Bridge of Spies movie quotes follow the true story of one insurance lawyer tasked with defending and later negotiating the swap of a Soviet spy during the Cold War. The historical drama was written by Matt Charman and Ethan and Joel Coen and directed by Steven Spielberg. In the fourth film collaboration between Spielberg and star actor Tom Hanks, Bridge of Spies opened in theaters on October 16, 2015.
In Bridge of Spies, insurance lawyer James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks) is approached by the Bar Association and tasked with defending Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), who has been accused of being a Soviet spy in 1957. The goal is to demonstrate that Abel is getting fair representation in American courts while the CIA tries to extract information from Abel.
Meanwhile, a plane goes down and American spy Francis Gary Powers (Austin Stowell) is captured by the Soviets. In an unexpected turn of events, the Soviets reach out to James to negotiate a secret spy swap between the two unfriendly countries. While this is far from mediating insurance settlements, James knows just how much is riding on this exchange and agrees to head to East Berlin where he must backchannel towards a solution for all.
Also starring Amy Ryan, Alan Alda and Jesse Plemons, Bridge of Spies joined theaters already showing other great films including Goosebumps, The Martian, The Walk, and The Intern.
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This Will Be a First For Both of Us
Rudolf Abel: Have you represented many accused spies?
James Donovan: This will be a first for the both of us.
Rudolf Abel: You should be careful.
Both James and Rudolf realize that they are wading into unprecedented waters with neither having any experience in this legal battle. Surprisingly enough, it's Rudolf who urges James to be careful proceeding.
We Want You to Negotiate the Swap
Allen Dulles: They've got our guy, our spy pilot. We've got their guy. We want you to negotiate the swap.
James Donovan: Where do they want this negotiation to take place?
Allen Dulles: East Berlin
In an interesting turn of events, James is informed that the Russians have captured a US spy just like the US has captured a Soviet spy. Even more interestingly, James has been asked to negotiate the swap.
Do You Know How People Will Look at Us?
Mary McKenna Donovan: It's all about this man and what he represents. He is a threat to all of us, a traitor.
Peggy Donovan: Who's a traitor?
James Donovan: The Rosenbergs were traitors.
Roger Donovan: Who were they?
James Donovan: They gave atomic secrets to the Russians. They were Americans. They betrayed their country. You can't accuse Abel of being a traitor. He's not an American.
Mary McKenna Donovan: Oh, listen to yourself. You're defending him already. You're rehearsing it on me. You said you were just thinking about taking it.
James Donovan: I am just thinking about it. It's very hard. Everyone deserves a defense. Every person matters.
Mary McKenna Donovan: Jim, what do we deserve? Do you know how people will look at us, the family of the man trying to free the traitor?
Sitting at dinner with his wife and children, James discusses the defense of accused spy Rudolf Abel. Wife Mary isn't eager for James to take on this case, anticipating a great deal of backlash for the family. She is not wrong.
Tell Me That You're Not Going to Be in Any Danger
James Donovan: Something came up at the last minute. They have offices in London. It's clients. It's not my idea, Scotland, this fishing expedition.
Mary McKenna Donovan: What kind of fishing trip, Jim?
James Donovan: Salmon fishing
Mary McKenna Donovan: Just tell me that you're not going to be in any danger, that this is a routine business trip and I won't worry.
James Donovan: I need my passport.
Mary McKenna Donovan: Just give me something to hold on to. I don't even care if it's the truth.
James Donovan: I'm doing this for us.
James must head overseas to negotiate a swap of spies with the Soviets but he cannot tell his wife, Mary, his true reason for travel. She's not asking for the truth, just any assurance that he will return safely.
Either Detained or Shot
James Donovan: Is there any outcome here where I'm not either detained or shot?
James is in no way unaware that what he is about to do, travel to East Berlin to conduct backdoor talks with a political enemy, is highly dangerous. Being arrested or killed are two likely conclusions in his mind and that's not inaccurate.
We Are Engaged in a War
Agent Blasco: You have been selected for a mission for which you are not to discuss with anyone outside of this room. We are engaged in a war with the Soviet Union. This war does not, at the moment, involve men in arms. It involves information.
Soldiers are briefed for a mission for which they've been selected. It's not like a typical war involving ground troops and an infantry battle. This war is about information, the Cold War.
The Next Mistake Our Countries Make
James Donovan: The next mistake our countries make could be the last one.
To stress the importance of their meeting, James tells the Soviets that if they do not negotiate this spy swap, it could have grave consequences for the US and USSR. Tensions are high enough between the two nations as it is and one more mistake could end with deadly results.
We Want You to Defend Him
Lynn Goodnough: Okay, here's the thing. The Soviet spy they caught, we want you to defend him. Here's the indictment.
James Donovan: I'm not sure I want to pick that up.
Thomas Watters: The accused doesn't know any lawyers. The Federal Court tossed it into our lap. The Bar Committee took a vote. You're the unanimous choice.
Lynn Goodnough: It was important to us, it is important to our country, Jim, that this man is seen as getting a fair shake. American justice will be on trial.
James Donovan: Well of course when you put it that way, it's an honor to be asked but, Lynn, I'm an insurance lawyer. I haven't done criminal work in years.
Lynn Goodnough: It's like riding a bike, isn't it? You distinguished yourself at Nuremberg.
James Donovan: I was on the prosecution team.
Lynn Goodnough: Not the point! You're no stranger to criminal law. Jim, look at the situation. A man is publicly reviled.
James Donovan: And I will be too.
Lynn Goodnough: Yes, in more ignorant quarters but that's exactly why this has to be done, and capably done. It can't look like our justice system tosses people on the ash heap.
The Bar Association approaches James Donovan to inform him that he's been selected to defend accused Russian spy Rudolf Abel. James doesn't quite understand how this could benefit anyone, except for the United States, but perhaps that is the point.
We Call It the Constitution
Agent Hoffman: We need to know. Don't go boy scout on me. We don't have a rulebook here.
James Donovan: You're Agent Hoffman, yeah?
Agent Hoffman: Yeah
James Donovan: German extraction?
Agent Hoffman: Yeah, so?
James Donovan: My name's Donovan, Irish, both sides, mother and father. I'm Irish, you're German, but what makes us both Americans? Just one thing, one, one, one, the rule book. We call it the Constitution and we agree to the rules and that's what makes us Americans and it's all that makes us Americans so don't tell me there's no rule book and don't nod at me like that, you son of a bitch.
When confronted by a CIA agent and asked to share confidential information told to him by Rudolf Abel, James Donovan does not bite. Agent Hoffman is asking him to violate the US Constitution, something James is not willing to do.
Standing Man
Rudolf Abel: Standing there like that you reminded me of the man when I was young. My house is overrun by the border guards. This man, my father's friend, he was beaten. Every time they hit him, he stood back up again. They hit him harder, still he got back to his feet. I think because of this they let him live.
James Donovan: And I remind you if him?
Rudolf Abel: Standing man, standing man
Though the analogy is a bit odd, Rudolf gives James a compliment by describing how James reminds Rudolf of a man he knew back home. Both were persistent in the face of adversity and as a result, both found success.