The People vs. Larry Flynt Quotes
A partially idealized film of the controversial pornography publisher and how he became a defender of free speech for all people.
Blow Dried Jerk: Uh, Mr. Flynt? I don't wanna step on your toes but things have changed since you were actively running the company. I mean I look back at the stuff you did in the 70s and it was uh sorta racy and crazy. But the country is different now. Reagan has rebuilt America and the moral majority is gaining power.
Larry Flynt: You're fired.
Blow Dried Jerk: Excuse me?
Larry Flynt: You get the fuck out of my building. Doug get him out of here. You blow dryed jerk mother fucker. Take him out of here and throw him in the incinerator, cut him to little pieces and feed him to the animals out there. Get out of here.
Larry Flynt: You're fired.
Blow Dried Jerk: Excuse me?
Larry Flynt: You get the fuck out of my building. Doug get him out of here. You blow dryed jerk mother fucker. Take him out of here and throw him in the incinerator, cut him to little pieces and feed him to the animals out there. Get out of here.
Mantke Clerk: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help yo God?
Larry Flynt: No.
Judge Thomas Alva Mantke: No?
Larry Flynt: Your honor, I'm an atheist. I can't very well, uh, swear to a God I don't believe exists.
Judge Thomas Alva Mantke: Mr. Flynt, you are a handful.
Larry Flynt: I know, your honor.
Larry Flynt: No.
Judge Thomas Alva Mantke: No?
Larry Flynt: Your honor, I'm an atheist. I can't very well, uh, swear to a God I don't believe exists.
Judge Thomas Alva Mantke: Mr. Flynt, you are a handful.
Larry Flynt: I know, your honor.
Isaacman: At the heart of the First Amendment is the recognition of the fundamental importance of the free flow of ideas, freedom to speak one's mind is not only an aspect of an individual liberty but is essential to the quest for truth and the vitality of society as a whole, in the world of debate about public affairs many things done with motives that are less than admirable are none of the less protected by the first amendment.
[Isaacman on the phone with Flynt]
Alan Isaacman: Listen, I'm sitting here with the eminently reasonable District Attorney of the state of Georgia.
[Larry makes an off screen comment on the other end of the line]
Alan Isaacman: Right. He's very impressed by your conversion, he wants to cut us a plea bargain.
Larry Flynt: A plea bargain? Because I've found God?
Isaacman: Larry, listen to me for a second: Don't argue with me on this, ok. Just say yes because I've pulled a lot of strings to make this happen.
Larry Flynt: Is he sitting there with you?
Isaacman: Yes, he is.
Larry Flynt: Would you do me a favor? Just tell that miserable old gray-haired bastard to go fuck himself, we're going to trial.
Isaacman: Ok, right.
Larry Flynt: Oh, and praise the lord.
Alan Isaacman: Listen, I'm sitting here with the eminently reasonable District Attorney of the state of Georgia.
[Larry makes an off screen comment on the other end of the line]
Alan Isaacman: Right. He's very impressed by your conversion, he wants to cut us a plea bargain.
Larry Flynt: A plea bargain? Because I've found God?
Isaacman: Larry, listen to me for a second: Don't argue with me on this, ok. Just say yes because I've pulled a lot of strings to make this happen.
Larry Flynt: Is he sitting there with you?
Isaacman: Yes, he is.
Larry Flynt: Would you do me a favor? Just tell that miserable old gray-haired bastard to go fuck himself, we're going to trial.
Isaacman: Ok, right.
Larry Flynt: Oh, and praise the lord.
Simon Leis: Mr. Flynt, can you please turn to page 77? Can you describe to the jury what is on that page, please sir?
Larry Flynt: It's a picture of Santa Claus.
Simon Leis: What is Santa Claus doing?
Larry Flynt: He's talking to Mrs. Claus, and holding in his hand what appears to be a large, erect penis.
Simon Leis: And could you read the caption underneath that cartoon, please?
Larry Flynt: "This is what I've got to ho-ho-ho about."
Larry Flynt: It's a picture of Santa Claus.
Simon Leis: What is Santa Claus doing?
Larry Flynt: He's talking to Mrs. Claus, and holding in his hand what appears to be a large, erect penis.
Simon Leis: And could you read the caption underneath that cartoon, please?
Larry Flynt: "This is what I've got to ho-ho-ho about."
Simon Leis: Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Before we begin, I must apologize for the unpleasantness of this task. What you are about to see is going to take your breath away. Hustler magazine depicts men and women posed together in a lewd and shameful manner. Hustler magazine depicts women and women posed in a lewd and shameful manner. Hustler magazine depicts Santa Claus posed in a lewd and shameful manner.
Jerry Falwell: What?
Roy Grutman: Yeah, Jerry, he's suing you.
Jerry Falwell: He's suing me? For heaven's sakes, on what grounds?
Roy Grutman: Well, you xeroxed his ad, and you sent it out in a million fundraiser letters.
Jerry Falwell: Yeah, so?
Roy Grutman: But you didn't get his permission. And that's copyright infringement.
Jerry Falwell: The depth of his depravity sickens me.
Roy Grutman: Yeah, Jerry, he's suing you.
Jerry Falwell: He's suing me? For heaven's sakes, on what grounds?
Roy Grutman: Well, you xeroxed his ad, and you sent it out in a million fundraiser letters.
Jerry Falwell: Yeah, so?
Roy Grutman: But you didn't get his permission. And that's copyright infringement.
Jerry Falwell: The depth of his depravity sickens me.
Alan Isaacman: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you have heard a lot today, and I'm not gonna go back over it, but you have to go into that room and make some decisions. But before you do, there's something you need to know. I am not trying to suggest that you should like what Larry Flynt does. I don't like what Larry Flynt does, but what I do like is the fact that I live in a country where you and I can make that decision for ourselves. I like the fact that I live in a country where I can pick up Hustler magazine and read it, or throw it in the garbage can if that's where I think it belongs.
Isaacman: Larry, thousands of people petition the Supreme Court, OK? Thousands.
Larry Flynt: Yeah, and our case is as good as any.
Isaacman: Our case is better than most, you're missing my point, and that is they will never pick you. Because you're a nightmare. They're afraid if they let you in there, you're gonna wear a diaper, or throw oranges at the justices, and they should be, Larry, because in all the times you've gone to the court asking for help, you've never once demonstrated any respect for its institutions and procedures.
Larry Flynt: Yeah, and our case is as good as any.
Isaacman: Our case is better than most, you're missing my point, and that is they will never pick you. Because you're a nightmare. They're afraid if they let you in there, you're gonna wear a diaper, or throw oranges at the justices, and they should be, Larry, because in all the times you've gone to the court asking for help, you've never once demonstrated any respect for its institutions and procedures.
