Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932)

Torben Meyer: The Dane

Photos 

Quotes 

• Prefect of Police : [interviewing the first witness]  So, your name is Victor Albert Adolph Jules Hugo Louis Dupont?

  Victor Albert Adolph Jules Hugo Louis Dupont, the Landlord : Yes, sir.

  Prefect of Police : Why did you not investigate when you heard the first scream?

  Victor Albert Adolph Jules Hugo Louis Dupont, the Landlord : I... I was afraid.

  Prefect of Police : Stupid, incredibly stupid.

  Franz Odenheimer : [the next person approaches the Prefect, talking German]  Habe die Ehre, Herr Prefekt.

  [It's my honor, Mr. Prefect.] 

  Prefect of Police : What is your name and business?

  Franz Odenheimer : I am Franz Odenheimer. I own a restaurant.

  Prefect of Police : Odenheimer, in your own way, tell us what happened.

  Franz Odenheimer : You see, I was just going to bed. Then suddenly, I heard a scream. Right away, I ran across the street. And I was one of the first ones to enter this room. On the way upstairs, I heard a voice. And that voice was speaking Italian.

  Prefect of Police : [doubting his accuracy]  Do you speak Italian?

  Franz Odenheimer : No.

  Prefect of Police : Were you ever in Italy?

  Franz Odenheimer : No.

  Prefect of Police : How do you know it was Italian?

  Franz Odenheimer : Because I am sure it was Italian.

  Prefect of Police : [unconvinced]  Ah. Danke schön.

  [Thank you.] 

  Prefect of Police : [calls on next person]  Alberto Montani. What do you know of this affair?

  Alberto Montani : Well, I also heard the voice. But it was not Italian. I am Italian. I speak Italian.

  Alberto Montani : [says something in Italian, then continues in English]  When I ran up the stairs with the others, I heard the voice. It's not Italian, no. Definitely, it was Danish.

  Prefect of Police : Do you speak Danish?

  Alberto Montani : No.

  Prefect of Police : Were you ever in Denmark?

  Alberto Montani : No.

  Prefect of Police : How do you know it was Danish?

  Alberto Montani : My intuition.

  The Dane : [to Montani]  It was not Danish!

  The Dane : [to Prefect]  I beg your pardon, Your Honor. I am a native of Denmark. Danish is my native tongue. I heard the voice, but it was not Danish. It was German.

  Franz Odenheimer : [upset, approaches the Prefect]  Italian, not German.

  Alberto Montani : Danish.

  The Dane : German.

  Franz Odenheimer : [in German]  Ich lege meine Hand ans Lügners Feuer das es keiner Deutscher war!

  [I put my hand on the Liar's Fire that it wasn't a German!] 

  The Dane : [while Montani argues in Italian]  I say it was German.

  Prefect of Police : [while all 3 argue loudly in their native languages]  Silence!

  Franz Odenheimer : Italian.

  Alberto Montani : Danish.

  The Dane : German.

  Prefect of Police : Silence.