Down by Law (1986)

Roberto Benigni: Roberto

Photos 

16 more photos

Quotes 

• [repeated line] 

  Roberto : I scream-a. You scream-a. We all scream-a. For ice cream-a.

• Roberto : [looking through his book of English phrases]  If looks can kill, I am a-dead now.

• Roberto : I am-a no criminal. I ham a good egg.

  Jack : I am a good egg, Jesus.

  Roberto : Yes. Yeah, I'm a good egg. Yes. We are! We are a good egg. My friends.

• Roberto : Not enough room to swing a cat... Cat. The animal.

• Roberto : Very strange mother, my mother.

• Roberto : And now i have falled in love, at last. I have finded my new home. She has asked to me if I stay here, to live together with her forever and ever. Like in a book for children.

• Roberto : It is a sad and beautiful world!

  Zack : Yeah, it's a sad and beautiful world, pal. Eh, buzz off.

  Roberto : Ah, thank you! Buzz off-a to you, too.

  Zack : Buzz off!

  Roberto : Ah, buzz off. Buzz off? Buzz off? It's - it's a sad and beautiful world. Buzz off.

  [writes it down in a pocket notebook] 

  Roberto : Buzz - off. Good evening, buzz off to everybody. Oh, thank you. Buzz off to you too. Oh, it's a pleasure. Thank you.

  Zack : [takes a swig of beer, starts singing]  O-we, now, now, it's a sad and beautiful world, It's a sad and beautiful world, It's a sad and beautiful world, It's a sad and beautiful world...

• Roberto : So, Jack. Jack, why, why are you put in this prison?

  Jack : I don't know, Bob. It was voodoo or somethin', you know. - I was framed. I was completely innocent. You understand?

  Roberto : Yes. You are innocent man. I understand. And you, my friend, Jack, why are you put in this prison?

  Zack : I was set up, Bob. Just like Jack. I ham - an innocent man.

  Roberto : I see. You too are a innocent man.

  Zack : So, Bob...

  Roberto : Yes?

  Zack : For why are you in this prison put?

  Roberto : Me? I killed a man.

  Zack : You killed a man, huh? What'd you do that for, Bob? The guy didn't like Walt Whitman?

  Roberto : I never ask-a to dis man if he like-a de Walt Whitman.

• Roberto : My father, no. He's very strong, but with the rabbit he is afraid.

• Roberto : Zack, do you like - Robert Frost?

  Zack : Not this again, man.

• Roberto : You like Walt Whitman? Yes, I like Walt Whitman very much. Leaves of Glass.

  Zack : What?

  Roberto : Nothing. I say that you like Walt Whitman.

  Zack : Walt Whitman?

  Roberto : Yes. I like Walt Whitman very much. Very good the Leaves of Glass. Leaves of Glass.

• Zack : Well, how did you learn how to speak English?

  Nicoletta : Oh, yes, I speak pretty well; but, I know nothing about English for restaurant. Like food, good plate, nice dish, das what I don't know.

  Zack : Well, Bob should come in handy there. He speaks good restaurant English.

  Roberto : Yes!

  Nicoletta : Yes, my killer.

• Roberto : Excuse me, Jack.

  Zack : Zack!

  Roberto : Zack. I have-a the hic-cups. Do you have some cigarette?

  Zack : No. No!

  Roberto : No. I understand. Thank you. Do you have-a, Zack, some cigarette?

  Jack : I'm Jack. Get it straight.

  Roberto : Yes. Get it straight. But, do you have some cigarette?

  Jack : Cigarettes won't help with hiccups. Not in this country.

  Roberto : Me, yes. Cigarette help me - when - eh - when I have the hiccups.

  Jack : [gives Roberto a cigarette]  Don't ask me again.

• Roberto : Excuse me, Jack, do you...

  Zack : Zack.

  Roberto : Zack!

  Zack : I'm Zack!

  Roberto : Zack.

  Zack : He's Jack! I'm Zack.

• Guard #4 : Time for your walk. Not you, shorty.

  [pushes Roberto back in the cell] 

  Guard #4 : It ain't your turn.

  [Jack and Zack walk out] 

  Guard #4 : Come on. Let's go.

  Roberto : But, but, I no go for four days! I miss-a my turn. Really, no - no joke. I ham a good egg. I no go for four days. Four days! I miss-a my turn.

  Guard #4 : Alright, alright, Leonardo da Vinci, come on.

  Roberto : Grazie! Grazie!

• Jack : What's wrong, Bob?

  Roberto : I have-a lost the - my book of English. No. All I ever know it is there.

  Jack : Come on, man. You're lucky to even be here.

  Roberto : I am lucky to even be here.

• Zack : Robert Frost? In Italian?

  Roberto : Yes. I have read all the - your poets in Italian.

  Zack : Bob Frost.

  Roberto : Frost.

  Zack : Bob Frost. - - In Italian.

• Roberto : Now, I have found-a the love, at last. And I have find-a my new home. She has ask-a to me if I stay here, to live together, with her, forever and ever. Like in a book for children!

  Nicoletta : Yes, my love.

• Roberto : [Roberto and Nicoletta say goodbye to Jack and Zack]  Don't-a forget to write.

  Nicoletta : So long.

  Roberto : [shouts]  Wish-a you were 'ere.