Robert Mitchum Quotes

Farewell, My Lovely

Marlowe's Encounter with the Night Clerk

Philip Marlowe I sparred with the night clerk for a couple of minutes, but it was like trying to open a sardine can after you broke off the metal lip. There was something about Abraham Lincoln's picture that loosened him up.

[voiceover]

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Farewell, My Lovely

Private Detective or Fairy Godmother?

Moose Malloy You a private Dick?

Philip Marlowe No. I'm your fairy godmother.

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The Yakuza

Trust and Loyalty in Unfamiliar Relationships

Dusty That guy doesn't like you.

Harry Kilmer No, not much.

Dusty So how come you figure you can trust him?

Harry Kilmer Giri.

Dusty Gitty?

Harry Kilmer Giri. Obligation.

Dusty You mean he figures he owes you something?

Harry Kilmer Yeah, sort of.

Dusty Well, that can work two ways, Kilmer. If you ain't alive tomorrow, he don't owe you shit.

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The Night of the Hunter

Struggles with Overwhelming Chaos

Preacher Harry Powell There are too many of them. Can't kill the world.

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The Night of the Hunter

Faith and Security in Uncertainty

Preacher Harry Powell Leaning, leaning!Safe and secure from all alarms!Leaning, leaning!Leaning on the everlasting arms!

[singing]

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Farewell, My Lovely

Memorable Smile and Its Impact on Marlowe

Philip Marlowe She gave me a smile I could feel in my hip pocket.

[voiceover]

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Farewell, My Lovely

Marlowe's Confession and the Twist of Truth

Lt. Nulty All right, Marlowe, let's start again, huh? From the beginning.

[during an interrogation]

Philip Marlowe I've told you twice. Now, why don't I make it easy on all of us and tell you what you want to hear? This fairy hired me to exchange a necklace for cash for a friend of his. We drove out to the woods. I shot him. I buried the fifteen grand. I drove my car back to his place, walked fifteen miles back to the woods, knocked myself on the head and then called the police.

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The Night of the Hunter

Divine Timing and Hidden Opportunities

Preacher Harry Powell Lord, you sure knowed what You was doin when You put me in this very cell at this very time. A man with $10,000 hid somewhere and a widow in the makin'.

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Farewell, My Lovely

Comparison of Houses and Their Features

Philip Marlowe The house itself wasn't much. It was smaller than Buckingham Palace and probably had fewer windows than the Chrysler building.

[voiceover]

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Farewell, My Lovely

Reflections on Aging and Weariness

Philip Marlowe This past spring was the first that I felt tired and realized I was growing old. Maybe it was the rotten weather we'd had in L.A. Maybe the rotten cases I'd had. Mostly chasing a few missing husbands and then chasing their wives once I found them, in order to get paid. Or maybe it was just the plain fact that I am tired and growing old.

[voiceover, opening lines]

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Farewell, My Lovely

Description of a Transient Motel

Philip Marlowe It was one of those transient motels, something between a fleabag and a dive.

[voiceover]

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Farewell, My Lovely

A Character's Description of Velma

Philip Marlowe What was she like... this Velma?

Moose Malloy Cute... cute as lace pants.

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Cape Fear

Discussion of Legal Implications and Abduction

Lieutenant Elgart Well, at the very least, we nail him for the dog. Now what happened? You let the dog out, Cady abducted him?

Sam Bowden No, no, uh... we didn't let the dog out.

Lieutenant Elgart Cady came into your house? Now that's illegal entry with intent--

Sam Bowden Yeah, but he, uh, he didn't come into the house. Now look, I'm not a cop, I don't know exactly how he did it, I just know that he did it, somehow.

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Cape Fear

Conflicted Perspectives on Observation and Interpretation

Lieutenant Elgart I don't know whether to look at him or read him.

[on Cady's tattoos]

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The Night of the Hunter

The Struggle Between Good and Evil

Preacher Harry Powell Ah, little lad, you're starin at my fingers. Would you like me to tell you the little story of Right Hand-Left Hand - the story of good and evil? H-A-T-E! It was with this left hand that old brother Cain struck the blow that laid his brother low. L-O-V-E. You see these fingers, dear hearts? These fingers has veins that run straight to the soul of man. The right hand, friends! The hand of love! Now watch and I'll show you the story of life. These fingers, dear hearts, is always a-warrin and a-tuggin', one agin the other. Now, watch em. Ol brother Left Hand. Left hand, he's a-fightin'. And it looks like LOVE's a goner. But wait a minute, wait a minute! Hot dog! LOVE's a winnin'? Yes, siree. It's LOVE that won, and ol Left Hand HATE is down for the count!

[He raises his left hand; He raises his right hand]

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The Yakuza

Discussion of Ken's Awareness

Eiko Tanaka Did you speak to Ken?

Harry Kilmer Yeah

Eiko Tanaka Does he know we are here?

Harry Kilmer Sure.

Eiko Tanaka Is he unhappy?

Harry Kilmer I'm on my way over to see him now.

Eiko Tanaka But is he unhappy?

Harry Kilmer Of course he's unhappy, he's been unhappy ever since he lost the war. I keep trying to tell him it's not his fault, he won't take my word for it.

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The Night of the Hunter

Imminent Threat to the Children

Preacher Harry Powell I can hear you whisperin', children, so I know you're down there. I can feel myself gettin awful mad. I'm out of patience, children. I'm coming to find you now.

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The Night of the Hunter

A Struggle with Guilt and Responsibility

Preacher Harry Powell It's my shame. It's my crown of thorns. I must wear it bravely...She'll not be back. I reckon I'm safe in promising you that. I tried to save her...But the devil wins sometimes. Can't nobody say I didn't do my best to save her.

[to the Spoons about Willa, after saying she ran off]

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The Night of the Hunter

Vengeance and Threats from Harry Powell

Preacher Harry Powell All right, but you haven't heard the last of Harry Powell yet. The Lord God Jehovah will guide my hand in vengeance. Devil! You whores of Babylon! I'll be back, when it's dark.

[after Rachel pulls a shotgun on him]

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Farewell, My Lovely

The Challenge of Resilience and Toughness

Philip Marlowe You've been beaten up, slapped, shot full of hop until you were as crazy as two waltzing mice; now let's see you do something really tough, like getting up.

[voiceover, to himself]

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The Yakuza

Perception of Change in Modern Japan

Harry Kilmer Everywhere I look, I can't recognize a thing.

Oliver Wheat It's still there. Farmers in the countryside may watch TV from their tatami mats and you can't see Fuji through the smog, but don't let it fool you. It's still Japan and the Japanese are still Japanese.

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The Sundowners

A Disagreement Over Attire and Respect

Paddy Carmody Do me a favor, will you? If you're gonna be a drover, look like a drover. Get rid of that silly flaming hat.

Rupert Venneker Let me tell you about this silly flaming hat, my good man.

Paddy Carmody And don't call me that. I'm not your good man.

Rupert Venneker Would you prefer boss?

Paddy Carmody Wouldn't be a bad idea.

Rupert Venneker This cap belonged to a ship's master in the China trade.

Paddy Carmody Oh, what happened to him?

Rupert Venneker Nothing happened to him. He's just not going to call you boss, that's all.

The Night of the Hunter

A Preacher's Pained Reflection on Lost Innocence

Preacher Harry Powell Oh, them poor little lambs. To think I never hoped to see them again in this world. No, dear Madam, if you was to know what a crown of thorns I've borne in my search for them stray chicks.

Farewell, My Lovely

Marlowe's Frustration in Pursuit of Velma

Philip Marlowe Now wait a minute. I've been slapped, scratched, punched, knocked unconscious, drugged, and shot at, looking for your Velma, so quit trying to make a milkshake out of my insides, will you?

[on being shaken by the lapels]

Farewell, My Lovely

Insults Exchange Between Frances and Marlowe

Frances Amthor I think you're a very stupid person. You look stupid, you're in a stupid business, and you're on a stupid case.

Philip Marlowe I get it. I'm stupid.

The Night of the Hunter

A Disturbing Encounter with Innocence

Preacher Harry Powell Chilld - ren. Chilld - ren?

The Night of the Hunter

A Sword for Justice and Retribution

Preacher Harry Powell The Lord blinded mine enemies when they brought me in this evil place...I come not with peace, but with a sword...This sword has served me through many an evil time.

Farewell, My Lovely

A Love Unconditional Despite Betrayal

Philip Marlowe Moose never would have hurt her. It didn't matter to him that she hadn't written in 6 years. It didn't matter that she turned him in for a reward. The big lug loved her... and if he was still alive... it wouldn't matter to him that she'd pumped 3 bullets into him... What a world.

[looking at the dead bodies of Moose and Velma]

The Night of the Hunter

The Tragic Tale of the Pretty Fly

Preacher Harry Powell Once upon a time there was a pretty fly, he had a wife this pretty fly but one day she flew away, flew away. She had two pretty children, but one night those pretty children flew away into the sky, into the moon.

The Night of the Hunter

Manipulation and Anger in Desperation

Preacher Harry Powell No, no. No little lamb. Don't touch it. Now, don't touch my knife. That makes me mad. That makes me very, very mad. Now just tell me, where's the money hid? John doesn't matter! Can't I get that through your head, you poor silly, disgusting little wretch! There now, you made me lose my temper. I'm sorry. I'm real sorry. Now just tell me, where's it hid, honey?

[to Pearl; banging his hand on the table; Pearl begins to cry]

The Night of the Hunter

A Preacher's Dark Reflection on Divine Purpose

Preacher Harry Powell Well now, what's it to be Lord? Another widow? How many has it been? Six? Twelve? I disremember. You say the word, Lord, I'm on my way...You always send me money to go forth and preach your Word. The widow with a little wad of bills hid away in a sugar bowl. Lord, I am tired. Sometimes I wonder if you really understand. Not that You mind the killin's. Your Book is full of killin's. But there are things you do hate Lord: perfume-smellin things, lacy things, things with curly hair.

[He tips his hat]

Memorable Quotes from Robert Mitchum