In their only movie together, The Last Tycoon in 1976, the character of Jack Nicholson (Brimmer) pays a visit to the character of Robert De Niro (Monroe Stahr).
Monroe Stahr : Your name’s well-known here.
Brimmer : And yours is well-known in New York, Mr. Stahr.
Cecilia Brady : [serving Monroe and Brimmer] You have done well by water and you by land.
Monroe Stahr : What?
Cecilia Brady : Anthony and Cleopatra, didn’t you recognize it?
Monroe Stahr : Shakespeare? No, l didn’t get any Shakespeare at school. How about you, Mr. Brimmer?
Brimmer : Oh, a bit.
Monroe Stahr : Where do you come from?
Brimmer : Tennessee. Baptist.
Monroe Stahr : l’m New York. Jewish.
Brimmer : l know.
Monroe Stahr : Oh, at least we’re all Americans.
Brimmer : We sure are, Mr. Stahr.[Monroe smiles and nods; Brimmer takes a sip from his coffee; Cecilia smiles and looks on the both men]
Brimmer : Well?
Monroe Stahr : Well, l’m glad you came out here. l wanted to talk to you. You’ve got my writers all upset.
Brimmer : Keeps them from going to sleep, doesn’t it?
Monroe Stahr : l want them awake, but l don’t want them crazy. [Brimmer stretches himself comfortably on his chair]
Brimmer : Well, we’re simply concerned that they have the proper protection, that’s all.
Monroe Stahr : [eyeing Brimmer irritably] Who from, me?
Brimmer : You’re a very good employer, Mr. Stahr, but, uh… we still think that the position can be… rationalized.[smiles]
Monroe Stahr : l’ll tell you three things: All writers are children. Fifty percent are drunks. And up till very recently, writers in Hollywood were gag-men; most of them are still gag-men, but we call them writers.
Brimmer : [nods and smiles] Uh-huh. But they’re still the farmers in this business. They grow the grain, but they’re not in at the feast.
Monroe Stahr : This looks to me like a try for power, Mr. Brimmer, and I will not give them power. I’ll give them money, I won’t give them power. Anyway, they’re not equipped for authority.[Cecilia continues to look on the two; Brimmer laughes]
Cecilia Brady : More coffee, Mr. Brimmer?
Brimmer : No, thank you.
