Beat the Devil (1953)

Humphrey Bogart: Billy Dannreuther

Photos 

Quotes 

• Peterson : You mean Mrs. Chelm is an unqualified liar?

  Billy Dannreuther : Well, let's say she uses her imagination rather than her memory.

• Julius O'Hara : I give you my word, I feel to you like an older brother. Oh, it's not so much a difference of age. It's probably, yes, the reason is, because I come from a culture which is so much older than yours. In my country, a child of 6 years old is older in his heart than you'll be at, at 60.

  Billy Dannreuther : It smokes, it drinks, it philosophizes... at this rate I'll be 60 before you get to the point.

• Billy Dannreuther : The only thing standing between you and a watery grave is your wits, and that's not my idea of adequate protection.

• Billy Dannreuther : I've got to have money. Doctor's orders are that I must have a lot of money, otherwise I become dull, listless and have trouble with my complexion.

  Gwendolen Chelm : But you're not like that now, and you haven't any money.

  Billy Dannreuther : It's my expectations that hold me together.

• Ahmed : Your demands are very great, under the circumstances.

  Billy Dannreuther : Why shouldn't they be? Fat Gut's my best friend, and I will not betray him cheaply.

• Julius O'Hara : Billy, good morning.

  Billy Dannreuther : Well, what's our wide-eyed Irish leprechaun doing outside my door?

  Julius O'Hara : Why do you always make jokes about my name, huh? In Chile the name of O'Hara is - is a tip-top name. Many Germans in Chile have become to be called O'Hara.

• Julius O'Hara : Billy, I - I think it is high time you take stock of yourself. Can you truthfully say about yourself, I - I, Billy Dannreuther, have acted fairly and squarely to my associates, huh?

  Maria Dannreuther : But of course he can, Mr. O'Hara. Everybody knows Billy is the soul of honor.

  Billy Dannreuther : Shut up, sugar.

  Julius O'Hara : Perhaps he is the soul of honor and perhaps appearances are deceiving.

  Billy Dannreuther : Do you mind telling me what it is I'm supposed to have done?

  Julius O'Hara : Nothing. It's your conduct. Your - your - your conduct doesn't - your conduct does not inspire confidence, and - and confidence, Billy, is the most important necessity in an undertaking of our kind. One may be completely innocent, but if one's actions invite suspicion, one might as well be guilty. To be trustworthy is not more important than - than to seem to be trustworthy.

• Billy Dannreuther : Trouble with England, it's all pomp and no circumstance. You're very wise to get out of it, escape, while you can.

• Gwendolen Chelm : I am a British subject!

  Billy Dannreuther : I wouldn't say that too loud.

• Gwendolen Chelm : You know, I've changed my mind about you being an evil doctor. You're off to keep a rendezvous someplace in Africa sacred to the tribesmen. You're going to found a new empire, and make yourself master of the riches of the world. But you need a beautiful blonde queen to impress the natives as, ah, the incarnation of the Queen of Sheba. That's why you're making a pass at me.

  Billy Dannreuther : Am I?

• Hispano-Suiza Driver : [after Billy Dannreuther accidentally pushes his taxi over a precipice]  You will make restitution, will you no, Mr. Dann? Either the money or a new car.

  Billy Dannreuther : Why, you fat bandit, I gave you the car in the first place.

  Hispano-Suiza Driver : How I came by it is beside the point. The fact you gave it to me doesn't make it any the less mine.

• Gwendolen Chelm : I have a theory about you and your friends.

  Billy Dannreuther : Correction - my associates.

  Gwendolen Chelm : As a matter of fact, I think you're doctors. Evil ones, I mean. You're going to the heart of the jungle where human life is cheap, to perform ghastly experiments which require the sacrifice of thousands on the altar of science.

• Billy Dannreuther : Who do they think I am, their hired man?

  Maria Dannreuther : But you are, you know. You ARE their hired man.

• Maj. Jack Ross : This generation's had its chance. Hitler, Mussolini, those were the men. Now is the age of the barbarians. The world's going up in smoke. I say let it come. Get it over with.

  Billy Dannreuther : Well, if you don't mind, I'd like another year or so of worrying.

  Maj. Jack Ross : Worrying? Just one minute, laddies. I've just two or three words to say to you laddies, and that's don't worry. Don't ever worry. I'm in a position to know. Secret information. The Rosicrucians. The Great White Brotherhood. The high secret orders. But you've no faith. You must have faith. Faith and power. Secret power. Men who guard the trust from the deepest insides of the whatchamacallit. Mystic rulers. All one club. Chained together by one purpose. One idea. Mankind's champions. Follow me, Billy?

  Billy Dannreuther : [Humoring him]  Oh, why, of course.

  Maj. Jack Ross : This generation's had its chance. Hitler, Mussolini.