"I phoned Joe Roth, who was head of the studio at the time, and told him how beautiful the film was, and that I was fully ready to support it, that Michael's work was wonderful and I imagined that Daniel would feel the same. He listened quietly and read between the lines"
About this Quote
The key phrase is “I imagined that Daniel would feel the same.” Stowe doesn’t speak for Daniel, doesn’t cite a conversation, doesn’t issue a threat. She simply introduces a gravitational force into the room: another star’s presumed alignment. In studio politics, that’s leverage with plausible deniability. If the project is in trouble, she’s offering a lifeline; if the studio is wavering, she’s quietly raising the cost of ignoring her.
Joe Roth “listened quietly and read between the lines” is the tell that everyone involved understands the real language being spoken. Quiet listening suggests power: he doesn’t need to argue because the message is already legible. The subtext is mutual awareness of what can’t be said outright - about internal dissent, reputational stakes, or negotiations happening off-camera. Stowe isn’t begging. She’s placing a strategic bet, politely, in a system where politeness is often the sharpest tool.
Quote Details
| Topic | Movie |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
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Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Stowe, Madeleine. (2026, January 17). I phoned Joe Roth, who was head of the studio at the time, and told him how beautiful the film was, and that I was fully ready to support it, that Michael's work was wonderful and I imagined that Daniel would feel the same. He listened quietly and read between the lines. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-phoned-joe-roth-who-was-head-of-the-studio-at-79424/
Chicago Style
Stowe, Madeleine. "I phoned Joe Roth, who was head of the studio at the time, and told him how beautiful the film was, and that I was fully ready to support it, that Michael's work was wonderful and I imagined that Daniel would feel the same. He listened quietly and read between the lines." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-phoned-joe-roth-who-was-head-of-the-studio-at-79424/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I phoned Joe Roth, who was head of the studio at the time, and told him how beautiful the film was, and that I was fully ready to support it, that Michael's work was wonderful and I imagined that Daniel would feel the same. He listened quietly and read between the lines." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-phoned-joe-roth-who-was-head-of-the-studio-at-79424/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
