"You were a TOMATO!" Best (and funniest) scene in the movie and I still can't believe Sydney Pollack managed to direct it and be so frickin funny at the same time.

"I'm your agent, not your mother". This is one of the best dialogues in cinema history. Pollack and Hoffman, fucking hilarious.

This is a perfect example of great writing. In just a few short minutes, we learn that Michael Dorsey is a difficult actor and why his career is failing. This is done in such a way that the characters are not only expressing their thoughts and feelings to each other in the dialogue, but also giving information about Michael Dorsey's character without forcing it on the audience.

@jefferoni1984

Жыл бұрын

Exactly. And you can also tell that they’ve had this argument many times before.

@00177454419

Жыл бұрын

"Excuse me, Is my acting interfering with your talking ?"

@Kylopod

Жыл бұрын

This may well be one of the greatest expositional scenes of all time.

@lexkanyima2195

Жыл бұрын

​@@jefferoni1984 maybe in real life

@michaelj.r457

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, and that's why Hoffman argued for Pollack to play the agent. This scene, in Dustin's eyes, was crucial to the whole movie, in establishing that Michael's reputation for being difficult is large enough that NO ONE will hire him (and that his own agent has to emphasize it THREE times.) He has no choice but to disguise himself. Dustin used the example of how Some Like It Hot was dependent on the St. Valentine's Day Massacre and Jack and Tony fearing for their lives after they are spotted at eyewitnesses. Dustin felt it would get close to a truthful level if Pollack, due to their real arguments, and as a man above Dustin in the filmmaking hierarchy as director, told him he would never get any work and that he was difficult, as opposed to a peer like Dabney Coleman (originally set to play the agent.)

A master class in writing and acting. My god, Sidney Pollack was an outstanding director but also a vastly underrated actor. This scene and Russian Tea Room are comedy gems.

@lynnhanson2169

4 ай бұрын

The whole movie is perfect. Beefsteak 🍅!!

Sydney Pollack was tremendous in this as the agent - brilliant acting, and hilarious!

@pruthvish007

4 жыл бұрын

Him & Bill Murray were brilliant

@jonahfalcon1970

3 жыл бұрын

@@pruthvish007 You're watching reality because Pollack HATED having to direct a very difficult Hoffman.

@freebretth

3 жыл бұрын

Terrific dialogue.

@robertmcelwaine7024

3 жыл бұрын

The wonderful thing about this scene is it's not hard to agree and sympathize with George. Michael is essentially a decent guy but he fails to grasp the concept of dramatic license, and takes the acting profession a little too seriously. Supposedly Hoffman wasn't that far removed from his character in real life, and had shouting matches with Pollack on set or in his office. Art immiitating life.

@moimeme6533

3 жыл бұрын

@@robertmcelwaine7024 also he had to persuade/convince S. Pollack to play the role of the agent, which was orig slated to be Dabney Coleman , who was in turn ultimately cast as the womanizing tv director.

This scene never gets old. The exchange between Michael and George about the tomato commercial is priceless!

@sha11235

2 жыл бұрын

I think what makes it great is that both characters make good points about what they are talking about. Neither one is completely right nor wrong.

@yama5182

Жыл бұрын

IT explained so much in a short amount of time…so clearly that we UNDERSTOOD Micheal…empathized hilariously and completely! 💖🤣

@user-hd3dc5up6i

5 ай бұрын

Dustin Hoffman such a brilliant talented actor😊

@michaelshepard9824

Ай бұрын

​@@user-hd3dc5up6iSydney was no slack himself!

This scene is so brilliantly written and acted. After 40 years I still come back to it. The dynamic is so genuine and real. It almost feels like the sort of scene you’d write for a father and adult son. The father who loves his child but is completely exasperated trying to force them to face reality and grow up.

@lexkanyima2195

Жыл бұрын

It is in actual real life scene

@mattpope1746

Жыл бұрын

I wonder how much of the real life dynamic between the two men is being channeled brilliantly into the scene. Sydney Pollack the pragmatic director and Dustin Hoffman, the high-maintenance actor. My guess is the two may have had conversations on set that resembled this scene.

@madeleinegrayson8372

4 күн бұрын

​@@mattpope1746Pollock was an actor first, he's not so removed from the actor mentality.

This is a fantastic scene. Pollack was vastly underrated as an actor.

@sha11235

8 жыл бұрын

And he did more acting than directing too.

@bradleybrown8399

2 жыл бұрын

By whom?

@danielterry382

4 күн бұрын

He was in a Soprano's episode years later with Tony !

"This is a coast, too, George. New York is a coast too."

One of the greatest 4 minutes of dialog in movies

damn the writing is so pitch perfect.

When you wanna send a steak back, Michael Dorsey is a name. LOL, so many great lines in this scene

Sidney Pollack was not only a brilliant director, he was a fine actor, too. Miss him, The writing in this scene, and the whole movie, is crisp and right on target. Casting was perfect, too--especially the late Charles Durning.

@sha11235

10 жыл бұрын

Not all the roles were first choices. Actually, Sydney wanted Dabney Coleman to play George. It was Hoffman who insisted Sydney play it. Also, Dustin wanted Polly Holliday in the role Doris Belack got.

@ChrisWolff2013

7 жыл бұрын

Man was just a natural and insanely talented.

@funkmike

6 жыл бұрын

From what I've heard in interviews, this was almost exactly the kind of arguments and relationship Pollack and Hoffman had in real life while making this film. A brilliant form of self-casting.

@superlex611

6 жыл бұрын

funkmike but they improvised the scene

@jg1205

5 жыл бұрын

@Roger B That was Dave Grusin

"I did an endive salad that knocked critics on their ass!"

Sydney was one of those artists who always brought quality and heart to his work, whether acting or directing. He reminded us of how good it is to be human, to feel, to laugh, and love.

"You were a TOMATO!"

@rydermccall3590

6 жыл бұрын

Sean McIntosh And that’s what I said!

@blairwaldorf-bass8180

5 жыл бұрын

Charles Peters A TOMATO DOESNT HAVE LOGIC

@SandWolf_

5 жыл бұрын

I DID THE BEST TOMATO, THE BEST CUCUMBER!

"I will not get sucked into this conversation, I will not!" And he promptly gets sucked into the conversation.

@PhilippeTapon

9 күн бұрын

And then Michael says “I don’t want to argue about it” and continues arguing.

Best scene in the whole movie. Dustin and Sidney together are brilliant.

This scene and the one with Pollack and Hoffman as Dorothy at the Russian Tea Room are hilarious and brilliantly written and acted.

@JohnLutherable

2 жыл бұрын

the face Pollack makes when Dorothy asks him about the tea house, perfection lol

You're a TOMATO!!! A tomato doesn't have logic! A tomato can't move!!! Priceless!

Seriously, I'm in tears. One of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite comedies. I adore Dustin Hoffman :)

Stellar acting. Hoffman and Pollack are absolutely brilliant!

@jesseburleson432

9 жыл бұрын

Me too. For comedies!

@laurakenney225

8 жыл бұрын

this movie is STILL funny!!

One of the best scenes of all time.

Sidney and Dustin... A master-class in acting right here. To think Sidney did not want to play the agent because he couldn't act

@superlex611

5 жыл бұрын

He can be himself

One of the best scenes in movie history.

One of the best comedies ever! This movie stands the test of time, no doubt about it.

I love it how George goes nuts over the tomato.

It's not that Hollywood won't make movies like this anymore, it's that Hollywood doesn't know HOW to make movies like this any more and that is a heart-breaking tragedy...

@madeleinegrayson8372

4 күн бұрын

The corporate overlords wouldn't allow it anyway. And the green haired woke mob would have a fit.

Definitely the best scene in the movie......."Nobody wants to see a play about a couple who moved back to Love Canal." "But that actually happened!" "WHO GIVES A SHIT???!!!" hahahahahaha Oh my God I first saw this years ago and I still bust a gut!

@tomtrinchera8405

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah, that never fails to make me laugh too. Even when I first saw this at about the age of 12, I laughed over it even tho I didn't understand it!

"I'm your agent, not your mother!" Haha fantastic writing

Always wanted to meet this guy. Mr. Pollack always seemed like the friendliest, most approachable talent in the world. Have always been a big admirer of his. And he will be forever emblazoned in my memory for brilliantly arguing with Dustin Hoffman over the logistics of being a tomato. Now I must just say God rest him. Thanks for this.

This scene is actually based on the real relationship between Pollack and Hoffman.

Best scene in the film, for me. Sydney Pollack was such an underrated actor. He equals Dustin Hoffman in this scene (in fact I think he stole it) and he's also terrific in Woody Allen's 'Husbands and Wives'. He should've acted more.

@HovaNirvana

5 жыл бұрын

aerialkate He definitely stole the last scene they had together in the movie. ALL of George’s reactions to Michael are GOLD.

Michael is this complex mix of fear (please respect me!!), and respect for George, and denial, and unmet ego needs ...Brilliant writing.

nobody wants to pay twenty dollars to watch people living next to chemical waste, they can see that in New Jersey!

@haroldsgirl5043

8 жыл бұрын

+TheColinChapman lmfao! Love that line! :)

@GD1082

3 жыл бұрын

One of the greatest lines in cinema.

@moimeme6533

3 жыл бұрын

Preceded by “who gives a sh*t?!” 😆

@jameyb1984

3 жыл бұрын

Great line 😂😂😂😂

@brianpomeroy9624

2 жыл бұрын

Great line.

One of the greatest movies ever made.

I've seen this film so many times, I can practically quote the whole film

The exchange about the tomato is alone some of the greatest comedy writing of all time.

"YOU WERE A TOMATO!!! A TOMATO DOESN'T HAVE LOGIC! A TOMATO CAN'T MOVE!" "That's what I said! So if he can't move, how's he gonna sit down, George?! I was a stand-up tomato, a juicy, sexy, beefsteak tomato...NOBODY DOES VEGETABLES LIKE ME!!"

@moimeme6533

3 жыл бұрын

there is a certain logic to it 😆

@HybridSpektar

3 жыл бұрын

Arguably the best part in this whole movie!

@otherworld11

2 жыл бұрын

dear God, let me write something this funny.

I could never order an endive salad without smirking

@tommyt1971

4 жыл бұрын

Ahn-deev!

My God Sydney Pollack was brilliant too. Forever missed.

Hands down one of the best scenes.

"...Y O U W E R E A T O M A T O !!! A TOMATO DOESN'T HAVE LOGIC! A TOMATO CAN'T MOVE!!" Honest to god (even though i don't believe in one), here where Pollack cracks up, has always been one of the most appreciated moments in movie history as far as my taste goes. The whole office scene of course too.

I agree this was Sydney Pollack's best scene great acting from an amazing director.

One of the greatest scenes in film history.

I know Jessica Lange won Best Supporting Actress, but I also say that Sydney Pollak should have been nominated for & WON Best Supporting Actor. A truly unappreciated performance.

@JenniferBrigitteOpticalVortex

6 жыл бұрын

Seriously, she was NOTHING special in this movie. I wouldn't have nominated her at all. Pollack should have won!

@superlex611

6 жыл бұрын

Jennifer Brigitte in general Pollack was more himself in that scene and he directed in his own way

@randywhite3947

4 жыл бұрын

Jennifer Brigitte absolutely not Lange was Brilliant in this movie one of the best supporting female performances ever

@nickholden8642

2 жыл бұрын

Facts!

I think this is one of the best scenes ever put on film. Love the chemistry between Hoffman and Pollack

I think this scene has to be one of the funniest, if not the funniest, director cameos ever in movie history!

I love that his roommate wrote a play called "return to love canal" lol who the hell would go BACK to love canal??

Perfection of art. This scene is pure perfection.

This scene is perfect in and of itself.

Check out the behind the scenes of the making of Tootsie you will see this exactly how Pollack and Hoffman were with each other away from the camera although they were also very friendly towards each other as well but their arguments are so funny. It is what made Pollack perfect casting for the role of the agent.

@sha11235

8 жыл бұрын

It was Hoffman's idea for Sydney to play it.

The joke is that Hoffman has always had a reputation for being “difficult.” Supposedly when he did the torture scenes in Marathon Man he stayed awake for 2 or 3 days. And Laurence Olivier said, “Dear boy, why don’t you try acting?”

@ChrisWolff2013

3 жыл бұрын

The guy was as dedicated to his craft as any actor during his time.

@jaywilson4520

3 жыл бұрын

He also had the lead role in Blade Runner too before Harrison Ford, but he got let go because they spent months discussing the role with him and answering one question after another. His rep for being exacting was well known, and Tootsie actually represented his comeback in a way. Art imitated life, or life imitated art.

@mskidi

2 жыл бұрын

Hoffman was going through difficult times in his personal life and told Olivier about it, something about a divorce I think. So Lawrence adviced him to concentrate on his job as a way of getting his mind clear. The rest is just another bullshit fan fact, a myth.

A JUICY SEXY BEEFSTEAK TOMATOES!

One of the greatest comedies ever.

I really miss Sydney Pollack, a brilliant director AND actor

One of my heroes! R.I.P. Sydney!

This scene and the Russian Tea Room are the whole movie! Thank you so much for posting two of the finest examples of the greatness of Sydney Pollack.

2:26 "You argue with everybody!" If you know the behind the scenes stories about the movie, you can't argue that that line was just as much Sydney talking to Dustin as it was George talking to Michael.

Another sign Hoffman is a legend. He's a tremendous actor with a successful career and he totally nails the struggling loser actor part perfectly

Sydney Pollack was a great actor as well as a director, so underrated!

The best part of the movie how they are bickering at each other.

They don’t make em like this anymore. Everything about this movie is perfection - the writing, direction, acting - even the score! Everyone involved in this movie was a true pro!

1:50 "Who gives a shit!!! Nobody wants to pay 20 dollars to watch people livin next to chemical waste!!! They can see that in New Jersey!!!!" I never forget this line I first heard it 8 or 9. Only when I was a teen that realized the person who said it was a notable film director. RIP Sydney.

i love this movie ..the 80s had great movies great actors /times Sydney had great talent.....

The story goes that Dustin Hoffman had trouble doing this scene for some time, until he suggested that Sydney Pollack take the role of George, the agent. Hoffman said he’d have trouble listening to another actor trying to be his agent, but that he’d listen to his director being his agent. Pollack was reluctant, but eventually agreed, and the result was as we see here. This is one of the problems with method acting; makes it hard to invent stuff for a performance.

@madeleinegrayson8372

4 күн бұрын

Method is total bs. It's masturbating in public. No one wants to see your therapy sessions, lol. Act, don't wallow.

This is a fantastically written show. Always makes me laugh hysterically! YOU’RE A TOMATO!

I agree..my fave scene in this movie by a mile ..Pollack & Hoffman are both amazing .. the dialogue is witty..sharp and hilariously executed .. xx

@sha11235

10 жыл бұрын

What's great about this scene is that both men have good points.

"New York is a coast too!" "Oh boy!" (The agent sees right away Michael is right back in Tomatoland)

One of the best cuts in film history

The scenes between pollack and hoffman are the best.

One of best scenes in "Tootsie" !

Thanks, Sydney, for all the great movies, for all your great performances. What a guy.

"Nobody does vegetables like me" ! that line cracks me up every time.

Great scene from one of the greatest movies ever made.

The way Pollack is subtly trying to hold himself back from exploding through most of the scene is just so amazing. Comedic performances are almost never held up to the same acclaim as dramatic ones...but a performance like this is every bit as skilled as any great supporting drama role. Pollack was an under appreciated actor.

"Get some therapy". Great scene, well-acted by director Sydney Pollack.

"I did an endive salad that knocked the critics on their ass!" Gelbart's brilliant writing, coupled with Pollack & Hoffman's chemistry - magic! If Pollack wasn't such a terrific director, he could've been a brilliant, constantly booked actor.

Classic scene from a terrific movie. Easily deserving of it's status on the American Film Institute's list of all time greatest.

Brilliant scene.

i would have loved to have met him. Sydney Pollack was a really really great Man

"Who gives a sh*t??!" Sydney rocks.

This movie was a gem: one of the greatest of screen actors portrayed an actor who is obnoxious and not as good as he thinks is (though he did pull off the lady character!).

I adore these two!! 💙💙

“I did an endive salad that knocked the critics on their ass!” 🤣🤣☠️☠️ 8 years old when this movie came out. Saw it in theaters, one of my favorites ever since…40 years?? Awesome…

“You were a tomato!!! A tomato doesn’t have logic - a tomato can’t move!” “That’s what I said! So if he can’t move, how’s he gonna sit down, George???” 🤣😂

@NJGuy1973

Жыл бұрын

Michael does make a good point.

Fantastic scene from one of the great film comedies of all time. The film is a great satire on the acting world and also soap operas. Also - can’t help but think that Hoffman is like that in real life! 😂

Most of the dialog in this scene had to have been improvised -- their interaction is too perfect to have been written out!

"WHO GIVES A SHIT?!!! Nobody wants to pay $20 to watch people live next to chemical waste, they can see that in New Jersey"...golden...simply golden

@tommyt1971

4 жыл бұрын

And the situation in Jersey was probably WORSE than Love Canal! (NO offense to any Jerseyites!)

@Chuck0856

3 жыл бұрын

@@tommyt1971 Sorry, offense taken.

@Chuck0856

3 жыл бұрын

Not to anyone who really knows NJ.

i played an endive salad that knocked the critics on their asses!

@maddymud

4 жыл бұрын

mistermatt moose my fav line in the flick

"You were a Tomato!"😂😂😂😂

This is one of the funniest scenes in the history of American movies. I laugh hysterically every time. That’s good comedy and writing.

1:20 I will not get sucked into this conversation, Michael. I will not!

@crisvanfan

7 ай бұрын

And proceeds to get sucked into the conversation

“You argue with everybody!”” “You were a tomato! A tomato doesn’t have logic! A tomato can’t move!” 😆😆😆😆 Great acting by Sydney Pollack but from what I remember, he wasn’t acting: his patience with Hoffman (known for being difficult) was almost exhausted. You can really feel his exasperation with Hoffman’s character. I imagine Hoffman was just playing himself. Whatever they were doing though works brilliantly. Some of my favourite scenes in the movie are with these two (the scene in the restaurant is brilliant as well). Fantastic movie all round. Used to be on in England a lot at Christmas but rarely shown now.

"Owe it all up to her and on her terms." "Oh God, here comes the terms" One of the greatest scenes ever!

I would love to do this scene in an acting class.

When I heard, this was the first thing I looked for.

One my favorite scenes from.this movie

I have lived in Buffalo for several years, and near the site of What-Was-Once Love Canal (no plaque or memorial, just a giant empty space surrounded by chain-link fence with vague instructions "Not To Enter"). I am still waiting for a proper production of "Return To Love Canal" on either side of the border. After all these years, I'm still down with you, Dorothy. I mean Michael. I mean Dorsey. I mean Dorsey Michaels. Or Michaels Dorothy. Or even Jeff The Playwright for daring to dream the impossible and stage a play that not even Sydney Pollack would touch with a Newark-Sized Pole, LOLZ. :D

I read somewhere that Dustin Hoffman sent Sydney Pollack roses every day with a card that said Please be my agent, Love, Dorothy until Pollack said yes