The Thin Red Line (1998)

Nick Nolte: Lt. Col. Tall

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Quotes 

• Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : It's not necessary for you to ever tell me that you think I'm *right*. Ever. We'll assume it.

• Brigadier General Quintard : [pre-landing pep talk]  You have a son Colonel?

  Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : Yes sir, I do.

  Brigadier General Quintard : Good. 'Cause we don't want our sons or our grandsons fight this war 30 years from now, do we?

  Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : No sir, we sure don't.

  Brigadier General Quintard : You crush 'em without mercy. You dig them out of the hills and protect that airfield.

  Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : Yes sir.

  Brigadier General Quintard : You wonder why. Why do the Japs want an airfield there of all places? I guess we don't know the bigger picture, do we? If there is such a thing, what do you think?

  Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : Well sir, I never asked myself that question.

  Brigadier General Quintard : You're a humble man. Nobody wants that either. But you, how much do you want it?

  Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : As much as I have to, sir.

  Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : [narration]  All they sacrificed for me. Poured out like water on the ground. All I might have given for love's sake. Too late. Dying. Slow as a tree.

  Brigadier General Quintard : [all is quiet]  You feel it?

  Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : Yes sir.

  Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : [narration]  The closer you are to Caesar, the greater the fear.

• Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : Rosy-fingered dawn. You're Greek, aren't you, Captain? Did you ever read Homer? We read Homer at the Point. In Greek.

• Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : [voice over]  Shut up in a tomb. Can't lift the lid. Playing a role I never concieved.

• Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : The only time you should start worrying about a soldier is when they stop bitchin'.

• Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : This is very important decision you're makin', Staros.

• Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : Guadalcanal may be the turning point in the war. It'II cost lives, Staros. Is that what's troubling you?

  Capt. James 'Bugger' Staros : No, sir.

  Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : I explained to you the importance of this objective. How many men do you think it's worth? How many lives?

  Capt. James 'Bugger' Staros : I can't say, sir.

  Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : Are you prepared to sacrifice the Iives of any of your men in this campaign? How many? One? Two? Twenty? Lives wiII be Iost in your company, Captain. And if you don't have the stomach for it, now is the time to let me know.

  Capt. James 'Bugger' Staros : No, sir. You're right - about everything you said.

• Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : Come on, men, let's go! You're gonna see plenty more of these where we're goin'! Are we going up this hill or aren't we?

• Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : You feel like a son to me, John. You know what my son does? He's a bait salesman.

• Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : Staros, I'm relieving you of your command. Lieutenant Band wiII take over for you. I already told him. It's a hard thing to do. Difficult decision to make. I don't think you're tough enough here. You're too soft. You're just too softhearted. You're not tough-fibered enough. Anyways, it's my decision to make. I've already made it.

  Capt. James 'Bugger' Staros : I don't Iike to see my men get kiIIed, sir. Have you ever had anyone die in your arms, sir? Have you?

• Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : From their knob up there, those goddamn little brown brothers can cover the whole of the ground in front of this position for 1,000 yards. They've Ieft this Iedge unguarded. Now, goddamn it, that's a mistake. That's a heII of a mistake! We need to take advantage of it before they see their error. AII right, aII right, I know you're aII pretty exhausted, and we've had a heII of a time getting water up here. For that I'm sorry. I apologize to you aII. But if we can reduce this bunker tomorrow, I think we can take this ridge. So, I'm asking for volunteers. Go back up there and knock it out!

• Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : Get that blouse on, soldier. It's not a goddamn bathing beach!

• Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : You don't know what it feels Iike to be passed over. I mean, you're young. You're just out of the Academy. You're, you know, you've got your war! This 15 years, this is my first war! John, some day you'II understand.

• Lt. Col. Gordon Tall : We attack in one hour! We'II throw everything we got at 'em. We're going aII the way! Nothing's stoppin' us. It's high ground by nightfaII!