Paint Your Wagon (1969)

Lee Marvin: Ben Rumson

Photos 

Quotes 

• Mrs. Fenty : You should read the Bible, Mr. Rumson.

  Ben Rumson : I have read the Bible, Mrs. Fenty.

  Mrs. Fenty : Didn't that discourage you about drinking?

  Ben Rumson : No, but it sure killed my appetite for readin'!

• Ben : You was down at the rapids just now, bare beam and buck naked?

  Elizabeth : Well, I'm not like to take a bath with my clothes on, Mr. Rumson.

  Ben : Are you trying to tell me that you was taking a *bath*?

  Elizabeth : That's right. I was taking a bath.

  Ben : In the middle of the night?

  Elizabeth : Mr. Rumson, in a community of 400 men, would you rather I took my bath "bare beam and buck naked" in the middle of the day?

• Rumson : She's picked up a bad case of the respectabilities. And in just a few days from now, that poor woman's going to be burnin' up in a fever of virtue. And then LOOK OUT.

  Pardner : Why?

  Rumson : Pardner, it's been my experience that there ain't nothin' more ruthless and treacherous than a genuine good woman.

• Ben Rumson : Pardner, there comes a time when the party of the first part has no recourse but to knock some sense into the party of the second part! You're stayin'!

• Pardner : [When Ben sees Pardner riding a horse with Elizabeth, he punches him to the ground, pulls a gun on him then threatens to tear him apart]  Ben, what the hell's the matter with you?

  Ben Rumson : What was the two of you doin' on the same horse?

  Pardner : Ridin', what else would we be doin' on a horse? And it'd be the last place I'd...

  Ben Rumson : Where was her horse?

  Pardner : That was her horse.

  Ben Rumson : [Pointing, voice cracking]  And where, HAHA, was your horse?

  Pardner : You... had my horse.

• Elizabeth : Did you know that the Fenty's had an apple farm back in Pennsylvania?

  Ben Rumson : Apple jack, huh?

  Mr. Fenty : No, sir, we did not make apple jack!

  Ben Rumson : Then, what did you grow the apples for?

  Mr. Fenty : Mr. Rumson, do you think that everything that comes out of the earth should be used to make liquor?

  Ben Rumson : Whenever possible, yes.

• Ben Rumson : Grace, I give you the boy. Give me back the man.

• Pardner : Where I come from, Mr. Rumson, we're cautious of strangers who talk in an easy manner.

  Rumson : Oh. You've got me down as some kind of low scuff from New Orleans, hm? Sell you patent medicine with one hand, pinch your purse with the other?

  Pardner : Matter of fact, that's kind of what I was thinkin'.

  Rumson : As a matter of fact, Pardner, you're right. But I ain't yet sunk to horse stealin'. Oh, I've salted claims, yeah. And I've sold whiskey to Injuns. And once a man in Walla Walla come at me with a gun and I killed him. I can't think of one commandment I ain't shattered regular. I never did fancy my mother and father, let alone respect 'em or honor 'em. And I have coveted my neighbor's wife - whenever I had a neighbor and he had a wife, mm, mmm! And I gamble and I cheat at cards, but there's one thing I do not do. I ain't never gulled a pardner. The one sacred thing, even to low scuff like me, is a man's pardner.

• Ben Rumson : There's two kinds of people, them goin' somewhere and them goin' nowhere. And that's what's true.

• Horace Tabor : Is it your proposal, Mr. Rumson, that we knock out the stage driver, steal a coach, and kidnap six women?

  Ben Rumson : Sounds better every time I hear it.

• Ben Rumson : Howdy Parson, welcome to HELL!

• [Partner has decided to remain behind with the settlers] 

  Ben Rumson : You say something nice to her for me, Par... What the hell is your name anyway?

  Partner : It's Sylvester Newel. Yeah, just one 'l'.

  Ben Rumson : Sylvester Newel. Well, that's a good name for a farmer.

• Parson : [when some travelers have been newly rescued from hunger and cold]  Rumson, I am entering your house to pray for the unfortunate victims.

  Ben Rumson : Not tonight Parson, these folks have suffered enough. Now why don't you do that outside where God can hear you better, 'cause I'll be talking in here.

• Rumson : I'm an ex-citizen of nowhere, and sometimes I get mighty homesick.

• Mr. Fenty : Horton, how did that bottle get in your pocket? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DRINKING HARD LIQUOR?

  Horton : Well, since this afternoon. I know you don't approve, Pop, but believe me, until you've had a good cigar and a shot of whiskey, you're missing the second and third best things in life.

  Rumson : Horton!

  Pardner : Where'd you take him, Ben?

  Elizabeth : Damn you, Ben Rumson. What are you going to teach this boy next? How to cheat at cards, or just physical education with one of Willie's floozies?

  Horton : That's the best one, Pop!

  Rumson : Horton!

  Elizabeth : Is that what you did today, Ben?

  Rumson : That's what *he* did today, Elizabeth! I tell you, that boy's got a talent for dissipation that is absolutely unique!

  [Horton beams] 

• Miner : Hey, Ben! These men came all the way from Fiddler's Camp, just to see your wife.

  Ben Rumson : Well, looks like I married myself a tourist attraction.

• Ben Rumson : [singing]  A man has his creed, and mine is all greed!

• [shouted from clifftop to riverbed and back, very slowly] 

  Steve Bull : IS... THEY... DEAD...?

  Ben Rumson : THEY... BETTER... BE... CAUSE... I'M... GONNA... BURY 'EM!

• [Ben and Partner are walking through the mining camp] 

  Ben Rumson : Hi, Willy! How're things goin'?

  'Rotten Luck'Willie : I ain't won a hand in two weeks.

  Ben Rumson : (to Partner) They call him 'Rotten Luck' Willie. You couldn't beat him with five aces.

  Pardner : Oh, I don't gamble.

  Ben Rumson : Neither does he.

• Ben Rumson : Now, don't tell me you've never been with a woman.

  Horton : No, sir I haven't.

  Ben Rumson : Well, that, that's terrible! Did you know you could go blind?

• Rumson : You show me in them commandments where it says a woman cain't have two husbands.

  Pardner : There AIN'T no commandment like that.

• Pardner : Ben, how's married life?

  Ben Rumson : Pardner, it was so good that I forgot that I was married.

• Horton : Mr. Rumson, I swore I wouldn't tell anyone. I hope that means except my father and mother.

  Ben Rumson : That means especially your father and mother.

  Horton : But I've never kept anything from them before.

  Ben Rumson : Well, it's time you started. Because when you do, a whole new world opens up.

• Pardner : What happens when you get in a fight?

  Rumson : Well, if four of anything come at me at one time, you might lend a fist. Up until that I can pretty well take care of myself.

• [the saloon starts collapsing] 

  Rumson : Let's get out of here, I think this place is drunk!

• Rumson : Hey, Willie, were's the future father of our country?

  'Rotten Luck'Willie : Oh, he'll be along as soon as his parents go to sleep.

  Rumson : Could you tell him that I want to see him?

  'Rotten Luck'Willie : Leave your room door open at wait your turn like everyone else.

• Ben Rumson : You mean to tell me you ain't never had a woman neither?

  Horton : No, sir.

  Ben Rumson : This is serious. You know you could go blind? Come here.

  [to 'Rotten Luck' Willie] 

  Ben Rumson : Willie, if a young man was goin' trappin' for the first time and wanted a guide, somebody who would be patient with him and show him the way things are to be done; what kind of guide would you choose?

  'Rotten Luck'Willie : [Thinking]  Ah, that would be Gracie.

• Ben Rumson : Is they dead? They better be cause I'm fixin' to bury em'!

• Pardner : [Horace Tabor has opposed Ben's plan to kidnap the French prostitutes]  Horace is right,Ben ! We can't bring them women here. Why, you bring them here and the next thing you know, you got to build a place for them to stay, people will be coming in from all over and they'll need somewhere to stay. Schermehorn and these other merchants will have to stock up on suplies to sell. Then Willie will have to open a saloon or two with gambling and drinkin'. Why before you know it, this place will be a boom town and we don't want that!

  Ben : [winking at Partner]  Your right, Partner. I never thought of it that way. Why you can't expect people to put up with that! I apologize, boys; I never thought of what might happen if we bring in those five French tarts!

  'Rotten Luck'Willie : [smiling]  I call for a vote on Ben's proposal! Any man who votes against it is a traitor!

• Pardner : You said she was in love with me.

  Ben Rumson : Didn't you say you loved him?

  Elizabeth : Yes, l did, and l do.

  Pardner : You just said you were in love with Ben.

  Elizabeth : Yes, l did, and l am.

  Pardner : Ben, do you get that feeling you need a drink?

  Ben Rumson : How did you know?

  Pardner : Cos l do, too.

  Ben Rumson : But, Pardner, you don't drink.

  Pardner : No, but l'm changing.

  Ben Rumson : And it takes a woman to do it.

• Ben Rumson : [as the team shovels]  Dig! And, don't forget, Pardner's in on this.

  Mad Jack Duncan : [stop shoveling]  Then, where is he?

  Ben Rumson : He's at home tonight.

  Mad Jack Duncan : What's he doing home?

  Ben Rumson : [stops shoveling]  Damn you, Mad Jack! You keep a civil tongue in your mouth or, so help me...

  Foster : Hey, you can hit him later.

  Mad Jack Duncan : He's right - you can hit me later.

  Clendennon : And I'll remind you. Dig!

• Ben Rumson : I always knew you had a farmer's mentality.