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Julien Tavernier: Don't sneer at war. It's your bread and butter. Indochina netted you how much? And now Algeria. Have some respect for war. It's your family heirloom.
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Le commissaire Cherrier: You see madam there are always several photos in a camera.
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Commissaire de police: Anything's good for an alibi. Wives, girlfriends, bartenders, childhood friends, deceived husbands - but not an elevator. That's ridiculous. It's totally harebrained.
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[first lines]
Florence Carala: I'm the one who can't take anymore. I love you. I love you. So we have to. I love you.
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Julien Tavernier: Without your voice, I'd be lost in a land of silence.
Florence Carala: That's not very daring.
Julien Tavernier: Love isn't daring.
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Simon Carala: Honestly, my dear Tavernier, you often keep me waiting. During the Indochina War, it didn't matter. What was one defeat more or less? But now you're in big business. This isn't a dream.
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Simon Carala: I needed a hero in my business.
Julien Tavernier: A retired hero.
Simon Carala: This kind of work doesn't call for ragpickers but for angels. A paratrooper is a good angel.
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Simon Carala: They do good work in counterintelligence. They know almost as much as the Americans.
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Geneviève: Funny about the boss. He always leaves without warning. He hails a taxi by himself, like a thief.
Maurice: When does he get back?
Geneviève: We never know that either. Last time, he went down to Naples to buy tankers. He might do it again.
Maurice: Can't you catch cholera in Naples?
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Véronique: What's crazy is to imagine incredible things. And I really mean something terrific. And it is terrific.
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Louis: A revolver. A spy camera. Jelfa Oil. He's shady, this Tavernier.
Véronique: Maybe he's a secret agent? Look at the way he dresses.
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Louis: A Mercedes! A 300 SL!
Véronique: Foreigners! They're Danish.
Louis: No, they're Germans.
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Horst Bencker: Ah! My favorite champagne. We didn't have this brand during the occupation.
Véronique: He doesn't like champagne.
Horst Bencker: How sad. Had I known you can't stand champagne...
Louis: It does nothing for me. My generation has other things on its mind. Four years of occupation, Indochina, Algeria.
Horst Bencker: Bravo! Bravo! To Europe!
Véronique: To Europe!
Frieda Bencker: To Europe!
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Horst Bencker: We Germans don't like war.
Louis: Yeah, right!
Horst Bencker: You're just like the older generation of Frenchmen. We're just traveling businessmen. And a uniform for traveling tends to stand out.
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Horst Bencker: War is not only horrible. It's a complete waste of time.
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[repeated line]
Florence Carala: Have you seen Mr. Tavernier tonight?
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Florence Carala: [inner voice] Julien with that girl? Why? Yes, I recognized the flower shop girl. I can't believe it. That would be so shabby.
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Florence Carala: [inner voice] I lost you in the night, Julien. I should have left you alone. I shouldn't have kissed you or caressed your face.
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Christian Subervie: You can't rely on that Julien. We met in Algiers.
Florence Carala: You were an officer?
Christian Subervie: Ah, no. I was in the refrigerator business. He must be with a broad. He's neglected all his pals.
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Christian Subervie: Julien doesn't give a damn about women.
Yvonne, La fille du bar: Julien's sweet.
Elevator to the Gallows Quotes
Extended Reading
Director: Louis Malle
Language: French,German Release date: January 29, 1958