Best Charade Lines.?

Reggie: What's all this got to do with me, Mr. Bartholomew?

Bartholomew (his mouth full): Your husband was wanted by the U.S. government.

Reggie (a pause): May I have a sandwich, please?


That line cracks me up. Hepburn's timing is perfect.

How was no one said this one? This is easily the best.

REGGIE (reading)
"My dear Regina: I hope you are enjoying your
holiday. Megeve can be so lovely this time of
year. The days pass very slowly and I hope to
see you soon. As always, Charles. P.S. Your
dentist called yesterday. Your appointment has
been changed." (she looks up, puzzled) Not
very much, is it?

GRANDPIERRE
We took the liberty of calling your dentist --
we thought, perhaps, we would learn something.

REGGIE
Did you?

GRANDPIERRE
Yes. Your appointment has been changed.

Bartholomew (indicating Reggie's lit cigarette as she lights another): "What's wrong with that one?"

Reggie: "Nothing."

Bartholomew" "Do you have any idea how much these things cost over here?"

Brilliant. In the middle of a murder mystery/spy/whodunnit (at this point in the film we don't know what it is) someone is worried about costs, and Matthau plays it brilliantly. That's what makes this film such a classic.

..Joe

"I left him hanging around the American Express."

My younger sister loved this as much as I do. One of her favorite lines, which she often used at odd times:
"I'm having a nervous breakdown."

I also love the opening lines:
"Don't tell me. You didn't know it was loaded."

Sylvie's line about Reggie always eating is great:
"It is infuriating that your unhappiness does not turn to fat!"
That trait of hers is what helps make this so different. This elegantly slender lady is a compulsive eater when she's nervous.

I worked with a lady very much like her: delicate, fragile-looking~and a chowhound! Also, my sister was like that till she was in her 30s: a hearty eater who never seemed to gain an ounce. When she started gaining and her doctor asked her, "What are you going to do about this extra weight?" my sister quipped, "Buy a bigger pair of pants!" Gosh! Do I miss her!

"I was just nibbling on something." ~ when interrupted by a phonecall during the cuddling and kissing

I had to look this one up because I figured that I'd misquote it:
"Alistair!"
"What is it now, Pamela?"
"It happened again! Another strange man peered in the window at me but then went away."
"Bad luck, Pamela."
That makes me *snicker*snort* every time! It's just this throwaway bit, but it's what makes the screenplay a delight.

"Who put that there?!" ~ Alexander (at that moment) of Notre Dame after one of Reggie's many non sequiturs

"It's the house detective! Why don't you have a girl in there?"

"Caught you! Ha! Ha!"


*** The trouble with reality is there is no background music. ***

Two moments in the Church during Charles' funeral:


SYLVIE: Didn't Charles have any friends?

REGGIE: Don't ask me -- I'm only the widow. If Charles had died in bed we wouldn't even have him. (indicating GRANDPIERRE)

AND


GIDEON sneezes six times in rapid succession.

SYLVIE: He must have known Charles pretty well.

REGGIE: How can you tell?

SYLVIE: He's allergic to him.

--------
Woman: "Can we watch something else?"
Man: "No, I want to see how this ends."

I'm so glad to see this wonderful film, the style and elegance of which we will never see again, has so many fans - who've obviously watched it multiple times! I remember seeing it when it came out, in the fall of '63, at Radio City Music Hall when I was 8 years old. Loved it then, still love it at 59!

Some fave lines:

REGGIE: I can't stand [smoking filtered cigarettes]. It's like drinking coffee through a veil.

TEX: She batted them big eyes o' hers, and you fell for it like an egg from a tall chicken.

TEX: You killed all three of them for nothin'! You greenhorn, you blockheaded jackass, you nincompoop!

Mr. Bartholomew, if you're trying to frighten me...you're doing a first-rate job!