A character in Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

Dr. Einstein quotes from Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

Peter Lorre

Scenes with Dr. Einstein

8 scenes
Dr. Einstein

At least people in plays act like they've got sense.

Mortimer

Oh, you think so? Did you ever see anybody in a play act like they got any intelligence?

Dr. Einstein
[agonizing]

How can anybody be so stupid!

Dr. Einstein
[Discussing the body count]

You got twelve, they got twelve.

Jonathan Brewster

I've got thirteen!

Dr. Einstein

No, Johnny, twelve — don't brag.

Jonathan

Thirteen! There's Mr. Spinalzo and the first one in London, two in Johannesburg, one in Sydney, one in Melbourne, two in San Francisco, one in Phoenix, Arizona...

Dr. Einstein

Phoenix?

Jonathan

The filling station...

Dr. Einstein

Filling station? Oh!

Dr. Einstein
[Dr. Einstein draws a finger across his throat]

Yes.

Jonathan

Then three in Chicago and one in South Bend.

Dr. Einstein

You cannot count the one in South Bend. He died of pneumonia!

Jonathan

He wouldn't have died of pneumonia if I hadn't shot him!

Dr. Einstein

No, no, Johnny. You cannot count him. You got twelve, they got twelve. The old ladies is just as good as you are!

Mortimer
[Speaking of a character in a play he has seen]

He just sits there waiting to be gagged and tied — the big dope!

Dr. Einstein

You know, you were right about that fellow. He wasn't very bright.

Dr. Einstein

Johnny, why did you kill that man? He was being nice to us and gave us a ride.

Jonathan

He said I looked like Boris Karloff!

Jonathan

Tonight, we are taking care of Mortimer. And just for him we'll have something special. I plan on using the Melbourne method.

Dr. Einstein
[cringing]

No! Not the Melbourne method, please! Two hours!

Jonathan

And now doctor... we go to work!

Dr. Einstein

No, Johnny. I cannot operate without a drink!

Jonathan

Pull yourself together, doctor!

Dr. Einstein

I cannot pull myself together without a drink!

Teddy

This is a picture of when I take my hunting trip to Africa. This is me, and this is you.

Dr. Einstein

My how I've changed.

Cab Driver

I'm not a cab driver. I'm a coffeepot!

Dr. Einstein

Where am I? Oh, here I am.

Dr. Einstein

We got a hot stiff on our hands!

Martha

One of our gentlemen found time to say 'How delicious!' before he died.

Martha

For a gallon of elderberry wine, I take one teaspoon full of arsenic, then add half a teaspoon full of strychnine, and then just a pinch of cyanide.

Police Sgt. Brophy

They're two of the dearest, sweetest, kindest, old ladies that ever walked the earth. They're out of this world. They're like pressed rose leaves.

Reporter

Seems like the same suckers get married everyday.

Abby

Now Mortimer, you behave. You're too old to be flying off the handle like this!

Dr. Einstein
[hat falling across his eyes]

Well, I'm off to Panama. Bon voyage!

Other characters in Arsenic and Old Lace

More Peter Lorre characters

All Peter Lorre quotes →