Comanche (1956)

Dana Andrews: Jim Read

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Quotes 

• Quanah Parker : The Mexicans still collect gold from the government for Comanche scalps. Would you have me treat them as brothers?

  Jim Read : They will no longer buy Commanche scalps. I ask you to call the Americans and the Mexicans... brothers.

  Quanah Parker : You ask me to be better than my enemies.

  Jim Read : I ask you to be greater. A great man can grant great favors.

• Quanah Parker : But our numbers do not increase. And the Americans are without number... they are like weeds... like drops of rain... no end to them.

  Jim Read : The time has come to walk the path of the Americans.

  Quanah Parker : This has long been on my mind. The Americans are brave. They know many things. We must learn from them... or the sun will set on us forever.

• Art Downey : They say you're pretty good with a gun, Read. Now, just how good?

  Jim Read : I manage to stay alive.

  Art Downey : I asked you a question, Read! How good?

  Jim Read : That's your gamble.

• Jim Read : This is a good place.

  Quanah Parker : Yes. We will live here like our fathers before us and their fathers before them. We were born here... where the wind blows free and there is nothing to break the light of the sun. There are no enclosures and everybody draws a free breath.

• Jim Read : So that's the way it is. Comanches kill Mexicans to get even with the Spanish. And the Mexicans kill Comanche in revenge for that. It's become a way of life.

  Commissioner John Ward : I can see how it began, but the Comanche must throw away their war paint or we will have to make them.

• Jim Read : Oh, that Mexican girl. No harm will come to her?

  Quanah Parker : Tawalka and Morning Star will care for her. She's a captive. She belongs to the tribe.

• Jim Read : Let's head for Medicine Mound. You can see it for miles. The Comanche don't go there except to die.

• Gen. Nelson Miles : You got here fast.

  Jim Read : You said it was urgent, General, so we cut across the Stake Plains

  Gen. Nelson Miles : With Comanches loose?

  Jim Read : We traveled at night, mostly. Comanches hole up at night. It's bad medicine for them.