- [on directing several of the James Bond pictures] One of the rules with the Bond pictures is that you're not allowed to have a leading lady who can act--because we can't afford them . . . If ever we were to have a real leading lady, the next time around we'd have to find another one. And in no time at all we'd have to have, oh, Jane Fonda for $2 million and up.
- [on directing Sean Connery in Diamonds Are Forever (1971)] You don't tell Sean Connery how to play James Bond!
- [on the success of the James Bond films] A lot of 007's appeal, let's face it, stems from his doings with the ladies. So, find the ladies and we've won half the battle.
- The trick, I discovered, was not to be an assistant director, but to be the director's assistant. There are certain things the director is not interested in doing and you have to cover for those, while watching very carefully for the things he cares passionately about. In this way, you become very valuable to him, because you sense his needs.
- You direct a Bond movie with an insane sense of power.
- [on directing Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas in "The Devil's Disciple", 1959]: How did I find working with such heady talents? Both made love to me and I could see straight away that, whichever way I came down, I was going to make an enemy for life. So I said, "Don't ask me, fellows, because if it was my picture, Kirk would be playing Burt's part and vice versa." There was a stunned silence, and, for the rest of the day, they were in corners, looking at the script at the other's part. That kept them apart and off my back for the rest of the picture.
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