Day for Night (1973)

Valentina Cortese: Séverine

Photos 

Quotes 

• Séverine : The actor had always dreamed of playing Hamlet. At last, he staged it and played the role! But he was so bad, he was booed every night. One night he was fed up, he stopped in the middle of "To be or not to be", turning to the audience, he said: "I didn't write the shit."

• Ferrand : Quiet! A full rehearsal. Let's go, Séverine.

  Séverine : "I don't understand you Alexander! You're - "

  Alexandre : "Peculiar"

  Séverine : Oh, yes.

  Ferrand : It's all right! Take it from the top, right away. Let's go, Séverine.

  Séverine : "I don't understand you Alexander! You've been peculiar, lately. Walking out on dinner last night! That was an insult to Julie." Damn! I said Julie instead of Pamela.

  Ferrand : Not to worry.

  Séverine : I've got an idea! I'll use numbers, the way I do for Fellini! Instead of "I don't understand you Alexander..." I'll say, 22, 83, 16, 72, 5, 3, 18, 9, 14, 7, 9. 17, 10, 10, 4, 18, 69...

  Ferrand : Impossible, Séverine. In France, we have to say the lines.

• Séverine : What a funny life we lead! We meet, we work together, we love each other and then, as soon as we grasp something - it's gone.

• Alexandre : Remember when we first met in Hollywood?

  Séverine : No dates! Never mention numbers! Or I'll tell everyone you had a facelift!

  Alexandre : Not yet. It's coming!

  [Séverine laughs] 

• Séverine : It's not my fault!

  Ferrand : Cut! Once more.

  Séverine : It's not my fault if I'm confused! I don't know if she's Odile, the actress. Or, Odile the make-up girl! In my day, acting was acting and make-up was make-up! No wonder I'm confused!

• Séverine : Isn't he adorable? When did I work with him...? Oh, Mamma Mia, 20 years ago in Hollywood! We were there at the same time. You know, he was a real ladies man. In Hollywood, they called him the continental lover. I loved him, too.

  Odile, la maquilleuse : Is he married?

  Séverine : I don't know if he is now. He was married and divorced twice. Maybe he lives with someone. No one knows. He's very secretive.

  Odile, la maquilleuse : He has a moustache in the movie. I like it.

  Séverine : Moustache or not, he is still playing lovers! And look at me... I'm only cast as the neglected wife! Desperate... tragic... a real pain...