Footsteps in the Dark (1941)

Errol Flynn: Francis Monroe Warren III aka F.X. Pettijohn

Photos 

Quotes 

• Leopold Fissue : [after Warren has turned down Fissue's proposal of laundering money on stolen diamonds]  Nothing is impossible, Mr. Warren, if the necessity of doing it is great enough.

  Francis Monroe Warren II : Aren't you being a little presumptious?

  Leopold Fissue : Not at all. I'm merely suggesting that you're going to take my account and help me.

  Francis Monroe Warren II : Why am I?

  Leopold Fissue : Because, Mr. Warren, men like ourselves whose lives are... well... how should I say... uh, rather... complicated don't dare offend anyone, do they?

• Francis Monroe Warren II : [as Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins tries unsuccessfully to break open a door]  Try using your head.

  Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins : Right.

  [almost head-butts the door] 

• Police Insp. Charles M. Mason : A jewel importer keeps his stuff in his safe. He doesn't run around with it in his pockets.

  Francis Monroe Warren II : Suppose he took it out of the safe for some purpose?

  Police Insp. Charles M. Mason : He could have been wearing a kilt, but he wasn't.

• Francis Monroe Warren II : Thanks, Wilfred. I don't know what I'd do without you. Or do I?

• Francis Monroe Warren II : Gee Blondie, words come out of you just as beautiful as oil comes out of a derrick!

• Police Insp. Charles M. Mason : [Showing Francis the clue of a woman's broken high heel]  What do you make of this, my omniscient friend?

  Francis Monroe Warren II : Why don't you see a fortune teller?

• Francis Monroe Warren II : If I don't clean this Fisher case up in a hurry, we're going to wind up in divorce court.

  Mr. Wilfred : You and me, chief?

  Francis Monroe Warren II : No! Mrs. Warren and I.

• Francis Monroe Warren II : What're you doing here?

  Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins : We ask the questions.

  Francis Monroe Warren II , Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins : OK, how long have you been here?

• Police Insp. Charles M. Mason : You wouldn't by any chance be insulting me would you?

  Francis Monroe Warren II : Oh, no, I was just being philosophic.

  Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins : Oh, so that's your racket, huh?

• Police Insp. Charles M. Mason : [the police are leaving, but Warren has decided to remain behind at Fissue's apartment]  Aren't you coming?

  Francis Monroe Warren II : No thanks.

  Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins : What are you gonna' hang around here for?

  Francis Monroe Warren II : Why, to find out who murdered Fissue, of course.

  Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins : He can't help it, Inspector. Black *is* white, you know.

  Police Insp. Charles M. Mason : Well, don't come to me for sympathy if you get arrested for trespassing.

  Francis Monroe Warren II : And don't you come to me if you get arrested for drawing your salary under false pretenses.

• Francis Monroe Warren II : [Ahmed had feigned inability to speak English when the police questioned him, in Fissue's apartment]  So you're only unable to speak English to the police, is that it?

  Ahmed : Precisely. When I was a child in Bombay, sir, my head came in vulgar contact with a policeman's stick. The incident made a deep impression. Ever since I've not been fond of the police.

  Francis Monroe Warren II : Well, I can understand that. But you, uh, wouldn't mind giving me a little information, would you?

  Ahmed : Of course not, sir. With a gentleman I am happy to discuss anything.

• Francis Monroe Warren II : [on the phone with Insp. Mason, talking about Blondie White]  You saw her? Well, naturally she'll deny it. She'll deny anything. She's a woman. What do you expect?

  Police Insp. Charles M. Mason : Even a stupid professional like myself would know the difference between an airtight alibi and a lie. The lady was in the dentist's chair between the hours of 4:30 and 6:00 on Tuesday afternoon which *more* than covers the time during which Fissue died... Yes, "dentist." Even burlesque queens can have toothaches, you know.