Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)

James Cagney: Rocky Sullivan

Photos 

Quotes 

• [repeated lines] 

  Rocky Sullivan : Whadda ya hear! Whadda ya say!

• [Father Jerry is returning the $10,000 Rocky has sent him 'anonymously' to help build the recreation center] 

  Rocky Sullivan : Suppose the dough is hot? Nobody knows that but you and me.

  Father Jerry : That's just it.

  Rocky Sullivan : Oh, come on, don't be such an angel. You wanna get the center built, don't you? Well, go ahead - get it started.

  Father Jerry : Sure I wanna get it started; but I don't wanna get it started on rotten foundations.

  Rocky Sullivan : Aw, don't be a sucker!

  Father Jerry : All right, Rocky, supposin' I take the money... and I kid myself that it's a means to an end - well it isn't. It never will be. Inside the center my boys would be clean... and outside they'd be surrounded by the same rotten corruption and crime and criminals. Yes, yourself included. Criminals on all sides for my boys to look up to and revere... and respect and admire and imitate. What earthly good is it for me to teach that honesty is the best policy when all around they see that dishonesty is a better policy? That the hoodlum and the gangster is looked up to with the same respect as the successful businessman or the popular hero? You and the Fraziers and the Keefers and all the rest of those rotten politicians you've got in the palm of your hand. Yes, and you've got my boys, too. Whatever I teach them, you... you show me up. You show them the easiest way - the quickest way is with a racket or a gun.

  Rocky Sullivan : Well, it's so, ain't it?

  Father Jerry : Yes, it's so... God help us.

• Soapy : Hey! Call a fair game or I'll slap you right in the kisser!

  Rocky Sullivan : You'll slap me? You slap me in a dream, you better wake up and apologize.

• Rocky Sullivan : [to Jim Frazier]  Look, I know you're a smart lawyer - very smart - but don't get smart with me.

• Rocky Sullivan : 'Morning, gentlemen. Nice day for a murder.

• Father Jerry : What's on your mind, Son?

  Rocky Sullivan : Not very much, Father. It's just been bothering me about fifteen years. What did you do with those fountain pens you stole out of the freight cart?

  Father Jerry : [recognizing him]  Rocky! You old...

  Rocky Sullivan : Jerry, glad to see you. Whadda ya hear! Whadda ya say!

  Father Jerry : Whadda ya hear! Whadda ya say! I'm glad to see you.

  Rocky Sullivan : Good to see you. Fifteen years. Hasn't changed a bit.

• Rocky Sullivan : [to Soapy]  Next time you roll a guy for his poke, make sure he don't know your hideout.

• Rocky Sullivan : No! I don't want to die! Oh, please! I don't want to die! Oh, please! Don't make me burn in hell. Oh, please let go of me! Please don't kill me! Oh, don't kill me, please!

• James Frazier : Listen, Rocky. I'm pulling every string I can. I'm seeing the all right people. And I think I can get you off with about three years.

  Rocky Sullivan : You talk like I can do that three years in a handstand. It's a long time. That ain't no picnic. You'll be outside having it soft right on those cushions.

  James Frazier : I know it's a tough break, Rocky. But I'm not gonna mark time. I'm gonna scout around, make connections. Not only for me, but for both of us. You understand?

  Rocky Sullivan : Why should I take the fall?

  James Frazier : There's no other way out. Now, be sensible. If they get me too, I'll not only be disbarred, but they'll check on my vault box and grab that hundred grand. You don't want to lose that dough, do you?

  Rocky Sullivan : Alright, Frazier. It's my rap and I'll take it. But it's my hundred grand and I'll take that too, the day that I get out.

• Father Jerry : We haven't got a lot of time. And I want to ask you one last favor.

  Rocky Sullivan : There's not much left than I can do, kid.

  Father Jerry : Yes, there is, Rocky. Perhaps more than you could do under any other circumstances. If you have the courage for it, and I know you have.

  Rocky Sullivan : You mean, walking in there? That's not gonna take much.

  Father Jerry : I know that, Rocky.

  Rocky Sullivan : It's like a barber chair. And when they ask me "you got anything to say?". I'll say, "sure, give me a haircut, a shave, and a massage, with one of those nice new electric massages".

• Rocky Sullivan : You know, Jerry, I think to be afraid, you gotta have a heart. I don't think I got one. I had that cut out of me a long time ago.

• Rocky Sullivan : Laury Martin? That little fresh kid with the pigtails? Well, hello. Whadda ya hear! Whadda ya say!

  Laury Ferguson : Hello.

  [slaps him] 

  Rocky Sullivan : Hey! Wait a minute!

  Laury Ferguson : I've waited fifteen years to do that!

• Rocky Sullivan : I'll take the room. What's the tariff?

  Laury Ferguson : Five dollars a week.

  Rocky Sullivan : Sold.

  Laury Ferguson : In advance.

  Rocky Sullivan : Oh. Alright. Write me a receipt.

  Laury Ferguson : You can trust me.

• James Frazier : Well, well, Rocky! Say, this is a surprise!

  Rocky Sullivan : Whadda ya hear! Whadda ya say!

• Rocky Sullivan : [to Soapy and the gang]  Say your prayers, mugs.

• Rocky Sullivan : You've done very alright. Very alright, Frazier. I'm mighty proud of you. Why shouldn't I be. We're partners ain't we?

  James Frazier : Of course, Rocky. Of course.

  Rocky Sullivan : Just like we said three years ago, huh?

• Rocky Sullivan : [on the phone to Mac]  Mac, did I get you out of bed? Oh, I'm so sorry.

  [to James] 

  Rocky Sullivan : I think he's sore.

• Mac Keefer : Where's Frazier?

  Rocky Sullivan : Where's that hundred grand?

  Mac Keefer : You think we're gonna pay off huh?

  Rocky Sullivan : Certainly. If I don't get that dough in three minutes, Frazier's gonna be splashed all over the best hideout in town.

• Rocky Sullivan : Asking questions again, huh? Listen, someday you're gonna stick your nose, and you're gonna get something in it.

  Bim : I only thought it was.

  Rocky Sullivan : Shut up! Now, look, you don't know anything about this, see? Huh?

  Bim : No, no. No, I don't know nothing.

  Rocky Sullivan : But you do know what guys get who talk.

• Rocky Sullivan : Who's the leader?

  Soapy : I am.

  Rocky Sullivan : Come here. Collect that dough, and fast!

• Father Jerry : Well, as long as you're sponsoring the gym, let's go and take a look at it.

  Rocky Sullivan : You mean now?

  Father Jerry : Sure. Come on, Rocky. I want to show you what I'm doing. You remember old Krausmeyer's store, don't you?

  Rocky Sullivan : Yeah, sure. We used to rob it.

  Father Jerry : Yes.

• Rocky Sullivan : Personal foul. Free throw over here.

  Bim : I didn't do nothing.

  Rocky Sullivan : Foul!

  Swing : Foul? What did he do? Hit me?

• Rocky Sullivan : [to the gang]  Shower down. Right there. All those nickels. You, you, you, and you. Right there.

• James Frazier : Rocky?

  Rocky Sullivan : Yeah, Rocky. I ain't dead yet. Give me those keys. Get going.

• Father Jerry : Rocky? Rocky?

  Rocky Sullivan : What are you doing up here? Go on, get out of here! Beat it!

  Father Jerry : I'm coming in, Rocky.

  Rocky Sullivan : What's the matter with you? You want to get your skull full of lead? Get out of here! I thought you were smarter than trying to stick your kisser in a place like this.

  Father Jerry : I couldn't stand by and watch them shoot you down, Rocky. They've got you covered from every angle. Your only chance is to give yourself up. You're through, Rocky. You're finished.

  Rocky Sullivan : Yeah, I was until you stepped into it.

• Rocky Sullivan : So long, kid.

  Father Jerry : Goodbye, Rocky. May God have mercy on you.