Nightmare Alley (1947)

James Burke: Rural Marshal

Photos 

Quotes 

• Stanton Carlisle : Now you can see the reason, Marshal, for the costume this young lady is forced to wear. The electricity would ignite any ordinary fabric. And only by wearing the thinnest covering can she avoid bursting into flames.

  Hoatley : That's right, Chief. Thousands of volts of current cover her body like a sheet.

  Rural Marshal : You can't pull the wool over my eyes with a lot of sparks. I've done business with you carnival crooks before. Get that geek in here. You can talk to the judge.

• Hoatley : Hello, Chief. My name is Hoatley. I own this attraction.

  Rural Marshal : You're the man I'm looking for.

  Hoatley : You're welcome to inspect every inch of the place, Chief. We've no girl shows, no games of skill or chance.

• Rural Marshal : I've got orders from the mayor to close you down and arrest who I see fit. Send somebody for that geek fella.

  Rural Marshal : [pointing to Molly]  I'm taking him and you and that girl there.

  Hoatley : What for?

  Rural Marshal : Indecent exposure. That's what I'm arresting her for.

  Hoatley : She didn't do anything wrong.

  Rural Marshal : We've decent women in this town, daughters and growing girls.

• Rural Marshal : I don't want any more of your soft soap.