This Land Is Mine (1943)

Charles Laughton: Albert Lory

Photos 

Quotes 

• [At Albert Lory's murder trial, the Prosecutor produces a "suicide note," proving that George Lambert killed himself. But Lory will not have it] 

  Albert Lory : The letter's forged, Your Honor. Major Von Keller told me last night... The prosecutor wrote that letter himself. I think he's trying to save my life.

  [laughter ripples through the courtroom] 

  Prosecutor : This is no laughing matter! Your Honor, for the sake of the dignity of this court, I respectfully ask that the man who started that unseemly outburst be forcibly removed from the room!

  Judge : The court agrees with you, Mr. Prosecutor! Which of you started that laughter? Please stand up.

  [Silence. No one in the courtroom stands up] 

  Judge : I ask you again, who started that laughter?

  Albert Lory : Excuse me, Your Honor. I don't know, but I think I can guess. Perhaps it was the Unknown Soldier.

• Albert Lory : The truth can't be allowed to live under the occupation. It's too dangerous. The occupation lives upon lies! As the whole evil world they call the New Order does.

• Albert Lory : I'm afraid this is my last class. I don't know how much time I have. If this must be a short lesson, I think I've found the best book. It was given to me by Professor Sorel. The only reason it wasn't burned with the others is because I hid it away in my bedroom. I'm going to read you something that was written by great men. Written in a night of enthusiasm a long time ago. 150 years ago. These men came from all classes, rich people, poor people, businessmen, men of religion. And they didn't fight with each other. They all agreed on that wonderful night. Now, other men have tried to destroy this book. Maybe this copy will be burned. But, they can't burn it out of your memories. You'll have to rewrite it someday. That's why you young people are so important. You're the new nation! "A Declaration of the Rights of Man!" Article I - All men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Article II - The purpose of all political parties is the safeguarding of the natural and inalienable rights of man. These rights are liberty, property security, and resistance to tyranny. Article III - The principle of all government resides in the Nation itself. No group, no individual can exercise any authority that does not expressly emanate from the people. Article IV - Liberty consists in freedom to do all that does not harm others. Article V - The law has the right to forbid only -

  [German soldiers arrive in the classroom] 

  Albert Lory : Just one moment, gentlemen, please. The law has the right to forbid only those things that are harmful to society. Well, I must go. I must go, not because I'm harmful to society - which is you - but, I am harmful to tyranny.

  German Soldier : Come on!

  Albert Lory : [hugs Louise]  Goodbye, Louise. Don't move. Don't move, Louise. And don't cry. I'm happy!

  German Soldier : That's enough! Come on!

  Albert Lory : Goodbye, citizens!

• Albert Lory : Well, the truth is I wanted to kill George Lambert, but I don't think I could have done it. I'm too weak. I'm a coward. Well, everyone knows it; even the prosecutor. That's why he's making fun of me.

• Albert Lory : Sabotage is the only weapon left to a defeated people. And so long as we have saboteurs, the other free nations, who are still fighting on the battle front, will know that we are not defeated.

• Albert Lory : We must stop saying that sabotage is wrong, that it doesn't pay. It does pay! It makes us suffer, starve, and die. But, though it increases our misery, it will shorten our slavery.

• Mrs. Emma Lory : Here's the newspaper.

  Albert Lory : Newspaper - lies.

  Mrs. Emma Lory : Shhh! You may find something interesting in it today.

• Albert Lory : Are you sick, mother?

  Mrs. Emma Lory : Oh, have a ever been well? Never since you were born. Not that I blame you, my darling.

• Albert Lory : [reading a note pushed under the front door]  Citizens - do not believe in the generosity of the conquerors. If they are not driven out of our land, means generations of slavery for our people. We must resist. Let each of us say to himself, "This land is mine."

  Mrs. Emma Lory : Troublemakers!

  Albert Lory : This is dangerous mother. I better burn it.

• Major Erich von Keller : Lory, I believe you. Now I remember the way Lambert looked when I left him. Why that's incredible. Well, that makes it all very easy. Lambert was despondent because of losing Miss Martin. The police will find the suicide note. We can handle the jury and you'll be acquitted. You won't have to say another word in court.

  Albert Lory : Did they find a suicide note?

  Major Erich von Keller : You're a poet, Lory. A poet.

• Albert Lory : Professor Sorel! Professor Sorel! Professor Sorel!

• Albert Lory : I know that for every German killed, many of our innocent citizens are executed. But, the example of their heroism - is contagious. And our resistance grows.