The Merry Widow (1934)

George Barbier: King Achmed II

Photos 

Quotes 

• King Achmet : So they're blaming me, huh?

  Valet : For everything. They're even telling jokes about your majesty.

  King Achmet : Are they funny?

  Valet : No.

  King Achmet : That's bad.

• King Achmet : Now tell me, if you weren't married... if you weren't my wife, could you fall for Gabrielovitsch?

  Queen Dolores : If I weren't married... if I had it to do over again, and had the choice between you and Gabrielovitsch? Frankly, I'd take you.

  [King Achmet laughs contentedly] 

  Queen Dolores : That shows you what I think of Gabrielovitsch.

• King Achmet : What do you hear?

  Valet : Well, you see, Your Majesty, after all, we are a sheep and cow country.

  King Achmet : Well, who's complaining, now?

  Valet : The shepherds.

• Valet : If conditions don't improve, the shepherds are going to organize. They say there's already some talk of a black sheep movement.

  King Achmet : Were they prominent shepherds?

  Valet : A couple of Eastside shepherds.

  King Achmet : Intellectuals?

  Valet : Yes.

  King Achmet : Ah, let them talk!

• King Achmet : Please don't bother me! It's enough to have a widow in Paris to worry about, without having a Queen in bed nagging me!

• King Achmet : [after finding his wife, the Queen, and the Count in a compromising position]  Now, let's keep this a scandal between you and you and me. This must be kept out of hearsay. Not a soul must know!

  Queen Dolores : Nobody! I swear. Not a soul!

  Count Danilo : We were planning not even to tell Your Majesty. Isn't that right?

  Queen Dolores : Mmm-hmm.

• King Achmet : No, no, Dolores, that's not right. You know well enough I have to go down in history as Achmet the Great. And how do you cooperate? Falling in love with the Captain of the Guard. No. That's hitting below the crown.

• King Achmet : Ever been to Paris?

  Danilo : Oh, I spend all my holidays there, Your Majesty.

  King Achmet : Oh, so you know Paris?

  Danilo : Do you want some addresses, Your Majesty?

  King Achmet : No, no. I'm a married man.

• King Achmet : Now, listen, my good fellow, you will leave tomorrow for Paris.

  Count Danilo : Oh, thank you, Your Majesty!

  King Achmet : On a secret mission that's right up your Boulevard.

  Count Danilo : Oh, please, Your Majesty.

  King Achmet : How is your French?

  Count Danilo : Terrific!

• Queen Dolores : Widow! Widow! That's all I hear. A King worrying about a widow.

  King Achmet : Not a widow - the widow! The richest widow in the world!

  Queen Dolores : In Europe.

  King Achmet : Well, anyhow, she owns more than half of Marshovia. Do you realize that she's in every cow in the country for 52%?

• King Achmet : The plan can't fail. They can't get out. That's what they're in for. Now, put ourselves in their place. We both had a quarrel and now we're locked in. At first, we don't talk at all. Then, I tell you what I think of you. And then you tell me what you think of me.

  Ambassador Popoff : Oh, no. No, Your Majesty. No. I wouldn't dare.

  King Achmet : Oh, that's right. Well, anyhow, we're in the cell. We can't quarrel all night. And as time passes I begin to realize that after all you are a woman. And above all...

  Ambassador Popoff : I begin to realize that you are a man.

  King Achmet : Right! And still more, you are a gorgeous woman! And as for me...

  Ambassador Popoff : You're wonderful, Your Majesty!