Captain John Pringle Quotes in A Foreign Affair (1948)

Captain John Pringle: How is good old Iowa?

Phoebe Frost: Sixty-two percent Republican, thank you.

Captain John Pringle: Don't tell me it's subversive to kiss a Republican!

Phoebe Frost: How do you know so much about women's clothing?

Captain John Pringle: My mother wears women's clothing.

Phoebe Frost: There. Now we're getting someplace. I wonder what holds up that dress...

Captain John Pringle: Must be that German willpower.

Phoebe Frost: We'll go there right now!

Captain John Pringle: Where?

Phoebe Frost: To the files!

Captain John Pringle: In the middle of the night? Shouldn't we get permission?

Phoebe Frost: Did we get permission to land in Normandy? Let's go!

Captain John Pringle: There's a little unfinished business here, you know. Now that we've won the war, we mustn't lose the peace!

Erika von Schluetow: Give me that mattress.

Captain John Pringle: No mattress will help you sleep. What you Germans need is a better conscience.

Erika von Schluetow: I have a good conscience! I have a new Führer now. You! Heil Johnny.

Erika von Schluetow: [Knock at the door] Who's that?

Captain John Pringle: With my luck, it's Eisenhower.

Captain John Pringle: Who wants perfume? Give me the fresh wet smell of Iowa corn, right after it rains.

Captain John Pringle: You dressed for me and to me you look good.

Phoebe Frost: John, where did you learn so much about women's clothes?

Captain John Pringle: My mother wore women's clothes.

Captain John Pringle: You don't want to go to that sewer?

Phoebe Frost: Yes, I do. I want it dark and gay and with music.

Captain John Pringle: Sorry. I guess this is where the funny man says, "Shall we dance?"

Phoebe Frost: You are not a funny man, Captain Pringle. But you are quite a dancer. What a waltz we had. Good night.

[walks out]

Captain John Pringle: [after Erika's been spotted in German newsreels, associating with high-ranking members of the Nazi Party] Having your hand kissed by Hitler. I hope you had it sterilized. Looked as if he had rat poison in that moustache.

Erika von Schluetow: Don't talk like that.

Captain John Pringle: Why not? How much of a Nazi were you, anyway?

Erika von Schluetow: Johnny, what does it matter, a woman's politics? Women pick out whatever's in fashion and change it like a spring hat.

Captain John Pringle: Yeah. Last year it was a little number with a swastika on it. This year it's ostrich feathers, red, white and blue. Next year a hammer, maybe, and a sickle.

Erika von Schluetow: Oh, Johnny, we must not say mean words to each other.

Erika von Schluetow: When you say you are engaged, that is only until her plane leaves, huh?

Captain John Pringle: What else?

Erika von Schluetow: I love you so very much.

Captain John Pringle: You do?

Erika von Schluetow: You're the only man I ever wanted to marry.

Captain John Pringle: That's mighty white of you.

Erika von Schluetow: I want to go with you to America. I want to climb up the Statue of Liberty.

Captain John Pringle: You want to get down that basement at Fort Knox.

Erika von Schluetow: I want to be where you are.

Captain John Pringle: Yeah, I can just imagine you in Iowa in blue jeans, going on a hay ride to the old mill.

Erika von Schluetow: I would love that.

Captain John Pringle: There must have been a mistake at the laundry. We got a crazy old laundress. You know what happened with Lt. Frankovich? He sent out his shorts and got back a girdle.

Captain John Pringle: [Playfully] You heil me once more and I'll knock your teeth in.

Erika von Schluetow: I'll bruise your lips.

Captain John Pringle: Why don't I choke you a little. Break you in two. Build a fire under you - you blonde witch.

Captain John Pringle: Paperwork! Thats what's wrong with the Army. Thats why we're always fouled up when a war starts. It takes us six months to clear off the paperwork in the last one!

Captain John Pringle: [to Erika] Aw, you gorgeous booby trap!

Phoebe Frost: Are there any other sewers like this in Berlin?

Captain John Pringle: Three or four, maybe. But, this is the best sewer.

Captain John Pringle: Baseball and a little less heel clicking is what he needs.

WAC Technical Sergeant: Captain Pringle is wanted in 112.

Captain John Pringle: Who's that?

WAC Technical Sergeant: That Congress dame - whatever her name is.

Captain John Pringle: She wants to see me?

WAC Technical Sergeant: Yes sir.

Captain John Pringle: Now?

WAC Technical Sergeant: Now, sir. She's clucking like a hen. You better get there before she lays an egg!

Phoebe Frost: I suppose I trust you because we're both Iowans.

Captain John Pringle: Right back at you, Miss Frost!

Phoebe Frost: [Looking at an old Nazi newsreel with Erika, in strapless gown, at the Opera] I wonder what holds up that dress?

Captain John Pringle: Must be that - German will power.

Erika von Schluetow: [Referring to Miss Frost] I see you do not believe in lipstick. And what a curious way to to do your hair or rather not to do it.

Captain John Pringle: Now, wait a minute! Do you know who you're talking to?

Erika von Schluetow: An American woman. And I'm a little disappointed, to tell you the truth. We apparently have a false idea about the chic American woman. Oh, I suppose that's publicity in Hollywood.

Phoebe Frost: I suppose I do look awful without makeup.

Captain John Pringle: No, you don't!

Phoebe Frost: We were only allowed 60 pounds of luggage. We had to eliminate unessentials.

Captain John Pringle: Never listen to another woman, if you want to know how you look. Ask a man!

Captain John Pringle: Now, Congresswoman, may I have the floor?

Phoebe Frost: You are entirely out of order.

Captain John Pringle: Objection overruled.

[Kiss]