the knife thing was Hogan in Crocodile Dundee......

where did the phrase 'the usual suspects' (the film of that name paid homage to it) come from?

One of those noir films...probably had Bogart in it. ;)

Obviously the decline of Western Civilisation has begun.

From Casablanca:
Captain Renault: Major Strasser has been shot. Round up the usual suspects.

Another quotable movie:

The Thin Man


Nick Charles: The important thing is the rhythm. Always have rhythm in your shaking. Now a Manhattan you shake to fox-trot time, a Bronx to two-step time, a dry martini you always shake to waltz time.

---------------

Reporter: Say listen, is he working on a case?
Nora Charles: Yes, he is.
Reporter: What case?
Nora Charles: A case of scotch. Pitch in and help him.

-----------------

Marion: I don't like crooks. And if I did like 'em, I wouldn't like crooks that are stool pigeons. And if I did like crooks that are stool pigeons, I still wouldn't like you.

----------------

Nick Charles: I'm a hero. I was shot twice in the Tribune.
Nora Charles: I read where you were shot 5 times in the tabloids.
Nick Charles: It's not true. He didn't come anywhere near my tabloids.

ya!

There are SO many, but Harvey had some of the funniest quotes ever, though I know I don't use them as personal quotes:

Elwood P. Dowd: Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this world, Elwood, you must be" - she always called me Elwood - "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant." Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.

Dr. Sanderson: Think carefully, Dowd. Didn't you know somebody, sometime, someplace by the name of Harvey? Didn't you ever know anybody by that name?
Elwood P. Dowd: No, no, not one, Doctor. Maybe that's why I always had such hopes for it.

Elwood P. Dowd: You see, science has overcome time and space. Well, Harvey has overcome not only time and space, but any objections.

Another movie came to mind, Arsenic and Old Lace:

Reverend Harper: Have you ever tried to persuade him that he wasn't Teddy Roosevelt?
Abby Brewster: Oh, no.
Martha Brewster: Oh, he's so happy being Teddy Roosevelt.
Abby Brewster: Oh... Do you remember, Martha, once, a long time ago, we thought if he'd be George Washington, it would be a change for him, and we suggested it.
Martha Brewster: And do you know what happened? He just stayed under his bed for days and wouldn't be anybody.

Both of those movies costarred Josephine Hull, who was one very funny lady.

OK, one more classic flick: Pocketful of Miracles:


Junior: She's like a cockroach what turned into a butterfly!

Joy Boy: I ain't gonna marry her! An' y'know why? 'Cause my wife don't like it when I go around marryin' people! She's funny that way!

Butler: Nobody arrives first, sir. They all arrive last.

Oh man, I love Arsenic and Old Lace.

Ibram, you are wise beyond your years. I have trouble finding people my age (41) who have seen any classic movies! Bravo!