The Last Hurrah (1958)

Spencer Tracy: Frank Skeffington

Photos 

Quotes 

• Roger Sugrue : [standing by Skeffington's bed]  Well, at least he made his peace with God. There's one thing we all can be sure of - if he had it to do over again, there's no doubt in the world he would do it very, very differently.

  Mayor Frank Skeffington : [opening his eyes]  Like hell I would.

• Mayor Frank Skeffington : One more regret at my age won't make much difference.

• Mayor Frank Skeffington : Remarkable - they're still breathing the same air in here that they brought over in the Mayflower.

• Mayor Frank Skeffington : There's nothing wrong with the city's credit and you know it.

  Norman Cass, Sr. : On that, we happen to differ.

  Mayor Frank Skeffington : On that, and one or two other points. But it really all boils down to one, doesn't it? The fact that the city is no longer yours. It's ours. You have this musty shrine to your bluenose ancestors, but my people have the City Hall and that's what sticks in your craw. You can't swallow it and you can't forget it. Well I'm going to make you eat it. That housing project is going up as planned and it's going to be open on schedule. And you know what day that's going to be? St Patrick's Day!

• Winslow : Mr Cass is having lunch at the Plymouth club.

  Mayor Frank Skeffington : Well, call him there.

  Winslow : Quite out of the question.

  Mayor Frank Skeffington : Why?

  Winslow : House rule 12, passed in the year 1797. I quote: "members, whilst at sup, shall not suffer interruption for any reason, save it to be for matters of grievous import such as fire or flood or piracy or Indian attack." Unquote. And that goes for telephone calls.

• Mayor Frank Skeffington : I know I can trust you not to breathe a word of this, until I make the announcement, not even to your father.

  Norman Cass, Jr. : Not a thingle thyllable.