I noticed that Mr. Bennett had made a post on the great lines that he found from the Asphalt Jungle. The two lines he noted were terrific lines and I am sure the most significant of the film. However, even though we are only half way through, I believe I have some more good lines and also some thoughts on the film.
First, the lines I have taken note of are:
"I don't want your opinion of the law." - Emmerich
"A drink habit, the only one I got that don't get me in trouble." - Cobby
"I'll make a real killing."
"I gotta get this city dirt off me."
The next one is taken out of context but I believe that Cobby says that "he might have had a little load on" and he wishes that Dix "wasn't so touchy" because Cobby wants to "feel big."
"Money makes me sweat."
"Everyone of those guys has a screw loose somewhere."
"If you want fresh air, don't look for it in this town."
These are the quotes I had for now. However, in terms of the content of the film itself, there are some things to discuss.
First, the way the film has been structured so far, I have gotten quite intrigued by the numerous double-crossings and other things planned in the heist. It seems like a story where all of the characters seperate stories are going to collide in one big scene. I could be wrong, but it seems like each character seems to be weaving their story closer and closer together.
I am also very interested in the way that Emmerich is bankrupt and trying to double cross his own men to get rich. This seems like it is heading for disaster for him and several other characters but it is hard to tell. All of the characters I think I can understand relatively well and understand their motives and their personality, except for Dix Handley. He still seems like a man of mystery and I can't understand his motives as a petty thief or the rationale behind getting involved in this heist. He is the one character I haven't grasped yet, and that could be the intent of the film.
Finally, and this is an irrelevant thought but one that I keep being reminded of. This is that everytime I hear the name Emmerich, I always think of Franz Kemmerich from All Quiet on the Western Front. Now obviously I am not trying to draw a connection between the two because none exists but every time I hear the name, I think of Paul frantically yelling, "Doctor, Franz Kemmerich is dying." Then of course, the doctor has no response because he does not know Franz as anything other than Bed 26 and one of his 12 leg amputations today.
But I digress, that last point had nothing to do with the Asphalt Jungle beyond the fact that the name and the scene from All Quiet on the Western Front stick out to me everytime that Emmerich is on screen because the name similiarity.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
When Dix says "One day I'll make a real killing", I couldn't help but laugh because 5 years after this film Sterling Hayden (actor that plays Dix) starred in Stanley Kubrick's, "The Killing". Haha.
ReplyDeleteI liked the quotes that you chose, and I regret not taking note of them on my own. Usually I could just check IMDb.com and find some quotes there but for this film, there are very few.
I also have an opinion of the "out of context" dialogue you mentioned between Dix and Cobby. When watching old films it is always wise to be aware that some phrases in the 50s mean completely different things today. However, I find it highly unlikely that the entire conversation was conveniently filled with such "questionable material" haha. Perhaps this was a subtle way of sticking it to the Hays Code?
It is funny that you should mention Franz Kemmerich because I also found myself thinking about him during The Asphalt Jungle. I think it is only a coincidence because we know that God rolls the dice where they cannot be seen.
ReplyDeleteAnyway you must have keen ears and a great memory to list all these quotes. I am also looking forward a dramatic conclusion where everything "collides in one big scene."
It is a pity that the bad guys can never win because of the Hays Codes.
Heh heh... The line, "Don't bone me," tends to get a laugh today. Hard to imagine it didn't have similar connotations even back then. But, language is a funny thing, slang even funnier.
ReplyDeleteWe'll see Sterling Hayden again in Dr. Strangelove a few weeks from now.
I also find The Asphalt Jungle very engaging. The plot/action and characters are great. As for your thoughts on Dix Handley's motives for being involved in the heist, didn't someone in the film mention earlier that he is a big-time gambler? (Especially in horse racing.) So the money would probably be used to fuel this passion of his, but a person who is a gambler probably likes to take big risks and thrive on the thrill they get from living on the edge and this scheme is definitely a big risk.
ReplyDeleteI like a lot of the lines you listed here. There was a really good one today that had to do with bourbon...I don't remember the exact wording though.