Context

This line is spoken by Terry Randall, played by Katharine Hepburn, in the film Stage Door, directed by Gregory La Cava (1937).

Terry Randall has come to New York to make it as an actress, but her domineering father doesn't think that's such a great plan. So, he decides to finance an entire play just so that Terry can star in it…and flop. Then his daughter will have no choice but to come home.

Parenting: you're doing it wrong.

Turns out Daddy's instincts are right though. Terry is terrible in rehearsals and the entire cast is convinced she's gonna sink the show. Start the mustache twirling now, Dad.

But on opening night, Terry finds out that her friend, Kay, has committed suicide. She was hoping to be cast in the starring role of the play, but when Terry is cast instead, Kay is overcome with depression. Terry doesn't think she can go on, but her other friends tell her she's just gotta. Do it for Kay!

As Terry enters the stage, she begins her first speech with the line, "The calla lilies are in bloom again." Turns out Kay's death is just the motivation Terry needs. (Yeah, it's weird.) She gives a heartfelt performance and the show is a hit.

In real life, this line comes from the play The Lake, which Katharine Hepburn actually starred in and famously flopped. Dorothy Parker reviewed it and reported that Ms. Hepburn's performance "ran the gamut of emotions, from A to B." Oh, snap.

But in this movie, Hepburn delivers a triumph. And none of her friends even had to die for her to do it! Now that's a real professional.

Where you've heard it

This line is pretty heavily associated with Katharine Hepburn, so if you hear someone quoting it, they're probably referring to the great lady of stage and film.

Additional Notable References:

• In an episode of I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball (who also starred in Stage Door) flops in an Italian movie while delivering the line, "The calla lilies are in bloom again."
• On the cartoon Time Squad, Larry delivers Hepburn's signature line.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

This line might seem sweet and unassuming, but give it a twist with Katharine Hepburn's classic mid-Atlantic accent and you'll having folks thinking you're pretentious in no time.