Ball of Fire (1941)
Tully Marshall: Prof. Robinson
Photos
Quotes
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Professor Bertram Potts : I've just finished my article on slang. Twenty-three pages compiled from a dozen reference books, eight hundred examples.
Prof. Robinson : Well?
Professor Bertram Potts : Everything from the idiotic combination of "absotively" to the pajorative use of "zigzag." I traced the evolution of "hunky-dory," tracked down "skidoo" from "skedaddle." Eight-hundred examples and I may as well throw it in the wastebasket. Three weeks work...
Prof. Robinson : You're hysterical.
Professor Bertram Potts : Outmoded... based on reference books twenty years old. Take "smooch," take "dish," take, uh...
Prof. Oddly : "Hoi toi toi?"
Professor Bertram Potts : "Hoi toi toi." Not one of them included.
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Garbage Man : I could use a bundle of scratch right now on account of I met me a mouse last week.
Prof. Oddly : Mouse?
Garbage Man : What a pair of gams. A little in, a little out, and a little more out.
Professor Bertram Potts : I am still completely mystified.
Garbage Man : Well, with this dish on me hands and them giving away 25 smackaroos on that quizzola.
Professor Bertram Potts : Smackaroos?
Prof. Oddly : Smackaroos? What are smackaroos?
Garbage Man : A smackaroo is a...
Professor Bertram Potts : No such word exists.
Garbage Man : Oh, it don't, huh? A smackaroo is a dollar, pal.
Professor Bertram Potts : Well, the accepted vulgarism for a dollar is a buck.
Garbage Man : The accepted vulgarism for a smackaroo is a dollar. That goes for a banger, a fish, a buck, or a rug.
Professor Bertram Potts : Well, what about the mouse?
Garbage Man : The mouse is the dish. That's what I need the moolah for.
Prof. Oddly : Moolah?
Garbage Man : Yeah, the dough. We'll be stepping. Me and the smooch - I mean, the dish, I mean, the mouse. You know, hit the jiggles for a little drum boogie.
Professor Bertram Potts : Please, please, not so fast.
Garbage Man : Brother, we're going to have some hoytoytoy.
Prof. Oddly , Prof. Robinson , Prof. Jerome , Prof. Gurkakoff , Prof. Magenbruch , Prof. Quintana : Hoytoytoy?
Garbage Man : Yeah, and if you want that one explained, you go ask your papas.
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Professor Bertram Potts : I've just finished my article on slang. Twenty-three pages compiled from a dozen reference books. Eight hundred examples. Everything from the idiotic combination "absotively" to the pejorative use of "zigzag." I traced the evolution of "hunky dory," tracked down "skiddo" from "skedaddle." Eight hundred examples and I may as well throw it in the waste basket. Three weeks' work.
Prof. Robinson : Potts, you're hysterical.
Professor Bertram Potts : Outmoded. Based on reference books 20 years old. Take "smooch." Take "dish." Take...
Prof. Oddly : Hoytoytoy?
Professor Bertram Potts : Hoytoytoy. Not one of them included. Living in this house cut off from the world, I've lost touch. And it's inexcusable! That man talked a living language. I embalmed some dead phrases.
Prof. Gurkakoff : But where are you going?
Professor Bertram Potts : Out to collect new data, to tap the sources of slang, the major sources. The streets. The slums. The theatrical and allied professions.
Prof. Robinson : Oh, now, Potts, don't you think that...
Professor Bertram Potts : I know it's regrettable, this loss of time, gentlemen, but it must be done. Leave the key under the mat. I won't be home before 9 o'clock.
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Professor Bertram Potts : You see, the word "puss" means face.
Prof. Peagram : Yes.
Professor Bertram Potts : As for instance, sourpuss, picklepuss. Sugarpuss implies a certain sweetness in her appearance.
Prof. Peagram : Sugar, yes, yes.
Prof. Robinson : Never mind the etymology, was she...
Prof. Jerome : Was she blonde or brunette?
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Prof. Quintana : Potts, could you tell us what was it like backstage?
Prof. Oddly : Very vivacious, I imagine.
Prof. Gurkakoff : And perhaps, ballerinas giggling up and down iron staircases.
Prof. Magenbruch : Around and around.
Prof. Jerome : Possibly wearing tights.
Prof. Robinson : Tights...
Prof. Oddly : And that ineffable smell of rice powder.
Prof. Peagram : On nude shoulders.
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Sugarpuss O'Shea : Any message?
Prof. Peagram : Well, they spoke very picturesquely.
Prof. Robinson : Yeah, very.
Prof. Oddly : Yes, they said it's getting hot and hotter and to stay in the icebox like a good little salad.
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Prof. Magenbruch : Did you get the records?
Prof. Robinson : Well, they were all out of "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar".
Prof. Oddly : Oh, dear, oh, dear.
Prof. Robinson : But I got "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" and "Shoot the Sherbet to Me Herbert".
Sugarpuss O'Shea : Oh, now watch us go!