This is Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California … A murder has been reported from one of those great big houses. Sunset Boulevard: A Hollywood Story 1950 starring Gloria Swanson & Erich von Stronheim & William Holden & Nancy Olson & Fred Clark & Lloyd Gough & Jack Webb & Franklyn Farnum et al, director Billy Wilder
My prospects – they now added up to exactly zero. ibid. Joe
I am Big – it’s the picture that got small. ibid. Norma Desmond
I wanted the job; I wanted the dough. ibid. Joe
Great stars have great pride. ibid. Norma
Mad About the Boy. ibid. card-case inscription
I was her first husband. ibid. Max
The address is 10086 Sunset Boulevard. ibid. him to her
You’re leaving me. No you’re not. ibid. Norma to Joe
Spade & Archer Detective Agency. The Maltese Falcon 1941 starring Humphrey Bogart & Mary Astor & Gladys George & Peter Lorre & Barton MacLane & Lee Patrick & Sydney Greenstreet & Ward Bond & Jerome Cowan & Elisha Cook junior et al, director John Huston, opening scene
I don’t know anything about women. ibid. Sam
Help me, Mr Spade. I need help so badly. ibid. Ruth Wonderly
I don’t mind a reasonable amount of trouble. ibid. Spade to Ruth
I’ve always been a liar. ibid. Ruth to Spade
People lose teeth talking like that. ibid. Spade
The cheaper the crook, the gaudier the patter. ibid.
My name is Marlow. General Sternwood wanted to see me. The Big Sleep 1946 starring Humphrey Bogart & Lauren Bacall & John Ridgely & Martha Vickers & Peggy Knudsen & Regis Toomey & Charles Waldron & Charles D Brown & Bob Steele et al, director Howard Hawkes, opening scene
Vivian: So you’re a private detective. I didn’t know they existed, except in books. Or else they were greasy little men snooping around hotel corridors. My, you’re a mess, aren’t you?
Marlowe: I’m not very tall either. Next time, I’ll come on stilts, wear a white tie and carry a tennis racket. ibid.
I’m sick of words. The Stranger 1946 starring Orson Welles & Loretta Young & Edward G Robinson & Philip Merivale & Richard Long & Konstantine Shayne & Byron Keith & Billy House & Martha Wentworth et al, director Orson Welles, Robinson
Meinike: There will be another war?
Rankin: Of course. ibid.
The basic principles of equality and freedom never have and never will take root in Germany. ibid.
Who but a Nazi would deny that Karl Marx was a German because he was a Jew? ibid. Wilson
I only did my duty. ibid. Welles to Robinson
Sometimes I get tired of working with a mob like you. Brighton Rock 1947 [US: Young Scarface] starring Richard Attenborough & Carol Marsh & Hermione Baddeley & William Hartnell & Harcourt Williams & Wylie Watson & Nigel Stock & Reginald Purdell & George Carney & Charles Goldner & Alan Wheatley, director John Boulting, Pinkie to others
Someone’s drove him to suicide. And I’m going to find out who. ibid. Ida in bar
Perhaps I’ll handle this myself. I believe in right and justice, and I’m going to see that it’s done. ibid. Ida to rozzer
Pinkie, I don’t care what you’ve done. ibid. her to him
What you want me to say is, I love you. Here’s the truth: I hate you, you little slut. You make me sick. ibid. Pinkie’s recording
I’ll tell you what’s gonna happen – we’re gonna kill the Swede. The Killers 1946 starring Burt Lancaster & Ava Gardner & Edmond O’Brien & Albert Dekker & Sam Levene & Vince Barnett & Virginia Christine & Charles D Brown & Jack Lambert & Donald McBride & Charles McGraw et al, director Robert Siodmak, baddies in diner
It’s big. The biggest caper that’s been pulled around here in years … Payroll. ibid. gang leader
A week has passed since bandits robbed a mail train coming out of the Sierra tunnel and fled with $300,000 in federal currency, leaving four dead. White Heat 1949 starring James Cagney & Virginia Mayo & Edmond O’Brien & Margaret Wycherly & Steve Cochran & Ford Rainey & John Archer & Wally Cassell & Fred Clark et al, director Raoul Walsh, radio news
Dunno what I’d do without you, Ma. ibid. Cody
He’s still Mr Big – in prison or out. ibid. Mrs Cody
Made it, Ma! Top of the world! ibid. Cody
There’s nothing like the smell of spring. Scarlett Street 1945 starring Edward G Robinson & Joan Bennett & Dan Duryea & Margaret Lindsay & Jess Barker & Rosalind Ivan & Arthur Loft & Charles Kemper & Russell Hicks & Samuel S Hinds et al, director Fritz Lang, Chris
Time for Kitty to be in bed. ibid. her to him
That’s the important thing – feeling. ibid. him to her
I’m not crying, you fool, I’m laughing. ibid. her to him
Murder never solved anything. ibid. hack on train
That car that just passed us exploded! Touch of Evil 1958 starring Charlton Heston & Janet Leigh & Orson Welles & Joseph Calleia & Akim Tamiroff & Joanna Cook Moore & Ray Collins & Dennis Weaver & Val de Vargas & Mort Mills & Victor Millan & Lalo Rios et al, director Orson Welles, him to her
You’ve been seeing too many gangster movies. ibid. Leigh to Mr Grandi
We’re wasting our time around here. ibid. Welles in striptease joint
One day I’ll surprise you and write something good. In a Lonely Place 1950 starring Humphrey Bogart & Gloria Grahame & Frank Lovejoy & Art Smith & Carl Benton Reid & Martha Stewart & Jeff Donnell & Robert Warwick & Morris Ankrum & William Ching et al, director Nicholas Ray, Dixon at bar
Do you look down on all women or just the ones you know? ibid. bird
Just lie still and inhale. ibid. her to him
I was born when she kissed me, I died when she left me, I lived a few weeks when she loved me. ibid. her to him & him to her
And if I don’t? How many men can you spare me to protect me for the rest of my life? The Frightened City 1961 starring Sean Connery & Herbert Lom & John Gregson & Alfred Marks & Yvonne Romain & David Davies & Olive MacFarland & Kenneth Griffiths & George Pastell & Arnold Diamond & Norrie Paramour et al, director John Lemont, owner of nightclub
If you six split up the town between you think how it would increase your income ... Form a trade union. ibid. accountant to Harry
Some of these boys are lively with the cosh. ibid. Harry
We’ve got to prevent an outbreak of gang warfare whatever the cost! ibid. head rozzer to rozzer
The criminal mind – it’s the dark side of the moon, laddie. ibid. rozzer to junior rozzer