Compulsion (1959)

Bradford Dillman: Arthur A. Straus

Photos 

Quotes 

• Arthur Straus : The neighborhood is swarming with kidnappers and degenerates!

• [first lines] 

  Judd Steiner : To the perfect crime!

  Arthur Straus : Crime. Oh, my wealthy fraternity brothers. 67 dollars, and a second-hand typewriter.

• Judd Steiner : Please, Artie. I'll do anything you say.

  Arthur Straus : Anything? I wanna do something really dangerous. Something that'll have everybody talking, not just a few guys. With half the fatheaded cops in Chicago running around in circles wondering about it while we sat back and laughed at 'em, huh?

  Judd Steiner : Yes, but together, Artie. Something perfect. Something brilliant! The true test of the superior intellect, with every little detail worked out.

  Arthur Straus : And dangerous- really dangerous. That's the only way it'd be any fun.

  Judd Steiner : Yes.

• Judd Steiner : We almost killed him.

  Arthur Straus : A drunk. Who'd have known about it, anyway?

  Judd Steiner : It would have been murder.

  Arthur Straus : And you know why I tried it, Juddsie? Because I damn well felt like it. That's why.

  [hysterical laugh] 

• Arthur Straus : Pop Wiggen. Uh, that's the - the - the gray-haired one. I guess you wouldn't say he was exactly normal. Snapping towels at kids in the gym - stuff like that. But, uh - that - that wouldn't mean anything.

• Arthur Straus : If you were looking for a kid to kidnap, Paulie's just the kind of cocky little punk you'd pick.

  Mrs. Straus aka 'Mumsy' : Arthur, that's a terrible thing to say.

  Arthur Straus : But it's the truth, Mumsy. You said yourself he was a fresh little smart aleck who ought to be spanked.

  Mrs. Straus aka 'Mumsy' : I've said the same thing about every child in this neighborhood. Including you, Arthur Strauss.

• Arthur Straus : Gonna take her birding? Hegewisch?

  Judd Steiner : She said she was interested.

  Arthur Straus : Good idea. You'd have her out there all alone, huh? No witnesses? Yeah, yeah. You'd be perfectly safe. Girls never talk about it afterwards. She can scream her head off. Oh, what's the matter? Isn't that what you planned?

  Judd Steiner : No, it isn't.

  Arthur Straus : You're not falling for her, are you, Judd?

  Judd Steiner : Of course not. I just hadn't thought of that.

  Arthur Straus : But this is your chance! Now, look. We agreed to explore all the possibilities of human experience, didn't we? And emotionally detached.

  Judd Steiner : But together, Artie.

  Arthur Straus : Sure, but I've done things alone. You can too!

• Arthur Straus : Judd's broken his word of honor to me. He promised he'd never tell it to anybody.

  District Attorney Harold Horn : Why, Artie?

  Arthur Straus : Well - well, because that's - that's where we were Wednesday night - out with a couple of chippies we picked up on Lake Shore Drive. He knows what'll happen if my family finds out.

• District Attorney Harold Horn : Don't you know this is a murder case? Do you realize what the consequences could be?

  Arthur Straus : Can't be as bad as what my old man'll do. He'll skin me alive if he finds out I was out with a couple of tramps.

• District Attorney Harold Horn : Won't you sit down, Artie?

  Arthur Straus : Well, I'd prefer to stand, if you don't mind, sir. I'm the nervous type.

• District Attorney Harold Horn : Europe, a Stutz Bearcat, the best restaurants. You fellas really have a hard life, don't you? By the way, that Stutz is a two-seater, isn't it?

  Arthur Straus : I thought you'd be wise to that one, Mr. Horn. You see, in a two-seater, a girls has to sit in your lap.

• Arthur Straus : You're sweating again, Juddsie.

• Arthur Straus : They can't trace anything. The whole case'll blow over in a couple of weeks. Hey, come on. Let's go watch them slaughter the sheep.

• Arthur Straus : When we made the deal, you said you could take orders. You said you wanted me to command you.

  Judd Steiner : I do - as long as you keep your part of the agreement.

• Judd Steiner : Not tomorrow afternoon.

  Arthur Straus : Oh, you got another date?

  [in disbelief] 

  Arthur Straus : Are you ditching me for some girl?

  Judd Steiner : I haven't been able to find you for three days.