Reign of Terror (1949)

Arnold Moss: Fouché

Photos 

Quotes 

• Maximilian Robespierre : There's a man in Strasbourg who isn't afraid of anything. A man named Duval.

  Fouché : Duval?

  Maximilian Robespierre : You know him?

  Fouché : No, but I know his record. Five hundred executions in a single month. That's almost as good as yours, Max.

  Maximilian Robespierre : I've sent for Duval. He arrives at the Blue Goose Inn tonight. You go there and bring him to the bakery. I'll meet him there.

  Fouché : How will I know him?

  Maximilian Robespierre : As one snake to another, you'll smell each other out.

• Maximilian Robespierre : That's *my* chair you're sitting in, Fouche.

  Fouché : I just wanted to see how it fits.

  Maximilian Robespierre : Danton liked to sit in that chair, too.

  Fouché : And to think that he had supper with us only last night. It's amazing how fast you lose friends these days.

  Maximilian Robespierre : And you never know who's next on the list, Fouche.

  Fouché : It must be quite a thrill, making out your death list every night.

• Fouché : You had a visitor, I see.

  Charles D'Aubigny : All work and no play?

  Fouché : I thought you enjoyed your work.

  Charles D'Aubigny : The real pleasure of my work went out with the guillotine. It's all over too fast now. Even hanging, that lasts for a few moments. No, Citizen Fouche. What this country needs is an elegant, slow death. Give a man four hours to die, it's worth watching.

  Fouché : Let's try it sometime, shall we?

  Charles D'Aubigny : Anyone in particular?

  Fouché : Robespierre has a beautiful long list. We're gonna have some great times together, eh, Duval?

  Charles D'Aubigny : Yes, I can hardly wait.

• Maximilian Robespierre : I can't decide whether to promote you or denounce you.

  Fouché : Where in all Paris would you find anybody as disloyal, unscrupulous, scheming, treacherous, cunning, or deceitful as I? Oh, you'd have to do some tall looking, Max.

• Fouché : One thing about Paris... never dull

• Fouché : [Last lines]  Robespierre planned on having statues built of himself. But all he leaves behind him... is stale bread.

  Napoleon Bonaparte : [His face isn't shown]  The end is always being put to some use in France, citizen. The art of being a Frenchman is knowing what comes next.

  Fouché : Have you any idea?

  Napoleon Bonaparte : I am neither a Frenchman nor a politician. I am merely a soldier.

  Fouché : Well, my friend, I must be off. Perhaps we shall meet again some time.

  Fouché : [stops, turns around]  Oh, uh, by the way, I don't believe I got your name.

  Napoleon Bonaparte : My name is Bonaparte. Napoleon Bonaparte.

  Fouché : Napoleon Bonaparte. I'll try to remember that.

• Fouché : [D'Aubigny, leading Barras out a secret exit, is intercepted by Fouche and his men]  Citizen Barras, you're under arrest.

  Charles D'Aubigny : He's my prisoner.

  Fouché : Was.

  Charles D'Aubigny : Is.

  Fouché : I'm afraid you're a little confused, Duval. *I'm* the Chief of Police.

  Charles D'Aubigny : You *were* Chief of Police.

  Charles D'Aubigny : [whips out a document from inside his coat]  My authorization from Robespierre. Now, if you'll be so kind as to leave?

• Fouché : There's a revolution going on... Don't stay out late.

• Maximilian Robespierre : Get out of my chair.

  Fouché : [gets up rather deliberately]  Is that the way to talk to your Chief of Secret Police? I'm ashamed of you, Max.