"♪BurtonW♪" "DEDICATED TO THE MEN OF THE FIRST SPECIAL SERVICES" "KNOWN TO THEIR ENEMIES AS THE DEVIL'S BRIGADE" "Lieutenant Colonel Frederick, good morning." "We're a bit late." "Hurry, please." "(Frederick) The Allies were in trouble and so was I that summer of 1942, when I arrived in England on what I was sure was a fool's errand." "I'd come to explain the US Army's strong opposition to one of Lord Mountbatteﬂs favourite projects." "I'd written the Army's critical report in what I thought was plain English." "I was puzzled and annoyed at being sent 4,000 miles to say it all over again." "Particularly to Lord Mountbatten himself." " You've never held a field command?" " No, sir." "No combat experience." "No, sir." "By what special knowledge do you so dogmatically damn our plan of action?" "You propose in four months to recruit a unit, half Canadian, half American, and drop them in Norway in the middle of winter." "You have a new snow machine." "But what kind of men will you recruit?" "How will they be trained and equipped?" "Your plan doesn't say, but once you get them there, how will you get them out?" " There's been no provision made for that." " We are not unaware of the problems." "Nevertheless, we are going ahead." "If you've made your decision, what am I doing here?" " Thank you, Colonel." " Let's go, Bob." "Gentlemen, I think we've found our commanding officer." "If he'll take it." "He's more likely to throw it right back in your face." "Care to bet?" "FORT WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON" "So you left Washington for this, huh, Colonel?" "Hm." "Well..." "Don't move, Colonel." "Why in the hell did you have to shoot him?" "Sir, we didn't feel like waiting around till it starved to death." "Look, Captain, that kind of smart-ass talk don't go good with me." "You just be careful of that kind of talk." "Colonel Frederick." "Major Cliff Bricker, sir." "I started to collect snakes." "Caught one yesterday." "I've got him in my footlocker in my room." " You're interested in herpetology?" " Hm?" " You like snakes." " I hate 'em." "Scared to death of 'em." "That's the reason I joined the paratroops." "I hated to fly." "Scared to death of jumping." "But after 50 jumps, I just loved it." "Danger, that's the best tonic." "That's the reason I put in for Special Forces." "Major, when you address me, take the cigar out of your mouth." "This is my office, Major." "This outfit is the First Special Service Force." "Where were you when I arrived?" "There was nothing to do here, sir, so we decided to go into town and look around." "A blind man could see a thousand things to do." "Sir, you being in Washington, you haven't been around like me." "You see, I've been in nine different camps." "Nine." "I've gotta tell you this, sir." "Never have I seen anything so hopeless as this joint is." "There's absolutely nothing it doesn't need." "Hopeless." "That's why we've got it, Major." "And that's why I've got you." "You've been in nine camps because you're the biggest hustler in the US Army." "In exactly ten days, our first recruits and volunteers arrive." "Whatever they need, you're going to supply." "How you do it, I don't care." "Just start hustling." "Cardwell." "(horn)" "(man) Move it." "Come on." "Line them up, on the double." "Move." "Come on, this is not a Sunday-school picnic." "Move it." "Come on." "Do you think somebody somewhere has it in for our peerless leader here?" "I worked in a fish cannery." "We threw away better material than this." "(man) Come on, you men, move!" "Hate to break up the game, fellas, but when my country calls..." " Cut it out." " Trouble, greaseball?" " Don't call me that." " What would you like me to call you?" "Hotshot hustler?" "St Louis sharpshooter?" " Or just plain punk?" " Watch it, here he comes." " You heard him." "Line up." " What's going on?" " Nothing, buddy boy, not a blessed thing." " Pick up that hat and put it on, soldier." "I warn you, don't you give me any trouble." "Break it up!" "(whistle)" "Are you gonna break it up?" "Get that man." "ﬂeeriflg)" "Break it up." "We're gonna try to make some kind of a company formation out of this." "(officer shouts commands and crowd quietens)" "Well, now, what are we doing up there?" "I got stomach gas real bad." "I think I can cure that." "Oh!" "Thanks for waiting, fellas." "Sorry I'm late." "Don't you know how to fall in, soldier?" "Fill up this spot." "Ten hut." "Detail all present and accounted for." "I regret their behaviour." "That's the nature of the beast." "Beast?" "That's why they were transported like cattle?" "Those bums are so fouled up they must have cleaned out every stockade." "If I were you, I'd ship them right back." "What the hell's the army doing?" "Just about what I expected." "Since you're not me, see that they get to camp." "Yes, sir." "Captain." "(Bricker) Ten hut." " Lieutenant." " Yes, sir." "We are told that men evolved from lower animals." "Apparently, you think it should be the other way around." "That's all." " (sergeant) Forward." " (men) Forward march." "(sergeant) Hut, two, three, four..." "Go left, go left, go left and left..." "Soldier, get those dark glasses off." "Hut, two, three, four..." " Where's your gear, flyboy?" " Seems I neglected to bring it with me." "Listen to the sugarplum." "He neglected to bring it with him." "You look a mite neglected yourself." " How come I didn't see you on the train?" " I'm the inconspicuous type." " Listen to him." "Cute." " Leave him alone, lardass." "You're asking for it, dago, you really are." " (sergeant) Knock off the chatter." " (blows raspberry)" "How about it?" "Got a cure for that, Sergeant?" "Yes, sir." "Double-time march!" " The name of the game." " What's your name?" "Luckhouse Louie?" "Listen, with that shark, luck's got nothing to do with it." " Talking of luck, know how I got here?" " Who cares?" "A sweet young thing in San Jose says I raped her." "Takes all my money and blows the whistle on me." "They gave me five years in Leavenworth or join this fearless fighting outfit." "It's a great country." "Every slob can get clipped, whipped and double-dipped." "Beat your gums, dago." "Beat 'em till they bleed." "I'm out six bucks." "Come on, deal the cards, damn it." " The only way out of here is over." " By balloon or P-38?" "Did you ever hear of Bernheimer's World-Renowned Circus?" "What about the Flying Greco Brothers?" "Hold still, right?" " Well, I'll be damned." " Omar Greco." " They call me Bronc." " All right." "Real name is Bronco Billy Guthrie." " How many times you made it out?" " Oh..." "About five." " I got a system but I need a partner." " Let's hear about your system." " Partner." " All right." "Come on." " Anybody question the requisitions?" " No, it was a breeze." "We even got a wave-on from the guards." "Beautiful, beautiful." "Well, that's just fine, great." "You guys get 'em around back fast." "Next trip, the toilet bowls." "All right, bigmouth, that did it." " Wait a minute, it was all my fault." " Butt out." "On your feet, dago, you got more comin'." "(whistle)" "(bagpipe music)" "Change direction, right." "Right wheel." "Mark time in front." "Move it up." "Canadian company... halt." "Left turn." "Major Crown, sir, Canadian Army, reporting for duty." "Glad to have you with us, Crown." "Canadian company, stand at ease." "Captain Cardwell, get these men into formation on the double." " Sergeant." " Sir." " Company formation on the double." " Company formation over here." "Let's go." "(all) Aw!" "(sergeant) Come on, move it." "On the double." "God save the king." "God save us all." "Parade, rest." "Welcome to the First Special Service Force." "There is only one really important thing to know and remember about the Force." "It's the easiest combat unit in the army... to get out of." "All you have to do is fail to measure up." "You'll be returned immediately to your former unit or predicament." "It's entirely up to you." "You Canadians are the hand-picked best of the best-trained army in the world." "We'll soon find out about that." "You Americans, for the most part, have an entirely different reputation." "I've been supplied with full details on your military and moral delinquencies." "Prison records." "How many times you've been drunk, AWOL or both." "I know all about you, and I couldn't care less." "I want men that are tough, that love to fight, fight to win, and would rather die than quit." "That's asking a lot, but no more than you're capable of if you'll accept the challenge." "We'll soon find out about that too." "Good luck to you all." "Dismiss your men." " Company, ten hut." "Fall out." " Corporal Peacock." " Fall out the Canadians." " Yes, sir." "Canadian company, dismissed." " Can you believe that?" " Lend me your hat, I may vomit." " Sir." " You, soldier!" " Where are you going?" " I've gotta see the colonel." "If you ever hope to see the outside world again, get back where you belong." "I don't belong anywhere." "I'm AWOL from Camp Gillam." "I escaped from the stockade." "I didn't arrive on the train." "I walked." "I want to transfer to this outfit." " Get..." " Soldier." " In my office." " Thank you, sir." "Phone his camp." "Find out all about him." "I'll be in Communications." "Let me know." " Excuse me, haven't we met before?" " Get out of here." "It's just that you remind me of a sweet young thing I used to know." " I won't tell you again..." " (bagpipe honks)" " You even sound like her." " (laughter)" "Corporal, sir." "You've got a beautiful group of hand-picked men." "You really do." "Bugger off." "Where I come from, the only thing we pick by hand is little yellow daffodils." "(French accent) Where we come from, we pick the rotten apples from the barrel and feed them to the hogs." "Hey, listen." "One of them's a frog." "Go ahead, say something, froggy." "Merde." " Just exactly what does that mean?" " To most people, it's an insult." "But to you, I'd say it was a compliment." " Peacock." " Sir." " Yes, sir." " Peacock?" "Pea-cock?" " At ease." " Thank you, sir." "Long walk from Camp Gillam." "You must be more than ordinarily eager to join the First Special Service Force." " Any job that's open, sir." " Or to get out of any trouble you're in?" "You know, the one thing I have excess of here is troublemakers." "Yes, sir, but if I heard your speech correctly, sir, you've got the answer." "Incite border warfare, so to speak." "Between the Americans and Canadians." "I only assumed that was your intention, sir." " What kind of trouble do you make?" " I play the piano, sir." "When I washed out as a flyer, I was assigned to Captain Quill." "He runs the officers' club." "I was to clean up during the day, play piano at night." "I didn't much fancy sitting out the war playing "I'll Never Smile Again"." "So I asked to be transferred to Intelligence." "That should be a perfect spot for you." "You're obviously intelligent, perceptive, adroit." " Thank you, sir." " And calculating." "How did Captain Quill fancy your playing around with his girlfriend?" "The girl he thought was his girlfriend, sir." "I thought otherwise." " He won the argument." " So he beat you up?" " Not all by himself." " Don't lie to me." "I have all the facts." "You're charged with striking an officer." "Quill asks you to stay away from his girl, you attack him... and his men had to use clubs in order to subdue you." "I'm not crazy enough to strike an officer." "Sir, if you send me back, Quill could keep me in prison for the rest of my life." "Yes, I know, but don't calculate that you can con your way in here." " Do you read me correctly?" " Yes, sir." "I'm sorry to have bothered you, sir." "Thank you, sir." "Ransom, did I give you permission to leave?" "No, sir." " What's this?" " When you beat somebody up, it's a good way to play safe, isn't it?" "Tie his hands behind his back." "Bricker." " Yes, sir?" " Get this man a uniform." "You've got to be kidding." "The uniforms have been ordered but..." " Get him something to wear." "He smells." " Yes, sir." "That's all." "Sir." "I promise you, you won't be sorry." "If I am, I promise you you'll be a lot more sorry." "Yes, sir." "Oh." " Bastards." " Something on your mind, Major?" "Yes, sir." "We're making a big mistake going soft on the gorillas we've got here." " Did you say gorillas?" " Not the Canucks, the Americans." "Canucks, Major, is a term we consider disparaging." " Do you have a specific complaint?" " Yes, sir, I sure as hell do." "One of those stupid jerks out there broke into my room and stole my rattlesnake." " Your what?" " Rattlesnake." "Maybe they don't allow them in Canada." " Yes, but we don't sleep with them." " Nobody likes a promiscuous rattlesnake." "Huh, Captain?" "I can assure you, Major, none of my men would steal a rattlesnake." "My men are under strict orders." "Anyone discrediting the Canadian uniform is subject to immediate court-martial." "Among other restrictions, they are specifically forbidden to fight." "I suggest, sir, you consider a similar order." " Do you have a complaint?" " I don't mean to belittle the Americans." "What do you mean?" "There have been numerous attempts by your men to provoke my men." "And unless they're ordered to stop, there could be serious trouble." " You really think so?" " I know so, sir." " We'll have to watch that, won't we?" " Yes, sir." "How does a friendly little fella like you get the name "Ornery"?" "Henri." "It's French for Henry." "You've got yourself a nice little piece here." "Them French girls know all kinds of tricks." " Give me that, you espéce de salaud." " Ain't that a pretty language?" "Sure is marvellous sharing quarters with you Canucks." " Yeah, what's so marvellous about it?" " Let me think." "Bronc, this man is one of the hand-picked best." "Right, Corporal?" "Thank God they're our friends." "Imagine what would happen if we was fighting them." "We could take Canada in two weeks if we wanted it." "Right, Manella?" " More like two days." " (laughter)" "Is that a fact?" "Well, just you try it, mate." " Mac!" "(laughter)" "Bande de putains!" "A good thing your wife wasn't under there." "You listen to me, you dirty-mouthed buggers." "I'm not one to pull rank, but if there's any more of your filthy talk or your foul rotten tricks, you'll pay for it." "Now, is that clear?" "Right." "This man is right." "Let's cut it out." " We're very sorry, Corporal." " It won't happen again, Corporal." "Very well, then." "(laughter)" "Sweet dreams, Corporal." "(bugle)" "Order, arms." "We have very little time to determine who is and who is not qualified for the difficult job assigned to this unit." "The training continues today with a 30-mile hike." "Normally, you would carry a full pack and a rifle." "I regret to say that our weapons and much of our equipment have not yet arrived." "We shall therefore have to do without them." "However, we do have rucksacks which are loaded with 50lbs of rocks." "Each man, each officer in each unit..." " He's got to be kidding." " Don't you wish?" "Hey, Corporal." "♪ Yankee Doodle went to town riding on a pony" "♪ Stuck a feather in his hat and called it macaroni" " Peacock." " Yes, sir?" "Your stripes are not a license to behave like an ass." "There'll be no more derogatory behaviour or insulting remarks, clear?" "Yes, sir." "There will be no more derogatory insults about the Yanks, is that clear?" "Er, would ordinary insults be acceptable, sir?" "Sir, what am I gonna do about my men?" "They're a bunch of eightballs." "Half of them, if they don't belong in jail, should be in a loony bin." "How many of them keep pet rattlesnakes?" "Sir?" "How many of them have been in and out of nine different camps?" "Would you like to try for ten, Major?" "It's very easy." "All right, now, look alive." "I know that this is route step but shape up." "I see you circling up there and I know who you're following too." "15 miles back..." "Oh..." ""The contents of this can are not fit for human consumption."" "(laughter)" " Major Crown." " Sir?" "The Canadians seem to be in better condition than I expected." " That's very good of you to say so, sir." " "Very good of you to say so, sir."" ""Thank you, sir." Bunch of gung-ho volunteers." "They give me the galloping' trots." "Man, I can't make it." " I just can't make it." " The hell you can't." "Anybody who quits gets his head broke." " What's wrong with him?" " Nothing." "Double hernia." "Slight heart attack." "Otherwise, he's fine." "Don't be smart, pretty boy." " Everybody's fine, sir." " Just don't drop out." "Canadian company, double time." "American company, ten hut." "Double time." "Come on, faster." "Keep up with them, don't let them win." "Laurent, get that bugger." " Go on, boy, run." " (cheering)" "Go get him, Omar." "(cheering)" " Well done, lad." "Good try." " Are you all right?" "(cheering)" "Hey, you." "That was great work, soldier." " That was a silly-ass thing to do." " I was trying to return the favour..." "(snoring)" " Well?" " (gasps)" " Oh, you mean about getting out?" " Yeah." "Look, Bronc, I've been doing a lot of thinking." "You said it yourself, that they always get you." "This time, they could put me away for the duration." "It's just not worth it." "You got your knife?" "I'll give you half of this." "You won it." "You keep it." "When you get it lighted, I'll tell you what to do with it." "Bronc, listen." "What if I help you get out?" " What good will that do?" " Bronc, will you take this?" "I don't even smoke." "It's very bad for the wind." "(knocking)" " Who is it?" " Major Crown, sir." "Come in." "Our chemists came up with this, sir." "It's the best thing I know for sore feet." "Thank you, I don't need it." "Is that all?" "You paid our men a compliment." "Your men performed better than I expected." " My men?" " The Yanks, sir." "Major, please understand." "I command the entire brigade." "Canadians and Americans." "Yes, sir." "What I don't understand is why you're pitting them against each other." "I have less than four months left to convert this misbegotten outfit into the army's finest combat unit." "I haven't time to explain or justify every move I make." "Yes, sir." "But I might point out, sir, that many of my men fought... many of the Canadian unit fought at Dunkirk." "SQ?" "It's possible, sir, you might want to learn a lesson from their combat experience." "Yes, I might." "If you'd won at Dunkirk, but you lost." "I'm training this outfit to win." "Good night, Major." "We lost, yes." "In the most bloody awful fashion we lost." "But from that loss, I learned a lesson." "The danger of assuming the role of Almighty God." "When the day of reckoning arrives as mine arrived at Dunkirk," "I can assure you, Colonel, it can be a most sorry day indeed." "Keep it moving." "Faster than that." "That's it, Canadians, keep it moving." "Don't get your feet wet, soldiers." "Bronco, you got a sharp knife?" "Sharp enough." "(laughter)" "What do you say, Peacock, are you ready?" "Nobody can see your stripes now." " I know you're yellow." " Corporal Peacock!" "Sir..." "You never looked better, Peacock." " All right, next man on the line." " Soldier, I've heard enough of you." " Keep it going." " Come on, move on." "Captain Cardwell tells me you spoke to him about a man named O'Neill." " Is he capable?" " He's capable enough to recommend, sir." "However, if you question my judgment, you could try him." "Oh, I'm a new man here." "You'll not object if I join you?" "You don't need all that space, do you?" "Even with that enormous fat behind?" "God in heaven, man, you're not going to eat that entire nauseating mess?" "Small wonder you're such a monstrous tub of lard." "Is it true that all you Yanks are thieves and murderers?" "There's one of you they say that's worse than all the rest." "A villainous clod who never ceases derogatory remarks about the Canadians." "Mind the elbow, lad." "Would you be kind enough to point out the contemptible swine Rocky Rockman?" "You've just two seconds to make a public apology." " What?" " Time's up." "Can't do it, mate, we're under orders." "You'll be court-martialled." "It's his uniform I propose to disgrace." "Sit down." "The human body has numerous vulnerable points." "The elbow." "The ribs." "The neck." "Including the solar plexus." "And many other points." "It's true you're a great powerful beast." "But you'll note how his own size and weight can be used against him." "Name, Sergeant Patrick O'Neill." "Title, hand-to-hand combat instructor." "Further instruction will commence tomorrow, 0700 on the parade ground." "Would you pass the salt, please?" "Thank you." "You're right." "He's capable." "I hope, Major, you won't punish him for disobeying orders." "It was my impression that he was following orders." "Your orders." "More coffee?" "I don't mind if I do." "And twist." "Try it." "Let's have a go at it." "In a situation like that, you do this." "The collarbones are very easy to break." "Watch." "See?" "Try that." "Good." " Your stance is more like this." " Major, this is what I understand." " Whatever you understand..." " You really want me to stick you?" " Whatever you want to do..." " I already did it once." "(laughs)" " Try that again, Major." " You gotta be..." "As you can see, Major Crown is an expert, sir." "Put your hands up like this." "No, move your feet just a little bit the other way." "That's the way." "All right, now." " Good work, Greco, keep it up." " Keep what up?" "Get out of the way." "You clumsy moose." "Listen, you smart dago, you ran into me." "Great, man, just great." "Move away, Canadians." "Well done, Crown." "I can't say the same for your men." "What are you going to do about it?" "The men are tired, sir, they need a rest." "After the war." "Keep after them until they're as good as the Canadians." "If you want a weekend pass, work for it." "Let's go back up the hill one more time." "Let's see if we can do it right." "I've never seen anything so lousy in my entire life." "Competition has its use, sir, but doesn't it concern you?" "The men may hate each other more than the enemy." "Major, your concern and mine is to get them ready to meet the enemy." " Get going, Americans." " Yes, sir." "(wolf whistle)" "Hey, prom beauty, sit and have a drink with some nice clean-cut American boys." " Where are they?" "I don't see them." " Fraternising with the Canucks is treason." "All right, lost cause." "You can't fight nature." " Just what's that mean?" " Miss Kleinschmidt's a lady." "Ladies associate with gentlemen, not baboons." " All right, take it easy, man mountain." " You've got all night." "I'm in a hurry." "When this bottle is empty, I'll break it over his head." "Then I'm going to wipe him out." "How come a big man like you thinks so small?" "Let's wipe out the whole bunch." " Now you're talkin'." " Come on, let's do it." "I got digs on Peacock." "That pretty peacock is mine." "♪ You always hurt the one you love" "♪ The one you shouldn't hurt at all" "Wunderbar." "♪ You always take the sweetest rose..." "Hey, somebody put a nickel in the jukebox and tum off that dame." "(Ransom) ♪ You always break the kindest heart" "I love you." "A votre santé." "Now you owe me a drink." "Hey, fellas." "We better beat it." "Hey, what do you speak?" "Eskimo?" "I said you owe me a drink." "You'll get it, Eskimo, the minute hell freezes." " Who do you think you are?" " Henri, let it pass." "Come on, lads, move down the bar." "Give them some room, now." "Come on!" "Get over here." "Come on, give us a beer." "(wolf whistle)" " Look who we got here." "Millie, baby." " Your petticoat's showing." " Who's your girlfriend?" "Who does what?" " Optional, mate." " Shut your big ugly face." " Oh, come on, Millie." " You put me down." " Don't be so particular." " Can't you take a hint?" " I could take a dozen chickens like you." "We're here for a good time the same as you." "Let's not spoil it." "What are you going to have to drink?" "Bartender." "We'll buy our own drinks." "You've got a nerve barging in here taking our broads." " Any of you guys invite them?" " (all) No." " I can't stand Canucks." " You weren't invited." "So what do we do about that?" " Give me another drink." " Hey." "You clear out or we throw you out." "What's it gonna be?" " Don't waste your time." " We'll find another bar." " Finish your drinks." " We'll finish your drink." " Let's go." " You made a wise decision." "Waitjust a minute." "Excuse me." "I'd like to clear up a little misunderstanding." "The Canadians would be happy to accommodate you but they can't because they're on orders and they're not allowed to fight." "Am I getting through?" "You're getting through now, dogface." "You said nobody invited the Canucks." "Well, what bums me, bigmouth, is just who the hell invited you?" "Splendid, Rocky." "Right, Canadians, don't disgrace your uniform." "Join the Yanks." "One for me." " Why, you..." " You're all right, Rocky?" "Break it up!" " Break it up!" " (whistle)" "Good." "Good, that was good." "Break it up." "All right, break it up." "(whistle)" "(drunken singing)" "(whistle)" " I don't know what you're going to do." " It's all right." "I'll take care of it." " Cardwell, Rose." " Sir?" "Line them up." "Dress it up in here, come on." "Let's go." "Come on." "Move it." "Dress it up there." "The lieutenant informs me... that 35 lumberjacks..." "and 17 MPs were injured." "And six hospitalised." "And that property damage was in excess of $3,000." "Now, every man, regardless of uniform, is equally guilty and will be equally punished." "Until the damage is settled... every man will have deducted $1 a month from his pay." "And from this point on, the entire brigade is restricted to barracks for a period of eight hours." "And any additional singing, drinking or celebrating... will be conducted with proper restraint." "That's all." "Dismissed." "♪ For he's a jolly good fellow" "♪ For he's a jolly good fellow" "♪ Which nobody can deny" "♪ Which nobody can deny Which nobody can deny" "♪ For he's a jolly good fellow For he's a jolly good fellow" "♪ For he's a jolly good fellow" "(knock at door)" "Come in." "Sir, may I presume to offer you a drink?" "Sit down." "Come on, lads, we'll take a snap of you." "Send a copy to the Krauts." "They'll surrender." "Come on, big smile." "There you are." "Hugh, one more." "My father always wanted me to graduate from something." "Right you are, Terry." "Ah, that's beautiful." "Gorgeous, Rocky, just gorgeous." "You're still a big baboon." "(drum roll)" "March, Special Service, forwards." "Pass in review." "Number one company, right tum." " Number two company right..." " Number three company..." "First platoon, forward march." "Second platoon, forward march." "Third platoon, forward march." "Eyes right." "Eyes right." "Eyes right." "Major Bricker, Major Crown, take over." "Eyes right." "Eyes right." "But I can't believe it, sir." "I just don't believe it." "Bob, it's no satisfaction to me but I knew it." "I smelled it." "I warned you." " I'm very sorry." " That's comforting." "Goodbye." " (knock at door)" " Come in." " The project's been cancelled." " Cancelled?" "GOG," "The commando raid on Norway is an entirely English project." "We're out of it." "We'll be getting orders soon." " What kind of orders, sir?" " Disbanding the brigade." " The men will be assigned to other units." " Son of a bitch." "Don't tell me I'm nuts." "I tell you, I just heard." "They're busting up the Force." "Then what did we break our asses for?" "Why?" " "Ours is not to reason why."" " Damn the reasons." "I want more than reasons." "I'm going to Washington." "Tell the men it's just a routine trip." "Give everybody a ten-day Christmas leave." "Is there a chance, sir?" "Have you got friends up there?" "No." "But at this point, I don't care about making any more enemies." "We don't need your unit." "We desperately need replacements for other units." "Anyhow, orders have been issued, it's out of my hands." " Gentlemen?" " May I see General Cullen?" "George, he doesn't mean to imply he's going over your head." "He's not implying anything, he's saying it." " If you've got time to waste, go ahead." " Thank you, sir." "Thank you, George." "Bob, I understand, I sympathise." "You keep on this way, you'll retire a lieutenant colonel." "General, I have men who care more about the one stripe they've earned than I'd care if you buried me in brass." "Why do I help you?" "Why do I even bother talking to you?" " Your funeral, Bob, enjoy it." " Walter." "I want to thank you for your help... and your friendship." "Colonel Frederick to see General Cullen." "I don't believe you have an appointment." "May I ask the nature of your business?" "Would you tell the general that it's urgent, very urgent?" "General Cullen is in a staff meeting." "I don't expect him before seven at the earliest." "Where can we reach you?" "Right here." "You're a lucky dago." " Well, joy to the world." " If it ain't old Handsome Ransom." " What brings you back so soon?" " Well, sir." "I found the old homestead intolerably oppressive." " Not the heat, the humility." " Well, pull up a bayonet." "You sit down." " Home is where the heart is." " (snoring)" "Also the liver, spleen and lower intestine." " What you need is a drink." " True." "Ante up." "Who dealt this one?" "Come on, get your money in." "This horse should have its kidneys checked." "Why aren't you partaking the blessings of home and family?" "What's to go home to?" "I went home." "Stupid sister's." "That pot-bellied draft dodger she married." "When he saw these, know what he called me? "Sucker."" "I didn't say nothing." "I just broke his jaw and walked out." "Deal the cards, Hopalong." " Any word from Washington?" " Nothing, not even a peep." "High muckity-muck generals." "Jesus was satisfied with one star." "Some of those brass hats have four." "Know how they get them?" "By screwing things up." " Cowboy, are we gonna play cards?" " All right, I'm in." " There we go." " Come in, boys." "Thank you." "My sister's children, their father is off in the Pacific." "Hasn't been home in over a year." "I guess the least I can do is make their packages look nice." "Do you have a family, Colonel?" "Yes." "Not much of a Christmas for you, either, is it?" "(phone rings)" "General Cullen's office." "Oh, General Cullen." "Sir, there's a Colonel Frederick here." "Been waiting since 3.30." "Says it's very urgent." "Oh..." "I see." "And a very merry Christmas to you, General." "General Cullen won't be back to the office." "He says he is fully aware of your situation but there's nothing he can do." "I'm sorry." "(phone rings)" "Colonel!" "From General Walter Naylor." "He just phoned." "Can you read it?" "Merry Christmas." "General Mark Clark, General Hunter, Colonel Frederick." " Colonel." " General." "Thank you." "General Naylor informs me you need men, sir." "That's right." "In Italy, we face a wall of mountains defended by the best troops in the German army." "As you've doubtless heard we're getting nowhere." "Have your boys had any mountain training?" "I promise you, sir, whatever the job is, we can handle it." "Quite a promise from a man with no combat experience, commanding an outfit nobody wants." "General Hunter's been making enquiries." "He's dubious." "One misfit can foul up a whole company." "One company can ruin a whole battalion." "A lot of your men are chronic misfits, that's the word I get." "I don't know where the general got his information, but I can guess." "Probably from the people who sent us the misfits." "As of now, man for man, they're the best combat unit in the world." "That's a fact, sir, not a promise." "If you doubt it, let us prove it." "Unfortunately, there's no luxury in war." "General Hunter won't agree with me but this is no time to be conservative." "I do need your men, Colonel." "When can they be ready?" "Right now, sir." "Attention!" "(bottles fall)" "As you were." "Sorry to interrupt your religious services but good news requires a drink." "I detest drinking alone." " (Rocky) Yes!" " You've heard from the colonel?" " We're still alive?" " Very much alive." "I knew it." "A merry Christmas to him, to us, and to the brigade." "We're alive." "I knew it." "THE ITALIAN FRONT" "Follow that stream up ahead." "(machine-gun fire)" "Lower." "Get lower." "Sir, we're going to get our ass shot off." "(machine-gun fire)" " All right, let's head back." " Yes, sir." "I want to tell you, Colonel, that my first impression of you is less than favourable." "This daredevil flight." "I don't want officers around me who take unnecessary risks." " Is that understood?" " Not entirely, sir." "Depends how you define unnecessary." "Never mind the definitions." "Your outfit is being sent on an ordinary, routine patrol." "You've been given maps and photos, right?" "All of which failed to indicate that the entire route is under enemy fire." "Sure, enemy fire." "Would you like to be relieved?" "No, sir, but I think I've found a safer route." "Show me." "Sir, if we could enter the stream two miles above or below the bridge, around hill 418, and then enter Santa Elia from the south..." "And take your men two miles through ice-cold water?" "Arriving, if they arrive, behind the town in a position to be cut off and wiped out?" " Very good." " Not if they perform as expected, sir." "What do you think Santa Elia is, a Boy-Scout camp?" "It's a key point in the German supply line to the mountains, heavily fortified." " Yes, sir, you're right." " Now, listen to me." "You've got to take Santa Elia sooner or later but I've got to know what we're up against." "Frankly, I don't know what to expect from your men." "I hope they'll scout the area and bring back a few prisoners." "That's what I want." "Is that clear?" "Do I gather, sir, you're trying to test us?" "You can stop worrying right now, sir." "No, sir, we understand." "You're quite clear, sir." "I'm glad of it." "Now, when your outfit comes back from the patrol, you report to me immediately." "Yes, sir." "Very good, sir." "All right." "Well, sir, you accepted his insults graciously." "Yeah, you get a great idea, he doesn't like it, so forget about it." "Do it by the book." "That's what he thinks." "What do you think?" "If he wants prisoners, we give him prisoners." "Damn, why does this guy love water so much?" "Why?" "Because he's nuts." "Whoever heard of a colonel on a patrol?" "Our daddy wants to take care of his little kiddies." "Right, pretty boy?" "Right." "Oh, merde." " There goes my chance to be a daddy." " Don't worry about it, frog." " Be quiet." "Pass it on to the other morons." " Quiet up there." "Nein, danke." "Ich hoffe, wir brauchen nicht mehr so lange hier zu bleiben." "Ich bin miide." "Glaub mir das." "(yells)" "It's only a mailman." "(chanting) Links, zwo, drei, vier." "Links." "Links." "Links, 1W0, drei, vier." "Links, 1W0, drei, vier." "Links, 1W0, drei, vier." "Links, 1W0, drei, vier." "Links, 1W0, drei, vier." "Links." "Links, 1W0, drei, vier." "Links, 1W0, drei, vier." "Links." " Links." "Links, zwo, drei, vier." " (classical music plays)" "Links, 1W0, drei, vier." "Jawohl." "(water splashes)" "(water splashes)" "Welcher ist denn Hauptmann Schieles Tank?" " Der da." "Was ist mit dem Ios?" " Kiimmer du dich um deine Arbeit." "Ich werd mich schon um meine kiimmem." "Peacock, you, MacDonald, Bronc." "Psst!" "(groans)" "You know what to do." "Kill if you have to, but the most important thing is prisoners." "Got to get them." "In an hour, the whole town will be awake so we have to move fast." "In Deutsch." "Silence or you're dead." " Still, oder du bist tot." " Still, oder du bist tot." "(all repeat)" "No mistakes." "One mistake, we're all dead." "You." "You stay here." "Drag these bodies." "Hide them someplace." "But you stay here." "Let's go." "Abteilung, halt." "W0 bleibt denn die Wache?" "Na, die werden wieder was hiiren." "Stellen Sie sich hier auf." "Abteilung, marsch." "Still, oder du bist tot." "Abteilung, halt." "Gehen Sie hinein, bitte." "Was sol!" "denn das?" "W0 bleiben denn die Ménner?" "Still, oder du bist tot." "(whistles)" "(classical music)" "Mein Gott, das Wasser ist kalt." "Ein heiﬂes Bad 1U haben." "Was ist los?" "Still, oder du bist tot." " Move." " Mach schnell." "Get a move on." "Schnell." "Move." "Ist gut." "(German accent) Once more." "How many men?" "What is your objective?" "Rockwell W Rockman, Corporal." "Serial number 15359..." "Once more." "How many men?" "What is your objective?" " Uh..." "Rockwell W Rockman, Corporal." " You bastard." "Another one." "Maybe he can be persuaded." "At least he is looking more intelligent than this one." "Rocky, lad, what have they done to you?" "Stehen bleiben!" "Still!" "Raus!" "Raus!" "Peacock!" "Peacock!" "Gunther'.!" "Wo bist du?" "Was machst du da?" "Giimtheﬂ?" "Gunther'.!" "Mein Gott!" "Argh!" " Well, we took it, sir." " Now, what the hell do we do with it?" "We keep it." "(tanks approaching)" "Was will dieser Idiot mit seinem Tank so friih am Morgen?" "Was machen Sie mit den Panlem hier?" "This answer your question?" "At ease." "Absolutely everything from beginning to end was contrary to my orders." "Sir, I recall a lecture, advice..." "criticism of our ability, but I don't recall any orders." "How's your recollection concerning unnecessary risks?" " Why did you lead that patrol?" " If you recall, sir," "I had no combat experience." "I wanted to see what it was like." "You've never been killed, either." "Do you want to find out what that's like?" " How many men did you lose?" " None." "Six wounded, not badly." "There is no doubt, sir, that we were lucky that it worked out as well as it did." "Yeah." "As well as can be expected, sir." "Come over here." "What'll you have?" "Sir, I'd like about a dozen cases for the men if you can spare it." " You're an insolent bastard, aren't you?" " You're right, sir." "200 German prisoners will tell you that." " Do you want a drink or not?" " No, thank you, sir." " Dismissed." " Yes, sir." "Sir, you must come right away." "You won't believe what we just found out." "It's an emergency, sir." "Emergency?" "What kind of an emergency?" "The clerk was going over personnel records." " No doubt about it." "We've got proof." " Proof of what?" " It's your birthday." "Happy birthday, sir." " (all) Happy birthday, sir!" "(cheering and bagpipes)" "Happy birthday, sir." "♪ For he's a jolly good fellow For he's a jolly good fellow" "♪ For he's a jolly good fellow which nobody can deny" " ♪ Which nobody can deny..." " OK, knock it off." "Pipe down." "Pipe down." "Now, listen." "If you guys can hold off getting drunk for a second, you're gonna hear a few well-chosen pearls of wisdom from that distinguished Irishman and eminent scholar, Major Crown." "All right." "Today, I had the pleasure of interrogating' some German prisoners." "They said some flattering things about us." "Gangsters." "Murderers." "Savages." "But the most memorable compliment came from their commanding' officer." "And he referred to us as..." "Die Teufelsbrigade." "Members of the Devil's Brigade." "Long life... to the devil." " Long live the devil." " How would you like it?" "Rare, medium or well done?" " Give me a drink." " You organise this?" "No, sir." "There was a popular uprising." "Cast your bread upon the waters, it comes back as a testimonial dinner." "But where it comes from I wouldn't be askin'." "Uh-Oh." "It does my heart a world of good the way you guys have shaped up." "I couldn't have done a better job myself." "Attention." " General." " Colonel." " Frederick." " What is going on here?" "A little celebration, sir." "May I offer you a drink?" " Certainly." " Later." " Is there someplace we can talk, Colonel?" " This way, sir." "Mount La Difensa." "It's on the road to Rome, flanked all around by mountains." "Mount La Difensa is the key point in this sector." "We've been trying for three weeks to take it." "A total failure." "And we've had heavy casualties but we've got to get it." "For good behaviour in prison you're rewarded with time off." "In the army, double time and a swift kick in the rear." "Your reward, Colonel, is La Difensa." "Study the maps, send out scouting patrols, give me a plan of attack." "General, this fellow doesn't send out patrols." "He leads them." "Full colonels are not expendable." "Sir, how low in rank does a man have to be before he is expendable?" "Good night, Colonel." "Enjoy your celebration." "Good night, Colonel." "♪ Around her leg, she wore a purple garter" "♪ She wore it in the springtime and in the month of May" "♪ And if you ask her why the hell she wore it" "♪ She wore it for her paratrooper far, far away" "♪ Far away!" "Far away!" "♪ She wore it for her paratrooper far, far away..." "Now, reconnaissance has shown that the German guns are facing west and south." "That's why I propose that we attack from the east." "What I need from you, sir, is an artillery barrage, all you've got, on the forward slopes." "It will give them the idea that we're attacking here." "In the meantime, at 0600, I can be here, at 0900, here." "By reaching this point, we'll be above them holding the high ground." "For us it will be a downhill fight all the way." "If we can drive them beyond these big rocks, they'll have no cover." " They'll have to surrender or die." " It sounds good." "But getting your entire force up in three hours, with weapons, ammunition, food..." " You have remarkable faith in your men." " Yes, sir, I have." "(Hunter) Faith moves mountains." "It doesn't take 'em." "How would you know until we try?" "Overlooking your disrespect, there's no sense trying what can't be done." "Well, I hope the Germans have the same sensible attitude." "If in their opinion it can't be done, they won't be expecting us." "That will give us a chance to get from here to here without being discovered." "I tell you, that's the only way it can be done." "With all respect." "Any further comments?" "You'll get your artillery support, Colonel." "Good luck." "Thank you, sir." "General." "They're giving us artillery until 0900." "By that time, we have to be on top." "Our one and only chance is surprise." " How much of a chance is that?" " Ask me tomorrow." "Ask me now." "This'll be their Dunkirk." "We'll whip them this time." "There'll be nothing stopping us but a white flag." "I'd settle for being alive tomorrow night." "You wonder how many... 20 minutes." "Pass the word. 20 minutes." "It's quite a load, soldier." "Good luck, son." "Double-check all weapons, Captain." "Hey, Ornery, send my love to your wife." "If you don't make it out of here, I'll give it to her myself in person." "I didn't mean it." "You know me better than that." " I know you." " (Frederick) You all packed up?" " How is everybody?" "In good shape?" " Fine, thanks, sir." " Leave something for the mules." " I will, sir." "Be sure everyone has a sweater." "It's gonna be cold." "Sweater?" "Yes, sir." "I'll check 'em out." " Are you OK?" " Well as could be expected, sir." " You need anything?" " Yes, sir." "An honourable discharge." "Stick around." "You'll get one if you deserve it." "Sergeant Peacock, how are your men?" " The best, sir." " Take care." "Will do, sir." " How about that?" " Cardwell." "What's eating him?" "Have you never heard a man say goodbye?" " Holy cow, it's straight up." " What's the beef?" "It's only a mile high." "Das sind die Sachen, die ich miichte:" "Ich brauche Panzerféuste, Landminen, Ersatzteile fiir Maschinengewehre." "Und, 5h... schwere Munition." "Das ist alles, danke." "Mm!" "Und Zigaretten." "Amerikanische." " Guten Morgen." " Morgen." " Hast du etwas gesehen?" " Nein, alles ist ruhig." "Greco, Guthrie, Gatlin, Smith." "Three hours of artillery." "Three hours only." "Let's go." "Batteries ready." "Aim." "Fire." "(explosion)" " This is as far as we can go." " Overhang?" "Give me your grappling hook." "(explosion)" "(whistles)" "(explosion)" "No, no, Bronc, this is my part of the act, right?" "(explosion)" "(explosions)" "OK, there was only one guard on this side." "Move." "Get the ropes over first." "Secure the ropes." "Let's get moving fast." "(explosions)" "Keep your head down." "Keep down." "They're over the ridge, sir." "Stay low." "Fix your gear." "Spread out." "Alle raus." " Stellung nehmen." " An die Geschfitze." "Los!" "An die Geschiitze." " Sehen Sie etwas?" " Nein, nichts." "Geben Sie mir das Glas." "Sie bombadieren uns, aber sie greifen nicht an." " Eriifinen Sie Feuer." " Batterien fertig." "Geschiitze fertig machen." "Ziel nehmen." "Feuer!" "Keep down." " Give them hell." " Cover fire!" "Da sind welche auf der anderen Seite." "Nehmt Stellung!" "Nehmt die Waffen." "Nehmt die Waffen." "Da vome auf der Seite." "Look out, Bronc." "We made it." "By God, we made it." " Not yet, keep the fire up." " Right, I'll keep it up." "Medic!" "Medic!" " Help me." " Don't worry, I fix you good." "Don't worry, bad boy." "Give my love to your wife." "Mon Dieu..." "Cover me, Colonel." "(groans)" "(groans)" " Damn it to hell." "Medic." " Keep moving." " Shove it." " Keep moving." "Medic!" "Come on." "They can't stop us now." "All right, come on." "Keep down over there." "Fan out and keep moving." "Medic!" "Medic!" "There you are, my friend." "The pain will be gone in one minute." "Be right back." " How about the bullet?" " We have no doctor here." " We'll get him down the hill soon." " How soon?" "When we have men to carry him." "If he is still alive." " I need a Kraut to carry a wounded man." " Take your pick." " You, get up." "Speak English?" " Nein, Ieider nicht." "Never mind." "It don't matter." "Come on." "(groaning)" "Pick him up." "Up!" "Easy." "(groans)" " Kiinnen wir ma!" "'ne Pause machen?" " What?" " Kiinnen wir ma!" "'ne Pause machen?" " What, rest?" " OK, over there." " (Peacock) Put me down." "Water." "Water." "Water." "Don't be stupid, you've got a belly wound." "No water." "Go to sleep." "(yells)" "Rocky..." "(neck snaps)" "Peacock?" "(subs)" "No, no, no..." "Come on, let's go." "Keep moving." "Let's go." "Hold the mortars." " Cease-fire." " Cease-fire." "(Frederick) Keep them covered." "Major, this is your white flag." "Thank you, sir." "Thank you very much indeed." "I'll discuss surrender on the condition..." "You'll discuss nothing." "You'll keep your mouth shut and listen while I tell you the conditions." "Keep me covered." "Watch them." "Come on out of there." "Come on." "Move it." " Vlfir ergeben uns." "Ich habe keine Waﬂbn." " (German voice) I have no weapons." "He's dead, sir." "Come on." "There may be a counterattack." "We've got to be ready." " See that we are." " How about reporting to General Hunter?" " Shall I do that?" " No, I will." "Take care of him." "Come on out of there, come on." "Hands over your heads." "Macht schnell." "Schnell!" "Keep moving." "Keep going." "Come on, close it up." "Hands over your head." "Héinde hoch, schnell." "Keep your hands up." "Mach schnell." "Mach schnell." "Mach schnell." "We didn't surprise them as completely as I'd hoped." "Our losses were more than I'd... made allowance for." "Including my top-ranking Canadian." "A fine officer, I'll miss him." "(explosion)" "We're getting some artillery fire." "If there is a counterattack, we'll be ready." "We're prepared to hold until relieved." "That's all from here, sir, over." "(Hunter) Well, not from here." "We tried for three weeks to take that mountain." "You took it in three hours." "I want to tell you that it's fantastic." "Magnificent." "I'm going to recommend the entire unit for a citation." "I just want to say to you," "I couldn't be more delighted that I was wrong and you were 100 per cent right." "(Hunter's voice fades) I want you to give my personal congratulations..." "(Frederick) They say you find out what something is worth when you pay for it." "Well, La Difensa was ours now." "Not much of a mountain, really, but I never knew that a mountain could be so tall or plain rock could cost so much." "We'd won a battle but the war went on." "Beyond La Difensa lay more peaks, more Germans, more bloody fights." "Mount Remetanea, Sammucro, Radicosa, Anzio, and finally Rome." "And as the men fought, their legend grew." "In all its history the Force never retreated, never surrendered an inch of ground." "But the price was high." "The American misfits and the proud Canadians lay dead in a hundred fields and crossroads." "Together they had built a myth." "Too many died to keep it true."