The Shanghai Cobra (1945)

Sidney Toler: Charlie Chan

Quotes 

• Tommy Chan : Pop, I want to talk to you as man to man.

  Charlie Chan : I am ready, but you still have few years to go.

  Birmingham Brown : That's right.

• Walter Fletcher : [after Chan has checked the radium in the bank safe]  Why, Mr. Chan, surely you didn't expect to find anything wrong?

  Charlie Chan : In my business always expect to find something wrong...

• Charlie Chan : [annoyed that Tommy is still sitting down]  Rising generation sit too much!

• Charlie Chan : You get illegal u-turn ticket?

  Birmingham Brown : Mr. Chan, I'll tell you just how it... Tommy, you tell 'im.

  Tommy Chan : I warned you, Birmingham. I said, "No u-turn here."

  Birmingham Brown : Yeah, that's what you said - "No, you turn here."

  Tommy Chan : I said "No u-turn here."

  Birmingham Brown : That's what I did. You said, "No, you turn here."

  Tommy Chan : Pop, I told him, I said, "No u-turn here."

  Birmingham Brown : Yeah, that's what you said - "No, you turn here," and I did.

  Tommy Chan : You see what I mean, Pop? I said, "No u-turn here."

  Birmingham Brown : Mr. Chan, did you hear? He said, "No, you...

  Charlie Chan : Ple-please, please! U-turns, so many u-turns, you have my head spinning like merry-go-round. You remain here until I find doghouse big enough to hold both of you.

• Charlie Chan : Ancient ancestor once say, "Even wise man cannot fathom depth of woman's smile."

• Tommy Chan : People are always getting in trouble for talking too much, Pop.

  Charlie Chan : Be sure you remember that.

• Bradford Harris : [annoyed]  Visitors are supposed to be announced!

  Charlie Chan : [sarcastically]  Sorry, police do not read Emily Post.

• Charlie Chan : Skeleton key, please!

  Police Inspector Harry Davis : You know, this is strictly illegal.

  Charlie Chan : Four murders much more illegal!

• Charlie Chan : Too many hands sometime spoil pudding.

• Paula Webb : [as Chan leaves Ned and Paula in the restaurant]  Must you go, Mr. Chan?

  Charlie Chan : Oh, quite necessary. Besides, much better for you to have dinner with young detective than with old detective.

• Charlie Chan : Cannot sell bearskin before shooting bear.

• Charlie Chan : Mice will never play so long as cat is in house.

• Tommy Chan : [trapped in a cave-in as Charlie taps Morse Code]  Do you think you will get through, Pop?

  Charlie Chan : If not, Number Three Son and father will join honorable ancestors.

  Birmingham Brown : Mr. Chan, tell your honorable ancestors to move over and make room for me.

• Bradford Harris : [noticing Stewart who has come through a secret door]  Where'd you come from? I didn't see YOU come in?

  Charlie Chan : [laconically]  You can see us all go out.

• Charlie Chan : Can you describe Van Horn?

  Joe, Coffee Shop Owner : Oh, sure. He was a sort of a short... oh, well, not too... kind of... well, he was a little bit on the heavy... oh, but his hair - oh, he had his hat on. He was just... j-just one of them mediocre guys, like you and me.

  Charlie Chan : Oh, thank you so much. Yes. Splendid.