The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

Sam Jaffe: Doc Erwin Riedenschneider

Photos 

Quotes 

• Doc Riedenschneider : One way or another, we all work for our vice.

• Doc Riedenschneider : That copper, he recognized me.

  Cobby : How'd you know he was a copper?

  Doc Riedenschneider : I can smell one a block off.

  Cobby : Oh, don't worry about Ditrich. He's on my payroll. Practically a partner. Me and him, we're like that.

  [Cobby holds up his index and middle finger] 

  Doc Riedenschneider : Experience has taught me never to trust a policeman. Just when you think one's all right, he turns legit.

• Doc Riedenschneider : Let's not stop. Wait till we get out of town, when we can do everything at once. Have a little meal, beer, a cigar. Go in comfort.

  Frank Schurz, taxi driver : I can see you're a man who likes his pleasures.

  Doc Riedenschneider : Well, Franz, what else is there in life, I ask you?

• Doc Riedenschneider : Finally, sad to say, we need a hooligan. Most of these fellas are drug addicts. They're a no-good lot. Violence is all they know, but they are, unfortunately, necessary.

• Doc Riedenschneider : After this job, it's Mexico for me. I'll live like a king. Mexican girls are very pretty! I'll have nothing to do all day long but chase them in the sunshine.

• Doc Riedenschneider : Take my word for it, Mr. Emmerich. This is a ripe plum ready to fall.

  Alonzo D. Emmerich : My friend, according to the boys, all takes are easy; but as a lawyer, I make lots of money getting them out of jail.

• Doc Riedenschneider : Ever been in Mexico City, Dix?

  Dix Handley : Nope.

  Doc Riedenschneider : It's 8000 feet up. The air is very pure. Many first-class clubs, restaurants, a horse track and girls. Beautiful young girls. How would you like to go there, all expenses paid?

  Dix Handley : Sorry, Doc, not interested. I'm heading home.

  Doc Riedenschneider : Listen, Dix. You can always go home. And when you do, it's nothing. Believe me. I've done it. Nothing.

• Louis Ciavelli : There's only one driver, as far as I'm concerned. Gus Minissi. Ask Cobby, he knows him.

  Cobby : Gus, 100 percent.

  Doc Riedenschneider : Get hold of him.

  Cobby : He'll take the heat and won't flap his lip.

  Doc Riedenschneider : Get hold of him.

• Doc Riedenschneider : The information she gave me is that he's broke.

  Cobby : Are you crazy? I've seen him operate for 20 years. He handles only the biggest cases. He's got two houses, four cars, half a dozen servants...

  Doc Riedenschneider : And one blond.

  Cobby : Doc, whose word you gonna take? Mine or some dimwitted dame?

  Doc Riedenschneider : Yours, naturally.

  Cobby : If he's broke, I wanna be broke the same way.