[when asked why he picked Larry McMurtry`s novel "The Last Picture Show" as subject matter] I liked the idea of doing a period piece because I like anything better in the past than in the present. I`m not moved by things that happen in the present, only when I think about them later. Life is too real when it`s actually happening.

I made a lot of mistakes when I was successful in the `70s. You know, there`s no handbook for success so I couldn`t make out what vibe I was picking up. But it`s called jealousy, envy and loathing, though they come at you with smiles because they want something from you. So you put on a front of arrogance to cover insecurity.

The end of the studio system signaled the end of the great screen stars. They were the sort of actors who brought their own charismatic personas to each role they played. Audiences felt as if they knew them immediately every time they watched one of their movies.

I think one of the reasons younger people don`t like older films, films made say before the `60s, is that they`ve never seen them on a big screen, ever. If you don`t see a film on a big screen, you haven`t really seen it. You`ve seen a version of it, but you haven`t seen it. That`s my feeling, but I`m old-fashioned.

[to producer Irwin Winkler, recounted in Peter Biskind`s book "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls"] Remember me? I used to be Peter Bogdanovich.

Filmmakers have a responsibility to the audience and to the work, I wish they felt that responsibility more, especially to what`s true in life.

[on the critical plaudits earned by The Last Picture Show (1971)] I`m very gratified by the reception. It`s gone beyond my wildest dreams. To have your picture compared to Citizen Kane (1941) is incredible; certainly it isn`t true, but it`s nice to have it written.

They don`t have personalities, so they can`t be stars. Do me a Tom Cruise impression, do me a Tom Hanks impression.

It`s a misconception about acting that it`s a practice in pretending to be someone else. It`s actually a practice in finding the character within yourself.

Marlon Brando changed everything for actors. After him, everyone wanted to be Marlon. No one wanted to be a type: they all wanted to display versatility in every role. But the brilliance that Marlon had was that he had star personality that shone through in every role.

I always thought that the goal in movies was to extinguish disbelief.

I`ve always been a self-confessed opportunist.

They`re all so jealous in Hollywood. It`s not enough to have a hit. Your best friend should also have a failure.