James CagneyQuotes

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.

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: [He hands the medal to George] 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.

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: [modestly] 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.

President: [[w:Over There|Over There] 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.

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: [They shake hands] 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?

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.

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!

George M. Cohan: [sniffing] Mmmmm... ham or bacon?

Mary Cohan: Bacon.

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

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.

George M. Cohan: [[w:AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes|American Film Institute's list of the top 100 movie quotations] *Note: ranked #97 in the ] in American cinema.

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

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.

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.

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.

Rocky Sullivan: [about his proposed anonymous donation] Suppose the dough is hot? Nobody knows that but you and me.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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

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

Mike Powers: Better than hiding behind a machine gun.

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: [He slaps Jane] Wait a minute... Do you mean that... Why you...

Tom Powers: I'm going to hit the hay.

Jane: [She starts to undress Tom] 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.

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.

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.

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.

Tom Powers: [Tom shuffles to the breakfast table in his pajamas. He's just finished a demanding call with Nails Nathan] Ain't you got a drink in the house?

Kitty: Well, not before breakfast, dear.

Tom Powers: [In annoyed tone] ... I didn't ask you for any lip. I asked you if you had a drink.

Kitty: [sheepishly] I know Tom, but I, I wish that...

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: [Enraged and disgusted by her implication. He mercilessly shoves a grapefruit in her face and leaves the table] Well, maybe you've found someone you like better.

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...

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.

Putty Nose: Are you alone?

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

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.

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

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

Tom Powers: [Stands; He walks away, but turns for the last word] 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.

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

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.

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

Tom Powers: [Stumbling severely wounded after a gun fight with a rival gang and soaking in heavy rain; Then collapses in the gutter] ... I ain't so tough.

Tom Powers: [Young Tom grabs his pants just as his father is about to spank him] How do you want em this time, up or down?

George Halley: [In the shell hole, battle raging overhead] What's a matta kid? Ya scared?

Lloyd Hart: Yes I am.

George Halley: [Chuckles unsympathetically] No heart, huh?

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: [Annoyed] Shut up...

George Halley: I'm talkin to him...

Eddie Bartlett: [to Lloyd] 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.

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

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

Joe Jinx Raynor: He ain't to be trusted.

Ralph Cotter: Why should *he* be different?

Holiday Carleton: He's too smart for you!

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

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