The Lost People (1949)

Dennis Price: Ridley

Quotes 

• Marie : For 500 years the English have been coming onto the Continent using their money and their strength to beat down all opposition and then setting up a neat little balance of power which stays balanced for 20 years or so and then topples over into another war. Now we've had a enough of your good intentions and we are taking things into our own hands.

  Ridley : Good!

  Marie : You do not mind?

  Ridley : On the contrary. We're heartily sick of having to come and clear up your muddles. As far as I'm concerned, you can all stew in your own juice. My job's over when I've sorted out this tangle and after that you can all look after yourselves.

  Marie : You see? Just the same as ever - you will stop meddling but not till after you've made one more muddle.

  Ridley : Oh, for goodness sake, what do you want?

• Ridley : [He is surrounded by people angrily recriminating]  Now listen, all of you. Democracy is what you've been fighting for - and democracy is what you're going to get! And that includes food for people who don't agree with you. Now get back to your places all of you. And don't let's hear any more of this nonsense. Go on!

• Barnes : [Ridley and Barnes Survey the interior of the theatre Dispersal Centre]  Saturday night at the Palais! I have them half-sorted out, Sir. Lats, Lits, Yugoslavs, down here. Some Norwegians and Dutch. You can put the Dutch anywhere, Sir.

  Ridley : What's that fellow over there?

  Barnes : Jews, Sir. They want to get to Palestine.

  Ridley : Still in the ghetto, I see.

  Ridley : And those?

  Barnes : Stateless, mostly.

  Barnes : [Walking around the various groups of people]  White Russians. Greek exiles. I had some Poles and 'Eyeties' in the Circle, Sir. French and Russians in the Gallery.

  Barnes : [a disturbance breaks out]  This sort of fun the whole of the time, Sir. The nearer they live back home, the further apart we have to keep them in this theatre, Sir.

  Ridley : [Looking at the crowd from the stage]  Something we'll never see again - the whole of Europe under one roof.