The Horse Soldiers (1959)

John Wayne: Col. John Marlowe

Photos 

Quotes 

• Miss Hannah Hunter : [bending over with a plate of chicken, revealing ample cleavage]  Do you prefer the leg... or the breast?

  Col. John Marlowe : I've had quite enough of both, thank you.

• Major Kendall : I don't understand a man like Miles giving up that easily.

  Col. John Marlowe : Maybe losing that arm took some of the fight out of him.

  Major Kendall : No... the man I knew could lose both arms and still try to kick you to death.

• Col. John Marlowe : Kirby, you tangle with me, I'll have your hide.

  Sgt. Maj. Kirby : You're welcome to that too sir, if it's in the line of duty.

• Col. John Marlowe : [offers his hand to Kendall]  I don't blame you if you... slap it away. Shake hands?

  [they shake] 

  Col. John Marlowe : So long, Croaker.

  Major Kendall : Take care, Section Hand. And if you should run into another doctor...

  Col. John Marlowe : Yeah, I know... tree moss.

• Miss Hannah Hunter : They'll catch up to you and cut you to pieces, you nameless, fatherless scum. I just wish I could be there to see it.

  Col. John Marlowe : If it happens, Miss Hunter, you will be.

• Col. John Marlowe : How many men does it take to look after one lone female?

  Union Soldier : We was respectful, real respectful, Colonel.

  Soldier : You told us it was all right as long as we could see the top of her head.

  Miss Hannah Hunter : You said that?

  Col. John Marlowe : Well, uh...

  Miss Hannah Hunter : Then there's one more thing...

  [slaps Marlow hard] 

• Miss Hannah Hunter : [military cadets have opened fire]  What are you going to do now *Mister* Col. Marlowe?

  Col. John Marlowe : With all due respect, m'am, I'm gonna get the hell outta here.

• Miss Hannah Hunter : Major Gray, an actor... and Colonel Secord almost a senator... but Colonel Marlowe, you must be a professional soldier.

  Col. John Marlowe : No, prior to this current insanity I was a railroad engineer.

• Col. John Marlowe : [during firefight]  I didn't want this. I tried to avoid a fight!

  Major Kendall : That's why I took up medicine.

• Col. John Marlowe : [entering the hospital]  Kendall, what's Mitchell's name doing on the sick list?

  Otis 'Hoppy' Hopkins : Please wait your turn - the doctor will be with you shortly.

  Col. John Marlowe : [indicating Hopkins]  What's this?

  Major Kendall : Hopkins, my assistant.

  Col. John Marlowe : Is he going along?

  Major Kendall : He's a good man, I need him.

• Gen. Ulysses S. Grant : Have you thought about how you're going to get back?

  Col. John Marlowe : Have you, sir?

  Gen. Ulysses S. Grant : Well, I guess I asked for that. I just hate to think of you spending the rest of the war in Andersonville; it's a hell-hole.

• Major Kendall : That's a pretty primitive outlook; medically speaking, that is.

  Col. John Marlowe : Well, doctor, war isn't exactly a civilized business.

• Matthew Brady : Roses are red, violets are blue, the camera is looking right at you... oh, I simply must have another; that man in the white coat moved.

  Col. John Marlowe : That's not all he's gonna be moving.

• Col. John Marlowe : Where's your horse?

  Bugler : Back in the swamp.

  Col. John Marlowe : Lips dry?

  Bugler : Yes, sir. But my bugle ain't.

• Col. John Marlowe : Where did you pick up that Reb colonel?

  Maj. Richard Gray : In the telegraph office, sir.

  Col. John Marlowe : The telegraph office?

  [officers begin to scramble] 

  Col. John Marlowe : Alright, Secord, you know what to do.

• Col. John Marlowe : [after knocking out the deserters and giving Goodbody a pistol. Bows low]  Compliments of Miss Hannah Hunter of Greenbriar.

• Col. John Marlowe : [grabbing Sgt. Mitchell by the arm]  Come on, Mitch, I've got some whiskey in my locker...

  Major Kendall : [forces Sgt. Mitchell back on the bed]  He's staying here and those are my orders!

  Col. John Marlowe : You've read the whole book, haven't you?

• Major Kendall : [preparing to fight]  What are the rules gonna be, Colonel?

  Col. John Marlowe : Make up your own.

  Major Kendall : [hits Marlow in the jaw as he is taking off his blouse]  You said no rules.

• Col. John Marlowe : The Major seems to be out of uniform. Where are your sidearms, Kendall?

  Major Kendall : If you check the book, Colonel, you'll see that a Regimental Surgeon doesn't wear one.

  Col. John Marlowe : [Angrily, to Gen Hurlburt]  First you cut out our artillery, then the wagons, and now you want to saddle us with a medical unit!

• Col. John Marlowe : [immediately after Dunker's death]  If, if, maybe, perhaps... what's the matter, Medicine Man...

  Major Kendall : [throws whiskey in Marlowe's face]  Alright, section hand, I've had you! Strip your blouse.

  Col. John Marlowe : [Wipes his face]  I think you're right.

  [Calls out] 

  Col. John Marlowe : Orderly! Horses!