--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What do I need a movie for? The stage is…" description: "\"What do I need a movie for? The stage is on a higher level in every way, and a more satisfying medium. Movies, by comparison, are like calendar art nex..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f7/eli-wallach-15151_art_what-do-i-need-a-movie-for-the-stage-is_1783954.png" --- # What do I need a movie for? The stage is on a higher level… ![“What do I need a movie for? The stage is on a higher level in every way, and a more satisfying medium. Movies, by comparison, are like calendar art next to great paintings. You can't really do very much in movies or in television, but the stage is such an anarchistic medium.” quote by Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f7/eli-wallach-15151_art_what-do-i-need-a-movie-for-the-stage-is_1783954.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f7/eli-wallach-15151_art_what-do-i-need-a-movie-for-the-stage-is_1783954.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f7/eli-wallach-15151_art_what-do-i-need-a-movie-for-the-stage-is_1783954.png) > “What do I need a movie for? The stage is on a higher level in every way, and a more satisfying medium. Movies, by comparison, are like calendar art next to great paintings. You can't really do very much in movies or in television, but the stage is such an anarchistic medium.” [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The actor argues that theater offers greater artistic freedom and depth than film, which he sees as limited and less satisfying. **In simple terms:** Stage provides more artistic freedom than movies. Key Takeaway Explore theater’s unique creative possibilities. Themes art theatre film creativity medium comparison artistic expression Mood reflective passionate Type artistic comparative When to use this quote - producing plays - directing - acting workshops - film criticism Key Concepts dramatic structure immediacy audience interaction visual storytelling Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of theater cannot be replicated on screen? - How can filmmakers incorporate theatrical freedom? A Different Perspective Film can reach larger audiences despite its constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Calendars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calendars/) [Comparison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comparison/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Higher level](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-level/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Medium Movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medium-movies-1886713/) [Mediums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediums/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Movie Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie-stage-1886710/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Satisfying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfying/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Stage Anarchistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage-anarchistic-1886711/) [Stage Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage-higher-1886712/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [A movie and a stage show are two entirely different things. A picture, you can do anything you want. Change it, cut out a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cab-calloway/a-movie-and-a-stage-show-are-two-entirely-different-things-a-picture/) [Cab Calloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cab-calloway/) > [Any time you take a movie to stage, you can't do the same thing; it's not gonna work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-louderman/any-time-you-take-a-movie-to-stage-you-can-t-do-the-same-thing-it-s/) [Taylor Louderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-louderman/) > [There's an old Fred Astaire movie where the stage becomes bigger and deeper and more complex. Moments like that really did impact on me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-ortega/there-s-an-old-fred-astaire-movie-where-the-stage-becomes-bigger-and/) [Kenny Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-ortega/) > [I care about the connection with the audience. Film is such a powerful medium. Movies can change the way people think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/i-care-about-the-connection-with-the-audience-film-is-such-a-powerful/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [You know, things that might work in a book just do not work in the visual medium of movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-ball/you-know-things-that-might-work-in-a-book-just-do-not-work-in-the/) [Wes Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-ball/) > [Fifty-million-dollar movies gobble up the medium movies. A lot of people aren't working in Hollywood because of this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/fifty-million-dollar-movies-gobble-up-the-medium-movies-a-lot-of/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [In fact, two slices of whole wheat bread increase blood sugar to a higher level than a candy bar does. And then, after about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davis/in-fact-two-slices-of-whole-wheat-bread-increase-blood-sugar-to-a/) [William Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davis/) > [All of us who professionally use the mass media are the shapers of society. We can vulgarise that society. We can brutalise it. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/all-of-us-who-professionally-use-the-mass-media-are-the-shapers-of/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [In a weird way scientists understand things on a higher level but it takes a lot of dedication and a lot of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pitt/in-a-weird-way-scientists-understand-things-on-a-higher-level-but-it/) [Michael Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pitt/) > [Too many people are apt to redeem their profits too quickly. In a huge bull market they wind up with piddling profits, only to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-zweig/too-many-people-are-apt-to-redeem-their-profits-too-quickly-in-a-huge/) [Martin Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-zweig/) > [At a certain point, I felt the need to submit to a higher level of religiosity to move away from my intuition and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/at-a-certain-point-i-felt-the-need-to-submit-to-a-higher-level-of/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [You will learn that at higher levels of energy, our fields of prayer act very quickly to bring us exactly what we expect. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-redfield/you-will-learn-that-at-higher-levels-of-energy-our-fields-of-prayer/) [James Redfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-redfield/) > [But I believe we have a higher level of mentality within us, but we have to use the power in the right way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-turner/but-i-believe-we-have-a-higher-level-of-mentality-within-us-but-we/) [Tina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-turner/) > [To enter into the realm of contemplation one must in a certain sense die: but this death is in fact the entrance to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-enter-into-the-realm-of-contemplation-one-must-in-a-certain-sense/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity. It is also our greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-climate-crisis-is-not-a-political-issue-it-is-a-moral-and/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) ## More by Eli Wallach > [Even if I don't want to slow down, I'm slowing down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/even-if-i-don-t-want-to-slow-down-i-m-slowing-down/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [Having the critics praise you is like having the hangman say you've got a pretty neck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/having-the-critics-praise-you-is-like-having-the-hangman-say-you-ve/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [So I wanted to show what I did with the money. So I got red silk shirts, beautiful hats, wonderful saddles, a great horse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/so-i-wanted-to-show-what-i-did-with-the-money-so-i-got-red-silk/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [John Huston was a superb master. He knew how to make good films. I did three things with him. One is called Independence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/john-huston-was-a-superb-master-he-knew-how-to-make-good-films-i-did/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [From the age of four or five. I went to see a lot of Westerns then. But it was silent movies and I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/from-the-age-of-four-or-five-i-went-to-see-a-lot-of-westerns-then-but/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [All of these stories bounced around in my mind for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/all-of-these-stories-bounced-around-in-my-mind-for-a-long-time/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [But Clint I love, because Clint was my mentor. I knew nothing about making an Italian movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/but-clint-i-love-because-clint-was-my-mentor-i-knew-nothing-about/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [I met my wife and, for the next ten years, we did no films at all. She did the first movie and then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/i-met-my-wife-and-for-the-next-ten-years-we-did-no-films-at-all-she/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [No, I never thought of it in those terms. I used to go into agents' offices and they'd have pictures of these handsome movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/no-i-never-thought-of-it-in-those-terms-i-used-to-go-into-agents/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [I was an original member of the Actors' Studio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/i-was-an-original-member-of-the-actors-studio/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [When you have to shoot, shoot, don't talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/when-you-have-to-shoot-shoot-don-t-talk/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [And I did Batman, too. I did Mr. Freeze. I get more mail for him than anything I've ever done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/and-i-did-batman-too-i-did-mr-freeze-i-get-more-mail-for-him-than/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [I never lost my appetite for acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/i-never-lost-my-appetite-for-acting/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [This country has a complex about age. It's unbelievable. If you're over thirty, you've had it in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/this-country-has-a-complex-about-age-it-s-unbelievable-if-you-re-over/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [The big secret in acting is listening to people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/the-big-secret-in-acting-is-listening-to-people/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) [Explore all 44 Eli Wallach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What do I need a movie for? 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