How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from An American in Paris.
Quote #4
JERRY: That's, uh, quite a dress you almost have on.
MILO: Thanks.
JERRY: What holds it up?
MILO: Modesty.
Milo's not above using her feminine wiles to try to snag Jerry. Personally, we'd prefer to see her use her brain, but that was then and this is now. Jerry, meanwhile, is just surprised to see a powerful woman actually look like a woman. For Jerry, and most of society at the time, power and femininity were mutually exclusive.
Quote #5
MILO: I don't need a paid escort, and I'm not trying to rob you of your precious male initiative. I'm simply interested in your work and I want to get to know you better. Now is that such a crime?
Taking a hand-out from somebody is hard enough for Jerry—but taking a hand-out from a woman? That really threatens his pride as a dude.
Quote #6
MILO: Would it embarrass you if I signed the check?
JERRY: Yeah. Let's go someplace I can afford.
Of course he'd be embarrassed; it's the 1950s. Jerry may be okay with Milo sponsoring his career behind the scenes, but he's not going to let her pick up the check in public. We mean, what would the waiter say?? Probably nothing, but that doesn't matter to Jerry. Men are supposed to pick up the check.