Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

We ain't got no badges

We ain't got no badges is probably one of the most frequently quoted, misquoted and parodied movie quotes in history

The original quote comes from the 1948 film The Treasure of the Sierra Madre with Humphrey Bogart. One of the most memorable scenes in the movie is where a Mexican Bandit leader(Gold Hat) is trying to convince Bogart and company that they are the Federales.

Bogart Character: "If you're the police, where are your badges?"
Gold Hat (Leader of Bandits): Badges!? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges! I don't have to show you any stinking badges!!

But the story doesn't end there. In an episode of The Monkees from 1967. The band members play at being Banditos. Michael (El Nesmito) wonders whether they should carry a club card or some badges.
Micky (El Dolenzio) replies sneeringly with the line: Badges? We don't need no steeenking badges!

In the 1974 Mel Brooks film Blazing Saddles probably the most famous parody of the line is delivered. Hedley Lamarr (Harvey Korman) is interviewing a line of criminals in order to deputise them so that they can terrorize a town. The line is filled with stereotypical criminals, from bikers to robed KKK clansmen. A group of Mexicans dressed in sombreros and bandoleros step up to him. He speaks to them briefly, hires them and tries to hand them deputy badges.
The first stereotypical Mexican bandit: Badges? We don't need no stinking badges!

In the 1984 film Brother From Another Planet, two "men in black" (alien bounty hunters) enter the bar where the alien was supposedly found. The bartender, suspicious of their intentions, demands to see some I.D. John Sayles, the director of the movie delivers the line.
Man in Black: Badges? What badges? We don't have to show you any badges.

In an episode of The A-Team (c. 1985), the team are hired to protect a female Rock and roll singer and Hannibal hatches a plan for them to dress as cops.
Face: But we don't have any badges
Murdock: Badges? We don't need no steeenking badges!

In the Weird Al Yankovic 1989 film UHF. The host of "Raul's Wild Kingdom" says the following after receiving a shipment of certain animals in error.
Raul Hernandez: "Badgers? Badgers? We don't need no stinking badgers!

In an episode of 3rd Rock from the Sun (c. 1996):
Harry (French Stewart): Bagels? We don't need no stinking bagels!

In the film 2001 movie Bubble Boy the following line is delivered:
Big Biker: Patches? I don't need no stinking patches!

See Also: List of movies - List of actors - List of directors - List of documentaries - List of Hollywood movie studios