Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)

Martin Landau: Abe

Photos 

Quotes 

• Abe : [to Tucker]  ... When I was a little kid, maybe five years old, in the old country, my mother used to say to me; she'd warn me, she'd say, 'Don't get too close to people. You'll catch their dreams... '... Years later, I realized I misunderstood her... 'Germs', she said, not 'dreams', 'You'll catch their *germs*'...

  [they both laugh] 

  Abe : I want you to know something, Tucker. I went into business with you for one reason - to make money. That's all... How was I to know...

  [chokes up, head down] 

  Abe : ... if I got too close, I'd catch your dreams...

• Abe : [after the trial outside the courthouse, with lots of spectators admiring Tucker's cars]  They *love* the cars, the people! Drives me crazy, that the motor company's dead... They'll never be made!

  Preston Tucker : We made 'em.

  Abe : Fifty cars...

  Preston Tucker : Aw, what's the difference - fifty or fifty million. That's only machinery!... It's the *idea* that counts, Abe... The dream...

• Preston Tucker : Isn't that the idea? To build a better mouse trap?

  Abe : Not if you're a mouse!

• Preston Tucker : Abe. Gee I appreciate you stopping by. How long you got between trains?

  Abe : You like this? living in the middle of nowhere? Cupa coffee, 2, 3 in the morning, you could die first.

  Preston Tucker : Or you could go into the kitchen and make some

  Abe : Who needs coffee, 2 in the morning? You sit down, read the paper, chew the fat with the waitress. Here, you look around, there's nothin' but scenery

  Preston Tucker : I always thought we're the scenery. How do you like your coffee?

  Abe : In the city.

• Abe : Cars? You brought me here for cars?

  Preston Tucker : [laughs, indicates a drawing]  Does that look like a car to you? THAT, is a gold mine I'm handing you on a silver platter.

  Abe : Forget it; you got no chance.

  Preston Tucker : Now how can you say that? You haven't even heard my ideas yet.

  Abe : Ideas? Einstein's in the idea business; he makes up numbers so high only dogs can hear them. But what does it cost him? a piece of paper, a couple of pencils.

• Noble : I wondered why you do that with your nose?

  Abe : What with my nose?

  Noble : Move it like a rabbit.