Gutman Fake! It’s a phony! It—it’s lead! It’s lead! It’s a fake!
Played by Sydney Greenstreet 
The Maltese Falcon (1941) · 51 quotes
The Maltese Falcon (1941) · 51 quotes
Tied for 3rd most-quoted character in The Maltese Falcon (1941): in 9 of its 51 quotes
Most scenes with: Sam Spade (7), Joel Cairo (2)
Well, Wilmer, I'm sorry indeed to lose you, but I want you to know I couldn't be fonder of you if you were my own son. Well, if you lose a son, it's possible to get another. There's only one Maltese falcon. When you're young, you simply don't understand these things.
More lines from Gutman
1 quote Gutman Scenes with Gutman
7 scenes Gutman We begin well, sir. I distrust a man who says 'when'. If he's got to be careful not to drink too much, it's because he's not to be trusted when he does. Well, sir, here's to plain speaking and clear understanding. [They drink.] You're a close-mouthed man.
No, I like to talk.
Gutman Better and better. I distrust a close-mouthed man. He generally picks the wrong time to talk and says the wrong things. Talking's something you can't do judiciously unless you keep in practice. Now, sir, we'll talk if you like. I'll tell you right out - I'm a man who likes talking to a man who likes to talk.
Swell. Will we talk about the black bird?
Gutman' [chuckling]
You're the man for me, sir. No beating about the bush, right to the point. Let's talk about the black bird, by all means. But first, answer me a question. Are you here as Miss O'Shaughnessy's representative?
Well, there's nothing certain either way. It depends.
Gutman It depends on? Maybe it depends on Joel Cairo.
Maybe.
Gutman The question is, then, which you represent. It'll be one or the other.
I didn't say so.
Gutman Who else is there?
There's me.
Gutman Ah. That's wonderful sir, wonderful. I do like a man who tells you right out he's looking out for himself. Don't we all? I don't trust a man who says he's not.
Uh-huh. Now, let's talk about the black bird.
Gutman Lets. Mr. Spade, have you any conception of how much money can be got for that black bird?
No.
Gutman Well, sir, if I told you - if I told you half, you'd call me a liar.
No, not even if I thought so. But you tell me what it is and I'll figure out the profit.
Gutman [chuckles]
You mean you don't know what that bird is?
Oh, I know what it's supposed to look like. And I know the value in human life you people put on it.
Gutman She didn't tell you what it is? Cairo didn't either?
He offered me ten thousand for it.
Gutman [dismissively]
Ten thousand. Dollars, mind you, not even pounds. Do they know what that bird is, sir? What is your impression?
Oh, there's not very much to go by. Cairo didn't say he did and he didn't say he didn't. She said she didn't, but, uh, I took it for granted she was lying.
Gutman Not an injudicious thing to do. If they don't know, I'm the only one in the whole wide, sweet world who does.
Swell. When you've told me, that'll make two of us.
Gutman Mathematically correct, sir, but I don't know for certain that I'm going to tell you.
Oh, don't be foolish. You know what it is and I know where it is. That's why I'm here.
Gutman Well, sir, where is it? You see, I must tell you what I know but you won't tell me what you know. That's hardly equitable, sir. No, no, I don't think we can do business along those lines.
[violently angry]
Now think again and think fast. I told that gunsel of yours you'd have to talk to me before you're through. I'm telling you now, you'll talk to me today or you are through! [throwing his drink to the floor] What are you wasting my time for? I can get along without you! And another thing: Keep that gunsel out of my way when you're makin' up your mind! I'll kill him if you don't, I'll kill him!
Gutman [calmly]
Well, sir, I must say you have a most violent temper.
Gutman That would amount to a vastly greater sum.
How much greater?
Gutman Who knows? Should we say a hundred thousand? Would you believe me if I name a sum that seems a probable minimum?
Why not?
Gutman What would you say to a quarter of a million?
And you think the dingus is worth a million, huh?...That's a lot of dough....Minimum, huh? What's the maximum?
Gutman The maximum I refuse to guess. You'd think me crazy. I don't know. No telling how high it could go, sir. It is the one and only truth about it.
Gutman Yes, sir, we were, but this is genuine coin of the realm. With a dollar of this you can buy ten dollars of talk. And they're more of us to be taken care of now.
That may be, but I've got the falcon.
I'm in this up to my neck, Gutman. I've got to find somebody - a victim - when the time comes. If I don't, I'll be it. Let's give 'em the gunsel. He actually did shoot Thursby and Jacobi, didn't he? Anyway, he's made to order for the part, look at him. Let's give him to 'em.
Gutman [bursting out laughing]
By gad, sir, you are a character, that you are. There's never any telling what you'll say or do next, except that it's bound to be something astonishing.
Give them Cairo.
Gutman [chuckling]
Well, by gad, sir.
You want the falcon. I've got it. The fall guy's part of the price I'm asking. As for Miss O'Shaughnessy, if you think she can be rigged for the part, I'm perfectly willing to discuss it with you.
If you kill me, how are you gonna get the bird? And if I know you can't afford to kill me, how are you gonna scare me into giving it to you?
Gutman Well, sir, there are other means of persuasion besides killing and threatening to kill.
Yes, that's, that's true. But - they're none of 'em any good unless the threat of death is behind them - do you see what I mean? If you start something, I'll make it a matter of your having to kill me or call it off.
Gutman [chuckling]
That's an attitude, sir, that calls for the most delicate judgment on both sides. 'Cause as you know, sir, in the heat of action, men are likely to forget where their best interests lie and that their emotions carry them away.
Then the trick from my angle is to make my play strong enough to tie you up, but not make you mad enough to bump me off against your better judgment.
Gutman By gad, sir, you are a character.
