Oscar (1991)

Tim Curry: Dr. Poole

Photos 

Quotes 

• Snaps : [after stumbling over the classic elocution exercise, "Round the rough and rugged rocks the ragged rascal rudely ran."]  Aw, it's no use, Doc. I'll never learn to speak good.

  Dr. Thornton Poole : Do not despair, Mr. Provolon-e. We shall try a different tack.

  [takes out a book and reads] 

  Dr. Thornton Poole : "Rocco the rum-runner rubbed out Rico the Rat with his Rosco for robbing his rum-running receipts."

  Snaps : [repeats the sentence perfectly and enthusiastically] 

  Dr. Thornton Poole : You've got it!

  Snaps : Well, sure! You finally came up with something that made sense!

• Connie : Even in the old days he was known as an honest crook.

  Dr. Thornton Poole : That's an oxymoron.

  Connie : Gee, you shouldn't oughta said that, Doc.

  Snaps : Yeah, leave Connie alone. He does the best he can.

• Dr. Thornton Poole : [about Snaps' daughter, Lisa]  She seems to have such nicely rounded diphthongs!

  Snaps : That's what got her into this jam!

• [Poole is Mr. Provolone's grammar instructor] 

  Snaps : Mornin', Doc!

  Dr. Thornton Poole : Mr. Provolon-e. Where are those G's?

  Snaps : [slaps money bag]  In here.

• Anthony : All that travel must cut into your home life.

  Dr. Thornton Poole : Well, I don't spend as much time with mother as I'd like. But she's got the cats.

• Dr. Thornton Poole : Aldo is a treasure trove of linguistic anomolies.

• Nora : I'm glad to be getting out of this house. From now on, I'll have servants of me own!

  Snaps : You'll find out what a picnic that is!

  [Nora grabs the wrong valise and exits] 

  Dr. Thornton Poole : Shocking insolence! I would have terminated her immediately.

  Snaps : I can't do that anymore. Best I could do is fire her.

• Dr. Thornton Poole : Now remember, Mr. Provolone, speech is man's most important tool for the conveyance of thought.

  Snaps : Yeah, Doc, but when am I gonna start sounding like a banker?

  Dr. Thornton Poole : [Dr. Poole rolls his "r"s while teaching Snaps elocution]  After me: "Round the rough and rugged rocks, the ragged rascal rudely ran.

  Snaps : [mumbles]  Round the rough and rugged rocks...

  Dr. Thornton Poole : [repeating the speech, with emphasis on the word "the"]  Round the rough and rugged rocks, the ragged...

  Snaps : [tries again]  Round the rough and rascal, the ragged... Aw, look, Doc, I just can't do it. I'll never learn to speak good.

  Dr. Thornton Poole : Do not despair, Mr. Provolone. Let's try a new line of attack, shall we? After me: "Rocco the rum-runner rubbed out Rico the Rat with his roscoe for robbing his rum-running receipts."

  Snaps : "Rocco the rum-runner rubbed out Rico the Rat with his roscoe for robbing his rum-running receipts."

  Dr. Thornton Poole : You've got it!

  Snaps : Well, sure! You finally came up with something that made sense!

• Father Clemente : Oh, by the way? Congratulations on your daughter marrying Bruce Underwood.

  Sophia : Oh, I'm afraid there's been a change, Father. She's now marrying a nice Italian boy. Anthony Rosano.

  Father Clemente : It's all for the better. Nothing like a big Italian wedding! Anthony Rosano!

  Snaps : Well, forget Anthony, she's not marrying him any more.

  Sophia : What?

  Father Clemente : Well, that's a shame. But she's young. Someday she'll find the right one.

  Snaps : She's found the right one.

  Sophia : Who?

  Snaps : Doctor Poole!

  Sophia : Doctor Poole?

  Dr. Thornton Poole : [leans over railing]  Hello!

  Snaps : [to Poole]  Get back in there!

• Aldo : Oh, Dr. Poole! Come on in. The boss been expecting you.

  Dr. Thornton Poole : [chuckling]  Aldo, do you realize what you just did?

  Aldo : What?

  Dr. Thornton Poole : You used the past participle without a modifier.

  Aldo : I did? What's the rap on that?

• Snaps : Okay Doc, here's the deal: marry my daughter, and you can use all the dough in this bag to start your linguistics school. Most men spend their whole lives tryin' to get their hands on what's in here.

  [Snaps empties the bag, and lingerie falls on the table; he bangs his head on the desk] 

  Dr. Thornton Poole : [sarcastically]  Mmm, that's right, Mr. Provolone. I've never seen so much money.

  Dr. Thornton Poole : [He picks up several pieces of lingerie]  Here's money, um... and here's more money, and - Oh, look. Here's a lovely new $20 bill.