Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

James Stewart: Paul Biegler

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Quotes 

• Paul Biegler : As a lawyer, I've had to learn that people aren't just good or just bad. People are many things.

• [Judge Weaver has stopped the testimony by Detective Sergeant James Durgo, State Police, and called the lawyers to his bench] 

  Judge Weaver : Mr. Biegler, you finally got your rape into the case, and I think all the details should now be made clear to the jury. What exactly was the undergarment just referred to?

  Paul Biegler : Panties, Your Honor.

  Judge Weaver : Do you expect this subject to come up again?

  Paul Biegler : Yes, Sir.

  Judge Weaver : There's a certain light connotation attached to the word "panties." Can we find another name for them?

  Mitch Lodwick : I never heard my wife call 'em anything else.

  Judge Weaver : Mr. Biegler?

  Paul Biegler : I'm a bachelor, Your Honor.

  Judge Weaver : That's a great help. Mr. Dancer?

  Claude Dancer : When I was overseas during the war, Your Honor, I learned a French word. I'm afraid that might be slightly suggestive.

  Judge Weaver : Most French words are.

• Lt. Frederick Manion : How can a jury disregard what it's already heard?

  Paul Biegler : [shaking head]  They can't, lieutenant. They can't.

• Paul Biegler : You're fired.

  Maida Rutledge : You can't fire me until you pay me.

• Paul Biegler : Mr. Paquette, what would you call a man with an insatiable penchant for women?

  Alphonse Paquette : A what?

  Paul Biegler : A penchant... a desire... taste... passion?

  Alphonse Paquette : Well, uh, ladies' man, I guess. Or maybe just a damn fool!

  [laughter in the courtroom] 

  Judge Weaver : Just answer the questions, Mr. Paquette. The attorneys will provide the wisecracks.

• Lt. Frederick Manion : [Roars at "Duke" Miller, who has just given his testimony]  You're a *liar!* You're a *lousy, stinking liar!*

  Paul Biegler : I apologize to the court for my client's outburst. But it's almost excusable, since the prosecution has seen fit to put a felon on the stand to testify against an officer in the United States Army.

• Paul Biegler : The prosecution would like to separate the motive from the act. Well, that's like trying to take the core from an apple without breaking the skin.

• Paul Biegler : [after cross-examining a convicted felon]  Your Honor, I don't think I can dignify this - -creature - - with any more questions.

• Mitch Lodwick : Objection. No evidence has been introduced to make Mrs. Manion's appearance relevant to this case.

  Paul Biegler : Well, no evidence has been introduced to make Barney Quill's appearance relevant, you didn't object to the question then. Is that because you know Barney Quill bathed, changed and cooled off after he raped and beat hell out of this poor woman!

  Mitch Lodwick : Your Honor, everyone in this courtroom is being tried except Frederick Manion! I must protest...

  Paul Biegler : Now listen! This is a cross examination in a murder case, it's not a high school debate! What are you and Dancer trying to do, railroad this soldier into the clink?

• Parnell Emmett McCarthy : [eyeing an empty liquor bottle]  You fought this soldier by yourself. You've been drinking alone, Paulie. I don't like that.

  Paul Biegler : Drop the stone, Counsellor. You live in a glass house.

  Parnell Emmett McCarthy : My windows have been busted a long time ago, so I can say what I please.

• Paul Biegler : I'm just a humble country lawyer trying to do the best I can against this brilliant prosecutor from the big city of Lansing.

• Paul Biegler : All right, the cat's out of the bag; it's fair game for me to chase it!

• Deputy Sheriff Sulo : I didn't hear them myself. There were tourists from Ohio in the park and they heard them and told me about it the next day.

  Mitch Lodwick : Your honour! This testimony is incompetent, hearsay, irrelevant, immaterial, inconclusive

  Paul Biegler : Well, that's too much for me. The witness is yours, Mr. Lodwick.

• Parnell Emmett McCarthy : Did you give the lieutenant the Well-Known Lecture?

  Paul Biegler : If you mean, did I coach him into a phony story, no.

  Parnell Emmett McCarthy : Maybe you're too pure, Paul. Too pure for the natural impurities of the law.

• Paul Biegler : If you do that one more time, I'll punch you all the way out into the middle of Lake Superior!

• Paul Biegler : Look, Laura, believe me, I don't usually complain of an attractive jiggle, but just you save that jiggle for your husband to look at, if and when I get him out of jail.

• Paul Biegler : She's a very pretty woman, your wife,

  Lt. Frederick Manion : A man gets used to the ways his wife looks.

  Paul Biegler : Yeah, I can see that.

• Maida Rutledge : [sipping coffee]  Tell me we're going to win. I'm counting on getting that promissory note from the Lieutenant. I hope we can borrow some money on it. I need a new typewriter. Half the time, the "P" and the "F" don't strike on mine. "Party of the first part comes out: "arty of the irst art." It doesn't make sense. It's embarrassing.

  Paul Biegler : [riffing jazz on the piano]  "arty of the irst art." I kinda like that. Has a ring to it.

• Parnell Emmett McCarthy : [Paul and Parnelll arrive at the campground in order to procure the promissory note for legal fees and discover that Manion's campsite is vacant. Parnell reads note left behind out loud]  Dear Mr. Biegler, so sorry, but I had to leave suddenly: I was siezed by an irresistible impulse. Frederick Manion.

  Paul Biegler : [sniggers with wry smile]  Now how in the world are we gonna face Maida?

  Parnell Emmett McCarthy : [Pulling empty bottle out of trash barrel]  Gin. I knew there was something wrong with that guy. I never saw a gin drinker yet you could trust.

  Paul Biegler : Well partner, what do you say we go and see our first client?

  Parnell Emmett McCarthy : Who might that be?

  Paul Biegler : Mary Pilant. We're going to administer Barney Quill' estate.

  Parnell Emmett McCarthy : That's what i call poetic justice for everybody.

  Paul Biegler : Yeah.

• Lt. Frederick Manion : Wanted: the Big Ten. Hey. They've got the ten best-dressed dames, the ten top teams, the ten top tunes, and now the ten most wanted.

  Paul Biegler : Well, don't knock it. That's the American Dream. Those boys made The Grade.