James Cagney Quotes

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

The Influence of Others on Identity

Ralph Cotter Why, I thought you were the law-abiding type.

Holiday Carleton I guess I'm just whatever you make me.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Yankee Doodle Dandy

The Consequences of National Pride and Complacency

George M. Cohan It seems it always happens. Whenever we get too high-hat and too sophisticated for flag-waving, some thug nation decides we're a push-over all ready to be blackjacked. And it isn't long before we're looking up, mighty anxiously, to be sure the flag's still waving over us.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Angels with Dirty Faces

Confrontation Over Fairness in a Game

Soapy Hey! Call a fair game or I'll slap you right in the kisser!

Rocky Sullivan You'll slap me? You slap me in a dream, you better wake up and apologize.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Public Enemy

A Humorous Exchange on Romantic Preferences

Matt Doyle Gee, she's a honey. I could go for her myself.

Tom Powers What do you mean, you could go for her yourself? You could go for an eighty-year-old chick with rheumatism.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

Fugitive Offers a Sandwich to Another

Ralph Cotter And now, would one fugitive from justice care to fix another fugitive from justice... a sandwich?

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Public Enemy

A Brother's Concern for His Sister

Tom Powers That sister of yours ain't getting any bargain in Mike.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Public Enemy

Morning Tensions and Unspoken Feelings

Jane Breakfast is all ready, Tommy.

Tom Powers I ain't hungry. Pour me some coffee, will you, and make it black.

Jane You aren't sorry are you?

Tom Powers Sorry? Sorry about what?

Jane For last night.

Tom Powers What do you mean? For getting drunk?

Jane Aren't you the little play actor.

Tom Powers Wait a minute... Do you mean that... Why you...

[He slaps Jane]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Angels with Dirty Faces

Negotiating Consequences and Sacrifices

James Frazier Listen, Rocky. I'm pulling every string I can. I'm seeing the all right people. And I think I can get you off with about three years.

Rocky Sullivan You talk like I can do that three years in a handstand. It's a long time. That ain't no picnic. You'll be outside having it soft right on those cushions.

James Frazier I know it's a tough break, Rocky. But I'm not gonna mark time. I'm gonna scout around, make connections. Not only for me, but for both of us. You understand?

Rocky Sullivan Why should I take the fall?

James Frazier There's no other way out. Now, be sensible. If they get me too, I'll not only be disbarred, but they'll check on my vault box and grab that hundred grand. You don't want to lose that dough, do you?

Rocky Sullivan Alright, Frazier. It's my rap and I'll take it. But it's my hundred grand and I'll take that too, the day that I get out.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Public Enemy

Confronting Strengths and Weaknesses in Conflict

Tom Powers Hiding behind Ma's skirts, like always.

Mike Powers Better than hiding behind a machine gun.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Yankee Doodle Dandy

Recognition of Artistic Contribution to America

George M. Cohan And then came your wire. I was really worried. Well, here I am goin on like Tennyson's Brook giving you the story of my life. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that. You should have stopped me.

President Why, I wanted to hear the story of your life. It has a direct bearing on my sending for you. Do you know what this is?

George M. Cohan The Congressional Medal of Honor.

President Let's see what the inscription says: To George M. Cohan, for his contribution to the American spirit. Over There and Grand Old Flag Presented by Act of Congress. I congratulate you, Mr. Cohan. I understand you're the first person of your profession to receive this honor. You should be very proud.

[He hands the medal to George]

George M. Cohan Oh, I am proud. In fact, I'm flabbergasted. First time in my life, I'm speechless. Are you sure there isn't some mistake?

President Quite sure.

George M. Cohan But this medal is for people who've given their lives to their country or done something big. I'm just a song and dance man. Everybody knows that.

[modestly]

President A man may give his life to his country in many different ways, Mr. Cohan. And quite often he isn't the best judge of how much he has given. Your songs were a symbol of the American spirit. ] was just as powerful a weapon as any cannon, as any battleship we had in the First World War. Today, we're all soldiers, we're all on the front. We need more songs to express America. I know you and your comrades will give them to us.

[[w:Over There|Over There]

George M. Cohan Mr. President, I've just begun to earn this medal. It's quite a thing.

President Well, it's the best material we could find, what with priorities and all -

George M. Cohan Goodbye, sir. And I want you to know that I'm not the only one that's grateful. My mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I assure you, I thank you. And, uh, I wouldn't worry about this country if I were you. We've got this thing licked. Where else in the world today could a plain guy like me come in and talk things over with the head man?

[They shake hands]

President Well, that's about as good a definition of America as any I've ever heard. Good-bye, Mr. Cohan, and good luck.

George M. Cohan Good-bye sir, and good luck to you.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Yankee Doodle Dandy

Celebrating American Spirit Through Music and Dance

George M. Cohan *Note: ranked #97 in the ] in American cinema.

[[w:AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes|American Film Institute's list of the top 100 movie quotations]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Public Enemy

Drinks and Conversation Between Tom and Jane

Jane Let me fix you another drink, Tommy.

Tom Powers You mean to say you got any of that stuff left?

Jane Ha-ha-ha. You haven't drank so much.

Tom Powers Well, I can drink it as long as you can pour it.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Public Enemy

Revenge Motivated by Betrayal

Tom Powers Why that dirty, no good, yellow-bellied stool. I'm gonna give it to him right in the head the first time I see him.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Angels with Dirty Faces

Desperation in the Face of Death

Rocky Sullivan No! I don't want to die! Oh, please! I don't want to die! Oh, please! Don't make me burn in hell. Oh, please let go of me! Please don't kill me! Oh, don't kill me, please!

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Roaring Twenties

Fear and Disillusionment in the Roaring Twenties

George Halley What's a matta kid? Ya scared?

[In the shell hole, battle raging overhead]

Lloyd Hart Yes I am.

George Halley No heart, huh?

[Chuckles unsympathetically]

Lloyd Hart I'm beginning to think so. At least I haven't got any heart for this. I thought this business would be over with before I got here.

George Halley What, are you a college kid?

Lloyd Hart I just finished law school.

Eddie Bartlett Oh, a lawyer, huh? Can you think of anything that can get us out of this hole?

George Halley Aw, he wouldn't if he could. He's one of them guys that cheer the loudest back home, and then when they get over here and the goin gets tough they fold up.

Eddie Bartlett Shut up...

[Annoyed]

George Halley I'm talkin to him...

Eddie Bartlett And I'm talkin to you. I don't like heels or big mouths. We're all scared, and why shouldn't we be? Whaddya think they're usin in this war, water pistols? You're all right, kid. I like guys who are honest with themselves. Stay that way.

[to Lloyd]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Public Enemy

Nightcap and Assistance Between Friends

Tom Powers I'm going to hit the hay.

Jane I thought you'd like a little nightcap, Tommy. You don't need to feel ashamed in front of me, Tommy. Here, let me help you.

[She starts to undress Tom]

Tom Powers I don't need any help.

Jane Be a good boy and sit down. I'll take your shoes off too. I want to do things for you, Tommy. You don't think I'm old, do you, Tommy?

Tom Powers No.

Jane You like me, don't you Tommy?

Tom Powers Sure... What's the idea?

Jane Just a good night kiss for a fine boy.

Tom Powers In your hat.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Public Enemy

Familiarity Amidst Uncertainty in Conversations

Tom Powers How goes it, babe? Going south?

Gwen Allen Yes. But, I'm not accustomed with riding with... eh... strangers.

Tom Powers We're not going to be strangers.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Yankee Doodle Dandy

Food Preferences and Self-Consciousness

George M. Cohan Mmmmm... ham or bacon?

[sniffing]

Mary Cohan Bacon.

George M. Cohan Good. Ham makes me self-conscious.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Public Enemy

Choice of Fate in Conflict

Tom Powers How do you want em this time, up or down?

[Young Tom grabs his pants just as his father is about to spank him]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

Trust Issues Among Characters

Joe Jinx Raynor He ain't to be trusted.

Ralph Cotter Why should *he* be different?

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Angels with Dirty Faces

Foundations of Morality and Ambition

Rocky Sullivan Suppose the dough is hot? Nobody knows that but you and me.

[about his proposed anonymous donation]

Father Jerry That's just it.

Rocky Sullivan Oh, come on, don't be such an angel. You wanna get the center built, don't you? Well, go ahead - get it started.

Father Jerry Sure I wanna get it started; but I don't wanna get it started on rotten foundations.

Rocky Sullivan Aw, don't be a sucker!

Father Jerry All right, Rocky, supposin I take the money... and I kid myself that it's a means to an end - well it isn't. It never will be. Inside the center my boys would be clean... and outside they'd be surrounded by the same rotten corruption and crime and criminals. Yes, yourself included. Criminals on all sides for my boys to look up to and revere... and respect and admire and imitate. What earthly good is it for me to teach that honesty is the best policy when all around they see that dishonesty is a better policy? That the hoodlum and the gangster is looked up to with the same respect as the successful businessman or the popular hero? You and the Fraziers and the Keefers and all the rest of those rotten politicians you've got in the palm of your hand. Yes, and you've got my boys, too. Whatever I teach them, you... you show me up. You show them the easiest way - the quickest way is with a racket or a gun.

Rocky Sullivan Well, it's so, ain't it?

Father Jerry Yes, it's so... God help us.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Angels with Dirty Faces

A Darkly Humorous Greeting to Friends

Rocky Sullivan Morning, gentlemen. Nice day for a murder.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Angels with Dirty Faces

Compliments Between Rocky and Laury

Rocky Sullivan Say, you turned out to be a pretty snappy-looking dish.

Laury Martin Thanks.

Rocky Sullivan For a sociable worker.

Laury Martin Thanks again.

Rocky Sullivan I can't figure out why some smart guy hasn't grabbed you off.

Laury Martin Some smart guy who's always in the headlines, huh?

Rocky Sullivan You could do worse.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Public Enemy

Comment on a car's mechanical features

Tom Powers Hey, Stupe, that's got gears. It ain't no Ford.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Public Enemy

Acknowledging Vulnerability in Toughness

Tom Powers ... I ain't so tough.

[Stumbling severely wounded after a gun fight with a rival gang and soaking in heavy rain; Then collapses in the gutter]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Public Enemy

Betrayal and Guilt Among Brothers

Tom Powers So beer ain't good enough for you, huh?

Mike Powers Do you think I care if there was just beer in that keg? I know what's in it. I know what you've been doing all this time, how you got those clothes and those new cars. You've been telling Ma that you've gone into politics, that you're on the city payroll. Pat Burke told me everything. You murderers! There's not only beer in that jug. There's beer and blood - blood of men!

[He throws the keg into the corner noisily smashing Mrs. Powers' table]

Tom Powers You ain't changed a bit. Besides, your hands ain't so clean. You killed and liked it. You didn't get them medals for holding hands with them Germans.

[Stands; He walks away, but turns for the last word]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Public Enemy

Flirtation Between Tom Powers and Kitty

Tom Powers Hello baby. What are you gonna have?

Kitty Anything you say, big boy.

Tom Powers You're a swell dish. I think I'm going to go for you.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Yankee Doodle Dandy

Confidence Amidst Criticism in Show Business

George M. Cohan Thanks, Sam. It'll be great as long as those critics don't start to eat off my leg.

Sam Harris Oh, don't worry about the critics! You got a smash hit! It's in the air, kid! It's in the air! You can't stop anything that's in the air!

Yankee Doodle Dandy

Expressions of Gratitude from a Family

George M. Cohan My mother thanks you. My father thanks you. My sister thanks you. And I thank you.

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

Intelligence and Money in Conflict

Holiday Carleton He's too smart for you!

Ralph Cotter Oh no, he stopped being smart when he took my money.

Angels with Dirty Faces

A Long-Awaited Reunion Between Friends

Rocky Sullivan Laury Martin? That little fresh kid with the pigtails? Well, hello. Whadda ya hear! Whadda ya say!

Laury Martin Hello.

Rocky Sullivan Hey! Wait a minute!

Laury Martin I've waited fifteen years to do that!

Yankee Doodle Dandy

Childhood Reflections on Patriotism and Identity

George M. Cohan I guess the first thing I ever had my fist on was the American flag. I hitched my wagon to thirty-eight stars. And thirteen stripes. You know, I was six or seven years old before I realized they weren't celebrating my birthday on the Fourth of July.

Yankee Doodle Dandy

A Song Reminiscent Yet Unheard

Sergeant on parade What's the matter, old timer? Don't you remember this song?

George M. Cohan Seems to me I do.

Sergeant on parade Well, I don't hear anything.

Angels with Dirty Faces

A Last Request Between Friends

Father Jerry We haven't got a lot of time. And I want to ask you one last favor.

Rocky Sullivan There's not a lot left that I can do, kid.

Father Jerry Yes, there is, Rocky. Perhaps more than you could do under any other circumstances. If you have the courage for it, and I know you have.

Rocky Sullivan You mean, walking in there? That's not gonna take much.

Father Jerry I know that, Rocky.

Rocky Sullivan It's like a barber chair. And when they ask me "you got anything to say?". I'll say, "sure, give me a haircut, a shave, and a massage, with one of those nice new electric massages".

Father Jerry Are you afraid?

Rocky Sullivan You know Jerry, I think in order to be afraid, you've got to have a heart. I don't think I got one. I got it cut out of me a long time ago.

Father Jerry Suppose I asked you to have the heart, huh? To be scared.

Rocky Sullivan What do you mean?

Father Jerry Suppose the guards dragged you out of here screaming for mercy. Suppose you went to the chair yellow.

Rocky Sullivan Yellow? Say, what's the matter with you Jerry?

Father Jerry This is a different kind of courage, Rocky. The kind that's well, that's born in heaven. Well, not the courage of heroics or bravado. The kind that you and I and God know about.

Rocky Sullivan I don't know what you mean.

Father Jerry Look, Rocky, just before I came up here, the boys saw me off on the train. Soapy and several of the others. You can well imagine what they told me. "Father, tell Rocky to show the world what he's made of. Tell him not to be afraid and to go out laughing.

Rocky Sullivan Well, what do you want? I'm not gonna let them down.

Father Jerry I want you to let them down. You see, you've been a hero to these kids, and hundreds of others, all through your life - and now you're gonna be a glorified hero in death, and I want to prevent that, Rocky. They've got to despise your memory. They've got to be ashamed of you.

Rocky Sullivan You asking me to pull an act, turn yellow, so those kids will think I'm no good. You're asking me to throw away the only thing I got left that they can't take away. To give those newspapers a chance to say, "Another rat turned yellow.

Father Jerry You and I will know you're not.

Rocky Sullivan You ask a nice little favor, Jerry. Asking me to crawl on my belly the last thing I do.

Father Jerry I know what I'm asking. The reason I'm asking is because being kids together gave me the idea that you might like to join hands with me and save some of those other boys from ending up here.

Rocky Sullivan You're asking too much. You wanna help those kids, figure out some other way.

Father Jerry It's impossible to do it without your help. I can't reach all of those boys. Thousands of hero-worshiping kids all over the country.

Rocky Sullivan Don't give me that humanity stuff again. I had enough in the courtroom. Told everything. Named names. Told the whole mess. What more do you want?

Father Jerry What I've always wanted, Rocky. Straighten yourself out with God. Outside of that, I can't ask for anything else.

The Public Enemy

Betrayal Among Friends in Crime

Putty Nose We ain't sore are you, Tom? I've always been your friend.

Tom Powers Sure, you taught us how to cheat, steal and kill. And then you lambed out on us.

Matt Doyle Yeah, if it hadn't been for you, we might have been on the level.

Tom Powers Sure. We might have been ding-dings on a streetcar. Come on...

The Public Enemy

Morning Tensions Over Breakfast Drinks

Tom Powers Ain't you got a drink in the house?

[Tom shuffles to the breakfast table in his pajamas. He's just finished a demanding call with Nails Nathan]

Kitty Well, not before breakfast, dear.

Tom Powers ... I didn't ask you for any lip. I asked you if you had a drink.

[In annoyed tone]

Kitty I know Tom, but I, I wish that...

[sheepishly]

Tom Powers ...there you go with that wishin stuff again. I wish you was a wishing well. So that I could tie a bucket to ya and sink ya.

Kitty Well, maybe you've found someone you like better.

[Enraged and disgusted by her implication. He mercilessly shoves a grapefruit in her face and leaves the table]

Angels with Dirty Faces

A Tense Exchange Over Missing Money

Mac Keefer Where's Frazier?

Rocky Sullivan Where's that hundred grand?

Mac Keefer You think we're gonna pay off huh?

Rocky Sullivan Certainly. If I don't get that dough in three minutes, Frazier's gonna be splashed all over the best hideout in town.

The Public Enemy

Loneliness in Companionship

Putty Nose Are you alone?

Tom Powers I'm always alone when I'm with Matt.

Memorable Quotes from James Cagney