Brandon Shaw Rupert is extremely radical. Do you know that he selects his books on the assumption that people not only can read but actually can think?
Played by John Dall 
Rope (1948) · 22 quotes
Rope (1948) · 22 quotes
Most-quoted character in Rope (1948): in 16 of its 22 quotes
Most scenes with: Phillip Morgan (4), Rupert Cadell (2), Janet Walker (2)
Good and evil, right and wrong were invented for the ordinary average man, the inferior man, because he needs them.
More lines from Brandon Shaw
7 quotes Brandon Shaw Brandon Shaw The good Americans usually die young on the battlefield, don't they? Well, the Davids of the world merely occupy space, which is why he was the perfect victim for the perfect crime.
Brandon Shaw We killed for the sake of danger and for the sake of killing.
Brandon Shaw Nobody commits murder just for the experience of committing it. Nobody except us.
Brandon Shaw Of course, he was a Harvard undergraduate. That might be grounds for justifiable homicide.
Brandon Shaw The power to kill could be just as satisfying as the power to create.
Brandon Shaw I've always wished for more artistic talent. Well, murder can be art, too.
Scenes with Brandon Shaw
8 scenes Brandon Shaw I've always thought that it was out of character for David to drink anything as corrupt as Whiskey.
Out of character for him to be murdered, too.
Mrs. Atwater Do you know when I was a girl I used to read quite a bit.
Brandon Shaw We all do strange things in our childhood.
Brandon Shaw [to Rupert]
It's awfully good to see you again.
Why?
Kenneth Lawrence We're drinking champagne? Is it somebody's birthday?
Brandon Shaw You might say it's quite the opposite.
Brandon Shaw Determined to get drunk, aren't you?
I am drunk.
Brandon Shaw And just as childish now as you were earlier when you called me a liar.
You had no business telling that story.
Brandon Shaw Why did you lie anyway?
I had to! Have you ever bothered for one minute to consider how another person might feel. Have you considered the feelings for others?
Brandon Shaw I'm not sentimental if that's what...
No, that's not what I mean; but it doesn't matter. Nothing matters... except that Mr. Brandon liked the party. Mr. Brandon gave the party. Mr. Brandon had a delightful evening. Well, I had a rotten evening!
Brandon Shaw Keep drinking, and you'll have a worse morning.
At least if I have a hangover, it will be all mine!
Brandon Shaw What are you doing?
It's not what I'm going to do, Brandon. It's what society is going to do. I don't know what that will be, but I can guess, and I can help. You're going to die, Brandon. Both of you. You are going to die.
Rupert only publishes books *he* likes... usually philosophy.
Oh. Small print, big words, no sales.
Brandon Shaw Rupert's extremely radical. Do you know that he selects his books on the assumption that people not only can read but actually can think?
Who is this Rupert?
Kenneth Lawrence [to Brandon Shaw]
He used to tell you the weirdest things, didn't he?
Brandon Shaw I suppose Kenneth means Rupert's impatience with social conventions. For example, he thinks murder is a crime for most men but--
a privilege for the few.
