"Rough, tough Chuck Tatum, who battered his way to the top... trampling everything in his path - men, women and morals !"
Ace in the Hole - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
I don't go to church. Kneeling bags my nylons.
— Lorraine Minosa
Context:
Spoken to reporters early in the film when they ask if she has been praying for her trapped husband, Leo. The quote, reportedly written by Billy Wilder's wife, immediately establishes her cold and unsentimental nature.
Meaning:
This line perfectly encapsulates Lorraine's character: cynical, materialistic, and completely unconcerned with sentiment or morality. Her reasoning for avoiding church has nothing to do with faith and everything to do with a trivial, worldly vanity. It reveals her profound emotional detachment from her husband's life-or-death situation and her shallow value system.
Bad news sells best. 'Cause good news is no news.
— Charles "Chuck" Tatum
Context:
Tatum says this while explaining his philosophy to his colleagues at the Albuquerque newspaper, expressing his frustration with the slow, positive news of the small town and his hunger for a major, tragic story to exploit.
Meaning:
This quote is the cynical thesis statement for the entire film. It's Tatum's journalistic creed, reflecting his belief that the media's primary function is not to inform but to sensationalize and profit from tragedy. It speaks to the core theme of media manipulation and the public's appetite for grim stories.
I can handle big news and little news. And if there's no news, I'll go out and bite a dog.
— Charles "Chuck" Tatum
Context:
This is part of Tatum's sales pitch to Jacob Boot when he is desperately trying to get a job at the Sun-Bulletin. It showcases his confidence, arrogance, and fundamentally corrupt view of his profession from the very beginning.
Meaning:
This quote demonstrates Tatum's aggressive, go-getter attitude and his belief that a reporter's job is to create stories, not just find them. The inversion of the famous aphorism "man bites dog" shows his proactive and unethical approach to journalism; he is willing to manufacture a spectacle if one doesn't present itself.
I've done a lot of lying in my time. I've lied to men who wear belts. I've lied to men who wear suspenders. But I'd never be so stupid as to lie to a man who wears both belt and suspenders.
— Charles "Chuck" Tatum
Context:
Tatum says this to Jacob Boot, the newspaper editor who wears both a belt and suspenders. It's a moment of feigned respect and flattery, a tool he uses to try and win Boot over during his initial job interview.
Meaning:
This is a piece of classic, witty Wilder dialogue that reveals Tatum's character. On the surface, it's a clever observation about sizing people up, but it also functions as a boast about his skills as a liar and manipulator. It shows that his dishonesty is not random; it's a calculated craft he has honed over many years.
I met a lot of hard-boiled eggs in my life, but you - you're twenty minutes.
— Lorraine Minosa
Context:
Lorraine says this to Tatum after witnessing his masterful manipulation of the sheriff and the unfolding situation. It's a moment where her initial contempt begins to mix with a grudging respect for his sheer audacity and corruption.
Meaning:
A sharp, cynical insult that perfectly conveys Lorraine's world-weary toughness and her assessment of Chuck Tatum. It shows she recognizes him as an exceptionally ruthless and hard-nosed individual, even by her own low standards. It's a backhanded compliment that establishes their relationship as a meeting of two deeply cynical minds.