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24 Notable Quotes By Robert Altman

Famous As: Filmmaker of the 'New Hollywood Era' Known for His Films: 'M*A*S*H’,’ McCabe & Mrs. Miller’ & ‘The Long Goodbye’
Born On: February 20, 1925
Died On: November 20, 2006
Born In: Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Died At Age: 81
Robert Altman was an American filmmaker, producer, and writer. He is best remembered for directing the 1970 war comedy film ‘MASH.’ Robert was known for his unconventional themes and anti-Hollywood satire, which made him one of the greatest directors in the history of Hollywood cinema. He took a job with the ‘Calvin Company’ where he directed a film for the first time. His breakthrough came after he co-directed the documentary ‘The James Dean Story,’ in 1957, which got him the attention of Hollywood. Some of his popular feature films include ‘McCabe & Mrs. Miller,’ ‘Nashville,’ ‘The Player,’ ‘Short Cuts,’ and ‘Gosford Park.’ Robert was nominated for five ‘Academy Awards.’ He was honored with an ‘Honorary Oscar,’ in 2005. He won countless nominations, mentions, and prestigious awards during his career. We have curated some of his quotes from his films, interviews, etc. Let’s have a look at some of Robert Altman quotes on inspiration, chance, motivation, films, advice, mistakes, giving, winning, trying, etc.
Men make clothes for the women they'd like to be with or in most cases the women they'd like to be.

Men make clothes for the women they'd like to be with or in most cases the women they'd like to be.

Robert Altman
Maybe there's a chance to get back to grown-up films. Anything that uses humor and dramatic values to deal with human emotions and gets down to what people are to people.

Maybe there's a chance to get back to grown-up films. Anything that uses humor and dramatic values to deal with human emotions and gets down to what people are to people.

Robert Altman
Jazz has endured because it doesn't have a beginning or an ending. It's a moment.

Jazz has endured because it doesn't have a beginning or an ending. It's a moment.

Robert Altman
It's all just one film to me. Just different chapters.

It's all just one film to me. Just different chapters.

Robert Altman
If you have a child who is seven feet tall, you don't cut off his head or his legs. You buy him a bigger bed and hope he plays basketball.

If you have a child who is seven feet tall, you don't cut off his head or his legs. You buy him a bigger bed and hope he plays basketball.

Robert Altman
If George W. Bush is elected president, I'm leaving for France.

If George W. Bush is elected president, I'm leaving for France.

Robert Altman
I've had it-the agencies, the winking, the networks, the ratings. Anyone who thinks TV is an art medium is crazy-it's an advertising medium.

I've had it-the agencies, the winking, the networks, the ratings. Anyone who thinks TV is an art medium is crazy-it's an advertising medium.

Robert Altman
I'll give you the same advice I give my children: Never take advice from anybody.

I'll give you the same advice I give my children: Never take advice from anybody.

Robert Altman
I want to see something that I've never seen before, so how can I tell that actor what that is? I'm not trying to construct a document or situation that is what I want, because what I want is something new to me.

I want to see something that I've never seen before, so how can I tell that actor what that is? I'm not trying to construct a document or situation that is what I want, because what I want is something new to me.

Robert Altman
I never knew what I wanted, except that it was something I hadn't seen before.

I never knew what I wanted, except that it was something I hadn't seen before.

Robert Altman
I love fishing. You put that line in the water and you don't know what's on the other end. Your imagination is under there.

I love fishing. You put that line in the water and you don't know what's on the other end. Your imagination is under there.

Robert Altman
I like audiences to crane their necks.

I like audiences to crane their necks.

Robert Altman
I have never made a movie that's attracted a 14-year-old boy.

I have never made a movie that's attracted a 14-year-old boy.

Robert Altman
I don't think screenplay writing is the same as writing - I mean, I think it's blueprinting.

I don't think screenplay writing is the same as writing - I mean, I think it's blueprinting.

Robert Altman
Filmmaking is a chance to live many lifetimes.

Filmmaking is a chance to live many lifetimes.

Robert Altman
Every ad for every film is exactly the same.

Every ad for every film is exactly the same.

Robert Altman
Chance is another name that we give to our mistakes. And all of the best things in my films are mistakes.

Chance is another name that we give to our mistakes. And all of the best things in my films are mistakes.

Robert Altman
All of my films deal with the same thing: striving, socially and culturally, to stay alive.

All of my films deal with the same thing: striving, socially and culturally, to stay alive.

Robert Altman

I am not an expert. That is someone else's job. If I were expert, the approach would be all wrong. It would be from the inside. I am a blunderer. I usually don't know what I am going into at the start. I go into the fog and trust something will be there.

Robert Altman

I insist that they do what they became actors to do. I want them to create something and not just hit marks and say words. So they all love that because they're playing. It's called playacting. Their contributions are not only welcomed, but are accepted and used.

Robert Altman

I make no apologies for Popeye. Behind M*A*S*H, it's my biggest hit. It got maligned by the critics because it wasn't Superman. It wasn't about special effects and it wasn't made for 14-year-old boys. The majority of films are made for 14-year-old boys; I don't know where they get the eight bucks to get in. It's hush money from the parents.

Robert Altman

I was a heavy drinker, but the alcohol affected my heart rather than my liver. So I stopped. I smoke grass now. I say that to everybody, because marijuana should be legalized. It's ridiculous that it isn't. If at the end of the day I feel like smoking a joint I do it. It changes the perception of what I've been through all day.

Robert Altman

If something works for you, you continue to do it. I did a bunch of pictures for 20th Century Fox when Alan Ladd was over there, but I set the budgets so low that they'd approve and I'd deliver the film. They would have no say in it, which is the kind of arrangement I liked.

Robert Altman

Making a movie is like chipping away at a stone. You take a piece off here, you take a piece off there and when you're finished, you have a sculpture. You know that there's something in there, but you're not sure exactly what it is until you find it.

Robert Altman