I was always interested in movies the way everyone is interested. That is, I liked to go to the movies

Critics are usually kinder to cheaper movies than to those they perceive to be big Hollywood releases. They cut you a lot more slack if you spend less money, which makes no sense.

We tend to do period stuff because it helps make it one step removed from boring everyday reality.

Like any kind of writing, there are good days and frustrating days. But even frustrating days can be rewarding sometimes.

The mountain music... is compelling music in its own right, harking back to a time when music was a part of everyday life and not something performed by celebrities.

It's just an impulse, in some actors. You want to make the audience like you. That's the aim of the exercise.

There aren't reasons why you like this song or this piece of music, or don't like it. It's just, it's either right or wrong, you know?

When the movie's done, you talk about either the score or source music over a particular scene, what might work. You just throw a piece of music over the scene, and we both listen to it.

Barton Fink is just too self-important as an artist to get much sympathy.

...if it feels like a true magic might be possible

If we based everything in Hollywood on who was a nice guy, holy moly, we would have no movies. No actors would work. This is not an industry that is ruled by kindness and generosity.

Is it a stale remark to say that I have constantly found the interest excited at a playhouse to bear an exact inverse proportion to the price paid for admission?

I do not think I should care to go on worshipping a Madonna even if she did wink. One cannot make much out of a wink. We want something more than that from the object of our adoration.

I kept believing that, if I got my innings in, it would come. I just kept believing.

Inspiration gives no warnings.

Love life seems to be that factor which requires the largest quantity of magical tinkering.

Every writer creates his own precursors. His work modifies our conception of the past, as it will modify the future.

Treat yourself as your own beloved child.

In my lifetime, there have been three vocal miracles: Caruso, Ruffo and Ponselle. Apart from these there have been several wonderful singers.