The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

Marc Lawrence: Cobby

Photos 

Quotes 

• Doc Riedenschneider : That copper, he recognized me.

  Cobby : How'd you know he was a copper?

  Doc Riedenschneider : I can smell one a block off.

  Cobby : Oh, don't worry about Ditrich. He's on my payroll. Practically a partner. Me and him, we're like that.

  [Cobby holds up his index and middle finger] 

  Doc Riedenschneider : Experience has taught me never to trust a policeman. Just when you think one's all right, he turns legit.

• Dix Handley : Don't bone me!

  Cobby : Now, look, I'm not boning you.

  Dix Handley : Did I ever welsh?

  Cobby : Nobody said you did.

  Dix Handley : You just boned me!

• Cobby : Here's to the drink habit. It's the only one I got that don't get me into trouble.

• Cobby : [Telephone rings twice; Cobby answers]  Yeah, hello, hello. Yeah, this is Cobby. What?

  Cobby : [Cobby gets off the telephone in to talk to Dix and Doc]  It's Gus. Dragnet's out and they're combing the district.

  Cobby : [Cobby holds out telephone]  He wants to talk to you. You, Dix.

  Dix Handley : [Dix takes telephone from Cobby; Cobby leaves]  Gus, Dix.

  Gus Minissi : [the scene switches from Cobby's hideout to a telephone booth where Gus is; Gus talks to Dix]  Yeah, now, listen careful, pal. The cops are knocking over all the joints along the boulevard. There's mobs of them, meat wagons and all. Now, look, I already called the guy, Eddie Donato. Donato's got a grocery down by the river. 116 Front Street, you got that?

  Dix Handley : [Dix's voice is heard through the telephone]  Yeah.

  Gus Minissi : Okay.

  Dix Handley : [a police car rolls into the scene outside of the telephone booth]  Thanks, Gus. Say, how's Louie?

  Gus Minissi : Louie's not so good. He got a slug in his belly, all right. Doc's doing all he can. Uh, here they are now, the happiness boys.

  Gus Minissi : [a policeman bangs on the telephone booth and motions Gus to get out of the booth so that he can use it. Gus chuckles, turns and waves to him]  Hello. How are you, yeah?

  Gus Minissi : [Gus turns back to talk to Dix]  Looks like I'm in...

  Gus Minissi : [Policeman bangs on the booth again]  ... for a working over. Look, go down to Eddie's by way of the...

  Gus Minissi : [Policeman bangs on booth for the third time]  ... old car barn.

  Gus Minissi : [Gus turns and waves to the policeman; turns back to talk to Dix]  Yeah, it's deserted at night. Once you get beyond that...

  Gus Minissi : [Policeman bangs on booth for the fourth time]  ... you're okay. The cops never bother Eddie's neighborhood. So long, Dix. Blow now...

  Gus Minissi : [Policeman bangs booth for the fifth and final time]  ... eh?

  Gus Minissi : [Gus turns and waves to the policeman; He hangs up and makes his way out of the telephone booth]  All right, all right, all right.

• Cobby : How can things go so wrong? How is it possible? One man killed, two others plugged. I'm out 30 grand. We got a load of rocks we can't even peddle.

  Dix Handley : Quit crying and get me some bourbon.

• Cobby : I spoke to Mr. Emmerich on the phone. He's gonna meet us later tonight. He's giving a party at his house in town for a bunch of swells; but, he'll be at another address - later on. A man like Emmerich has got more than one place to hang his hat.

• Louis Ciavelli : What are you sweatin' for?

  Cobby : Money makes me sweat, that's all. It's the way I am.

• Alonzo D. Emmerich : Cobby, here, will be glad to advance you anything you need. See that you have a place to stay. Hey, Cobby?

  Cobby : Well, you bet your life! And I got some fancy phone numbers for you too, Doc.

• Louis Ciavelli : There's only one driver, as far as I'm concerned. Gus Minissi. Ask Cobby, he knows him.

  Cobby : Gus, 100 percent.

  Doc Riedenschneider : Get hold of him.

  Cobby : He'll take the heat and won't flap his lip.

  Doc Riedenschneider : Get hold of him.

• Doc Riedenschneider : The information she gave me is that he's broke.

  Cobby : Are you crazy? I've seen him operate for 20 years. He handles only the biggest cases. He's got two houses, four cars, half a dozen servants...

  Doc Riedenschneider : And one blond.

  Cobby : Doc, whose word you gonna take? Mine or some dimwitted dame?

  Doc Riedenschneider : Yours, naturally.

  Cobby : If he's broke, I wanna be broke the same way.

• Cobby : I'll tell them about the juice you've been getting.

  Lt. Ditrich : The only thing you're doing is making me sore.

  Cobby : Once I start singing, I won't stop. They'll jug you right alongside of me.