# Rapid dialogue in old movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 13, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapid-dialogue-in-old-movies/218808 "2003-12-13T19:56:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CadburyAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@CadburyAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CadburyAngel)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapid-dialogue-in-old-movies/218808/21 "2003-12-15T16:10:36Z")
**Purd Werfect, Tusculan…** did you ever know that you’re my hero(es)? ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapid-dialogue-in-old-movies/218808/22 "2003-12-15T16:35:54Z")
The dialogue in _His Girl Friday_ moves along at a pretty fair clip, but _nobody_ could talk faster than James Cagney. Any of his early anti-hero movies leave _HGF_ stuttering in the dust. But his most impressive feat of fast talking was accomplished in the film he retired\* on: Billy Wilder’s funniest film, _One, Two, Three_ (1961). You’ll suspect editing tricks, but it’s all Jimmy. \*Though he later came out of retirment for _Ragtime_. ---
**Author:** ![boofy\_bloke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@boofy\_bloke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boofy_bloke)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapid-dialogue-in-old-movies/218808/23 "2003-12-16T02:57:36Z")
[facetious]You mean it wasn’t because they were on amphetamines (which makes you do everything faster) whereas now they’re on cocaine (which makes you feel more confident, therefore important, so you talk slower)?[/facetious] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapid-dialogue-in-old-movies/218808.md?page=1)