A Foreign Affair (1948)

John Lund: Capt. John Pringle

Photos 

Quotes 

• Captain John Pringle : How is good old Iowa?

  Phoebe Frost : Sixty-two percent Republican, thank you.

• Captain John Pringle : You dressed for me and to me you look good.

  Phoebe Frost : John, where did you learn so much about women's clothes?

  Captain John Pringle : My mother wore women's clothes.

• Phoebe Frost : There. Now we're getting someplace. I wonder what holds up that dress...

  Captain John Pringle : Must be that German willpower.

• Captain John Pringle : There's a little unfinished business here, you know. Now that we've won the war, we mustn't lose the peace!

• Captain John Pringle : Don't tell me it's subversive to kiss a Republican!

• Phoebe Frost : We'll go there right now!

  Captain John Pringle : Where?

  Phoebe Frost : To the files!

  Captain John Pringle : In the middle of the night? Shouldn't we get permission?

  Phoebe Frost : Did we get permission to land in Normandy? Let's go!

• Phoebe Frost : How do you know so much about women's clothing?

  Captain John Pringle : My mother wears women's clothing.

• Erika von Schluetow : [Knock at the door]  Who's that?

  Captain John Pringle : With my luck, it's Eisenhower.

• WAC Technical Sergeant : Captain Pringle is wanted in 112.

  Captain John Pringle : Who's that?

  WAC Technical Sergeant : That Congress dame - whatever her name is.

  Captain John Pringle : She wants to see me?

  WAC Technical Sergeant : Yes sir.

  Captain John Pringle : Now?

  WAC Technical Sergeant : Now, sir. She's clucking like a hen. You better get there before she lays an egg!

• Captain John Pringle : Sorry. I guess this is where the funny man says, "Shall we dance?"

  Phoebe Frost : You are not a funny man, Captain Pringle. But you are quite a dancer. What a waltz we had. Good night.

  [walks out] 

• Captain John Pringle : There must have been a mistake at the laundry. We got a crazy old laundress. You know what happened with Lt. Frankovich? He sent out his shorts and got back a girdle.

• Erika von Schluetow : Give me that mattress.

  Captain John Pringle : No mattress will help you sleep. What you Germans need is a better conscience.

  Erika von Schluetow : I have a good conscience! I have a new Führer now. You! Heil Johnny.

• Captain John Pringle : Baseball and a little less heel clicking is what he needs.

• Captain John Pringle : Who wants perfume? Give me the fresh wet smell of Iowa corn, right after it rains.

• Captain John Pringle : You don't want to go to that sewer?

  Phoebe Frost : Yes, I do. I want it dark and gay and with music.

• Captain John Pringle : [after Erika's been spotted in German newsreels, associating with high-ranking members of the Nazi Party]  Having your hand kissed by Hitler. I hope you had it sterilized. Looked as if he had rat poison in that moustache.

  Erika von Schluetow : Don't talk like that.

  Captain John Pringle : Why not? How much of a Nazi were you, anyway?

  Erika von Schluetow : Johnny, what does it matter, a woman's politics? Women pick out whatever's in fashion and change it like a spring hat.

  Captain John Pringle : Yeah. Last year it was a little number with a swastika on it. This year it's ostrich feathers, red, white and blue. Next year a hammer, maybe, and a sickle.

  Erika von Schluetow : Oh, Johnny, we must not say mean words to each other.

• Erika von Schluetow : When you say you are engaged, that is only until her plane leaves, huh?

  Captain John Pringle : What else?

  Erika von Schluetow : I love you so very much.

  Captain John Pringle : You do?

  Erika von Schluetow : You're the only man I ever wanted to marry.

  Captain John Pringle : That's mighty white of you.

  Erika von Schluetow : I want to go with you to America. I want to climb up the Statue of Liberty.

  Captain John Pringle : You want to get down that basement at Fort Knox.

  Erika von Schluetow : I want to be where you are.

  Captain John Pringle : Yeah, I can just imagine you in Iowa in blue jeans, going on a hay ride to the old mill.

  Erika von Schluetow : I would love that.

• Captain John Pringle : [Playfully]  You heil me once more and I'll knock your teeth in.

  Erika von Schluetow : I'll bruise your lips.

  Captain John Pringle : Why don't I choke you a little. Break you in two. Build a fire under you - you blonde witch.

• Captain John Pringle : Paperwork! Thats what's wrong with the Army. Thats why we're always fouled up when a war starts. It takes us six months to clear off the paperwork in the last one!

• Captain John Pringle : [to Erika]  Aw, you gorgeous booby trap!

• Phoebe Frost : Are there any other sewers like this in Berlin?

  Captain John Pringle : Three or four, maybe. But, this is the best sewer.

• Phoebe Frost : I suppose I trust you because we're both Iowans.

  Captain John Pringle : Right back at you, Miss Frost!

• Phoebe Frost : [Looking at an old Nazi newsreel with Erika, in strapless gown, at the Opera]  I wonder what holds up that dress?

  Captain John Pringle : Must be that - German will power.

• Erika von Schluetow : [Referring to Miss Frost]  I see you do not believe in lipstick. And what a curious way to to do your hair or rather not to do it.

  Captain John Pringle : Now, wait a minute! Do you know who you're talking to?

  Erika von Schluetow : An American woman. And I'm a little disappointed, to tell you the truth. We apparently have a false idea about the chic American woman. Oh, I suppose that's publicity in Hollywood.

• Phoebe Frost : I suppose I do look awful without makeup.

  Captain John Pringle : No, you don't!

  Phoebe Frost : We were only allowed 60 pounds of luggage. We had to eliminate unessentials.

  Captain John Pringle : Never listen to another woman, if you want to know how you look. Ask a man!

• Captain John Pringle : Now, Congresswoman, may I have the floor?

  Phoebe Frost : You are entirely out of order.

  Captain John Pringle : Objection overruled.

  [Kiss] 

• Captain John Pringle : Gentle baby, it's Mother's Day.