Colonel Joseph L. Ryan Quotes in Von Ryan's Express (1965)

Sergeant Bostick: [referring to Fincham and the Britsh] It took 200 years to turn out these men, Sergeant. It took me 90 days.

Sergeant Bostick: They;re nuts, sir.

Colonel Joseph L. Ryan: Maybe so, but it's their ball game.

Private Ames: And we're still shut out!

Corporal Giannini: We did that good with just a sergeant!

Private Ames: Now we got us a bird-colonel.

Colonel Joseph L. Ryan: A bird colonel outranks a bird brain... clear?

Corporal Giannini: [contemtuously after Ryan walks away] Bird is right... chicken!

Sergeant Bostick: OK, OK, now we know we're on our own.

Colonel Joseph L. Ryan: Major, you will order the men to strip.

[pause]

Colonel Joseph L. Ryan: Major, I said "strip." Get it? All clothes, off. Naked.

[Major turns around]

Maj. Eric Fincham: [Yelling] Parade...

[his voice drops]

Maj. Eric Fincham: strip.

Capt. Oriani: He says you are no gentleman, Colonel.

Colonel Joseph L. Ryan: Only by an act of Congress.

Maj. Eric Fincham: [after Ryan spares Battaglia] You fool! You soft-headed sentimental fool!

Colonel Joseph L. Ryan: That's privilege of rank.

Maj. Eric Fincham: Damn your rank!

Colonel Joseph L. Ryan: [to Orde, who is guarding Von Klemment] Lieutenant, if he wiggles, put a hole in him.

Colonel Joseph L. Ryan: Captain Costanzo, I said strip off all your clothes.

Costanzo: Sorry, sir, but I take being a member of the cloth literally.

[the men laugh]

Colonel Joseph L. Ryan: I bow to your convictions, Captain.