The Rack (1956)

Paul Newman: Capt. Edward W. Hall, Jr.

Photos 

Quotes 

• [last lines] 

  Capt. Edward W. Hall Jr. : [addressing the court martial one last time after the verdict has been read]  This isn't going to be an extenuation, but I want to say it anyway. Capt. Miller came to my hotel this morning, just about dawn. He's the witness who was tortured. He said he'd read the papers and he'd seen my testimony there and he wanted to talk. So we sat down and we started talking about the men we knew who were prisoners over there... He said he thought that every man has a moment in his life when he has to choose. If he chooses right, then it's a moment of magnificence. If he chooses wrong, then it's a moment of regret that will stay with him for the rest of his life. I wish that every soldier... I wish that everybody could feel the way I feel now. Because if they did, they'd know what it is like to be a man who sold himself short... and who lost his moment of magnificence. I pray to God that they find theirs.

• Col. Edward W. Hall, Sr. : [Coming into Ed's darkened bedroom in a very agitated state]  Ed! Ed!

  Capt. Edward W. Hall Jr. : [Drowsily]  What time is it?

  Col. Edward W. Hall, Sr. : [Angrily]  Get up!

  Capt. Edward W. Hall Jr. : [Waking up]  What's the matter?

  Col. Edward W. Hall, Sr. : [Angrily]  Get up!

  Col. Edward W. Hall, Sr. : [Ed gets up]  All right... I want to ask you a question. I want a simple, direct yes or no answer. Did you collaborate with the enemy?

  Col. Edward W. Hall, Sr. : [Ed appears stunned by the question]  Did you collaborate with the enemy?

  Capt. Edward W. Hall Jr. : [Deliberately]  Yes, I did.

  Col. Edward W. Hall, Sr. : [Screaming emotionally]  Why didn't yuh die? Why didn'y yuh die like your brother did? It would have been much better that way!

  Capt. Edward W. Hall Jr. : [Hall, Sr. walks out and a distraught Hall Jr. limps hurriedly after him]  Dad! Dad!

  Capt. Edward W. Hall Jr. : [Stopping before the bottom of the stairs]  I would have liked it better too... a nice, clean, acceptable death with dignity. Does that make sense to you?

  Col. Edward W. Hall, Sr. : Your excuses for treason must have been tremendous to make you crawl on your belly and break faith with your country and me!

  Capt. Edward W. Hall Jr. : [Angrily shouting]  With you? What about me? You know wht I got for that crawl on my belly? You know what I got, Dad? Well, I'll tell you. I sold my soul for a blanket that smells of fish and urine and three lousy hours of uninterrupted sleep, and you know what else, Colonel? At the time I thought I was getting one hell of a bargain!

• Capt. Edward W. Hall Jr. : Do you know what's the matter with me?

  Aggie Hall : No.

  Capt. Edward W. Hall Jr. : My mother wasn't in the army, so I'm a half-breed.

  Aggie Hall : I don't know you very well yet. Is that your way of being bitter or laughing at yourself, or...?

  Capt. Edward W. Hall Jr. : Remember those things that were half horse and half man? Well, that's me... half my father

  [Looking at the sagging miniature American flag on the 'welcome home' cake] 

  Capt. Edward W. Hall Jr. : ... half my father's disappointment and half my mother's hope.

  Aggie Hall : He's not disappointed in you.

  Capt. Edward W. Hall Jr. : You know what I did this afternoon? After I left the post, I went out to my mother's grave and stood there for a long time, and I said, 'Mom, I'm sorry. I turned out human like you wanted me, but I picked the wrong time. So... tha's the change you see. Isn't that a laugh?

• Col. Edward W. Hall, Sr. : Pete never knew what got him.

  Capt. Edward W. Hall Jr. : [Ironically]  Lucky Pete!

• Lt. Col. Frank Wasnick : Well, what are we going to do about you? We've got about two weeks to prepare.

  Capt. Edward W. Hall Jr. : [Shrugging]  I don't know.

  Lt. Col. Frank Wasnick : [laughs]  That's an interesting attitude.

  Capt. Edward W. Hall Jr. : Oh, look, Colonel, uh, what axe are you grinding, or do you just have a penchant for lost causes?

  Lt. Col. Frank Wasnick : I don't admire self-pity. I don't think it's constructive.

  Capt. Edward W. Hall Jr. : Haven't you heard? I'm guilty.