The Tall Men (1955)

Clark Gable: Col. Ben Allison

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Stagecoach Driver : Lively lookin' female we got with us.

  Colonel Ben Allison : Yeah.

  Stagecoach Driver : Dance Hall woman?

  Colonel Ben Allison : No. Prospector.

  Stagecoach Driver : Get out! Ain't no such. Not a female! What kind?

  Colonel Ben Allison : What kind of what?

  Stagecoach Driver : Prospectin'.

  Colonel Ben Allison : Golddiggin'.

• [first lines] 

  [pointing to a lynched man dangling from a tree limb] 

  Colonel Ben Allison : Looks like we're close to civilization.

• Colonel Ben Allison : [after eating rabbit cooked by Nella, then kissing her]  You sure give a honey and molassas flavor to this rabbit.

  Nella Turner : That's not honey and molassas - that's just girl.

• Nella Turner : Go ahead, I ain't gonna bite ya.

  Colonel Ben Allison : I don't know. Those teeth look pretty sharp to me.

  Nella Turner : They oughta be. They haven't had anything to eat in three days.

• Colonel Ben Allison : You know somethin'? When a woman looks pretty at sun up, then she's really pretty.

  Nella Turner : Didn't think you could spout so elegant.

  Colonel Ben Allison : I got words I ain't ever used.

• Colonel Ben Allison : I just wanted to see if you're the same girl I been kissin'. And you ain't.

• Colonel Ben Allison : [after using a knife to cut open Nella's corset as she lies passed out on the bed]  Breathin' like an old swamp frog. I'll take her back to her gold mine.

• Nella Turner : I came down here for just one reason, Mr. Allison.

  Colonel Ben Allison : Peek-a-boo clothes and everything.

  Nella Turner : And I got no more use for you or your insults.

• Colonel Ben Allison : Stark, better get your responsibility undercover. Put her in the bathtub. Tell her to lay low. These Jayhawkers might get a little ornery.

• Colonel Ben Allison : All right! Point 'em north!

• Colonel Ben Allison : Luis, how many head we lose?

  Luis : Oh, about a 100. 150.

  Colonel Ben Allison : Oh, well, those belong to Stark.

• Luis : Now for a good celebration and a *big* drunk.

  Colonel Ben Allison : No. Skip me, Luis. Split this bonus money among the boys. Share for share.

  Luis : Señor Ben, it's a night for drinking!

• Clint Allison : You save her hide and the jasper gets her.

  Colonel Ben Allison : I got no brand on her.

• Colonel Ben Allison : You're making it tough on yourself, Mr. Stark.

  Nathan Stark : I'm not trying to make it tough, only tempting.

  Clint Allison : Never could resist temptation.

• Colonel Ben Allison : A lot of action inside.

  Clint Allison : I never saw such a herd of hard rock gophers in my life.

  Colonel Ben Allison : Gold's what they grow here, not beef.

• Clint Allison : How's about another snort?

  Colonel Ben Allison : Easy, boy. Let's not foul this up.

• Nella Turner : You ain't thinkin' of butcherin' one of our mules?

  Colonel Ben Allison : That's no mule, Grandma. That's the Missouri Elk.

• Nella Turner : Make yourselves to home. I reckon we have a little coffee left.

  Colonel Ben Allison : Thanks, Grandma.

  Nella Turner : Grandma?

• Nella Turner : I wish you'd rub my feet some more.

  Colonel Ben Allison : Here, put 'em on my back.

  Nella Turner : Ooo...

• Colonel Ben Allison : I was about to go off and leave you. Only, I - haven't had my breakfast.

  [gives Nella a long kiss, starts to give her another one] 

  Nella Turner : Whoa! Short rations.

• Colonel Ben Allison : You do remind me of my Grandma.

  Nella Turner : Yeah?

  Colonel Ben Allison : The way she must have looked when Grandpa Allison bought her from Old Stone Bear. It cost him six horses, a musket, and his fancy gold snuff box. You know, that's a heap to pay for a woman.

• Nella Turner : You miserable groundhog! Why didn't you give me a hand? You saw me out there stuck in the mud.

  Colonel Ben Allison : Mud? I thought that was quicksand.

  Nella Turner : Ah, you dirty son of a coyote.

• Colonel Ben Allison : It's too late for wishin'.

  Nella Turner : It always is. For dreamin' too.

  Colonel Ben Allison : Yeah, especially that.

• Colonel Ben Allison : More Sioux out there than there are fleas on a dog. That big cat won't move until us mice try and go through.

• Nathan Stark : [a large group of Kansas Jayhawkers is approaching]  We still have time to be practical, Ben. The odds are way outta line.

  Colonel Ben Allison : [Quietly]  Then we'll change the odds.