Taxi (1931)

James Cagney: Matt Nolan

Photos 

Quotes 

• Matt Nolan : Come out and take it, you dirty, yellow-bellied rat, or I'll give it to you through the door!

• Danny Nolan : You know, Matt, I think she's swell. You can't blame her for doing somethin' she thought was right.

  Skeets : [admiring Sue's legs as she climbs the stairs at subway station]  Well, anyway, she's got a nice pair of pins.

  Matt Nolan : Ah, I wouldn't go for that dame if she was the last woman on Earth - and I just got out of the Navy.

• Cop with Jewish Man : [after Nolan speaks perfect Yiddish]  Nolan, what part of Ireland did your folks come from?

  Matt Nolan : [laughs and then with a Yiddish accent]  Delancey Street, thank you.

• Matt Nolan : I'd like to bury the hatchet--right in their thick skulls.

• [repeated line] 

  Matt Nolan : Why, if I thought you meant that...

• Sue Riley : [watching actor in movie]  Isn't he grand?

  Matt Nolan : His ears are too big.

• Jewish Man with Cop - Matt's Pal : You understand? Ellis island, Ellis island. You should have a nervous breakdown, Ellis Island.

  Cop with Jewish Man : Would you please tell me what you want?

  Jewish Man with Cop - Matt's Pal : Oh, G-d, what's the matter with you? A policeman, a nice man. A nice and fat one. I'm telling you plain, my wife. Listen, I have a brother, he pulls teeth, a teeth doctor, a dentist. In America we say a dentist, A DENTIST! What's the matter with you, you don't understand? A non-Jewish head, you don't understand a word. I'm telling you in plain mother language, I want to drive down to Ellis island, Ellis island.

  Cop with Jewish Man : Hey, what are you trying to do, kid me? The only thing I can understand is Ellis Island, Ellis island, Ellis island. What about Ellis island?

  Matt Nolan : [From the car]  Where do you want to go?

  Jewish Man with Cop - Matt's Pal : [Walks over to the car]  I want to drive down to Ellis island. My wife is coming with three kids from Russia. My name is Levinovisch, and I need to go to Ellis island.

  Matt Nolan : I understand, you want to go to Ellis island, your wife is there?

  Jewish Man with Cop - Matt's Pal : What then? Tell me, you're a Jew?

  Matt Nolan : What else, a non Jew? Hop in!

• Matt Nolan : I could kick her teeth down her throat and like it! I'm not through with that gal yet.

• Matt Nolan : We're livin' in the United States. We're free and equal - or so they tell us. And we got a right to a livin'. We want to go out an get it. And we got to show those dirty finks that they can't take the bread and butter out of our mouths. I don't want trouble! And I know you don't want none. But, if anybody's gonna come lookin' for it, I'm not gonna sit back and take their gaffe. So, you got to fight fire with fire. And while we're doin' it, we got to stick together. You get that? Stick together! And let that sink in.

• Matt Nolan : Wait a minute, smart gal. I got a bone to pick with you.

• Matt Nolan : You can't make a sucker out of me. You or nobody else. For two cents, I'd knock the ears off you.

  Sue Riley : For less than that, I'd slap your face.

  Matt Nolan : Go ahead. I'll give you first punch!

  [Sue slaps his face and walks away, Matt starts to chase her] 

  Skeets : Ah, come on, Matt. She's only a dame. She don't know any better.

  Matt Nolan : I'll knock her nose.

• Sue Riley : Oh, so you've gone into mind-reading. I'm falling for you, am I? Say, doesn't that arm of yours ever get tired of patting Matt on the back? You kinda like yourself, don't you? Well, pull in those ears of yours if they're not to big and quit braying. I need you about as much as I need the measles. I'm telling you Matt, we're all washed up and I'm through!

  Matt Nolan : Give us a kiss, will ya?

• Matt Nolan : Don't do this and don't do that. What do you want me to do, anyhow?

• Ruby : Comin' home from Coney Island always makes me sad. I once cried comin' home with Pipsy, you know, the guy I used to go with. Pipsy never got jealous or nothin'. He used to say I was the nicest girl he ever went out with. He got mad once. A salesman, Louis Gonzaldorf, another fella I used to go with...

  Matt Nolan : Why don't you button your lip.

  Ruby : I ain't said much. Well, as I was sayin', Louis Gonzaldorf sold leather goods and he got a sideline of ladies lingerie. I still got some of the things he gave me. He was a good salesman. I'll never forget, he gave me a pair of black teddy bears. But, I only wore them once. They brought me bad luck.

• Sue Riley : What makes you think you're so good? You're not so hot.

  Matt Nolan : [playfully making a fist]  Why, if I thought you meant it.

  [kisses Sue instead] 

  Matt Nolan : Stay that way.

• Sue Riley : I don't think I'm asking too much of you, Matt. All I want you to do is try and be a gentleman. It won't be very hard. Really, it won't. Get that chip off your shoulder and stop pickin' fights with everyone. I can never be happy with you the way you are all the time. I'm on edge, every time we go out.

  Matt Nolan : All right, Ma. I'll be good.

• Matt Nolan : [Sue ignoring Matt]  I see I'm gettin' plenty of ice.

  Sue Riley : What'd you expect? A brass band?

  Matt Nolan : I suppose I am a sucker for comin' back for more punishment.

  Sue Riley : That door works both ways.

• Matt Nolan : You dirty double-crossin' little tramp. You sold me out!

• Detective : I'll guarantee he'll pay the penalty.

  Matt Nolan : Oh, yeah? You're penalty's too good for that rat.

• Matt Nolan : If I ever get my hooks in on that rat, I'm gonna save the cops a lot of trouble.

• Matt Nolan : The dirty rat kills Danny and you help him get away with it. You're as bad as he is. It won't do you any good.