Jim Bonniwell: What's on your mind?
Jim Slater: I've spent six months looking for a killer. What do you do when he turns out to be your father?
Jim Bonniwell: Killer? Aren't you a little careless with your words, son? Yes, I kill when I have to. But I've never killed a man who wasn't trying to kill me. And that goes for the Sheriff in spite of his badge.

- Richard Widmark in Backlash (1956)

Jim Bonniwell: You know, I've never seen it fail. When you take a trigger-happy bunch sitting it out like this, somebody's bound to start fooling with his gun.

- Richard Widmark in Backlash (1956)

Jim Slater: Oh no, not again! You know, a man can get awful tired of bein' shot at.

- Richard Widmark in Backlash (1956)

Jim Slater: There's things a man has to know and has to do, and it's best that he does them alone.

- Richard Widmark in Backlash (1956)

Jeff Welker: You're going to talk and I'm going to listen.

- Robert J. Wilke in Backlash (1956)

Stagecoach guard: If this is a holdup, you're dead.
Jim Slater: If I did it this way, I'd deserve to be.

- Richard Widmark in Backlash (1956)

[the Sheriff warns Jim about the brothers of a murderous Deputy Sheriff Jim killed in self-defense]
Sheriff J.C. Marston: When they hear about this, they're going to come looking for you.
Jim Slater: Seems logical.
Sheriff J.C. Marston: If it's your idea to shoot it out with them, you're going to lose.
Jim Slater: Could be.
Sheriff J.C. Marston: And even if you beat 'em, you're going to lose... because I'm going to hang the man that wins.

- Edward Platt in Backlash (1956)