The Big Heat (1953)

Gloria Grahame: Debby Marsh

Photos 

Quotes 

• Debby Marsh : [to Bannion]  Oh, well, you're about as romantic as a pair of handcuffs.

• Debby Marsh : [to Bannion]  I guess a scar isn't so bad, not if it's only on one side.

  [takes a swig of scotch] 

  Debby Marsh : I can always go through life sideways.

• Debby Marsh : [Debby surveys Bannion's undistinguished hotel room]  Say, I like this. Early nothing.

• Bertha Duncan : Did Mr. Stone send you?

  Debby Marsh : No. I've been thinking about you and me, how much alike we are.

  [glances at the expensive furs they're both wearing] 

  Debby Marsh : The mink-coated girls.

  Bertha Duncan : I don't understand you. What are you here for, Miss Marsh?

  Debby Marsh : Debby. We should use first names, Bertha. We're sisters under the mink.

• Debby Marsh : [to Bannion]  The main thing is to have the money. I've been rich and I've been poor. *Believe* me, rich is better.

• Vince Stone : Hey, that's nice perfume.

  Debby Marsh : Something new. It attracts mosquitoes and repels men.

  Vince Stone : It doesn't work that way with me.

  Debby Marsh : It's not supposed to.

  [they embrace in a lusty kiss] 

• Debby Marsh : [to Stone about his quick retreat when Bannion threatened him]  You made better time getting away than they make in the Olympics.

• Debby Marsh : [has just thrown scalding coffee in Vince's face]  It'll burn for a long time, Vince. It doesn't look bad now. But in the morning your face will be like mine.

  Debby Marsh : [she dramatically rips the bandages from her scarred face and gets up close to Vince]  Look at it. It isn't pretty, is it? You'll walk through side streets and alleys so that people won't stare at you. Oh, but you're lucky. It won't be for long. Bertha Duncan is dead. No more insurance for you and Lagana. The lid's off the garbage can, and I did it!

• Mike Lagana : [on the phone]  This is not a social call, Debby. Tell Vince I want him, right away.

  Debby Marsh : Oh, sure, Mr. Lagana, I always like to tell Vince you're calling. I like to see him jump.

• Debby Marsh : [leaving Bannion's hotel room]  You really want me to go?

  Dave Bannion : I wouldn't touch anything of Vince Stone's with a ten-foot pole.

• Dave Bannion : [in Bannion's hotel room]  You know Mike Lagana, don't you?

  Debby Marsh : Just say hello and goodbye to him. Vince talks business, I go out and get my legs waxed or something. I don't like to hear things. Why don't you stop the cross examination? I didn't come up here to talk out of school.

• Debby Marsh : Vince threw hot coffee in my face. I'm gonna' be scarred. The whole side of my face will be scarred.

  [breaks down sobbing]