My Old Friend William Wyler Used To Say, "If You're Going To Give The
Audience A Shock, Just Before It, Almost Reduce Them To Boredom So That
Bang, They Sit Up.
My old friend William Wyler used to say, "If you're going to give the
audience a shock, just before it, almost reduce them to boredom so that
bang, they sit up." He's quite right, of course.
-- David Lean
Related:
It is always preferable to visit home with a friend. Your parents will
not be pleased with this plan, because they want you all to themselves and
because in the presence of your friend, they will have to act like mature
human beings....