The Westerner (1940)

Walter Brennan: Judge Roy Bean

Photos 

Quotes 

• Judge Roy Bean : Mr. Harden, it's my duty to inform you that the larceny of an equine is a capital offense punishable by death, but you can rest assured that in this court, a horse thief always gets a fair trial before he's hung.

• Judge Roy Bean : Shad Wilkins, you've been tried and found guilty of the most serious crime west of the Pecos, to wit: shooting a steer. Do you got anything to say for yourself before the sentence of the court is executed?

  Shad Wilkins : I told you they shot at me first. I didn't mean to kill that steer on purpose. I was aiming at the man.

  Judge Roy Bean : It's your bad luck you missed him. That's the trouble with you sodbusters... you can't shoot straight. Shad, may the Lord have mercy on your soul.

• The Stranger : Have you met Miss Langtry?

  Judge Roy Bean : No, I never met her. I never met the sun, I never shook hands with the moon, and I've never been introduced to no clouds.

• Judge Roy Bean : Don't spill none of that liquor, son. It eats right into the bar.

• Judge Roy Bean : I haven't worn this uniform since Chickamaugie, but it still fits right smart.

• Judge Roy Bean : Are you an attorney, Miss?

  Jane Ellen Mathews : I'm as much an attorney as you are a judge!

• Cole Harden : Don't make a move, Judge. I'm comin down to get ya.

  Judge Roy Bean : Come a-shootin.

• Wade Harper : We're goin' back to build our fences.

  Judge Roy Bean : If you do, you better build coffins with them. Now git!

• Cole Harden : You get warrants in Fort Davis, don't you?

  Judge Roy Bean : Yes, that's where they get 'em, but they don't know how to spell my name. It's been tried before.

  Cole Harden : I'll get one. This time you'll get what's comin' to you, Judge.

• [repeated line] 

  Judge Roy Bean : By gobs!