"Hold up you badge… " *SPOILERS*
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — L.A. Confidential
info-3508 — 10 years ago(January 30, 2016 07:19 PM)
" so they'll know you're a policeman."
This is one of the reasons I adore this movie and screenplay by Curtis Hanson and Brian Helgeland. The intended meaning, that Dudley Smith wants to make certain that the approaching officers don't shoot him. The implied meaning, that his badge has become the only way to distinguish him from any other criminal. And the irony that the power that gives him leads Edmund Exley to shoot him. Adroit, genius. -
JTGleason — 10 years ago(February 10, 2016 09:48 PM)
The truth of that scene is that Exley had to kill Smith. Everyone thinks that Edmund went against his principles by executing a criminal that he thought could get away with it, but he knew eventually Smith would have to have Ed killed because he knew too much, and wouldn't be trusted.
It was more about self preservation, plus the ability to spin his story as he as he thought necessary. -
hafabee — 9 years ago(April 14, 2016 10:46 AM)
That scene made my blood boil.
It's not often that a movie can evoke a strong emotion in me, it has to be a powerful mixture of good story presented with good acting to do it, and that right there did it! After everything Exley has been through I couldn't believe he didn't shoot and kill Dudley back in the motel when he first had him in his sights, but when Dudley said "Hold up your badgeso they'll know you're a policeman." I saw red, it was a great evocative scene with a real message; police really can get away with a lot under the cover of merely being labelled policemen by society. It's a great responsibility to the public to not abuse the social trust that is given to them, and when they do the penalty should be the harshest of all, but often they're simply given a slap on the wrist (if things aren't swept under the rug completely).
The nonchalant manner in which Dudley said it was the tipping point. It made it one of the most satisfying villain deaths that I've ever seen! -
Datamater — 9 years ago(April 17, 2016 05:05 PM)
The scene brings Exley full-circle to the encounter with Smith on the night of Bloody Christmas.
Dudley Smith: "Would you be willing to shoot a hardened criminal in the back, in order to offset the chance that some lawyer"
Ed Exley: "No."
(After the Victory Motel shootout, Ed obviously changed his mind) -
ecarle — 9 years ago(September 21, 2016 05:21 PM)
The scene brings Exley full-circle to the encounter with Smith on the night of Bloody Christmas.
Dudley Smith: "Would you be willing to shoot a hardened criminal in the back, in order to offset the chance that some lawyer"
Ed Exley: "No."
The published screenplay does not quote that at the moment that Exley shoots Dudley, but offers instead this sentence:
(BEGIN)
Exley aims his gun at Dudley.
The answer is "yes."
(END)
And you KNOW what the scriptwriters mean. And that's another reason this won Best Adapted Screenplay.
RIP Curtis Hanson.