The Verdict (1946)

Sydney Greenstreet: Supt. George Edward Grodman

Quotes 

• Supt. George Edward Grodman : I feel as if I were drinking at my own wake.

• Victor Emmric : It's a wretched night.

  Supt. George Edward Grodman : Maybe it's only you who is wretched, Victor.

• Victor Emmric : [talking about having just seen Supt. Buckley]  Oh, he thought he was very clever. He was trying to draw me out about Lottie, so, it cost him a lot of his liquor.

  Supt. George Edward Grodman : [laughs]  Lottie again, huh?

  Victor Emmric : Yes, he said they'd been watching her, and they know every movement she's made since they've released her.

  Supt. George Edward Grodman : Every movement?

  Victor Emmric : Say, that's a very disturbing thought.

  [they both laugh] 

• Supt. George Edward Grodman : Come in, Victor... I've been expecting you... I lied.

• Supt. George Edward Grodman : Ah, Victor, political differences such as Russell and Kendall indulge in are actually signs of a healthy condition.

• Victor Emmric : 'To your good health! And this, sir, is to be an evening of wine, women and song.

  Supt. George Edward Grodman : Wine, women and song? Victor you flatter me. You know I can't sing.

• [first lines] 

  bell ringer : [ringing the Newgate Prison bell, signaling the proceeding of the execution]  May God grant mercy on your soul.

  English Policeman : [greeting the superintendent by the front gate as he leaves the prison]  Superintendent Grodman Sir, good morning.

  Supt. George Edward Grodman : Good morning, sergeant.

  English Policeman : Are you leaving so soon? It won't be long now, sir.

  Supt. George Edward Grodman : Do you want to watch a man walk to the gallows knowing you'd sent him there?

  English Policeman : He's only getting what he deserves. You *proved* him guilty of murder, sir.

  Supt. George Edward Grodman : Guilty beyond doubt.

  Chaplain : [reading Job 14:2 out of his King James Version of the Bible]  'Man, that is born of a woman, hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery. He cometh up, and is cut down, like a flower; he fleeth as it were a shadow... In the midst of life we are in death: of whom may we seek for succour, but of thee, O Lord.'

  English Policeman : It was a difficult case, sir; and if I may say so, you handled it with great success.

  Supt. George Edward Grodman : Success? Ours is a profession of disturbing contradiction, sergeant. To man who builds a great ship or composes a classic symphony, success means the fruits he tastes are sweet. To us, the success is too often measured by the number of lives we have taken. The fruit is bitter.

  English Policeman : But sir...

  Supt. George Edward Grodman : But I have no personal feeling - we're only instruments of justice, like the court which condemns.

  English Policeman : [looking up at the black flag being raised over the prison, signalling that the death penalty has been served]  Black flag: it's all over now, sir.

  Supt. George Edward Grodman : [removing his hat and placing it over his heart to show respect]  May his soul rest in peace.