Whats your favourite scene? *possible spoilers*

I particularly like the scene where he gives Gaye the drink and Jonnhy Rocco slaps him. He then ignores Rocco and says "You're welcome" to Gaye as though nothing happened.

I liked it when, after Robinson forces her to kiss him, Bacall spits in his face, clearly knowing it'll get her killed. And then when Bogart talks Robinson out of it.

"Don't shoot at me- I'm the comic relief!"- MST3K

I'm a sucker for terse confrontations between two great actors, with nothing but sizzling dialogue exchanged that generates electricity and draws our entire beings into the picture.

That said, the whole scene leading up to Robinson giving Bogie the gun is probably my favorite. The way both men, cool and relaxed, challenge each other's ego gripped me.

Great film.

In vino veritas.

My favourite scene by far is when Gaye screams and begs Rocco to take her with him and pummels him etc then, in apparent angst, collapses onto Frank. BUT it was all an act and she slips him the gun!!! Great performance-with-a-performance, she had me fooled. She was a great character

Yeah I agree with the discovery of the body and the cop wanders off to go after the Indians and Rocco (Robinson) is standing there with almost no emotion, just a mild sense of satisfaction. Then when the cop comes back and tells everyone he just killed the brothers and Frank (Bogart) looks like he's trying to pry himself out of his own body just to scream and Rocco is just making small talk with the cop as "Mr. Brown."

I also like the scene when Gaye sings as well, but someone already mentioned that.

I like a lot of scenes in this movie, but was just moved to hilarity by a few lines in the scene delivered by Nora's wheelchair-bound father after Nora spits in Rocco's face following his having whispered something untoward into her ear:

Pop Temple: Look at him, the great Johnny Rocco, with Nora's spittle hanging from his face.
Rocco: Shut up old man.
Pop Temple: Come over here, I'd like to spit on you.


I mean, this old guy has more balls than a Main street mall bowling alley.


Your thinking is untidy, like most so-called thinking today. (Murder, My Sweet)

It's just a brief moment, but it brings tears to my eyes. Frank reaches out to gently stroke Nora's hair as she sleeps near him. It's so intimate and so tender. It's between two characters, true, but it's also between husband and wife.

There's the additional element of how fragile Bogart looks in this film and the way he's dressed~no jacket or tie and an open collar. There is a vulnerability about him instead of that hard, tough edge we're accustomed to. He's just a guy, a drifter trying to do something decent for a fallen comrade's wife and father.

I notice that fragility again when Frank is determinedly getting that drink for Gaye and has to push past a henchman who could snap him two. Then, he stands up to the slaps from Rocco. That IS such a great moment, when he says, "You're welcome" but in no way acknowledges Rocco's violent act.

I have seen this movie many times since first watching it when Channel 11 St. Louis aired old films in the mid- to late Sixties when I was a teen and a budding buff. It gains strength with additional viewings. My admiration for Humphrey Bogart could not be any higher because it hit the top waaaaaay back when. However, Lauren Bacall has risen a great deal over the years, passing up other, more-praised actresses.

This movie is filled with so many great moments, from Toots' giggling to Curly's sounding surprisingly intelligent and well-spoken for a gangster; from the old lion in the wheelchair, snapping, snarling and ready to fight to Rocco's suggested brutality that we receive hints of and fear seeing full impact of. Great storm! Great music! Great atmosphere!

*** The trouble with reality is there is no background music. ***

Seeing it now, I realize that the scene I’m sort of moved by, and always wait for, is when Rocco pushes Gaye to sing for a drink and then refuses it.

I don’t break down in tears or anything, but Clair Trevor’s delivery there always enthralls me. As she struggles, I actually listen for shades of Gaye’s former glory, and I always feel that Rocco is most uncharitable in refusing the drink. For an out-of-practice nightingale, she ain’t so bad.


“Your thinking is untidy, like most so-called thinking today.” (Murder, My Sweet)