Anything Goes

Anything Goes, 1934 musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The show has been revised several times, with modifications to the script and the addition of several new songs to replace some that were considered outdated when the show reappeared on Broadway. Most of the quotes on this page are from the version of the show that opened in 1988.

Quotes

• I get no kick from champagne.
  Mere alcohol doesn't thrill me at all,
  So tell me why it should be true
  That I get a kick out of you?
  • "I Get a Kick Out of You"

• Some get a kick from cocaine.
  I'm sure that if
  I took even one sniff
  That would bore me terrifically, too,
  Yet, I get a kick out of you.
  • "I Get a Kick Out of You"

• You're the smile
  On the Mona Lisa.
  • "You're The Top"

• You're the top!
  You're the Great Houdini!
  You're the top!
  You are Mussolini!
  • Original lyrics of "You're The Top"; these lines were later omitted.

• In olden days a glimpse of stocking
  Was looked on as something shocking
  But now, Heaven knows,
  Anything goes.
  • "Anything Goes"; there are also variants on this line which read "But now, God knows,
    Anything goes", but the most common renditions are done with "Heaven knows"

• Good authors, too, who once knew better words
  Now only use four-letter words
  Writing prose —
  Anything goes.
  • "Anything Goes"

Leads

Bonnie, don't bring sex into this, it's bad enough being a minister.

Without love, there is no hope. Love, Hope.

Reno Sweeney: She's not confessing, she's advertising!

Reno Sweeney: In olden days a glimpse of stocking was looked on as something shocking, but now, God knows, anything goes!"

Reno Sweeney: Once I was headed for hell/ but when I got to Satan's door/ I heard you blowin' on your horn once more/ So I said 'Satan, farewell!'

Billy Crocker: And Plum Blossom become Plum Tart!

Billy Crocker: "We old poka' buddies!"

Captain: It's Snake Eyes Johnson! Public Enemy number one!

Erma/Bonnie: Yeah, public enemy number thirteen! Help, police!

Evelyn Oakleigh: To feel "gaga" about some one means to rub his neck.

Evelyn Oakleigh: “…we took an unpremeditated romp in the rice paddies, and I enjoyed it very much.” (about Plum Blossom)

Evelyn Oakleigh: I say, anyone have hot pants for a game of shuffleboard?

Moonface Martin: Well, what's going on in HERE?!

Moonface Martin: There's something wrong here!

Reno Sweeney: I don't care what you take sweetie, just as long as you get my good side.

Moonface Martin: "Calling all pants! Calling all pants!" (While taking off his pants)

Reno: Billy baby, where have you been?"

Billy: You'll be finding out in about ten minutes.

Hope: I see you've found your sea legs!

Minor Characters

Female Passangers: Can I touch your trigger finger?! Have you ever killed anyone who looks like me?

Virtue (one of Reno's Angels): I just have a lot of sex appeal, that's my problem.