P

Peter Lorre Quotes

Actor

Memorable Quotes from Peter Lorre

36 quotes
A Difficult Fellow to Kill
Bob Hitchings Are you hurt?
Kentaro Moto No, thank you. Only a slight mishap.
Bob Hitchings Gee, I thought sure we were gonna kill somebody.
Kentaro Moto Mr. Moto is a very difficult fellow to kill.
Truth and Deception in Unlikely Circumstances
Felix Gillie And what if I tell them the truth and say it was all your idea in the first place?
Waldo Trumbull Mr. Gillie... Felix... friend... I put it to you, who in your discerning estimation are the police most likely to believe, hm? Mr. W. Trumble, respected local citizen and entrepreneur of death, or Mr. Felix Gillie... wanted fugitive and confessed bank robber?
Felix Gillie I never confessed! They just proved it.
[pause]
Precautions in a Dangerous Environment
Stephen Danel One moment, gentlemen. We have no police on the island, so one has to take certain precautions. Oh, I wouldn't touch those wires if I were you, Mr. Smith. There's a slight electrical current passing through them, to keep out the animals and snakes. You see the jungle comes awfully close to us here.
[Unlocking the gate; Mark reaches up to touch wire fencing]
Conflicted Emotions in Love and Healing
Doctor Gogol To be near you like this is more happiness than I've ever known.
Yvonne Orlac But Dr. Gogol, quite frankly, I asked you here to come here to talk about Stephen, and you must tell me the truth. Will he ever be able to play again? I mean, as he used to play?
Doctor Gogol Her thoughts are only for him!
Yvonne Orlac He's my husband and I love him.
Doctor Gogol Is there no room in your heart, even pity for a man who has never known the love of a woman but - but who has worshiped you since the day he first walked by that absurd little theater...
Yvonne Orlac Dr. Gogol, please.
Doctor Gogol Oh, I can't be silent any longer! You are a woman, you must have known!
Yvonne Orlac Yes, yes, I knew of your feelings for me. I traded on them. And since you saved Stephen I feel deeper friendship for you than for anyone, but I can give you nothing else in return.
Doctor Gogol Nothing!
Yvonne Orlac Nothing. Even if I didn't love him, there's something about you that...
Doctor Gogol Repulses you.
Yvonne Orlac Frightens me.
Doctor Gogol You are cruel! But only to be kind.
Yvonne Orlac Oh, thank you for trying to understand.
A Reflection on Pain and Tears
Stephen Danel Crying, Lorraine? Many men are whipped on this island. You've never cried before.
Uncooperative Customer in Unusual Circumstances
Felix Gillie For a man in his condition, he has a lot of energy!
[he and Trumbull are sitting on the coffin, trying to keep it closed and referring to Mr. Black, who's inside the coffin]
Waldo Trumbull The stubborn old crackpot! I could have sworn that he was dead!
Felix Gillie It's about time!
Waldo Trumbull I've never had such an uncooperative customer in my life!
A Matter of Clothing and Furniture
Stephen Danel You'll forgive me if I don't ask you to sit down, Mr. Smith, but your clothes and my furniture... I'm sure you'll understand.
Final Voyage of the Nautilus
Captain Nemo We are taking the Nautilus down for the last time.
Man We understand sir, and we're with you.
Ned Land Wait a minute. I don't understand. What's that gotta do with us?
Captain Nemo I'm dying, and the Nautilus is dying with me. Professor?
Professor Aronnax Yes.
Captain Nemo In a matter of minutes, an explosion, such as the world has never known, will destroy my island and all its works forever. That is why I have brought the Nautilus... here, to its last, deep resting place. Here at least, we will die in peace. Let every man go to his quarters and remain there.
Ned Land Why do you take us down with you?
Captain Nemo Lock them in their quarters.
Man Aye, sir. Take them out.
Conseil I don't want to die! Don't let him do it! I want no part of this!
Professor Aronnax Captain, you cannot do this. There is more at stake here than just our lives. Yours was a dream of the future come true. I beg you to reconsider.
Captain Nemo A power greater than mine makes that impossible. But there is hope for the future. When the world is ready for a new and better life, all this will someday come to pass... in God's good time.
Caution in Communication and Responsibilities
Stephen Danel Don't overdo it, Captain. There's a lot Mr. Smith ought to tell me and he may want to tell me before you finish. Oh, and be sure that he's able to work tomorrow.
[to Capt. Cort who's about to flog Mark Sheldon, a.k.a. Mr. Smith]
M
Demand for Jurisdiction and Mockery of Performance
Hans Beckert I demand to be handed over to the jurisdiction of the ]!
[[common law]
Criminal 1 Quite a performance! That's not bad, that, ha, ha, ha!
Schränker That would suit you, wouldn't it?
Conman Anything else you'd like?
[sarcastically]
Schränker So that you can invoke paragraph fifty-one…
Criminal 2 That's it.
Schränker And spend the rest of your life in an ] at ]'s expense ... And then you'd escape… or else there'd be a pardon and there you are, free as air, with a pass, protected by the law because of ]. Off again chasing little girls. No, no. Very dry. We're not going to let that happen.
[[Psychiatric hospital|institution; [Weimar Republic|the state; [Mental health|mental illness]
Cultural Perceptions Highlighted in Character Exchange
Bob Hitchings Now I know who you are! You're the Japanese Sandman.
Kentaro Moto Strange people, these Americans.
[shakes head]
Desire for Uncooked Hamburgers
The Stranger I want a couple of hamburgers, and I'd like them raw.
Debate on Intelligence in Plays
Dr. Einstein At least people in plays act like they've got sense.
Mortimer Oh, you think so? Did you ever see anybody in a play act like they got any intelligence?
Dr. Einstein How can anybody be so stupid!
[agonizing]
Fear and Doubt Amidst Haunting Claims
Clara The Devil's haunting this house! The Devil! Signor Ingram's hand!
Giovanna Quickly, before it catches up with us!
Antonio Ah, you're always imagining things. The night your grandmother died, you heard skeletons rattling.
Clara Well if you don't believe me, why are you running away?
Antonio Well, it can't hurt to be on the safe side.
Hilary Cummins Look, there they go. Giovanna, Antonio, and Clara. They're more afraid of ghosts than of the law.
Ovidio Castanio The law doesn't like it too much either. If I were not the Commissario, I would be right with them.
M
A Conversation on Life and Safety
Hans Beckert But… but… do you want to kill me then? ] me, just like that?
[horrified; [Homicide|Murder]
Schränker We just want to render you harmless. That's what we want. But you'll only be harmless when you're dead.
Frustration and Blame in a Heated Moment
Joel Cairo You! It’s you who bungled it! You and your stupid attempt to buy it! You ... you imbecile! You bloated idiot! You stupid fat-head, you!
[to Kasper Gutman]
The Search for Ingram's Hand
Conrad Ryler Isn't this your handwriting, Hilary?
Hilary Cummins No, it's Ingram's. His hand wrote it. Don't you see? The hand, it must be here! I have to find it, it must be somewhere!
Cynicism and Irony in Times of War
Ugarte Too bad about those two German couriers, wasn't it?
Rick They got a lucky break. Yesterday, they were just two German clerks. Today, they're the Honored Dead.
Ugarte You are a very cynical person, Rick, if you forgive me for saying so.
Rick I forgive you.
Ugarte You despise me, don't you?
Rick If I gave you any thought, I probably would.
Ugarte But why? Oh, you object to the kind of business I do, huh? But think of all those poor refugees who must rot in this place if I didn't help them. Well that's not so bad. Through ways of my own, I provide them with exit visas.
Rick For a price, Ugarte. For a price.
Ugarte But think of all the poor devils who can't meet Renault's price. I get it for them for half. Is that so parasitic?
Rick I don't mind a parasite. I object to a cut-rate one.
Ugarte Well, Rick, after tonight, I'll be through with the whole business, and I'm leaving finally, this Casablanca.
Ugarte You know, Rick, I have many a friend in Casablanca, but somehow, just because you despise me, you are the only one I trust.
A Suggestion for a Night Out
Conseil What?
Ned Land Get drunk!
M
Struggle with Inner Demons and Control
Hans Beckert I can't help what I do! I can't help it, I can't…
Criminal The old story! We never can help it in ]!
[[Courts|court]
Hans Beckert What do you know about it? Who are you anyway? Who are you? ]? Are you proud of yourselves? Proud of breaking safes or cheating at cards? Things you could just as well keep your fingers off. You wouldn't need to do all that if you'd learn a proper trade, or if you'd work. If you weren't a bunch of lazy bastards. But I… I can't help myself! I have no control over this, this evil thing inside of me, the fire, the voices, the torment!
[[Criminals]
Schränker Do you mean to say that you have to murder?
Hans Beckert It's there all the time, driving me out to wander the streets, following me, silently, but I can feel it there. It's me, pursuing myself! I want to escape, to escape from myself! But it's impossible. I can't escape, I have to obey it. I have to run, run… endless streets. I want to escape, to get away! And I'm pursued by ghosts. Ghosts of mothers and of those children… they never leave me. They are always there… always, always, always! Except... when I do it, when I… Then I can't remember anything. And afterwards I see those posters and read what I've done, and read, and read… did I do that? But I can't remember anything about it! But who will believe me? Who knows what it's like to be me? How I'm forced to act… how I must, must… don't want to, must! Don't want to, but must! And then a voice screams! I can't bear to hear it! I can't go on! I can't… I can't…
A Conversation About Adventure and Fortune
Ned Land Cheer up, Professor. You'll forget all about fishing when you see the gals in Saigon.
[after Captain Farragut announces that he is ending the search]
Professor Aronnax I thought they promised you a bonus if you harpooned this monster, Mr. Land.
Ned Land Knowing full well I couldn't collect it. When I get back, I'm shipping out on the first whaler that'll take me. I won't get rich, but I won't be sitting around picking my teeth with my harpoon.
Conseil Maybe we are lucky. It might have sunk us.
Ned Land You scare me. Be a good loser, Professor. The fish that got away is always the biggest one.
Conseil Ah, what a pity, Professor. I know you had visions of that monster mounted in the National Museum.
Attempting a Safe Break-In
Mr. Moto Please don't be alarmed. I am only attempting to break into the safe.
Plans for Mr. Smith Discussed by Characters
Dr. Rosener What do you plan to do about him?
Stephen Danel What do I plan to do about him? I have many plans for Mr. Smith.
Advice on Managing Nervousness and Communication
Stephen Danel You ought to do something about your nervous condition, Mr. Brand. You must never talk too much. Nervous men sometimes talk too much, and they make mistakes, and you musn't make mistakes, Mr. Brand.
Pole-Vault Records and Friendly Banter
Bob Hitchings Stanford, 34.
Kentaro Moto Stanford, 21; honorary member.
Bob Hitchings What do you know about that! Moto, 21, let's see... oh, I remember reading about you. You broke a pole-vault record, didn't you?
Kentaro Moto Now I would only break the pole.
The Foolishness of Laughter and Judgment
Kentaro Moto Half the world spends its time laughing at the other half, and both are fools.
Expressions of Gratitude Between Friends
Kentaro Moto You've been a great help, and I want to thank you.
Twister McGurk I wanna thank you too, pal. That hold yuh showed me I'm gonna keep in my wretlin "prepatory.
A Promise of Safety in Uncertainty
The Stranger Come along... and I'll see that nothing happens to you.
[to Jane, in dark street]
Unexpected Revelations and Their Consequences
Archibald Featherstone I'm frightfully sorry. Say, I did let the cat out of the bag, didn't I?
Mr. Moto Yes, even the poor animal's tail.
Seeking Validation of Sanity Among Friends
Francis Ingram Hilary, do you know why you are here?
Hilary Cummins No, I don't. Some anniversary perhaps?
Francis Ingram No, no such thing. I merely want your testimony... that I am not insane. It's very important to me to be certain that not one of you thinks I am of unsound mind. Bruce, you are an artist, a musician, You've been with me a long time. You've been with me constantly; therefore you are in a position to speak. Are you convinced that there is nothing wrong with... with my mental balance?
Conrad Ryler Your mental balance is equal to mine, and while I consider that a tribute to your sanity, there are certain people in San Stefano who consider me... slightly eccentric. Perhaps they're right.
Confrontation Between Estranged Spouses
Stephen Danel I've been away for a long time. You should be very glad to see me.
Lorraine Danel I hate the sight of you!
Stephen Danel I know that. Lorraine, you have been in Mr. Smith's arms. Nothing like that must ever happen again, it embarrasses me. You're my wife, and he's a murderer.
Lorraine Danel And what are you?
Stephen Danel I'm your husband. Lorraine, remember this stone?
[Takes a jewelry box from his pocket]
Lorraine Danel You can't bribe me with that!
Stephen Danel Why should I bribe you?
Lorraine Danel You've tried everything else and failed. No matter what you do, you'll always fail!
Stephen Danel I've never failed and I never will fail.
Lorraine Danel I won't wear that! You can't make me!
Stephen Danel Of course you will. So Mr. Smith approves of my taste, huh? There's only one thing Mr. Smith doesn't know. What I own I keep. But he'll learn. So will you.
[Puts necklace on her]
M
A Lawyer's Disappointment in His Client
Hans Beckert And who are you?
Elderly Lawyer I have the dubious ] of being your ]. But I am afraid it won't be much use to you.
[[honor; [Lawyers|defense counsel]
Uncertainty About Captivity and Control
The Stranger They send you to take me back?
[suddenly grabs her arm]
Jane No. Who?
[frightened]
The Stranger Don't you know? The people who lock you up.
[cautiously looks over his shoulder]
Jane Oh, no. Of course not.
The Stranger How do I know I can trust you?
Jane Well, they... they, they wouldn't send a woman, would they?
[nervously]
The Stranger No. No, they... they wouldn't send a woman. The only person who ever was kind to me was a woman. She's dead now.
[laughs; laughs, then continues dispassionately]
Jane Oh... Why? Why do they want to lock you up?
The Stranger Oh, so they can hurt me. They... they put you in a shirt with, uh... long sleeves and... they pour ice water on you.
Skepticism and Belief in Mr. Moto
Danforth - aka Richard Burke Moto, I'm beginning to believe all the stories I've heard about you.
Mr. Kentaro Moto Please do not. I do not.
Tension Builds Before an Imminent Confrontation
Stephen Danel Good evening, Mr. Smith. I was waiting for you. I was hoping you'd come soon.
[pointing a gun at Mark]
Mark Sheldon Cort's out there, and a couple of men. They're armed and they're coming in.
Stephen Danel You didn't come to see me, you came to see my wife. Come, Mr. Smith, I'll get her for you. Wait. Lorraine. Lorraine! Forgive me, Mr. Smith, she'll be here in a moment. You must stand very close to him, very close. Yes, Lorraine, smile. He likes you when you smile, Lorraine.
[Calls; Lorraine comes in]
Mark Sheldon Listen to me. That gang's coming after her.
Stephen Danel When I find a flaw in a diamond I throw it away. It's so hard to remember, it's a long time ago. Everything on this island belonged to me. Everything. And it was beautiful. My wife, beautiful. So beautiful. And then you came and you touched my wife.
Stephen Danel Drop that gun! Come in, gentlemen, come in. I want you to meet my wife - Don't touch her! You'll forget him, Lorraine. You'll forget everything after a while. I want you to meet these gentlemen. They are your friends, you'll like them. I'm going to let you go back with them. I want you to be happy. But you must say goodbye to Mr. Smith.
[Armed prisoner drops gun; to Mark]
Stephen Danel I'm not going to kill you, Lorraine. I want you to live... live for a long time.
Stephen Danel Everything... on this island belonged to me... everything... everything... belongs to me... for as long as I... live...
Dangerous Thoughts and Cultural Critique
Karl Heiser: He has his own ideas, and that's dangerous. The Fuhrer doesn't like people who think their own thoughts.
Baron Ikito Occidental decay is nowhere more apparent than in that childish sentimentality of white men for their women.