They Made Me a Criminal (1939)

Claude Rains: Detective Monty Phelan

Quotes 

• Detective Phelan : You ain't gonna let that big palooka lick ya, are ya, Johnnie? Come on, quit stalling - stick out that right and sink that left. I know who you are, Southpaw. You ain't foolin' me.

• Detective Phelan : All I ask is that you re-open the case and assign me.

  Ennis : Reopen the case? Now get this, Phelan: Johnnie Bradfield murdered McGee, and it was Johnnie Bradfield who burned up on the highway this morning at 5:00 AM!

  Detective Phelan : Now listen, Chief...

  Ennis : Listen to who? The trouble with you, Phelan, is that ever since you railroaded the wrong guy to the hot seat, you been seein' things. You're screwy. Why don't you retire?

  Detective Phelan : I'll tell you why. Because I'm not through.

  Ennis : Oh, yes, you are but you don't know it.

  Detective Phelan : I'll show you if I'm through.

  Ennis : Yeah? How?

  Detective Phelan : I'll prove that guy they brought in isn't Johnnie Bradfield.

  Ennis : You will, huh?

  Detective Phelan : Let me try. You're afraid to.

  Ennis : Who, me?

  Detective Phelan : Yes! You! For ten years you've been picking on me just because I made a mistake. Well, maybe this is YOUR mistake. Maybe if I prove it they'll put you on morgue detail like you did me. I'd love to see it!

• Johnnie Bradfield, aka Jack Dorney : [getting his watch back from the police]  You know, this watch means more to me than that diamond belt I won tonight,. Nice work.

  Detective Phelan : It wasn't me. It was Brewster. They just sent me up with it.

  Ennis : Yeah, you see Phelan's too busy down at the morgue trying to keep the stiffs from escaping to make a pinch. Heh. Isn't that right, Monty?

  Detective Phelan : If you say so, Inspector, it must be right.

• [Johnnie prepares to go with Phelan and face justice, but he tells Peggy he's leaving to go on the boxing circuit] 

  Peggy : [to Phalen]  He's lying to me, isn't he? Tell me the truth.

  Johnnie Bradfield, aka Jack Dorney : No, honest, I'm not. H-he's my manager.

  [to Phelan] 

  Johnnie Bradfield, aka Jack Dorney : Aren't ya?

  Detective Phelan : [playing along]  Sure, I'm his manager.

  Johnnie Bradfield, aka Jack Dorney : Ya see? He' gonna take me back east, and he's got a lot of bouts lined up for me. I'm gonna pick up some easy cash, then I'm gonna come right back to ya. Honest I am.

  Detective Phelan : In about ten years.

  Johnnie Bradfield, aka Jack Dorney : Aw, he's just clowning, that's all. That's all he ever does. Anything for a gag.

  Detective Phelan : Maybe if he behaves himself real good you'll see him sooner.

  Johnnie Bradfield, aka Jack Dorney : Nah. You know, he wants me to go on a barnstorming tour - you know, one-night-stands and things like that - but none of that for me. I'm comin' right back to you.

  Peggy : I'm coming with you.

  Johnnie Bradfield, aka Jack Dorney : No, no, you-you can't.

  Peggy : Yes.

  Johnnie Bradfield, aka Jack Dorney : I... You can't because... because I'm... This is, uh... stag. Huh? We're... goin' stag, aren't we, Phelan?

  Detective Phelan : Huh? Yeah. No women.