Stepping into water]

Bela Lugosi: GODDAMN, it's cold!

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: It'll warm up once you're in it.

Bela Lugosi: FUCK YOU! You come out here!

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: And cut! Print. We're moving on. That was perfect.

Ed Reynolds: Perfect? Mr. Wood, do you know anything about the art of film production?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Well, I like to think so.

Ed Reynolds: That cardboard headstone tipped over. This graveyard is obviously phony.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Nobody will ever notice that. Filmmaking is not about the tiny details. It's about the big picture.

Ed Reynolds: The big picture?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Yes.

Ed Reynolds: Then how 'bout when the policemen arrived in daylight, but now it's suddenly night?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: What do you know? Haven't you heard of suspension of disbelief?

[repeated line]

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Cut! That was perfect!

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: [after Thor Johnson bumps into a scenery wall while walking through a door making the wall shudder] Ok, and CUT! PERFECT! PRINT IT!

Cameraman Bill: Don't you wanna do another take Ed? Seems like big baldy had some problems gettin' through that door.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: No, it's fine. It's real. You know, in actuality, Lobo would have to struggle with this problem every day.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Why, if I had half a chance, I could make an entire movie using this stock footage. The story opens on these mysterious explosions. Nobody knows what's causing them, but it's upsetting all the buffalo. So, the military are called in to solve the mystery.

Editor on Studio Lot: You forgot the octopus.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: No, no, I'm saving that for my big underwater climax.

Georgie Weiss: So, what was the important news you couldn't tell me on the phone, again?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Well, I started thinking about what you were saying about how your movies need to make a profit. Now, what is the one thing, if you put it in a movie, it'll be successful?

Georgie Weiss: Tits.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: No, better than that. A star.

Georgie Weiss: Kid, you must have me confused with David Selznick. I don't make major motion pictures; I make crap.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Yes, but if you take that crap and put a star in it, then you've got something.

Georgie Weiss: Yeah. Crap with a star.

[while he and the others flee the chaotic premiere of "Bride of the Monster" in a cab]

Bela Lugosi: Now that was a premiere.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Do you know that I've even had producers re-cut my movies?

Orson Welles: I hate when that happens.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: And they always want to cast their buddies. It doesn't even matter if they're right for the part.

Orson Welles: Tell me about it. I'm supposed to do a thriller for Universal. They want Charlton Heston as a Mexican.

Bunny Breckinridge: What about glitter? When I was a headliner in Paris, audiences always liked it when I sparkled.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: No!

Bunny Breckinridge: Cat's Eyes.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: No!

Bunny Breckinridge: Well, I'm going to need some antennae.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: No! You're the ruler of the galaxy! Show a little taste!

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: [Reading a review] Look, he's got some nice things to say here. "The soldiers' costumes are very realistic." That's positive!

Bunny Breckinridge: Rave of the century.

[Bunny Breckenridge is being baptized]

Reverend Lemon: Welcome to the fold, brother. Welcome. Praise the lord, brother. Do you reject Satan and all his evils?

Bunny Breckinridge: Sure.

[after his baptism, Bunny swims towards Ed Wood]

Bunny Breckinridge: How do you do it? How do you get all your friends to get baptized just so you can make a monster movie?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: It's not a monster movie. It's a supernatural thriller.

[on the phone to Bunny]

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Listen, hit the bars, work some parties, and get me transvestites. I need transvestites. All right. Bye.

Bela Lugosi: Eddie, what kind of a movie is this?

Kathy O'Hara: Eddie's the only fella in town who doesn't pass judgment on people.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: That's right. If I did, I wouldn't have any friends.

Conrad Brooks: Mr. Lugosi? I know you're very busy, but, um... can I have your autograph?

Bela Lugosi: Certainly.

Conrad Brooks: You know which movie of yours I love, Mr. Lugosi? The Invisible Ray. You were great as Karloff's sidekick.

Bela Lugosi: Karloff? Sidekick? FUCK YOU! Karloff does not deserve to smell my shit! That limey cocksucker can rot in Hell for all I care!

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: What happened?

Bela Lugosi: How dare that asshole bring up Karloff? You think it takes talent to play Frankenstein? It's all makeup and grunting!

[mocks Frankenstein]

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Bela, I agree with you 100%. Now, "Dracula," that's a role that requires talent.

Bela Lugosi: Of course. Dracula requires presence. It's all in the eyes, and the voice, and the hands...

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: That's right. That's right. You seem a little agitated. You wanna to go outside and get some air?

Bela Lugosi: Bullshit! I'm ready now! Roll the camera!

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: You know, you're, you're much scarier in real life than you are in the movie.

Bela Lugosi: Thank you.

Dr. Tom Mason: [They are all sitting in a pew in the Baptist church, during a church ceremony; impersonating Bela Lugosi] I want to suck your blood. I want to suck your blood!

Bunny Breckinridge: Let's hear you call Boris Karloff a cocksucker.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Is there a script?

Georgie Weiss: Fuck no. But, there's a poster.

[Waiting to be baptized in a swimming pool]

Vampira: Why couldn't we do this in the church?

Criswell: Because Brother Tor couldn't fit in the sacred tub.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Mr. Reynolds.

Ed Reynolds: Yes.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: We are going to finish this picture just the way I want it... because you cannot compromise an artist's vision.

Reverend Lemon: But it's OUR money.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: And you're gonna make a bundle, but only if you shut up and let me do things my way.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: ...and then, Dr. Vornoff falls into the pit, and his own octupus attacks and eats him. The end.

Old Man McCoy: Whew! That's quite a story.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Yes.

Old Man McCoy: So, uh, you made the movie, and now you wanna make it again?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: No. We shot ten minutes of the movie, and now we're looking for completion funds.

Old Man McCoy: Oh, son, you're too vague.

[Yells to one of his butchers]

Old Man McCoy: BILLY BOB! You're cuttin' em too lean.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Mr. McCoy. How can I make you happy?

Old Man McCoy: [Spits] Okay. Two things. Number one: I want the movie to end with a big explosion. Sky full of smoke.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Yes. But it ends with Dr. Vornoff falling into the pit.

Old Man McCoy: Not any more. Number two: I got a son. Little slow, but a good boy, and somethin' tells me he'd make a helluva leadin' man.

[At the "Plan 9" premiere]

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: This is the one. 'This' is the one I'll be remembered for.

[on the reason for the success of 'Dracula(1931)']

Bela Lugosi: They were mythic. They had a poetry to them.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Yes.

Bela Lugosi: And you know what else? The women... the women preferred the traditional monsters.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: The women? Huh?

Bela Lugosi: The pure horror, it both repels, and attracts them, because in their collective unconsiousness, they have the agony of childbirth. The blood. The blood is horror.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: You know, I never thought of that.

Bela Lugosi: Take my word for it. If you want to make out with a young lady, take her to see "Dracula".

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: What are you drinking, Bela?

Bela Lugosi: Formaldehyde

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Straight up or on the rocks?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Kathy... I'm about to tell you something that I never told any girl on a first date. But I think it's important that you know... I like to wear women's clothes.

Kathy O'Hara: Huh?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: I like to wear women's clothes. Panties, brassieres, sweaters, pumps. It's just something I do. And I can't believe I'm telling you this, but I really like you, and I don't want it getting in the way down the road.

Kathy O'Hara: Does this mean... you don't like sex with girls?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: No, I love sex with girls.

[long pause]

Kathy O'Hara: Okay.

[making up the bald Dr. Tom to look like Bela Lugosi]

Makeup Man Harry: Ed, what am I gonna do here.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: What do you mean?

Makeup Man Harry: He has no hair.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Gee, I never noticed that. Put a wig on him!

[Finds Bela ailing]

Bela Lugosi: This happens all the time.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Is there anything I can get for you? Water or a blanket?

Bela Lugosi: Goulash.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: I don't know how to make goulash.

[See the track marks on Bela's arm]

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Bela, what's in the needle?

Bela Lugosi: Morphine. With a demerol chaser.

[Bride of the Monster wrap party. Mariachi band plays "Que sera sera"]

Tor Johnson: Mister Bunny, what's wrong? I heard you were becoming a lady.

Bunny Breckinridge: Oh, that. Mexico was... a nightmare. We got into a car accident... he was killed. Our luggage... was stolen. The surgeon... turned out to be... a quack. If it hadn't been for these men...

[gestures to the Mariachi band]

Bunny Breckinridge: I don't know... how I would have... survived,

[Ed is cross-dressed on the set of "Glen or Glenda"]

Dolores Fuller: How can you just walk wound like that in front of all these people?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Well hon, nobody's bothered but you. Look around.

Dolores Fuller: Ed, this isn't the real world. You've surrounded yourself with a bunch of WEIRDOS!

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Oh say it a little louder, I don't think Bela heard you!

[Bela, in his Dracula costume, hears the doorbell on Halloween night]

Bela Lugosi: Children! I love children.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: It's a guaranteed blockbuster.

Ed Reynolds: Hmm. Ah, I understand this science fiction is popular, but uh, don't the big hits always have big stars?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Well we have a big star: Bela Lugosi.

Ed Reynolds: Bela Lugosi? Why, I though he passed on.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Yes. Yes he did. But...

[produces tiny spool of film]

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: I've got the last footage he ever shot.

Ed Reynolds: Well, it doesn't look like very much.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Mr. Reynolds, this is the acorn that will grow a great oak! I'll just get a double to finish his scenes, and we'll release it as "Bela Lugosi's Final Film"!

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: [talking on phone] Bunny? We're making another movie! Yes. I got the Baptist Church of Beverly Hills to put up the cash!

Paul Marco: [knocking on door] Ed, I got the Lugosi doubles outside!

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Bunny, I gotta go...

[Ed opens the door to find a short man, a fat man, and a Chinese man]

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: [sighs, shakes head] He's too short, he's too... tall, he's... just not going to work.

Paul Marco: Well, Ed. I was thinking like when Bela played Fu Manchu...

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: [Pulls Paul aside]

[wispering]

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Paul, that was Karloff.

[watching Tor Johnsson at his wrestling match]

Bunny Breckinridge: Guess where I'm going next week.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: I don't know. Where?

Bunny Breckinridge: Mexico. Guess what I'm doing when I get there.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: I don't know. Lie on a beach.

Bunny Breckinridge: Wrong. I'm getting my first series of hormone injections. And when thos girls kick in, they're going to take out my organs, and make me a woman.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Are you serious?

Bunny Breckinridge: It's something I've wanted to do for a long time. But it wasn't until I saw your movie that I realized: I have to take action! GOODBYE PENIS!

Dolores Fuller: [obviously annoyed] Could you please keep it down?

Nurse: Oh my goodness, you gave me the willies! You look like that Dracula guy.

Bela Lugosi: My name is Bela Lugosi... and I wish to commit myself.

Nurse: For what reason?

Bela Lugosi: I have been a drug addict for twenty years. I NEED HELP!

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: I'm a movie director.

Tor Johnson: Movies? You mean like the Mickey Mouse?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Say, let's get married.

Kathy O'Hara: Huh?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Right now. Let's go to Vegas.

Kathy O'Hara: But, Eddie, it's pouring and the car top is stuck.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Phooey. It's only a five hour drive and it'll probably stop raining by the time we get to the desert. Heck, it'll probably stop by the time we get around the corner. Let's go.

Photographer #1: Whose crazy idea was it to bury him in the cape?

Photographer #2: I heard it was in the will. It was how he wanted to be remembered.

Reverend Lemon: [sees Ed come out in drag] Mr. Wood, what do you think you're doing!

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: I'm directing.

Ed Reynolds: Not like *that* you're not.

Reverend Lemon: Remove that getup immediately. You shame our lord.

Ed Reynolds: Before we start shooting, Mr. Wood, we have a few questions.

Reverend Lemon: Yes. The script contains numerous references to graverobbing. Now we find the concept of digging up consecrated ground to be highly offensive. It is blasphemy.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: What are you talking about, it's the premise of the movie. It's the title of the movie for Christ sakes.

Reverend Lemon: But Mr. Wood!

Ed Reynolds: Yes, about that title. It strikes us as very inflammatory. Why don't we change it to Plan 9 from Outer Space.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Huh. That's ridiculous.

Waiter: Hi, would you like some water?

Loretta King: No. No water. No liquids! I'm terribly allergic to them.

Ed Reynolds: [referring to Tor Johnson] Why did you give HIM all the dialog? He is unintelligible!

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Look, Bela's dead and Vampira won't talk. I had to give somebody the dialog!

Criswell: Bela, would you like a wine?

Bela Lugosi: No. I never drink... wine.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Hey Cris, how'd you know we'd be living on Mars by 1970?

Criswell: I guessed. I made it up.

[Leans over to Ed]

Criswell: It's horseshit.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: [Ed looks very crestfallen] Really...

Criswell: Eddie, there's no such thing as a psychic. People believe my folderol because I wear a black tuxedo.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: [Still looking disappointed, but perking up] It's that easy?

Criswell: Eddie, we're in show biz. It's all about razzle-dazzle. Appearances. If you look good and you talk well, people will believe anything.

[Ed and his crew have gone to a studio warehouse at night to borrow some props. But the door is padlocked]

Tor Johnson: Lobo will fix!

[he rips the bolt off the door]

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Mr. Lugosi, why are you buying a coffin?

Bela Lugosi: I'm planning on dying soon.

Dolores Fuller: [to Ed wearing her sweater] God, how can you act so casual when you're dressed like that?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: It makes me feel comfortable.

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Nobody wants to see this piece of shit!

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Hey, you can't talk that way about my movie!

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Bela, those people are parasites, they just wanna exploit you.

Bela Lugosi: Fine. Let them. There is no such thing as bad press, Eddie.

Bela Lugosi: Eddie, last night was quite a romp. Did you see that kid grab Vampira's boobies?

[chuckles]

Bela Lugosi: I envied him.