The Strawberry Blonde (1941)

James Cagney: Biff Grimes

Photos 

Quotes 

• Amy Lind : You're not a very easy person to get to know, Mr. Grimes.

  Biff Grimes : Well, that's the kind of a hairpin I am.

• Biff Grimes : I uh, I guess a little kiss is harmless if it's all in fun.

  Amy Lind : Even if it isn't in fun.

  Biff Grimes : You mean - -?

  Amy Lind : Exactly.

  Biff Grimes : Well, wouldn't you like a nice, young man to marry you someday?

  Amy Lind : No, not particularly.

  Biff Grimes : So you don't believe in the institution of marriage!

  Amy Lind : An outmoded, silly convention started by the cavemen and encouraged by the florists and jewelers. After all, what's marriage?

  Biff Grimes : Wouldn't you like to have a home and kids?

  Amy Lind : Certainly I would, but that doesn't mean you have to go through all the...

  Biff Grimes : You mean - -?

  Amy Lind : Exactly.

  [she winks] 

• [last lines] 

  Biff Grimes : [repeated line]  That's the kind of hairpin I am!

• Amy Lind : I learned an awful lot while I was away...

  Biff Grimes : You know, Amy. There's an awful lot of good in people if you just look for it. Trouble is, we don't look for it.

  Amy Lind : We just go through life saying, I'm all right and the other fellows all wrong.

• Virginia Brush : [they are at the Statue of Liberty and they watch a woman slap a man for trying to kiss her] 

  Virginia Brush : And she was right too.

  Biff Grimes : Well, if a man can't get liberties here, where can he?

• Hugo F. Barnstead : [In terrible pain after getting an abscessed tooth pulled]  Oh, uh, uh, uh! What's the idea? I wanted gas!

  Biff Grimes : I haven't got anything against you any more, Hugo, but I wouldn't be quite human if I didn't take a little revenge.

• Biff Grimes : I'm gonna have a smoke.

  Amy Lind : May I have one too, please?

  Biff Grimes : Oh, sure. Hey! Don't tell me you smoke!

  Amy Lind : Only when I'm bored.

  Biff Grimes : Well, your mother's a bloomer girl, you're a nicotine fiend, are there any more at home like you?

  Amy Lind : I have an aunt who's an actress.

  Biff Grimes : Well, that completes the picture. I've been around, they can say an awful lot of things about Biff Grimes, but not that he ever gave a cigarette to a girl.

• Amy Lind : There's something about the country air.

  Biff Grimes : Hm?

  Amy Lind : I said, there's something about the country air.

  Biff Grimes : I like city air.

  Amy Lind : Well... there really isn't any difference between city air and country air. They're both hydrogen, and oxygen, and -...

  Biff Grimes : Air! You can't even see it, so why talk about it?

• Amy Lind : Oh for goodness sake, Virginia, cut out the nonsense. This is a pre-arranged date and we all know it. I've got to get back on duty by 11, so come on, let's shake our tootsies.

  Virginia Brush : Amy!

  Amy Lind : Oh 'Amy!' my Grandmother's hot water bottle!

  Biff Grimes : [muttering to Hugo]  She's fast.

  Hugo F. Barnstead : [under breath]  Yeah.

• Nicholas Pappalas : [Reminiscing]  Oh, she was a beautiful girl, Virginia!

  Biff Grimes : Now what made you bring up Virginia?

  Nicholas Pappalas : Virginia? You were stuck on her, ain't you?

  Biff Grimes : [Looking around for Amy]  Me? No...

  Nicholas Pappalas : Well, I was.

  Biff Grimes : Oh, I liked her in a nice way.

  Nicholas Pappalas : Yeah, I liked her too but I forget which way.

• Nicholas Pappalas : [while playing horseshoes]  Beef, what is it the score?

  Biff Grimes : I don't know. Haven't you been keeping track?

  Nicholas Pappalas : Since when do I suppose to knowhow to count?

  Biff Grimes : You can count in Greek, can't you?

  Nicholas Pappalas : But this ain't no Greek game.

  Biff Grimes : Are we playing for money?

  Nicholas Pappalas : Sure.

  Biff Grimes : in that case, I'm way ahead.

  Nicholas Pappalas : I think tomorrow mornin' I start to go to night school.

• Biff Grimes : Gosh, you look wonderful!

  Virginia Brush : Oh, Biff, but you...? Is that another black eye or the same one?

• Biff Grimes : [Dismissively to Amy]  I wish you'd tie a can to yourself and beat it?

• Amy Lind : Are you still playing that silly game? I'm almost ready.

  Biff Grimes : Why, don't break a bustle, I'll be in in a minute.

• Biff Grimes : It's more than a coincidence. It's poetic justice!

• Biff Grimes : Have you been canned again?

  Old Man Grimes : Well, Biff, we may as well face it. You see, I was never in the world cut out to be a street cleaner and there's no use reaching for the stars.

  Biff Grimes : What happened this time?

  Old Man Grimes : Oh, Biff, it's me teeth - and when a man's in misery...

  Biff Grimes : Why can't you get a new alibi?

  Old Man Grimes : What? When I've been using that one for 30 years? Huh.

• Biff Grimes : Who are the girls?

  Hugo Barnstead : Well, one of thems the strawberry blonde.

  Biff Grimes : Virginia Brush?

  Hugo Barnstead : In the flesh.

• Biff Grimes : Will you stop being a pussy willow!

• Hugo Barnstead : Gosh, she looks pretty.

  Biff Grimes : Oh boy, she's all the fudge.

• Hugo Barnstead : Biff, I've got it on awful good authority, nurses are a lot of fun. I'll bet she'd even let you put your arm around her waist.

  Biff Grimes : Oh, what fun is that? Do you know the amount of starch in a nurses uniform?

• Biff Grimes : How is that you haven't got a date tonight?

  Amy Lind : Free thinkers have a lot of time on their hands.

• Biff Grimes : You handle the reins and I'll crack the whip.

  Hugo Barnstead : Give her the whip!

• Biff Grimes : Maybe I'm a little bit too crazy about her. But, somehow, she's my ideal. Every fella has an ideal. Somebody he cares for and when he cares for that somebody, why, nothing else matters.