That Thing You Do! (1996)

Tom Hanks: Mr. White

Photos 

Quotes 

• Mr. White : You guys look great in gold, have I told you that?

• Mr. White : Next, this "Oneders", with the O-N-E, it doesn't work. It's confusing. From now on, you boys'll just be... simply The Wonders.

  Lenny : As in, I *wonder* what happened to the O'Needers?

• Mr. White : You guys look great in red, have I told you that?

• Mr. White : You guys look great in black, have I told you that?

• Mr. White : You know, Horace was right about you, Guy; you are the smart one. Lenny is the fool, Jimmy is the... talent, and Faye is... well, now, Faye is special, isn't she? And you are the smart one. That's what I think, anyway.

• Mr. White : It is very important that you don't stink today.

  Lenny Haise : Hey, I make no guarantees.

• [after Faye has just broken up with Jimmy] 

  Jimmy : Shoulda dumped you in Pittsburgh!

  [He gets up] 

  Jimmy : Which one of you butts said we were engaged?

  Mr. White : The same person who said you had class, Jimmy.

• Mr. White : I don't want any of this lover's lament crap. I want something peppy, something happy, something up-tempo. I want something snappy.

  Jimmy : [smiles and sings]  I... I quit... I quit... I quit...

  [speaks seriously] 

  Jimmy : I quit, Mr. White.

• Guy Patterson : But we still have a hit record.

  Mr. White : Yes, you do.

  [thoughtfully] 

  Mr. White : The one-hit Wonders.

  [looks at Guy] 

  Mr. White : A very common tale.

• Mr. White : [on the phone to Guy, who's sleeping in after his night at the Blue Spot]  Good morning, Guy. We have a crisis here - your bass player has disappeared, and you are still in bed! Just calling to tell you to get your patootie down to the television studio! You're gonna be on TV tonight!

• Mr. White : We bow, right? In unison, and we're off the stage before the applause dies out.

  Jimmy : Well, what if they want an encore?

  Mr. White : You unplug and you run, run offstage! Smiling, smiling, of course.

• Mr. White : Put your glasses on, Shades. Give 'em what they want.

• Mr. White : "That Thing You Do" is the fastest rising single in the history of the Playtone label. As of tomorrow morning, you Wonders - you've got the #7 record in the country.

• Mr. White : He was joining the Marines in August anyway. It was gonna happen sooner or later. Guy, say hello to Scott Pell, Wolfman.

  Jimmy : How you doing?

  Guy : Uh, replacement?

  Mr. White : Yes.

  Jimmy : Who's he player with?

  Mr. White : The Techniques, uh...

  Scott 'Wolfman' Pell : Roy Maxwell and the Corsairs.

  Lenny : Ha-ha... really?

  Mr. White : He's your new bass player.

  Guy : Mr. White... no offense, but I... we've been together a long time.

  Mr. White : There aren't a lot of options here, Guy.

  Guy : Can he handle our tunes?

  Scott 'Wolfman' Pell : I think I can handle them, junior.

  [plays some bass killer licks] 

  Jimmy : Ok.

  Lenny : Ok.

  Guy : Fine.

• Mr. White : [after movie gig]  Good news guys. You get to keep your wardrobe.

• Mr. White : [as Lenny crunches loudly on a piece of candy]  Lenny, why don't you go and see if you can visit the cockpit? Tell them it's your birthday. Go! Go! Go!

• Jimmy : [after their gig at "Weekend at Party Pier"]  Hey, do we have a Top 10 record?

  Mr. White : You sure do.

  Jimmy : Well, then, we shouldn't be here.

  Mr. White : You'd rather be back on that state fair tour, Jimmy? They're playing in North Dakota this week.

• Mr. White : Next, uh... who is Faye?

  Jimmy : [Lenny gestures to Jimmy]  Faye's sort of like, like my girlfriend.

  Mr. White : Aw, that is so sweet. You want her on tour? She's your costume mistress. OK, boys, do better tonight than you did today.

• Mr. White : All right, this is it. Now - if the crowd doesn't go wild for you, don't worry about it. They will tomorrow!

• Mr. White : [after Jimmy leaves the studio after the Hollywood Television Showcase]  Jimmy just quit. Your band is falling apart, Guy. Where's Lenny?

  Guy : I have no idea.