Crossroads (1986 film)

Crossroads is a 1986 cult film starring Ralph Macchio and inspired by the legend of Robert Johnson.

Directed by Walter Hill. Written by John Fusco.

Willie Brown

• Where I come from, you don't blow no harp, you don't get no pussy.

• Blues ain't nothing but a good man feeling bad, thinking about the woman he once was with.

• Lots of towns … lots of songs … lots of women … good times, bad times … the only thing I wanted anyone to say is … "He could really play … he was good."

Others

• Scratch's Assistant: See you in hell, blind boy.

• Scratch's Assistant: Well, well, well. Who sent you here? Can't talk, little man? [laughs] Bet ya can't play none, either!

Dialogue

Willie Brown: Mileage. You can't get that living home with your momma wiping your butt.

Eugene Martone: No, I don't live at home.

Willie Brown: Where you live?

Eugene Martone: It's a school dormitory.

Willie Brown: [sarcastically] Oh, school dormitory. Oh, times is hard. Times is hard!

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Willie Brown: You got your mind made up about how everything works, don't you? How you gonna learn anything new when you know everything already?

[He picks up Eugene's old, scratched acoustic guitar]

Willie Brown: Look at this old guitar you been squeaking on. I bet you saw this thing in a music store and bought it just because you thought it was beat up. Well, you got it all wrong. Muddy Waters invented electricity!

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Scratch: You looking for me, Willie Brown? Been a long time, hasn't it, Willie? You about 17 last time we saw each other. One night on this old crossroad, wasn't it?

Willie Brown: I come to see you, tell you the deal is off. Now, you slipped up on your end of things. I didn't end up where I wanted. I didn't end up with nothing, didn't get nothing!

Scratch: You got what you was supposed to get, bluesman! Ain't nothing ever as good as we want it to be! But that ain't no reason to break a deal.