Ten of the Best Quotes from Film Noir

Gloria Grahame and Humphrey Bogart in In a Lonely Place (1950)

Film noir is known for its visual style and the cynicism that often pervades its plots. It is also known for its dialogue. Some of the greatest lines in movie history come from film noirs. With this being Noirvember, I thought that it would be a good time to list ten of what I considered the best quotes from film noirs. I limited myself to only one line per movie, as otherwise the whole list might be composed entirely of quotes from Double Indemnity (1944) and Sunset Boulevard (1950). Billy Wilder does have a bit of an unfair advantage when it comes to great lines! Also, the quotes are in no particularly except for the last one, which is my number one favourite movie line, period. Without further ado, there are ten of the best quotes from film noir. 

"My, my, my! Such a lot of guns around town and so few brains! You know, you're the second guy I've met today that seems to think a gat in the hand means the world by the tail." Humphrey Bogart as Philip Marlowe in The Big Sleep (1944) in response to yet another gun pointed at him.

"In my case, self-absorption is completely justified. I have never discovered any other subject quite so worthy of my attention." Clifton Webb as narcissistic newspaper columnist Waldo Lydecker in Laura (1944).

"Isn’t it a pity? The wrong people always have money.” Elsa Lanchester in Louise Patterson as The Big Clock (1948)

"Hate is a very exciting emotion. Haven't you noticed? Very exciting. I hate you too, Johnny. I hate you so much I think I'm going to die from it. Darling...I think I'm going to die from it." Rita Hayworth as Gilda in Gilda (1946) in conversation with Johnny Farrell (Glenn Ford)

"With my brains and your looks, we could go places.” John Garfield as Frank Chambers from The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) commenting to Cora Smith (Lana Turner)

"Well, build my gallows high, baby." Robert Mitchum as Jeff in Out of the Past (1947) to  Kathie (Jane Greer)  

"I am big. It's the pictures that got small."  Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond in response to Joe Gillis's (William Holden) remark that she used to be big 

"That was only the first half of the speech. The rest of it goes like this: I hate their women, too - especially the "big league blondes". Beautiful, expensive babes who know what they've got... all bubble bath, and dewy morning, and moonlight. And inside: blue steel, cold - cold like that... only not that clean." Ann Shirley as Anne Grayle in Murder, My Sweet (1944) in response to Helen Grayle (Claire Trevor)

"I  picked you for the job, not because I think you're so darn smart, but because I thought you were a shade less dumb than the rest of the outfit. Guess I was wrong. You're not smarter, Walter... you're just a little taller." Edward G. Robinson as Barton Keyes in Double Indemnity (1944) in response to Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray)

"I was born when she kissed me. I died when she left me. I lived a few weeks while she loved me." A line from Dixon Steele's screenplay which he quotes in In a Lonely Place (1950).