The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

James Whitmore: Gus Minissi

Photos 

Quotes 

• 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.

• Gus Minissi : Smart cat. Never does a lick of work, stays out all night, sleeps all day.

  Truck Driver : What's a big, dirty cat doing at an eatin' joint? I run over one every time I get a chance. People feedin' cats and some kids haven't got enough to eat.

  Gus Minissi : You gonna buy that magazine?

  Truck Driver : Why should I? I seen all the dames in it already. Wanna make somethin' of it?

  Gus Minissi : You're a little off your beat, ain't you, buster?

  Truck Driver : How do you mean, Humpty Dumpty?

  Gus Minissi : I mean, you don't belong around here. You're just passing through, only not fast enough! If I ever see you running over a cat, I'll kick your teeth out.

• Gus Minissi : Look, Dix, take my advice and knock off for a while. The happiness boys are on a rampage. Headquarters has given them the push.

• Gus Minissi : Why don't you wise up, you wise guy?

  Louis Ciavelli : You're a low-down scum. That's what you are. A low-down, dirty scum, to talk to me like that!

• Gus Minissi : You dirty fink! You're gonna wind up where you belong! You're gonna wind up in the morgue! You wait and see, you dirty fink! Home of the pigeons! Fink! Fink!