Billion Dollar Brain (1967)

Ed Begley: General Midwinter

Photos 

Quotes 

• General Midwinter : Leo, this entire area is surrounded. You cannot get away! Because my arm is long and my vengeance is total and may God forgive you, because I certainly won't.

• General Midwinter : You have disappointed me Harry, you have let me down. You've sold out!

  Harry Palmer : What have I done?

  General Midwinter : These photographs show what you have done!

  Harry Palmer : I think you're making a big mistake, General.

  General Midwinter : You are the one who's made a mistake, boy!

  Harry Palmer : What's going on?

  General Midwinter : I am not going to rest until every communist, and everyone who works for the communists, is six feet under ground. Go down and join you're communist friend.

  Harry Palmer : You, General Midwinter, are the biggest idiot I have ever met.

• General Midwinter : [Addressing a crowd of loyal supporters]  The Lord gave us strength! The Lord gave us courage! The Lord said, "Use them!"

  General Midwinter : [continues, as the crowd yells "Amen!"]  The Lord said we must fight communism. We must smite communism! "Why dost thou sit there?" sayeth the Lord. "Rise up and spread my word. Rise up and fight my fight. Rise up and fight for what I say is right!"

  Harry Palmer : [Quietly standing amongst the crowd, with a bemused look]  Amen.

• General Midwinter : I am going to crucify every Red atheist, and I am going to destroy the pagan communists forever!

• General Midwinter : I'm leading a crusade, son. A world crusade for freedom. Why? Because I love. It's as simple as that. I love my country. Do you understand me?

  Harry Palmer : Yes.

  General Midwinter : No, you don't understand the kind of love I have for this great country. Love's not built that way, my way, any more. These days love is marriage and the compensation is alimony. Love these days is bravery under fire and the compensation is medals. Love's a donation to party funds and the compensation is a political plum. It's some lady you left back in St Louis or a fast haul in the back seat of a car. My love is nothing like that. It's this company of brave young men who are proud to make their country strong. I want my country to win. So we have to strike hard and strike first. I love my country and my dream is to make it strong. Do you understand?

  Harry Palmer : Yes, sir.

  General Midwinter : Strong! Strong! Strong! Strong!

• General Midwinter : You like the sound of gunfire? Me, I *love* it!

  Harry Palmer : Who are you fighting, General?

  General Midwinter : You don't know what's going on in the world. There's only one important issue today: Communism. That's the threat. That's what's important. You Europeans don't know anything about it. You've all been brainwashed, just like those politicians in Washington. Do you know that the air on the east coast of America is polluted by the Reds? Oh, you might look at me, but boy I tell you and I know that the air in Texas is the only wholesome air in this world. I haven't been out of Texas in 25 years. I don't like the air in other places.

  Harry Palmer : It's amazing how we all survive.

  General Midwinter : Communism threatens Europe and Europe has got to fight back. Close ranks. Hit them hard. Real hard. Understand me, boy?

  Harry Palmer : [sounding casual]  Sounds dangerous.

  General Midwinter : It *is* dangerous!

• Harry Palmer : You mean you really are going to try to start a revolution?

  General Midwinter : When the Hungarian people rose up in 1956 and they called to the world for help, to our everlasting shame, we failed them. I tell you, boy, we will not make that mistake again. When the people of Latvia rise up and call for help - and they will - my organization with all its resources will be right there. And once we have shown the way, the United States government and all the governments of the Free World will follow. I know!

• General Midwinter : [leading Palmer down to his high-tech underground control center]  Come on...

  Harry Palmer : Where are we going, General?

  General Midwinter : Into the 21st century, son. This is how wars are gonna' be fought, and how life is gonna' be lived!

  Harry Palmer : Oh, it's quite modern, then?

  General Midwinter : "Modern"? It makes the Pentagon look like a room in the Alamo.

• General Midwinter : Oh Lord, I humbly accept the sword of leadership which thou hast thrust upon me.

• General Midwinter : Don't try to cheat me, boy because my arm is long and my vengeance is terrible!

• General Midwinter : They told me you were reported dead. Two days later back you come. That's my kind, Harry. Never say die.

• General Midwinter : This here I'm gonna show you now is gonna knock you right off your pins. My Brain. Cost me one billion dollars. Do you like it?

  Harry Palmer : I'm impressed.

• General Midwinter : O Lord, give us comfort. Give us strength to fight thy godless Communist foes and smash them into the ground. Make us courageous, Lord, and purposeful and let us never flinch from our duty.

• General Midwinter : Seal off all exits from The Brain.

• General Midwinter : How do I know you're telling the truth?

  Harry Palmer : You don't know, General. But you're gonna have to take the chance.

• General Midwinter : I want the Latvian uprising fed in the computer. I want those viruses released throughout the Russian Army,

• General Midwinter : All security guards move to central computer. Arrest Leo Newbigen and bring him to me immediately! seal off all exits from the brain!