Magic Town (1947)

James Stewart: Rip Smith

Photos 

Quotes 

• Lawrence 'Rip' Smith : I've been searching for a town like this for years. You know, when I got off that train this morning, I said to myself "This is it." I've just walked through your town, folks, with its shade trees and its lovely parks. I stood before your impressive buildings mellowed with age, and I said to myself "Here is a sturdy challenge to the evils of the modern era." I watched your people on the street, and I felt their vitality and their sense of security. Your children are happy. They're happy. You can see it in their dear little faces, and hear it in their wholesome talk. There's beauty here. It's almost indescribable. You're used to it, you're all a part of it, you take it for granted. But to me, it's a hope and a dream of a lifetime. I too want to become a part of it. Please don't change it.

  [addressing a meeting of the Grandview city council] 

• Lawrence 'Rip' Smith : People goin' around making speeches.

  Professor Frederick Hoopendecker : I remember once in Italy, a bunch of us got to talking. A funny place to be talking about home and ma. The pipsqueak started, then the other fellas got going. It turned out they were all from small towns. You were the only city slicker there. You let your guard down that night, Rip... . You envied those guys. You said that yourself. You never knew what it was to have neighbors - to have a sense of belonging. What Ma said, goes for all of us.

  Lawrence 'Rip' Smith : Just gimme one year. Just one year.

  Professor Frederick Hoopendecker : You've made a lot of friends here. That's security, Rip. The shoe is cut.