"The Hindenburg is coming again,... that's what all the excitement is about." "In spite of protests like this,... the pride of Germany is due here on the morning of May sixth." "During the 1937 season,... the giant airship is scheduled to make 18 round trips... from Frankfurt to Lakehurst, New Jersey." "Just 150 years ago, the Montgolfier brothers, two Frenchmen,... made their first controlled flight in a hot-air balloon." "This rock-a-bye baby is floating with a new gas, hydrogen." "Soon an airborne banana split, with four scoops." "In the Gay 90's ballooning really got off the ground." "Ladies, check the balloon sleeves on the stylish aeronauts in the basket." "By the early 1900's everyone agreed an airship should be cigar shaped." "What the world needed was a good five-cent flying machine." "Alberto Santos-Dumont, a Brazilian in Paris, achieved a breakthrough... when he hooked a two-cylinder gasoline motor to the basket." "Flat tire, Alberto?" "He went on to win 100,000 Francs for circling the Eiffel Tower... in his 85-foot tootsie roll." "Next came the semi-rigid airship with a metal frame supported by..." "Things are looking up." "These early birds have more varieties than Heinz." "Bigger and better airships, all air conditioned, popped up... before the World War." "The outdoor types." "With a girl, that probably was more fun... than the rumble seat of a Stutz Bearcat." "Around this time, a retired German army officer,... known as the "crazy old Count" von Zeppelin,... flew a 400-foot sausage... equipped with two marine motors for 20 miles." "After this amazing feat,... everyone wanted to get in with the Zeppelin company." "The Count and a young associate, Doctor Hugo Eckener,... founded the world's first air passenger line." "In 1924, the Zeppelin Company built an airship for the US Navy,... the LZ 126, re-christened the Los Angeles." "Until last year, the Graf Zeppelin was the marvel of the age." "Since 1928 she has carried 13,000 passengers... over a million miles without a single mishap." "But then, at the Zeppelin Company works in Friedrichshafen,..." "German genius created the airship supreme, the Hindenburg." "Her vast cathedral-like hull,... almost 3 football fields long,... is an intricate web spun from over 10 miles of Duraluminum girders." "15 stories high,... it houses 16 giant cells... containing over seven million cubic feet of hydrogen... which lifts her 242 tones of luxury into the clouds." "She is the climax of man's dream to conquer the air,... the new Queen of the Skies." "The Embassy received hundreds of letters like that,..." "Mr. Ambassador, mostly from cranks." "We can expect many more this season." "Mrs. Rauch's letter is different." "It's specific." "She spells out how and where the Zeppelin will be destroyed." "A time bomb over American territory." " Franz." " Erwin." "Showing us how you do it in Spain?" "I'm afraid I don't fly very much there." "Good to have you back, Franz." "We hear they're giving you a Knight's cross to your Iron Cross." "For writing up dossiers, I suppose." "Half the time on our own people." "They're turning us into a Gestapo." "Get me out of Intelligence." "Give me back my old Reconnaissance command." " That might not be easy." " Why not?" "All you have to do is sign the orders." "You've been brought back for a special problem we've inherited." "We've had our suspicions, Colonel... and the letter confirms there's a plot to sabotage the LZ 129 on this flight." "Obviously, Dr. Goebbels, the sane thing to do is cancel the flight... until the Gestapo uncovers the plot." "Sane, but weak." "The propaganda value of the LZ 129 is highly important." "From a military standpoint, she's a flying dinosaur." "The LZ 129 is a world symbol of Nazi power." "It is an honor to guard her safety." "And you've been chosen." "My field is the estimation of enemy air operations." "It's not espionage." "A Zeppelin ride should be a vacation compared to Spain." "So you're being loaned to the LZ 129... as the officer in charge of security for this trip." "You will have the power to do anything you think necessary." "But quietly or it might appear we have internal opposition." "You're afraid it might strengthen the resistance movement." "There is no resistance movement." "That's reassuring, coming from the Minister of Propaganda." "I mustn't keep you from your next appointment." "Let's hope you'll change your opinion of our flying dinosaur." "Perhaps I will, unless there's an egg hatching in her." "The Hindenburg is scheduled to leave in two day, Colonel." "Why did the Gestapo wait till now to show us this?" "It's inexcusable that our passengers have to make other plans this late." " The flight hasn't been cancelled." " Not cancelled?" "I thought,..." "Why are you here?" "I'll be aboard, sort of special security officer." "I'd like you along, Captain Lehmann, as a Senior Airship Observer." "You may have to work with the Gestapo, but I don't." "You built the Hindenburg." "Don't you want to protect your interests?" "I've protected them for 40 years, by taking no risks." "Even if I wanted to go, you'd never be able to clear it." "Dr. Eckener and I are out of favor with the Chancellor." "I refused to name the Hindenburg after the Fuehrer." "Captain Pruss, the new commander, is an excellent airshipman." "We trained him." "Don't embarrass yourself by requesting me, Colonel." "They won't allow it and I prefer to leave it that way." "It's all arrange." "I'll see you at the airfield Monday." "Stupid..." "SS men crawling through our ship morning till night... with dirt on their shoes." "If we hid an elephant in the lounge they couldn't find it." "They weren't looking for an elephant." "Did you see Karl when the SS dog barked?" "He jumped 10 feet and the dog bit him in the brains, here." "It's better than being bitten by the SS." "You should've refused to go on that whale." "The crew might think I'm a Jonah." "I can't bear it." "Alfred, then Spain, now this." "We aren't far from Switzerland." "I was walking along the river today..." " No." " But you hate what you're doing now." "What would I say in Switzerland?" "I was with the German Air Force?" "It would be different if we were Jews or pacifists, or even Communists." " Uncle Gustaf is in Geneva." " I can't." "I'd be a deserter." "Listen to me, Eleanor, I spoke to Erwin." "He says he'll try to get my old group back." "We can live in the south, far from Berlin." "Poor Franz." "One, two, three, four, five,... six, seven, eight, nine,... ten!" " The winner." " You'll be drunk." "We'll be dry for two days on board, woman." "Please, Karl, not tonight." "One, two, three, four, five,... six, seven, eight, nine, ten." "Behave yourselves." "You act like gypsies." "Goodnight, goodnight." "Stewardess, we're going to bed." "We'll ring if we need anything." "Excuse me, I beg your pardon." "I'm just a poor gypsy." "That Freda Halle." "She's a loose woman." "They say she works for foreigners, some French bank in Frankfurt." " We should report it." " Look." "It's women's gossip." "We're all loyal Germans." "Besides that, Karl is no fool." "Enough now." "I drink to the one I love." "The Hindenburg." "Raise high the flag,... uniting us forever... prepare to march... with Swastika unfurled." "And when we've purified... the Fatherland together..." " That song will make me sick." "Our race will dominate the world." "Charlie, we're over here." "It has wrecked more men, blasted more lives... and dishonored more ladies than any other scourge on earth." "Forget this Zeppelin crap and come over to the Coronation." "Quaky's rented a Duke's palace or something outside London." "Sorry, Reed's finished the score for his new show, and rehearsals..." " start on the 12th." " We couldn't possibly." "Besides, British quarantine won't let Heidi into the country." "You should've had children instead of dogs." "The evil spell's been lifted." "Bess is pregnant." "At your age?" " Finally." " No rooftop announcements." "We don't want to push our luck." " Bess." " Isn't it wonderful?" "How long will you be away from us, Countess?" "I suppose until I get homesick." "What's the purpose of your trip?" "To visit my daughter at school, in Boston." "Where will you be staying?" "With friends." "Mr. and Mrs. Alden Winthrop." "In Boston?" "Yes." "And at their place on Cape Cod." "What does he do?" "His occupation?" "He's with the Winthrop First National Bank,..." "I can assure you, Major, he is not the doorman." " I've been looking everywhere for you!" " Mr. Douglas." "Mr. Edward Douglas." " Cablegram for Mr. Douglas." " I'm Edward Douglas." " Here, sir." " Thank you." "Will Mr. Kenji Shimora please come to the information desk." "Mr. Kenji Shimora." "Please come to the information desk." "Looks like we'll get off a little late." "Yeah." "What's the holdup?" "Let's get this show on the road." "We're keeping all passports this trip, Countess." "It will be returned to you when we arrive at Lakehurst." "I see." "Your lighter will be returned after we land at Lakehurst." "The Official photographer should know better." "If you'll just step into the booth for a body search." "It's Company policy." "Stay up here with me now." "Paul, so clumsy." "Thank you." "Your name is familiar, Mr. Breslau." "Do you have relatives in Germany?" "Many friends and associates, but no relatives." "Now, you might have, Albert." "I've always been sure our name once had a "von"." "Von Breslau." " That's Prussian nobility." " That's where I heard it." "The von doesn't count when you're born in the States." " We all were." " Me, too." " Couple of cowboys?" " Stay together now." "Over here." "That's a handsome cane, sir." "May I see it?" "You wouldn't admire it so much if you were crippled." "I don't intend to be." "Would you tape the end of his cane and return it to him?" " Yes, sir." " The Special Security Officer!" "Good thing too." "You know this blimp thing is filled with hydrogen?" "I'll make a note of that." "That dumb Dutchman is our security man?" "It's for your own safety." "The steel tip could strike sparks." "I'd expect more courtesy on a cattle boat." " Just do as you're told." " May I help, Countess?" " Franz!" "Are you on board?" " Yes." "What's wrong this trip?" "These people insist on going though all my luggage and my trunk." " Will you speak with them please?" " Certainly." "Search it." "Strip the lining." "Remove the metal corners." "If you run out of time, ship it to the Countess on the Bremen." "Not very gallant, was it, Colonel?" "The German Air Force is not at all what it used to be." " But then, nothing is, these days." " Nothing." "Hi, nice dog." " No." " Your papers, please." "Introducing the world's greatest the one and only..." "Here's my passport and ticket." "All in order." "Throw the bag on the Zep." "We are going to play doctor." "Why not?" "Give it a thorough examination." "Also the suitcase." "Will Miss Breslau please write down her correct weight?" "I did." "106." "Keep the pen." "It's a present from relatives in Germany." "And not a word to your father until after you've sailed." " He'll understand." " We don't have relatives in Germany." "Lehmann, are you suggesting I disobey orders?" "No, Pruss." "I'm saying the Captain... has the authority to cancel a flight anytime he doesn't think it's safe." " You know our situation." " I know that I don't believe much." "If you say there's a bad wrist pin on engine four,... you have a valid reason for not taking off." "I'll back you up on it." "Number four is perfectly reliable now." "The rest of your ship may not be." "It's out of the question." "The ship was searched twice today." "There are at several Gestapo men on board, and Colonel Ritter too." "I'd look like a fool, or worse." "Ritter, come board with us." "Did you know we have the pleasure of Captain Lehmann for this voyage?" " Just as an observer, Captain." " And as a diplomat." "A worried diplomat." "Seems I'm to go to Washington to try to get us helium." "I wish we had it this trip." "To the right, please, Countess." "Excuse us, sir." " We'd like to look around first." " Ok." "I'll put these in your cabin." "Everything's in order, sir." "Prepare to weigh off." "Drop line." "Up ship." "Bon voyage!" "Write soon." "Colonel Ritter, Martin Vogel." "Did you know where cabin mates?" " Are we?" " Yes, I feed honored." "I hope the Colonel doesn't mind sharing quarters with me." "Delighted." "Weather over the Channel." "If you fly north of the storm, the pressure'll push us over England." "The British don't want us over their chimney pots." " They'll complain to Foreign Office." " The Foreign Office isn't aboard." "I'll do the worrying this trip." "We'll stay on course and try to outrun the storm." "She's on her way." "Left Frankfurt 10 minutes ago." "8:18 by their clock." " Now we sweat, Hank." " Till 6 a.m. Thursday." " Listen to this:..." ""No voyager on the Hindenburg need fear fire... from within the ship, etc. etc."" "That's the same magazine that predicted Landon would beat Roosevelt." " In 32 states." " That's why I read Ballyhoo only." "Every time she puts in here it's like walking... on a crate of eggs." "With a booby-trap." "Remember what happened when we took the Los Angeles up?" "Yes, sir." "If we hadn't had helium, we wouldn't be here." "Have you found it?" " Found what?" " There are no secrets on Zeppelins." "Let's hope not." " When do we eat?" " Supper is at 10." "It's important that you put me at Mr. Reed Channing's table." "I've been checking on his dog." "You shouldn't have gone back there." "It's against regulations." "So don't say anything." "Okay, comrade?" "Well, I still say the French line has the best society." "Daddy, there's something I've want to show you." " A young man gave me this." " Where did you get that?" "I'm trying to tell you." " Give it to me." " Valerie, your father's right." "You shouldn't accept gifts from strange men." " Mother!" " No." "She's a pretty little thing." "4,000 miles to meet her." "4,100." " Excuse me?" " We've got 4,100 to go." "Holland." "Nine minutes late." "Or do you make it ten, Mr. Douglas?" "Bring me a beer, please." "When you are quite through, may I, Mr. Pajetta?" "Only one damn lighter." "Hell on cigar smokers." "Filthy habit, cigars." "Join me, Colonel?" "Goering adores it." "But it's true." "Right in there on the bar." "The pen stood upright for more than two hours." "That's how steady the Hindenburg flies." "Let's have a go at it ourselves." "What has a pen?" " Do you mind, old boy?" " Yes, I need my pen." "Not for a few minutes surely." "Come along." "50 quid on the bally pen'll be toppled in less than an hour." " Really, this is nonsense." " Leave it." "Be a sport." " I'll take the bet." " Right." "Anyone else?" "Howell?" "You'll defend the honor of old Eli, won't you?" " It's Harvard." "100 did you say?" "The gentleman from Yale wagers 100 dollars." " I didn't say that." " What shall we bet, Colonel?" "The honor of the Third Reich also hangs in the balance." " On so thin a thread?" "500 marks it stands 8 hours." "I'll take that bet." "Will you watch it through the night with me, Colonel?" " I told you, I need my pen." " I'm sorry." "All bets are off." "When they came to me, I refused to do it." "They brought it to my daughter anyhow, but she didn't know what it was." " Are you relatives Jews?" " Damn you, yes." "My grandmother was a Jew." "I import a lot of German surgical instruments... and you can bet the manufacturers won't care about her background." " Mrs. Milstein." " Yes." "They wanted me to sell the diamonds so they could get out of Germany." "Does their name have to be part of it now?" "." "You know what could happen to them." "Just make sure you declare those to U.S. Customs." "I'll keep the pen for the Gestapo museum." "It's all right." "Over here, Captain." "See it?" "A clearing in the storm." "Alter the course 30 degrees right." "Head for that bright spot." "Forward engines to half speed." "We'll slow down in this turbulence." "That's how all you American friends lost all their ships." "I would like to be in your new show, Mr. Channing." "I'm working on this new act." "A Zep act." "Real sophisticated." "Perfect for a show like yours." "It's all right." "It's okay." "Sugar, next time, let's take the Titanic." "That pen incident." "It was obvious what you were looking for." "Obvious to me, at least." "I knew he was the kind for diamonds, not bombs." "I couldn't told you about Breslau." "All the characteristics..." "Brachycephalic skull, heavy lower jaw, skin..." "Breslau happens to be just one quarter Jew." "The world is mongrelized, Vogel." "Only in Berlin is everyone so pure." "We have all shapes of heads to choose from." "I understand Boerth's a good man." "Hitler youth leader." " Am I also suspect?" " You?" "You're my staunch ally, my teammate, my good right arm." " The Gestapo." " Where'd you get such an idea?" "Detailed information on everyone except Martin Vogel." "All it says here is Official Hindenburg Photographer." "Gestapo sources of information are really excellent." "Maybe not so good as you think." "It fails to mention that Franz Ritter doesn't like Gestapo methods,... doesn't use them, and doesn't want you operating behind his back." "That's why we're cabin mates." "I'm sorry, Dr. Luther." "Captain Lehmann is wasting his time coming here." "Perhaps this will persuade State to make arrangements for him." "You know how Congress feels about Helium." "They're afraid that Chancellor Hitler will use it for military..." "What's been done about this?" "Everything possible to guarantee the safety of the Hindenburg." "The chief danger to her is the American monopoly of helium." "If anything happens, Mr. Hanford, it could be blamed on your country." "Would you step outside for a moment, Lessing, please?" "Certainly, Colonel." "Get this off to Gestapo Headquarters, Berlin." ""Attention Hochwald." "Send results Freda Halle surveillance so far." "Also run check on her lovers before Boerth." "Signed Ritter."" "Destroy that after it's sent and record the message by code number." "Yes, sir." "I don't like the dog so far away." " Suppose something happens?" " Impossible, Mr. Channing." "Your dog is traveling first class, as good as any of the passengers." " You see, she agrees." " Kirsch!" "What are you doing bringing passengers into the interior of the ship?" "Now, wait a minute." "When we bought our tickets, we were told we could visit the dog." "That may be, Mr. Channing,... but the ship's interior is now off limits to passengers." "No matter how much anyone tips." "So, please..." "Damn it!" "I'm going to visit my dog." "Passengers are barred for their own safety." "Take a look." "If you fell, you'd go right through into the sea." "Rot!" "Last year passengers were permitted inside the hull, not this voyage." "You're running this ship like a concentration camp." "I agree that I am running this ship." "Go to hell!" "I take it back." "That would be a lot better than Germany is today." "I'm curious,... as to why people like yourselves would chose the Hindenburg." "If you must know, only because my wife is..." "Well, she gets sick on boats." "The Zeppelin Company couldn't ask for a better recommendation." "I'll assign a cabin boy to visit your dog and report back." "Why don't we talk about the arrangements for your concert?" "Do you really think I'll go through with that?" "They announced the concert." "I'm sure you'll not disappoint us." "Okay." "You're the Captain." "You want a concert, I'll give you a concert." "Take her down below the fog layer." "No lower than 200 meters." "By all means, come right in." "Where did you get the lighter?" "Our radio operator is hot-blooded." "Give it to me, Countess." "Behave, Ursula." "You know it's dangerous." "I've learned a new game." "Breaking all the rules." "It's more fun for people like us than for shoe clerks and butchers..." " because we made the rules." " I made this one." "Go ahead, take it." "Help yourself to anything else." "That's the official policy now, isn't it?" "They've taken my house and my land." " So I've heard." "How generous of you." " Generous?" "I screamed bloody murder." "If I told you what was going on at Peenemunde..." "You don't know." "No one knows." "If they thought you knew, you would never be allowed out of the country." "No questions asked or answered." "You've made a great sacrifice for the Fatherland." "Do you understand me?" "Good." "Why anyone would want that wretched Island, I'll never know." "I managed to get rid of it." "Trudi will be delighted." "She's growing up so nicely." "She'll be at the airfield." " Perhaps you'll see her." " Beautiful child." "I heard you say she's going to school in Boston." "That's marvelous." "And doing very well." "It's the best school for the deaf." "She's learning to speak, and lip-read." "Maybe this summer, we'll..." "Thank God it's going away." "Please, don't be upset." "You've just been treated... to a harmless display of Saint Elmo's fire." " What's that?" " As the ship came through the fog... it accumulated an electrical charge... like a child shuffling his shoes across a carpet." "We've been in no danger." "The ship is bonded together... and the charge is dissipating harmlessly." "I was pretty sure it was Saint Elmo's fire all along." "Marvelous sensation on an airship." "Floating." "Timeless." "Past, present." "No different." "They all seem to run together, here." "Don't you find it so, Franz?" "Do you still play cards, Countess?" "Why?" "Major Napier and Mr. Pajetta pique my professional curiosity." "I've been propositioned frequently, but this is the first time..." "I've ever been recruited by the German Luftwaffe." " That is what you're doing?" " Yes." "With apologies." "I'll give you 10% of my winnings." "You probably remember, I'm good at games of chance." " You're in the right place." " That's an odd thing to say." "It's obviously some kind of private code." "We'll see the answer before Douglas." "That gives us an advantage." "True." "Go ahead and send it." "Spah made this sketch of the ship's interior." "See if you can open this." "Standard combination." "What do you think of your pet clown?" "I think we better watch him more closely." "Simple for a man who knows his job." "Douglas got rid of that airport telegram very quickly." "We'll have to wait for the answer to the one he sent." " How long will this concert last?" " No telling." "But I asked the Captain to arrive 15 minutes late." " It's a coding device." " I've never seen one quite like it." "Luftwaffe Intelligence... has been too busy sunning themselves in Spain." "Operation "K", what do you think that stands for?" "Kraut, Knockwurst, Kosher..." "What more do you need to question Napier and Pajetta?" "My orders are to move quietly." "Besides, when you surface a spy and he doesn't know it,... you can turn him to your own advantage." "It's you, Boerth." "What were you doing up there?" " Routine inspection." " Inspecting what?" "Control cables, sir." "A rigger's duty." "Is there anything I can help you with?" "I understand you were a Hitler Youth leader." " Yes, sir." " But inactive for the last two years." "Because of the Hindenburg." "I helped build her at Friderichshafen,... then last year I made ten trips." "If there's nothing else, I'll get on with my duties." "Boerth!" " I wonder what you were really doing." " My duty, sir." "We're from the FBI, Mrs. Rauch." "We'd like to talk to you." "Lordy, Lordy." "You're sure you got the right party?" "Yes, ma'am." "Then you confirm that this is your letter in your own handwriting..." " to the German Ambassador?" " I certainly do." "And everything in it will happen, just as I say." "Tomorrow, the Zeppelin will fly over New York City... and blow up." " I know it for a fact." " How do you know it?" "Because two weeks ago, I saw it in a vision." "I'm clairvoyant and I'm never wrong." "Just ask any of the neighbors." "I also predict that Betty Davis will play Scarlet O'Hara in the movie." "And the Duke of Windsor will never marry Mrs. Simpson." "Read it from the shorthand." ""The former lover of Freda Halle was killed fighting leftists in Spain." "Signed, Hockwald."" "To Hockwald, Is there any information regarding bomb from Halle." "Have several suspects but I need evidence." "Ritter." " Magnificent." " Icebergs.." "They're too far away to photograph." "Will you turn around?" "That's interesting." "You still play beautifully." "Only I wish you were playing cards." "Three, this afternoon." "You won't say anything about me bringing her down here, will you?" "I've been doing it since we left." " What kind of dog is she?" " She's a Dalmatian." "They used to follow behind carriages." "She needs a lot of exercise." "Cover on port fin ripped loose, sir." "Engines three and four idle, forward engines a quarter speed." " Suppose I go aft and look?" " Go ahead." "Okay, yes." " Hold her into the wind." " We're losing altitude." " Picked up rain in the squall." " More power?" "No." "The riggers would be swept overboard by the wind." " What's the altitude now?" "." "350 meters." " Rate of descent?" "10 miters a minute." "That gives them about 25 minutes." "Get him!" "Foot on the bar!" "Lift him up!" "Put your feet down here!" "Damn!" "Looks bad." "It's all right." "Let's go." "Altitude 280 meters." "We can't risk going below 100." "Altitude 260 meters." "We're now losing 15 a minute." "Forward engines to half." "A bit more breeze won't blow them off." "We'll gain lift and a few minutes." "Forward engines half speed." "You've only got about 15 minutes." "You sew, Karl." "You're faster." "Thank god I brought this camera." "Look, Darling." "It's gorgeous." "That's worth the whole trip." "It's breath taking." " Go back inside." "Look after your eye." " Just finish up." "Stand by, Dimmler." "When we're down to 100, I want all engines to full speed." "Get the riggers inside." "Knorr, Boerth." "No more time." "Back inside." "It's still too big." "It'll rip." " Captain's orders." "Back inside." " Karl." "One rigger's still outside." " Boerth is still outside." " I heard you, Dimmler." "All engines full ahead." "Nose up five degrees." "Knorr, I'm going off." "Pull me." "Pull me." "You're all right, Karl." "Come on." "She's about seven hours late." "But there's no need to worry." "She's right there. 100 miles off the coast of Newfoundland." "Then they won't be landing until tomorrow afternoon." "I suggest you come back tomorrow morning." "We'll know much better by then." " Thank you so much." " My pleasure." " Mr. Douglas." " Thank you." "I'll take that to the radio room for you, Mr. Douglas." "No, thank you." "I'll do it myself." " But passengers aren't allowed..." " I know." "Here's my special pass." "Thank you." "I'd like to see you, Mr. Douglas." " How about a drink later?" " Now." "What's this strong arm stuff?" "." "You'd better tell me about this." "While you're at it, explain these, in code?" "I don't have to explain a damn thing to you." "Get out." "You'd better set it back to Frankfurt time." "That's where a fast police car will be meeting you in 94 hours." "Barring accidents, of course." "Okay, I'll tell you, Ritter." "But you must let me send the message." "It may mean the difference." " To what?" " To winning my biggest deal ever." "Right now, I'm in a race... to beat my competitor into New York." " Who?" " Fred Seemans, of Seemans  Poelzig." "He's on the Queen Mary, which left a day and a half ahead of us." "In the messages, we call his outfit the Sharks,... mine, the Hawks." "One by air and one by sea and both carnivorous." "You're beginning to get the idea." "Tomorrow, it will be announced that General Motors... has acquired the Opel Motor Company." "The advertising account will be up for grabs." "Whoever gets there first will have the jump." "All right." "Let's see if there's a Fred Seemans on board the Queen Mary." "The individual Fred Seemans is on board the Queen Mary." "In suite 312 First Class C Deck." "It's the others that took the time." "Operation "K", Passage, Raid, and Mr. Chandu." " Know who they are?" " You'll tell me any day now?" "." " They're horses, Captain." " What?" "You see, it had me stumped." "So I contacted the FBI." "And was my face red." "These are the names of race horses." "Why does some German on a Zeppelin what us to find out about the ponies?" "You got me." "Maybe he's heard N.Y. cops make book." "Maybe he thinks he can sneak over to Belmont and win a bundle." "That's near Lakehurst." "Two of these nags are running tomorrow." "Operation "K" and Mr. Chandu." "Send him the odds." "That's probably all the guy wants anyway." "Hi Tony." "You boys are going out to Jersey, special request of the State Dept." "They have a Luftwaffe Colonel aboard, name is Ritter." "Big wheel with Intelligence." "Coming to land a couple of espionage agents, maybe?" "Now don't you experts let any Goddamn Nazis slip into the country." "That blimp better not fly too low over them Jersey woods." "Full of moonshiners." "They'll shoot any big-ass bird... flying over their stills." "Yeah." "The T-men are also sending a special customs squad." "Byrnes Duncan will be with them." "Duncan?" " He's with the Bureau of Explosives." " Thanks, we get the picture." "That's right." "I thought we might be able to relax... now that the famous Rauch letter turns out to be from a crank." "The Gestapo often exaggerates their information." "Are you building this?" "Yes." "My own design for a house in Zeppelinheim." "A new village near the airfield." "We're hoping a lot of our airship families will settle there." "Come." " For you, Colonel." " Thank you." "It's from the Gestapo." "Boerth's woman has been arrested." "She confessed her ex-lover was killed fighting for the leftists in Spain." "The Gestapo can make anyone confess anything." "Yes." "In bed with his mistress..." "Boerth could've been talked into a plot." "What plot, Colonel?" "A crank letter has been made into a matter of State." "The purpose of exaggerating the bomb scare was to get helium." "I went along with that." " There are other sources of info." " Perhaps less valid than the letter." "I'm not a believe in the occult like Mrs. Rauch, but..." "I have an uneasy sense of disaster." "As if a bomb were ticking inside me." "It's a constant feeling with some people in Germany, these days." "A decent man, like you,... with a wife, probably raising a family,... have you never had this feeling before?" ""Probably raising a family."" "My only son was killed 3 months ago working for the "New Order"." "Believe me, I'm not much better working for the Gestapo." "One of their spies lying in the bed above me." "What's happening to people like us?" "I've given my life to Zeppelins." "Last year, for the sake of our company..." "I even dropped political pamphlets from this ship." "Where does it stop?" "I've been in the Air Force since the World War." "When the Versailles Treaty abolished it, I worked for Goering... and the others to build a secret one." "I remember those days." "You people trained in gliders." "Yes." "All over Germany." "Mostly at night." "I was proud when Hitler brought the new Luftwaffe out into the open." "But I wasn't proud after last week,... at Guernica,... a little Basque village, a few hundred peasants." " We dropped 3,000 bombs on them." " You were there?" "Chief of Intelligence." "So that's how one wins the Knight's Cross in peacetime?" "Peacetime..." "Well, now we have two heroes aboard." "Boerth did valiant service to the Hindenburg today." "He doesn't seem to be the man to destroy the ship." "He does to me." "He's exactly the kind of man I would choose for a dangerous mission." "Bold, tough, cool." "You have those qualities in common with him." "You're both good men." "I must get to know him better." "Please, show this to Pruss." "Thanks for the coffee, good night." "I hope you get your house built." "Freda Halle has been arrested." "Traffic violation?" "No." "By the Gestapo." "Because she works for foreigners?" "Because I think she works with you." "She lives with me." "She's admitted... that your predecessor has been killed in Spain." "If she knows about the bomb, they'll make her confess that too." "Where is it, Boerth?" "They'll work on Freda until you tell me." "You filth." "No worse than the filth who wants to blow up 97 people." "But you won't have a chance because I'm locking you up." " You're under arrest." " Ritter,... get your hands off me, or I'll blow it up now." "You can't stop it." "I can make it go any second." "Don't force me, Ritter." "I need you to help me." "For Ritter." "Get it to him immediately." "He's hard to find." "Prowls all over the ship." "This ship is the Nazis' greatest propaganda weapon." "You patched her up today for your own propaganda." "No good if she simply tumbled into the sea." "No politics in an act of God." "No survivors, either." "But that's not how I plan to do it." "It'll happen at the mooring mast at Lakehurst." "A hydrogen airship?" "That's deliberate murder." "The Luftwaffe in Spain is deliberate murder." "And that's practice for Hitler." "You people will save the world by blowing up the Hindenburg." "It's a place to start." "It'll prove there is a resistance." "Decent Germans will get the courage to join us." "No one has to be killed if you help me." "You're the key to this." "Boerth, is that Colonel Ritter with you?" " Coming." " I've a message for you." "I have a date with my little Jewish model." "I'm curious to try one before they're all gone." "Cologne won't help you." "Why didn't you arrest Boerth?" "Pruss showed me the message." "I'm still looking for a bomb." "Arresting him won't stop it exploding." "It will if you make him talk." "Your thumbscrews didn't make Freda talk about a bomb,... before she was shot while trying to escape." "That was a stupid guard's mistake." "You're making a worse one." "Arrest Boerth, Spah, Douglas, all of them." "Brilliant." "The Hindenburg will come into Lakehurst like a prison ship." "I can see the headline:..." ""Anti-Nazi plot on Zep."" "There are ways to keep it quiet." "If it offends your delicacy, I'll handle it for you." "You just do as your told." "I'll take care of Boerth." "You watch Napier and Spah, and of course, your little model." "I'll also be watching you." "Fine." "Who'll be watching you?" "I'm really disappointed, Colonel." "We thought, certainly, after the splendid example of your son... that you would personally..." "Gentlemen, new time of arrival, 5 p.m." "Now, you reporters can go back to the gin mills." "I'll ask the police and the Security Officers to stay on, though." "Who needs a passenger list?" "There's a real pair, Napier and Pajetta." " You know those men, Sergeant?" " Sure do." "The Major and Emilio "The Cane"." "They're boatmen." "Card sharks." "Usually work the luxury liners." "Real characters." "I'm supposed to check the copper tubing on the airship." "Are those guys kidding about a bomb?" "That's very funny." "Look!" "Rainbows like that are very common in airship travel." "Dad!" "Did you see it?" " What?" " It's nothing, Dad." "Rainbows like that are very common in airship travel." " Is that right?" " Yeah." " Are you with me?" " I have something to tell you." "I have no time for you." "This ship and I have six and a half hours left." "It concerns Freda Halle." "Gestapo?" "Killed while trying to escape, they say." "I know, Boerth..." "I lost my son last March." "My only child." "He was in the Hitler youths." "Your son died for Hitler." "Isn't that enough for you?" "Plenty." "I don't want 97 more dead on this ship." "I told you, it will happen at the mooring mast." "No one aboard." "My God, that's the last thing I want." "Ask Lakehurst for Marines to cordon off the ship." "Keep everyone at least 50 yards away." "I would have to see the bomb, know how it works." "No." "You have a wife at home." "What time do we set the bomb for?" "I've got to see it." "Too much can go wrong." "You just see that the ship is empty." "What time do we set the bomb for?" "Ritter, I can do it without you, very easily." "The ship lands at five." "All the passengers off at 5:30." "Another half hour to unload the freight and the mail." "Liberty party leaves at 6:30,... remaining crew will eat at the Naval Station Mess." "Captain Fellows' dinner party for the officers at 7." "Anyone standing watch, I'll evacuate." "I'll say U.S. Customs search, something." "No supplies or fuel or hydrogen will be loaded until after 8." "What time?" "You leave with the Liberty Party." "Disappear into New York." "I'm staying aboard." "That can't help Freda now." "In the last few seconds, I'm sending out a radio signal... that it was no accident." "What time?" "7:30." " Check." " Check." "I bet a hundred." "The lady's out for blood." "I use it to polish my fingernails." "I'm out." "I'll see you and raise you." "And I'll raise you." "And I'll see you both." "I'm afraid that lets me out." "Full house." "You'd be looking for a fig leaf." "Straight flush." "Well, we live and learn." "Well, once more into the breach." "Spah was in the hull again." "The stewardess found these in the cabin." "Excellent, Martin." "This could mean he's working for someone else." "Someone who needs these." "Who?" "That's the man I want you to find... after we take care of these two." "What happened to the tape, Mr. Pajetta?" "Since when have you become the local house detective?" "I deputized him." "Until we land, you and Major Napier will be confined to your cabin." " Come along." " What about the game?" "You can play hearts with Mr. Pajetta in the cabin." "You're going to regret this, sir." "My nephew was very close to Mussolini." "Thank you both." "May I send a bottle of Chianti to your cabin?" "Madam, what you can do with that bottle of Chianti,..." "I won't say in front of these gentlemen." "Well, Countess, I never thought I'd enjoy losing so much." "Thank you, dear Franz, for the assignment." "I made enough to fill 20 trunks." "How did you do it?" "They cheat." "I believe they earn their living that way." "The cane?" "Pajetta taps out signals with it." "And you still won?" "I managed to scramble their signals." "I'd say your 10% was worth several cases of champagne." "Shall we start drinking it up?" "Better send it to me." "I'll celebrate my homecoming in a bath of it." "I'd love to join you, Franz." "But I'm not going back." "I know." "Who tries to bring a wardrobe trunk aboard a Zeppelin?" "My dear, sweet Franz." "It's all so depressing, isn't it?" "This helps a little." "It's not what I need now, thanks." "No, it's a poor substitute, but..." "It makes no sense at all, does it, Franz?" "That you and I ever met." "I'll see you to say goodbye." "Kirby!" "Kirby!" "Check over your procedures for a high landing." "Pruss just sent word he'll try one." "Pruss is nuts." "An electric front is moving in." "He's going to try it." "And Kirby, when she's hooked up,... slip her nose into the cup real easy." "Just keep remembering there's seven million... cubic feet of hydrogen at the end... of our fishing pole." "My God!" "The Queen." "I've had it." "Not necessarily." "We land at Lakehurst at 5." "She's just taking on her tugs." "Boerth!" "What's there?" " Find something, Karl?" " That patch was weak." "Must've loosened when the outer skin ripped." "I reinforced it." "I'm sure it's secure now." "Yeah." "Come on." "The chef's got sandwiches waiting for us." "Blasma refused us the detachment of Marines." "Did you tell him the score?" "He knows the score." "It was quite a battle." "He called the Hindenburg a flying crematorium." "Doesn't want his men near her." "I hope Washington gives Lehmann the helium." " Mr. Dimmler..." " Yes?" "I just found this stuck in the catwalk." "Jesus!" "Any damage?" "I don't think so, sir." "Something wrong?" "Ludecke just found this in the catwalk." "Some idiot must have dropped it." " Who does it belong to, Ludecke?" " I don't know." "He didn't report it?" "Damn fool!" "A knife dropped inside the hull could cause sparks,... damage a wire, control cable,..." "Christ knows what." "We have to find out who owns the knife and why he didn't report it." "We want to see your knives." "Your knife, please, Karl." "Ludecke found this in the hull a few minutes ago." "He doesn't have it." "I know I left it in the sheath on my bunk... when I went to wash up, someone must have borrowed it." " Forgive my appearance." " Is this yours?" " No, sir." " Can you prove it?" "My knife has a nick in the guard... from that fight we got in in Shanghai... when we went around the world on the Graf." "Arrest him, question all of them." "Arrest me?" "Because my knife was borrowed?" "Enough of this stupid business." "Get dressed and to your station." "You men, too." "I trust the men in the Zeppelin family." "That's at least 25 knots." "They're only showing surface winds." "What's happened to gusts?" "We can't get it fixed,..." "Flash red, dammit." "Signal red, Captain." "Thank you kindly." "I thought it was a Christmas tree." "Send this to Fellows:" "Riding out weather." "Shall delay landing until further notice from NAL." "Looking forward to dinner." "Pruss." "Make sure the dog is unloaded as soon as we land." "All right?" "Here's a little something extra for you." "You've been a doll." "That's okay." "I like dogs." "Thanks, anyway." "It's the set for my Zeppelin act." "I had better ones, but they disappeared from my cabin." "Somebody's trying to steal my act." "That's how good it is." "Joe, I've got to be honest with you." "It's not right for my show." "You don't like it?" "I guess it's back to the circus." "Joe,... you forgot this one." "It's just a drawing that I made of that crazy rainbow for my kids." " How many children do you have?" " Three." "One seven, one four,... and a baby boy who'll be an acrobat." "Believe me, we have circus enough at home." "I'll bet." "It's been a great honor to know people like you." " Thank you, Joe." " We had some fun." " Yeah." " Goodbye." "Reed, I'd like to see Joe's act." "Okay, little mother." "I guess we'll give him an audition some time next week." "This is absurd." "Yes, Ma'am." "I'm sure it's just a technicality that will be... straightened out before we land." "I want my passport this instant." "It's not here, Countess." "It's been picked up." "Same thing happened to a friend of mine in Italy." "You wouldn't believe the excuse they gave him." "Franz,... they've picked up my passport." " On whose orders?" " Yours, maybe." "Who else knows about Peenemunde?" "You're the only..." "It's only a little storm, Countess." "In an hour you'll be laughing about it with your daughter." "In fact, I'm going to escort you from the ship so I see her." "All right?" "Let me see your knife." "You've seen my knife." "I'm busy." " This is Knorr's knife, isn't it?" " The hell it is." "A nick on the guard just like Knorr said." "You stole it from him when you broke your own." "What where you doing?" " It's my knife." " You're lying." "You can't arrest me without Ritter." "Watch." "Vogel, you Gestapo idiot." "You're making the mistake of your life." "Captain, some of the passengers are getting nervous." "How long will it be before we land?" "Whenever Naval Air at Lakehurst gives us the green light." "When do you estimate that will be?" "We'll land when conditions are right... and not a minute sooner." "Three degrees out of trim,..." " light in the bow." " Drop ballast aft 200 kilos." "Yes, she does feel tail heavy." "Because wind drove the rain aft." "The moisture will evaporate in a few minutes." "When we're over the field,... how long will it be before the passengers can leave the ship?" "They are certain to ask." "A high landing takes 15 minutes." "Allow another 20 to disembark passengers." "I understand that the Countess' passport is being held?" "Vogel said it was a matter of internal security." "Vogel took it?" "What the hell's the matter with you, Ritter?" "I assume you know what's going on in your own department." "Yes, sir, I do." "Ready!" "If the wind shifts, have your linesmen hang on... until the main wire comes down." "Boerth?" "I'm looking for Boerth." "Have you seen him?" "I need him too." "Try the nose section." "What's that?" "That's just a worn place we patched, I'm sure it's secure." "Ok, but let's have a man watch this bag until we're on the ground." "Yes, sir." "Boerth!" "Boerth!" "Send to Dekka:" "Recommend landing now." "Ground crew is ready." "Reply to NAL:..." ""Proceeding to land." "Will be late for dinner." "Apologies to Madam." "Signed, Pruss."" "I'm uneasy about Cell Four." "You might have to make a major repair before going back." "We'll see." "Landing stations." "Two degrees light in the bow and tail-heavy." "Six men from the off-watch into the bow." " Have you seen Boerth?" " No, Colonel." "No, sir." "He should be here." "Winds shifted to the west." " Gusts?" " No reading on gusts." "No wonder they lose all their airships." "Hard rudder to port." "Aft engines full astern." "Come on, line up with her." "Come on, move your butts." "She'll keep her nose in the wind." "Come on, move it." " Where's Boerth?" " His landing station's in the nose." "Ship in trim, but rising slightly." "Valve all cells five seconds." "Stand by for starboard line drop." "Beautiful." "Level as a board." "Pruss is really showing us how." "The ship is standing still now." "Everything seems remarkably still." "She hovers just short of the mast... waiting for her nose cone to be connected up." "A great floating palace." "Please, Mr. Douglas, you have to leave." "I'm closing up." "So, we're finally landing." "That calls for another drink." "I should've taken a rowboat." "Neuhaus, we've got a jammed cable." "Come bear a hand." "Out, Ritter." "I'm taking over." "Out!" "Boerth!" "It's Ritter!" "It's 7:20." "Where's the bomb?" "It's not my knife." "Listen to me." "There's less than 10 minutes left." "They're all going to die." "Where's the bomb?" "Repair patch four." "Ritter!" "No, no!" "Get out!" "The Hindenburg is in flames." "It's burst into flames and it's falling and it's crashing." "Watch it." "Watch it." "Some landing!" "Run!" "Get out of there!" "Let the bow fall." "Get out in back." "Hurry!" "The extinguishers." "Give me a hand." "My God!" "Get the ambulances!" " Jump!" " I can't." "My babies." "You've got to jump." "Grab the rope!" "Come on!" "Get out of here." "Jump!" "Don't be afraid." "The girl's braver than you?" "Come on!" "You can do it!" "Get out of there!" "My God!" "My God!" "Help him out." "Hurry!" "Run!" "Don't stay there." "Emilio!" "I was afraid your luck had run out on you." "It's a miracle anybody's alive." "Get out of here." "Go ahead." "Trudi." "My baby. thank God!" "Lehmann." "Ernst!" "What happened?" "Ernst!" "How did it happen?" "Colonel Franz Ritter, dead." "Rigger Karl Boerth, dead." "S.S. Captain Martin Vogel, survived." "Captain Max Pruss, survived." "Captain Ernst Lehmann, dead." "Albert Breslau, dead." "Mildred Breslau, survived." "Edward Douglas, dead." "Elliott Howell the Third, dead." "Dead." "Survived." "Dead." "Dead." "Dead." "Survived." "Survived." "Dead." "Dead." "Dead." "Survived." "In all, 13 passengers, 22 members of the crew,... one Navy linesman, dead." "62 survivors." "The final report of the Board of Inquiry states:..." ""The most plausible theories for the Hindenburg disaster are:..." "Structural failure, static electricity,..." "St. Elmo's fire, sabotage."" "No completely certain proof has been found... for any of the possibilities cited." "The German commission report goes a step further." "It states:..." ""The possibility of deliberate destruction... must be admitted since no other originating cause... can be proven."" "However, the New Reich could not admit... that a resistance, much less a single saboteur,... had brought down the great symbol of Nazi power." "Chancellor Hitler concluded, then, that it was an Act of God." "During the investigation, the eyewitness account... recorded by Herb Morrisson for radio station WLS Chicago... was heard many times." "The back motors of the ship are holding it... enough to keep it from..." "It burst into flames and it's falling!" "The flames..." "Watch it!" "It's terrible!" "Get out of the way, please." "It's burning and bursting into flames." "It's falling on the Mooring pad and the folks agree:..." ""This is one of the worst catastrophes in the world."" "You can see... 4 or 5 hundred feet into the sky... it's a terrific crash, ladies and gentlemen." "The smoke and the flames..." "The frame is crashing to the ground." "Not quite to the mooring mast." "The humanity and all the passengers." "I told you..." "I can't even talk to people whose friends are on there." "If they..." "I can't talk, ladies and gentlemen." "I can't." "I'm gonna have to stop for a minute because I've lost my voice." "This is the worst thing I've ever witnessed." "Subtitles rip:" "B.J."