Originally Posted by Lana
When Tom went to Hollywood to meet up with Woltz to ask Woltz to give Johnny Fontane the part in Woltz' new film, in the beginning both Tom and Woltz were referring to Woltz in the third party

Tom: Johnny Fontane's friend is my client, who'd give his undying friendship to Mr Woltz if Mr Woltz would grant us a small favour

Woltz: Woltz is listening and then What favour would your friend grant Mr Woltz?


I always took that as Hagen didn’t want to let him know he knew who he was. He knew Woltz had an ego and wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of letting him know he knew about him. Once he said Woltz is listening Hagen says ‘give Johnny the part in the new war film YOU’RE starting next week’. It was all gamesmanship in my opinion.