Quotes from Pollyanna (1960)

George Dodds: How'd you like to go down the street and get a great big dish of ice cream, my treat? Oh, no, that's a rotten idea. She probably hates the stuff.
Nancy Furman: Probably.
Pollyanna Whittier: Who, me? Oh, no, I love it!
George Dodds: No kidding? How'd you ever develop a taste for that awful stuff?
Pollyanna Whittier: Oh, no, really! I really do love it!
George Dodds: I know the perfect place. Come on, girls, follow old Cousin Fred to the land of strawberry frappe. Unless you'd rather go down the street and have a beer?
Pollyanna Whittier: You're funny.

- Hayley Mills (as Pollyanna) in Pollyanna (1960)

Aunt Polly Harrington: I'm your Aunt Polly.
Pollyanna Whittier: How do you do?
Aunt Polly Harrington: This is the pastor of our church, Reverend Ford.
Reverend Ford: How do you do? I can see there's a family resemblance.
Aunt Polly Harrington: She looks very much like her mother.
Pollyanna Whittier: Mother always used to say I looked like you!
Aunt Polly Harrington: Would you be good enough to stand erect and in a proper manner, please? And where in the world did you get that dress?
Pollyanna Whittier: It came in the missionary barrels.
Reverend Ford: Missionary barrels?
Aunt Polly Harrington: Yes, her father was a minister. As a matter of fact, he was a missionary in the British West Indies.

- Jane Wyman (as Aunt Polly) in Pollyanna (1960)

Aunt Polly Harrington: Nancy, I thought I made myself clear about gentlemen callers.
Nancy Furman: Mam?
Aunt Polly Harrington: Don't pretend you don't understand me. I saw you and George Dodds out in the summer house.
Nancy Furman: George has been every inch a gentleman with me!
Aunt Polly Harrington: We won't discuss it! If you want to remain on my staff, I don't want you to see him any longer.

- Jane Wyman (as Aunt Polly) in Pollyanna (1960)

Aunt Polly Harrington: Now, about the sermon, Reverend.
Reverend Ford: Yes. The transity of life. That fleeting vapor. It appeareth, and it vanisheth. James, the New Testament. You want me to weave a theme of this into my ser...
Aunt Polly Harrington: Well, let me tell you what my father said to Reverend Moffat.
Reverend Ford: Yes, what did he say?
Aunt Polly Harrington: He said you only have the congregation for one short hour a week. And there are six long days of mischeif for them before you get them again.
Reverend Ford: Ah! I see your point. Strike hard on Sunday the excessiveness of God's wrath and hope they carry it with them a few days into the week!
Aunt Polly Harrington: Exactly what I mean.

- Jane Wyman (as Aunt Polly) in Pollyanna (1960)

Aunt Polly Harrington: Pollyanna, I think we should talk about you and your position in this community. Do you know why it's called Harrington Town?
Pollyanna Whittier: Mother said it was named after my grandfather.
Aunt Polly Harrington: That's right. And everyone in this town looks to us to set a good example. In how we conduct ourselves, in our duties and manners, in what we think and even what we say.
[Angelica rolls her eyes in disgust]
Aunt Polly Harrington: So we must always try to be good examples to everyone in everything we do. Is that clear?
Pollyanna Whittier: Yes, Aunt Polly.
Aunt Polly Harrington: Just remember our family position and conduct yourself properly. And modestly.
Pollyanna Whittier: Oh, you mean before? I understand that now. I'll never say that again!
Aunt Polly Harrington: You understand what?
Pollyanna Whittier: About the money. I'm not supposed to be glad we're so very rich. Huh?
Aunt Polly Harrington: Well, uh, I think it's time for you to get ready for bed, young lady.

- Jane Wyman (as Aunt Polly) in Pollyanna (1960)

Aunt Polly Harrington: That dress is disgraceful. Tomorrow we'll go into town and get you some decent clothes.
Pollyanna Whittier: [incredulous] Store-bought?
Aunt Polly Harrington: Why, of course. Where else would we get them?
Pollyanna Whittier: Out an actual store? *New* clothes?
Aunt Polly Harrington: You're a Harrington now. I want you to look like one.

- Jane Wyman (as Aunt Polly) in Pollyanna (1960)

Reverend Ford: [after reading note from Polly] Oh my God, what have I done? What have I done?

- Karl Malden (as Reverend Paul Ford) in Pollyanna (1960)

Reverend Ford: [reading Pollyanna's locket] When you look for the bad in mankind, expecting to find it, you surely will. - Abraham Lincoln.
Pollyanna Whittier: He was President.
Reverend Ford: Yes, I know... but I've never heard *that* before.

- Karl Malden (as Reverend Paul Ford) in Pollyanna (1960)

Reverend Ford: If we could all just be a little more quiet, cooperative, orderly please. If we could all just stop shouting and cooperate, I'm sure...
Aunt Polly Harrington: There is nothing wrong with that building! All it needs is new plumbing.
Mayor Karl Warren: Today the plumbing, tomorrow the roof, and the Lord knows what - excuse me, Reverend - and who knows what's going to happen next!
Aunt Polly Harrington: You were very happy when my father donated the building to the town.
Mayor Karl Warren: Oh, for pete's sake, Polly Harrington, listen to reason! It's a dilapidated old relic! The dining hall, the dispensary. Even my nephew Dr. Chilton there, he noticed that. Ed, tell them what you said.
Dr. Edmond Chilton: I don't think I ought to say anything.
Mayor Karl Warren: No, no, now, tell them what you said. I want them to hear it.
Dr. Edmond Chilton: Well, I got a pretty good look at the dispensary when I fixed Mr. Geary's arm, and I imagined it seemed a little inadequate for thirty-two children.
Mayor Karl Warren: There, now you've heard it.
Aunt Polly Harrington: We all thank you for your interest, Edmond, but it's an equipment problem. We're talking about Harrington House, which is a landmark in this town, and I intend to see that it stays that way.
Mayor Karl Warren: It would cost more to fix that dilapidated old wreck than it would to put up a new one!
Aunt Polly Harrington: It won't cost this town one cent! My father donated the building to the town, and I will stand the cost of the pipes or the plumbing or whatever it is that's necessary. It's my duty, and I will not shirk it.
Mayor Karl Warren: And I suppose there's not one person here who has the gumption to stand up and say what you think? Is there? What about you, Reverend?
Reverend Ford: No, no, I never take sides in these matters.

- Karl Malden (as Reverend Paul Ford) in Pollyanna (1960)

Reverend Ford: We looked for the good in them, and we found it, didn't we?

- Karl Malden (as Reverend Paul Ford) in Pollyanna (1960)