Josef von Sternberg movie quotes

“Invested with great words or with the majesty of a noble thought, the actor is often confused with the source of power; once deprived of that which makes him seem magnificent he deflated like an empty windbag.”
Josef von Sternberg

“He was, outwardly at least, a charming, simple and sincere person who could use his eyes, brimming over with tears, to convince an elephant that it was a kangaroo.”
Josef von Sternberg On Louis Burt Mayer

“Nothing has ever been invented that is more cumbersome to make than the motion picture.”
Josef von Sternberg

“The finished product is not finished when the actor is. The work is completed by a pair of shears.”
Josef von Sternberg

“[on Gary Cooper] One of the nicest human beings I have ever met.”
Josef von Sternberg

“I care nothing about the story, only how it is photographed and presented.”
Josef von Sternberg

“The only way to succeed is to make people hate you. That way they remember you.”
Josef von Sternberg