Doc Riedenschneider Experience has taught me never to trust a policeman. Just when you think one's all right, he turns legit.
Played by Sam Jaffe 
The Asphalt Jungle (1950) · 30 quotes
The Asphalt Jungle (1950) · 30 quotes
Most-quoted character in The Asphalt Jungle (1950): in 13 of its 30 quotes
Most scenes with: Emmerich (2)
Everything is here, from the observed routine of the personnel to the alarm system, the types of locks on the doors, the aging condition of the main safe, and so forth and so forth. Take my word for it, Mr. Emmerich, this is a ripe plum ready to fall...Perhaps you know my reputation. I've engineered some very big things.
More lines from Doc Riedenschneider
8 quotes Doc Riedenschneider Doc Riedenschneider One way or another, we all work for our vice.
Doc Riedenschneider They'll be paid off like house painters - they'll be told nothing about the size of the take. Sometimes, men get greedy.
Doc Riedenschneider Oh, I suppose a fellow should stick to his own trade, but uh, I know some pretty big men around here that might not be averse to a deal like this - if they're properly approached. Highly respectable men, I might add...It might mean a lot more money for all of us.
Doc Riedenschneider They'll listen to reason. This is a very bad jolt for them. And it's possible they'll be willing to buy the jewels back, no questions asked, for as high as twenty-five percent of what they're worth.
Doc Riedenschneider Put in hours and hours of planning. Figure everything down to the last detail. Then what? Burglar alarms start going off all over the place for no sensible reason. A gun fires of its own accord and a man is shot. And a broken down old cop, no good for anything but chasing kids, has to trip over us. Blind accident. What can you do against blind accidents? One thing I ought to have figured and didn't was Emmerich. I know why I didn't. I'm not kidding myself. It was the extra dough he promised. I got hungry. Greed made me blind.
Doc Riedenschneider I haven't carried a gun since my twenties. You carry a gun, you shoot a policeman. Bad rap, hard to beat. You don't carry a gun, you give up when they hold one on you.
Doc Riedenschneider Home is where the money is.
Scenes with Doc Riedenschneider
4 scenes Doc I got a proposition. A big one.
How big is big?
Doc Too big for you, Cobby.
Now wait, Doc. I don't like to brag, but I'm doin' all right. I'm makin' book, I'm in the chips. What kind of proposition is it?
Doc A plan for the caper, and it's a good one. I could sell it for a hundred thousand dollars in the open market, but that would be throwing money away. I prefer to execute it myself and make...half a million dollars. [He pauses for dramatic effect.] Maybe even more. Of course, I will have to do a little checking as the plan is some years old. But not much checking, not much. I need roughly $50,000 to operate...
Doc It's a matter of temperament. I cause no trouble. The prison authorities appreciate that. They made me assistant librarian.
I'm afraid I wouldn't make a model prisoner.
Doc After this job, it's Mexico for me. I'll live like a king. Mexican girls are very pretty. I'll have nothing to do all day long but chase them in the sunshine.
Doc What boxes have you opened?
Louis Cannonball, double-door, even a few Firechests, all of 'em.
Doc Can you open a vault with a time-lock and a re-locking device?
Louis Sure.
Doc What do you use? Lock or seam?
Louis Seam...
Doc How good are you as a pick-lock?
Louis I can open anything in four minutes.
Doc I'd just like to see the color of the money.
Gentlemen, I must admit at this moment, I, uh, I'm embarrassed.
Doc You mean you haven't got the money, Mr. Emmerich?!
Oh, I have it - that is, I have the assurance of it...No, I haven't got the currency right here in my hands. But it's promised by an unimpeachable source. Gentlemen, I'm afraid we were a little hasty. We, uh, we moved too fast...So I'm afraid a few days more are needed to raise it...It wouldn't be safe for you to carry that stuff around...They're certainly gonna be looking for the big-timers, like yourself. Some smart cop might even connect this burglary with your release. Well, there you are.
