Dick Powell Quotes

Murder, My Sweet

Attraction and Mutual Interest

Helen Grayle I find men very attractive.

Philip Marlowe I imagine they meet you halfway.

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Murder, My Sweet

Manner Disputes Between Two Characters

Lindsay Marriott I'm afraid I don't like your manner.

Philip Marlowe Yeah, I've had complaints about it, but it keeps getting worse.

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Murder, My Sweet

A Dive into Darkness and Uncertainty

Philip Marlowe I caught the blackjack right behind my ear. A black pool opened up at my feet. I dived in. It had no bottom. I felt pretty good - like an amputated leg.

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Murder, My Sweet

Feeling Out of Place in Danger

Lt. Randall How do you feel?

[during an interrogation]

Philip Marlowe Like a duck in a shooting gallery.

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Murder, My Sweet

Facing Challenges with Humor and Grit

Philip Marlowe Okay Marlowe, I said to myself. You're a tough guy. You've been sapped twice, choked, beaten silly with a gun, shot in the arm until you're crazy as a couple of waltzing mice. Now let's see you do something really tough - like putting your pants on.

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Murder, My Sweet

Questioning the Nature of the Conversation

Philip Marlowe I don't know what you talked him into. Was it murder or something serious?

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Murder, My Sweet

The Nature of Unspoken Remarks

Philip Marlowe What were you saying?

Dr. Sonderborg I made no remark.

Philip Marlowe Remarks want you to make them. They got their tongues hanging out waiting to be said.

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Murder, My Sweet

Confusion About Loyalties and Intentions

Ann Grayle You know, I think you're nuts. You go barging around without a very clear idea of what you're doing. Everybody bats you down, smacks you over the head, fills you full of stuff... and you keep right on hitting between tackle and end. I don't think you even know which SIDE you're on.

Philip Marlowe I don't know which side anybody's on. I don't even know who's playing today.

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Murder, My Sweet

Detective Work and Its Unexpected Appeal

Helen Grayle I hadn't supposed there were enough murders these days to make detecting very attractive to a young man.

Philip Marlowe I stir up trouble on the side.

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Murder, My Sweet

Late Night Office Reflections

Lt. Randall Let's get it on the record... from the beginning.

Philip Marlowe With Malloy, then. Oh, it was about seven o'clock. Anyway it was dark.

Lt. Randall What were you doing at the office that late?

Philip Marlowe I'm a homing pigeon. I always come back to the stinking coop, no matter how late it is. I'd been out peeking under old Sunday sections for a barber named Dominick whose wife wanted him back - I forget why. Only reason I took the job was because my bank account was trying to crawl under a duck.

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Murder, My Sweet

A Threat of Violence and Its Response

Lindsay Marriott How would you like a swift punch on the nose?

Philip Marlowe I tremble at the thought of such violence.

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In the Navy

Curiosity About Bugs in Changing Seasons

Thomas Halstead By the way, where do all the little bugs go this time of year?

Pomeroy Watson Search me.

Thomas Halstead No thanks, I just wondered.

Murder, My Sweet

Preference for Scotch over Water

Philip Marlowe Skip the water. Make that one with scotch. It'll save time.

Murder, My Sweet

A Nonchalant Take on His Weapon

Philip Marlowe That's just part of my clothes. I hardly ever shoot anybody with it.

[about his gun]

Murder, My Sweet

A Gritty Description of a Complex Character

Philip Marlowe She was a charming middle-aged lady with a face like a bucket of mud. I gave her a drink. She was a gal who'd take a drink, if she had to knock you down to get the bottle.

Murder, My Sweet

Indications of an Amateur Killing

Philip Marlowe He was doubled up on his face in that bag-of-old-clothes position that always means the same thing: he had been killed by an amateur. Or, by somebody who wanted it to look like an amateur job. Nobody else would hit a man that many times with a sap.

Murder, My Sweet

A Conversation on Unpleasant Tales

Helen Grayle It's a long story and not pretty.

Philip Marlowe I got lots of time and I'm not squeamish.

Murder, My Sweet

The Complexity of Inaction and Motivation

Philip Marlowe Now this is beginning to make sense, in a screwy sort of a way. I get dragged in and get money shoved at me. I get pushed out and get money shoved at me. Everybody pushes me in, everybody pushes me out. Nobody wants me to DO anything. Okay, put a check in the mail. I cost a lot not to do anything. I get restless. Throw in a trip to Mexico.

Memorable Quotes from Dick Powell

find it. watch it.