Original subtitles

MAN: All ready here, sir. Crew standing by and awaiting your word. Over.

Right. Over and out.

[SIREN WAILING]

MAN: Our man was brought down at 2 a.m. this morning.

SHAEF, in their all-knowing wisdom, didn't let us know until 10 a.m.

Damned idiots. Damned idiots for not letting us know.

Double damned idiots for ignoring our advice in the first place.

Anyway, here he is...

...in a town called Werfen...

...at the Schloss Adler, the Castle of the Eagles.

And believe me, it's well-named, because only an eagle can get to it.

Our job is to get inside there and get him out as soon as possible...

...before they can get the information from him.

How are you so sure that he's there, sir?

The Mosquito he was in crash-landed only 10 miles away.

The Schloss Adler is the headquarters of the German secret service in southern Bavaria.

Where else would they take him?

- How did the plane crash, sir? - Through the most damnable ill luck.

We carried out a saturation raid on Nuremberg last night.

There shouldn't have been a German fighter within 100 miles of the Austrian border.

A wandering Messerschmitt patrol got him.

Anyway, that's not important.

What is important is that we get him out before he talks.

Or I should say, you get him out.

What about paratroops, sir?

The Schloss Adler is inaccessible and impregnable.

It would require a battalion of paratroops to take it.

We haven't got the time.

Stealth and secrecy are our only hope...

...and you gentlemen are, I trust, stealthy and secretive.

We realize of course that you've never worked together before as a team...

...but you're familiar with one another, except for Lieutenant Schaffer here.

You probably noticed that Lieutenant Schaffer...

...wears the shoulder flashes of the American Ranger division.

I think that speaks for itself.

Major Smith will lead the group in.

Now, you're all expert at survival behind enemy lines.

Smith, Lieutenant Schaffer...

...Sergeants Harrod and MacPherson in their military capacities...

...the rest of you in other duties.

You all speak fluent German.

You've been trained in different types of combat.

If anybody has a chance of getting him out, you have.

There is, of course, another way, sir.

A way with a 100 percent guarantee of success.

Neither Admiral Rolland or I claim to be omniscient or infallible.

Is there an alternative that we've missed?

Whistle up a pathfinder squadron of Lancasters with 10-ton bombs.

I don't think anybody in that castle would ever talk again.

Nor do I think that you grasp the realities of the situation.

The captured man, General Carnaby, is an American.

If we were to destroy him, then I think General Eisenhower...

...might launch his second front against us rather than against the Germans.

There are certain niceties to be observed in our relationship with our allies.

Very well, then, gentlemen. Ten o'clock tonight at the airfield.

- No more questions, I take it? - Yes, sir.

Begging the colonel's pardon, sir. What's all this about?

I mean, why is this man so damned important?

- Why should...? - That'll do, sergeant.

You have all the information you require.

I think if we're sending a man to what may be his death...

...he has a right to know why.

It's painfully simple, sergeant.

General Carnaby is one of the overall coordinators...

...of planning for the second front.

He set out last night to meet his opposite numbers in the Middle East...

...to finalize the plans for the invasion of Europe.

The rendezvous with the Russians was to have been in Crete.

Now, unfortunately, his plane didn't get through.

Now, if the Germans can make him talk...

...it could mean no second front this year.

- Do you understand, sergeant? - Yes, sir.

- I'm sorry, sir. TURNER: That's all right, sergeant. Forget it.

Now, if you have any more questions, Major Smith will answer them.

That's all, gentlemen.

PILOT: Get them ready. We're approaching the drop area.

Stand by!

Green on! Go!

Where's Harrod?

Well, last time I saw him, he was drifting towards those trees over here.

All right. Spread out.

Let's go and find him.

Major!

- His neck's broken. - Damn it.

Well, what do we do now? Do we bury him or do we leave him here?

We leave him here. The snow will cover him in a couple of hours.

Get back and pick up the equipment. I want to see if the radio's still working.

Well...

...the radio works all right. There's a barn about a mile down the valley.

We'll use it to check our equipment.

- What about the people who live in it? - There aren't any.

This is a high alpine pasture.

They bring the cattle up in May and take them down in September.

The rest of the time, the place is totally deserted.

Come on. Let's go.

Somehow, you know, this just isn't me.

It's not any of us, Jock. You're the cook. Cook...

...some hot food and some hot coffee, and then call London on the radio.

Damn it. I left that codebook in Sergeant Harrod's tunic.

- I'll go and get it for you. - No, it's all right. It's my own stupid fault.

Sounds as if it's still blowing a blizzard. Yeah.

Well, if I'm not back in an hour...

...signal me with a flare pistol four times every five minutes.

That should bring a blind man home.

Might also bring the best part of a German regiment.

There's not a German within five miles.

Nobody leaves here until I come back.

- Jock, save me some coffee. - It'll be cold by then.

They say that's an advantage. You can't taste cold coffee.

[GUN CLICKS]

WOMAN: Halt.

Turn around.

You took your time getting here, didn't you?

Things to attend to.

- You enjoy your trip? - Lovely.

I nearly froze to death in that damn plane.

Why couldn't you have supplied some hot water bottles or an electrically heated suit?

- I thought you loved me. - I can't help what you think.

You managed to bring your gear.

Is that all the greeting I'm going to get?

I'm afraid so, for the time being. My radio operator was killed in the drop.

What happened?

Something struck him in the back of the neck.

Either the haft of a knife or the butt of a gun.

The skin was unbroken, but badly discolored.

It means someone broke his neck afterwards...

...to make it look like an accident.

Now listen, I'm taking the group at dawn over the ridge into the next valley.

We'll stop in the woods until about 7. Now, don't stumble into us.

As soon as it's dark, we'll move into the village of Werfen.

In the village, there's a gasthaus called Zum Wilden Hirsch.

Behind it and to the right, there's a woodshed.

I'll meet you there at exactly 8:00 tomorrow night.

- And after that, what? - I'll let you know when the time comes.

Ah.

- I see you've come fully prepared. - Never mind about that.

How do you know about all these things, Zum Wilden Hirsch and the shed?

I'm entitled to know.

You're entitled to know nothing.

We've worked together for three years. I'm a professional.

So am I.

If I were the marrying kind, which I'm...

- I thought you were in a hurry. - So I am.

Aren't you?

SCHAFFER: What kept you?

Well, I was very lucky.

I ran into this fabulous blond. She was lying on a snowdrift.

Does she have a friend?

No, I'm afraid you're out of luck.

- Thanks for waiting up for me, anyway. - No problem.

Lieutenant, why don't you go to sleep?

It'll be dawn in a couple of hours. You too, Jock.

Yeah, I'll do that.

[STATIC BUZZING ON RADIO]

Can't get a thing.

Probably the storm, huh?

Yeah.

Yeah, we'll try again in the morning.

Lieutenant, come with me. The rest of you stay here.

Better leave the equipment here.

Somebody's got to be crazy.

How'd your colonel expect anyone to get in there?

He feels if he can penetrate the German High Command...

...we shouldn't have difficulty getting up.

He did what?

He spent the years '40 to '43 in Germany, first in the Wehrmacht...

...and then finally in General Headquarters in Berlin.

They say he knew Hitler quite well.

- I thought he looked a little nuts. - Yeah, probably is.

Now we've got problems of our own. Get the boys into the trees.

We've brought them too far over. Be sure they go beyond that tree line.

- And what about you? - I'll be along in a minute.

- Be sure they stay behind the trees. - All right.

Broadsword calling Danny Boy. Broadsword calling Danny Boy. Over.

MAN [OVER RADIO]: Danny Boy calling Broadsword. Father Machree is waiting.

This is Father Machree, Broadsword.

What is your present position, please? Over.

Woods due west of castle. Descending at dusk. Harrod dead.

Over.

Was Harrod killed accidentally? Over.

No. Over.

By the Germans? Over.

No.

Time of next broadcast uncertain. Will you stand by?

Over.

Colonel Turner and I will remain at headquarters till operation completed.

Good luck. Out.

It looks as though you're right, sir.

Yes, I'm afraid so.

Who's next, I wonder?

Smith himself, perhaps.

I doubt that. Some people have a sixth sense.

He has a sixth, a seventh and an eighth.

- He's our best agent. - Except yourself.

Still and all, even if he is the best, this whole operation looks impossible now.

SCHAFFER: Take a look down there, at the foot of the castle.

[DOG BARKING]

SMITH: Dobermans.

Yeah. Dobermans, a guard tower and a wire fence.

Fences can be cut or climbed, lieutenant.

I doubt if that one can be climbed. It's got around 3,000 volts running through it.

If I'm not mistaken, major, that's an army barracks over there.

SMITH: No mistake. This is the headquarters of the Wehrmacht Alpenkorps.

Swell. If you got any other surprises, I think I ought to know about them.

I thought you knew, lieutenant.

Why do you think we're not dressed as German sailors?

Training troops come and go all the time.

What are six new faces among 600 new faces?

Look, major, this is primarily a British operation.

I'm an American. I don't even know why the hell I'm here.

Lieutenant, you're here because you're an American.

[AIRCRAFT DRONING]

Dear Kramer, you have turned a little gray since I saw you last.

I'm afraid so, sir.

- How is Berlin, sir? - Things have changed.

You like my machine?

- It looks pretty dangerous. - Well, you must try it.

Major Burkhalter, my adjutant.

Major Brant, Jaeger Battalion.

Colonel Weissner, Field Security.

Major Von Hapen, Gestapo.

- Have you questioned him yet? - No. I was waiting for you.

That Major Von Hapen, does he know General Carnaby's here?

Yes. I did inform him of his arrival, but not of his importance.

Good. If possible, I'd prefer the Gestapo to be kept out of this matter...

...until we have the information we want. - Fine.

We don't need them cluttering up things with torture chambers.

This can remain a strictly army matter for the time being.

- I agree. - Good.

I've had a very tiring trip down here from Berlin. I'd like to freshen up a bit.

Perhaps sleep a few hours before meeting General Carnaby.

KRAMER: I'll see you to your quarters. ROSEMEYER: Thank you.

The meeting will be ready whenever you wish.

ROSEMEYER: Tell me...

[MEN LAUGHING]

[VEHICLE APPROACHING]

GUARD: Show me your papers.

Right.

I've written her many times of course, but...

...with so many troops on leave in Berlin, it was hardly likely she'd remember me.

But one always hopes you're the one she'll never forget.

Yeah. What was her name, anyway?

- Fred. - Fred?

Oh, yeah, I remember Fred, yeah. She was a short little redhead.

We'll try this one behind us.

When you get inside, circulate around.

Keep your ears open for anything about General Carnaby.

We meet back here in half an hour. All right.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

[BAND PLAYING POLKA MUSIC]

SCHAFFER: Two beers.

[LAUGHING]

Ah.

See you later.

Anything else needed here? Oh.

And who might you be, my pretty alpine rose?

- Heidi. Stop, major. I've got work. - There's no more important work...

...than entertaining the soldiers of the fatherland.

- Shall I sing you a song? - I hear too much singing.

Oh, very well, then. I'll whistle. It goes like this:

[WHISTLING]

[LAUGHING]

I bet you have a beautiful singing voice too.

Thank you.

Be in the woodshed in five minutes.

Now slap me across the face as hard as you can.

Oh!

OFFICER: Major...

...your conduct does not become an officer of the Wehrmacht.

Herr Major, when you talk to me.

Major Bernd Himmler. Does the name mean anything to you?

I advise you to mind your own business in future.

Is that understood?

- Cognac. - Make that two.

I don't suppose you found out anything about General Carnaby.

I didn't get around to that. Thank you.

What were you and that major talking about?

I told him I was Himmler's brother.

Yeah, I could see why that would shake him up a little.

More than a little, I should think.

Keep an eye on things. I'll be back.

Take your clothes off.

- But I... - Don't argue. Take your clothes off.

MARY: All right.

Now, relax. I didn't mean it that way.

You are going up to the castle tonight as... Well, yes, as a domestic.

How? Naked?

Not a bad idea, but it's a bit obvious.

There's an acute staff shortage in Germany and the Schloss Adler is no exception.

You're the type they're looking for: young, intelligent, good-looking...

...and as we both know, not entirely without humor.

You must be mad.

If I wasn't, what would I be doing in this job?

Now listen very carefully.

You're supposed to arrive on a bus from Steingaden in about 20 minutes.

Your name is Maria Schenk. You come from the Rhineland.

Here, give me that boot.

You've had TB and were forced to give up your job.

You have a cousin called Heidi who works in Zum Wilden Hirsch.

It's because of her that you got the job.

- Where are my identity papers? - In that case...

...together with your travel permit. Heidi will give you the rest later.

It must have taken time to prepare these things.

Very likely. Our Forgery Department did a special job on your papers.

But I thought General Carnaby's plane crashed only yesterday morning.

It was carefully arranged.

The plane was crash-landed in Oberhausen Military Airfield...

...about five miles from here.

It was riddled with machine-gun holes, British machine-gun holes.

But what the hell? A hole is a hole is a hole, as they say.

Are you trying to say that you'd risk the life of an American general...

...and all the plans for the second front? - Of course not.

Give me the other boot.

I'm in a hurry to get to the castle...

...before they find out they haven't got General Carnaby.

The chap they've got knows no more about the second front...

...than I know about the back end of the moon. He's an American corporal.

His name is Cartwright Jones.

He's an ex-actor, probably second-rate...

...but he's the dead spitting image of the general.

Did you talk this poor man into getting involved with all this?

I didn't have to. He volunteered. What actor wouldn't?

If he pulls this off, it'll be the summit of his professional career.

Mind you, it might be a short engagement.

Yes. A one-night stand.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Ah.

Well, here we are.

Mary, now Maria, this is your cousin Heidi.

Leave this behind in case you're searched. Heidi will tell you what to do from now on.

She's been one of our top agents in Bavaria since 1941 and...

What a disguise.

So he left three minutes after me...

...in a hurry, you say, so he wasn't after me.

Any of the others leave?

Not that I could see, but this place is so crowded...

...and there are several other exits.

Any one of them could have slipped out.

You better start playing it straight or you can deal me out of this mess.

Now, we both know that radio operator wasn't killed in any drop.

Now, with MacPherson dead, there's only five of us left.

You either let me know what's going on or there's only gonna be four.

All right, lieutenant.

This morning you asked me why you, an American, was on this mission.

Well, the answer is really very simple.

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

Maria.

Oh, my dear Maria, you came after all.

My dear cousin Heidi, how wonderful to see you after all these years.

Gestapo. I am so happy to see you.

May I introduce you to a friend of mine? Major Von Hapen.

My cousin Maria Schenk.

Your cousin told us to expect you, Fr�ulein Schenk, but Heidi...

...you did not tell me she was as beautiful as this.

Thank you.

Perhaps when you're ready to take the cable car to the castle...

...I'll have the honor to escort you. MARY: Thank you.

And I am going with her.

Oh.

Both of you, huh? Well, then I am very fortunate.

[SPEAKS IN GERMAN]

Fr�ulein, until a little bit later.

This is a map of the castle.

And your instructions.

Do your homework well.

[MAN SHOUTING IN GERMAN]

He doesn't seem to be anywhere in here.

Wonder where the devil he's got to. I gave orders that nobody should leave.

Shall I go outside and take a look?

[WHISTLE BLOWING]

MAN: Attention. Nobody make a move.

Against the wall, please. Against the wall.

Attention.

We are looking for four or five Alpenkorps deserters from Stuttgart.

To escape, they killed two officers and a guardroom sergeant.

They were last known to be heading this way.

Clever. Very clever, indeed.

I want the senior officers of Drafts 13, 14 and 15 to come forward at once.

Check their papers.

Well, gentlemen, any suggestions?

Lieutenant?

Well, I think we'll stand a lot better chance outside than we will in here.

Agreed.

Gentlemen, see you after the war.

These papers are from the Fourth Panzer Division stationed in Stuttgart.

When were they issued to him?

- Colonel. - What is it, major?

Myself and the others are the ones you're looking for. We've come to surrender.

Lieutenant, take the three men away for questioning.

The officers will come with me.

Excuse me.

[RINGS]

- Yes? - Major Von Hapen.

Yes, sir.

Fr�ulein.

[SPEAKS IN GERMAN]

It's just my shoelaces.

[GRUNTING]

[RAPID GUNFIRE]

[SCREAMS]

- Need to get rid of this thing. - Yeah.

Over the cliff. Let's push.

Okay. Push.

Push.

And a little more.

Good evening, lieutenant.

This is Miss Schenk. Lieutenant Kernitser.

She is the colonel's secretary in charge of all the female staff.

Can I see your papers, please? And yours, Fr�ulein.

Would you come with me, please?

- Perhaps I'll see you a little later. - Thank you.

[DOOR OPENS]

Do you find anything interesting, major?

I hear there was some excitement in the village tonight.

Oh, nothing very serious.

Just the arrest of five army deserters, that's all.

Not quite. Those were the orders that were put out.

But actually, they were five British agents dressed in German uniforms.

British agents? Why wasn't I informed?

I'm informing you now, major.

If you sent out the orders, colonel...

...then you must have known for some time...

...who they were and that they were in this district.

We called you in your office and in your rooms.

You were not there.

Colonel, I don't have to remind you, do I...

...that I am in charge of all the Gestapo activities in this area...

...and if there are foreign agents, then I am to be informed at once!

- You were not here, major. - Then you find me, colonel.

My duty is to inform you, but not to search every gasthaus to locate you.

I know your duties...

...and your loyalties.

Let me remind you, major, that I'm a colonel in the SS...

...and not some lieutenant you can frighten with your threats!

Your military rank and position are obvious to me, colonel...

...and so are your attempts to discredit me with my superiors in Berlin.

If there is any discredit, you bring it upon yourself.

Good night.

- You better lock the door. - Sure.

Here are all the things you'll need.

Automatic, field glasses, ball of string and lead weight.

- You put those things in there? - A week ago.

- You knew all about this even then? - Yeah. Good luck, cousin.

We may need these.

I guess it's occurred to you, the Germans probably know about all this stuff by now.

It did cross my mind.

Broadsword calling Danny Boy.

Broadsword calling Danny Boy. Over.

[OVER RADIO] Broadsword calling Danny Boy.

Broadsword calling Danny Boy. Over.

MAN: Broadsword, sir.

Danny Boy calling Broadsword. Come in, Broadsword. Over.

MacPherson murdered. Thomas, Christiansen and Berkeley captured.

I'm effecting entrance within the hour.

Please have transport standing by. Over.

Pull out now, Broadsword. Save yourselves. Over.

You must be joking. Over and out.

That is an order, Broadsword. Over.

[STATIC BUZZING ON RADIO]

Broadsword? Broadsword?

Broadsword?

He's gone, sir.

Damn it!

It's all my fault.

It's all our fault, colonel.

It was my idea.

Maybe I'm getting too old.

Maybe we're both too old.

Well, anyway, there can't be any doubt anymore.

The Germans have totally penetrated Ml6.

They know every move we make almost before we make it.

Where the hell are they getting it all from?

We handpicked every man for this mission.

- We have top security. - Security?

That word has become a bloody joke.

[VEHICLE APPROACHING]

[MEN SPEAKING IN GERMAN]

We've got company.

- Open the window. - All right.

[MEN SHOUTING IN GERMAN]

[LAUGHING]

Put the bag in the bus and see if you can start the engine.

[VEHICLE APPROACHING]

- How's it going? - Try to give it a start.

Right.

Yes. Captain Mueller, with three prisoners.

All right.

[GRUNTING]

Leave this one behind and tie that one to the end of the rope.

[MEN LAUGHING AND SPEAKING IN GERMAN]

Good God, that nearly killed me.

You shouldn't go on these insane missions.

You're getting too old.

I thank you for those few kind words.

The first time I've been hot since I was in this bloody country.

- You got a plan of the castle? - Yes.

Well, fetch it for me, would you?

Why don't you give him a hand?

What for? He's perfectly capable of looking after himself.

If I could climb up on my own, why can't he?

First left down the stairs, third door.

Next right-hander takes us into the east wing.

Down again. Second left.

Telephone exchange.

[SCHAFFER GRUNTING]

You wouldn't mind giving me a hand, would you?

You seem to have a lot of women stashed around this country, major.

I'm sorry. This is Mary. She's one of our group.

- Lieutenant Schaffer. - Hello.

Hello, Mary.

SMITH: Thank you.

Take the rope and the explosives to your room...

...and bring them with you when you come.

- How's it looking? - It's quiet enough.

First thing we gotta do is cripple that helicopter.

They might try to fly Carnaby out in it.

I think we can handle that.

Hello?

[GRUNTING]

- You the pilot? PILOT: Yes, sir.

Kommandant wants you on the phone.

It's in the radio office on the left, around the corner.

- Do you have a cigarette, lieutenant? - Yes, sir. Of course.

- Rather cold, isn't it? - Oh, yes, sir.

Well, that was quick.

Fear lent them wings, as the saying goes.

What do we do now?

I think we'd better see how Cartwright Jones is getting along.

[MAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

KRAMER: You are making things very difficult, Herr General.

- Very, very difficult, indeed. MAN: There aren't any difficulties, major.

General Rosemeyer here hasn't forgotten that Germany's a signatory...

...to the Hague Convention.

ROSEMEYER: I have not forgotten, but my hands are tied.

I have my orders from Berlin.

MAN: You can tell Berlin all they're entitled to know.

I'm General George Carnaby, United States Army, RA 123-025-3964.

KRAMER: And one of the chief coordinators of planning for the second front.

JONES: Which second front is that?

Well, general, I have done all I can.

I have tried to hold up the Gestapo.

I've persuaded the High Command that the mere fact of your capture...

...will compel the Allies to alter their plans...

...but this, it seems, is not enough.

For the last time, may I request you to give us the information?

General George Carnaby, United States Army.

The matter is in your hands, Kramer.

You know, general, we have drugs that will make you talk.

- We do not wish to use them, but... - Scopolamine. Heh, heh, heh.

Where's that gonna get you, colonel?

There are other drugs too.

The lieutenant here is a trained nurse.

[PHONE RINGS]

Excuse me.

Yes?

And they are who we thought?

Very good.

Yes. Yes, you can bring them up now.

Has there been any further information about the other two?

Well, keep me advised.

Some very interesting company coming up, general.

The drugs may not be necessary.

Don't you think it's time we make a move?

Any minute now.

Just be patient.

[KNOCKING]

A moment.

[MARY CHUCKLES]

Fr�ulein.

Did I disturb you?

- No, I was just going out. - Well, then I am just in time.

- You wanted to see me, major? - Naturally.

What about?

Well, nothing.

I just wanted to see you. Now, that is not a crime, is it?

No.

It's very seldom we have so pretty a girl here.

Perhaps I can show you a little Bavarian hospitality.

Now, downstairs, we have an armaments room...

...which has been converted into the most marvelous caf�.

But my duties, I have to see the colonel's secretary.

The colonel's secretary can wait a little while.

You and me, we have a lot to talk about.

- Such as? - D�sseldorf.

- D�sseldorf? - I was a student there for many years.

From 1929 to 1933.

To your health, gentlemen.

You are not drinking, general.

That's understandable...

...when your rescuers turn out to be, well, birds of a different feather.

And the return trip, gentlemen.

How was that to be accomplished?

- Through Switzerland. - Mm-hm.

Then it should be quite easy for you to return to London.

A rubber dinghy across the Rhine, and then a short walk.

You'll be in Whitehall...

...reporting General Carnaby's transfer to Berlin before you know it.

Back to London? Are you mad? Not with Smith and Schaffer still alive.

What do you take us for?

You will also, of course, be reporting the unfortunate demise of Major Smith.

- Is he dead? KRAMER: We are not quite sure.

- It is being looked into right now. - It's getting late.

- Please remember the important issue. - Yes, sir.

I think the situation has changed sufficiently...

...for you to give us the information we have been asking for.

Nothing's changed, colonel.

Most unfortunate.

Just a waste of good scopolamine. Don't move, any of you.

Lieutenant.

No, I'd advise you not to, colonel.

Well, gentlemen, I'm glad to see you all here, safe and sound, enjoying a drink.

I'm sorry to interrupt you.

Lieutenant, drop that gun.

- What? - Drop that gun and sit down.

- What the hell are you talking about? - Sit down!

- Major, if I live to be 100... - Do nothing, lieutenant.

[GUN CLATTERS]

In your own idiom, you're a punk...

...and a pretty second-rate punk at that.

- lf I might have some explanation... - In good time, colonel. All in good time.

I was about to say scopolamine would have little effect on our friend...

...except to prove he's not General Carnaby, but a certain Cartwright Jones...

...an American actor impersonating General Carnaby.

- Who are you? - Just a passer-by, as you might say.

In fact, I think the drug would probably work better...

...on our friends at the end of the table. They're our real enemies.

- Don't listen to him, general. It's a bluff! - Keep quiet!

Allow me to introduce myself. Major Johann Schmidt.

SS Military Intelligence, Stuttgart.

- Can you prove that? - Certainly, colonel.

Before I do, I wonder if you'd be good enough to call one of your guards.

I don't fancy talking and keeping my eye on these people at the same time.

Strange.

I seem to remember...

...that the cathedral was on the other side of the square.

Well...

Of course, I might be mistaken. It's been a long time.

Oh, no, major. I could have made a mistake.

I haven't been to D�sseldorf for three years.

It's very easy to forget.

Yes. It's very easy.

Fr�ulein, you seem to be a little bit distracted.

- Is anything wrong? - No. No, it's nothing.

Just a slight headache. I've had a long day traveling.

Oh, yes, of course. And here I am...

...I'm talking about silly things like D�sseldorf.

- You will forgive me? - Of course.

Thank you. I tell you what.

We will have one more schnapps together and then I'll see you to your quarters.

- Thank you. - Fr�ulein!

Well, now that we're all comfortable, the first order of business...

...is to find out exactly who everybody is and what they're doing here.

Now, first the lieutenant.

He's an assassin...

...a member of the American intelligence organization known as OSS.

His job was to shoot you, Colonel Kramer, and you, General Rosemeyer.

Now, General Carnaby's mission was twofold:

First, to allow himself to be tortured...

...into giving you the wrong plans for the second front.

And secondly, to afford the British...

...a perfect excuse to send in a team of experts to rescue him.

Which brings us to our three friends here...

...and the cleverest phase of the British operation.

- They are, of course, members of Ml6. - That's a lie.

Let him finish!

Their job was to penetrate the German High Command...

...instead of the real Thomas, Berkeley and Christiansen...

...who worked for us in London...

...and were discovered and captured by the British about a month ago.

That's another lie. You can't prove any of this.

Can't I?

Any denials, lieutenant?

Now, General Carnaby, perhaps you'd be good enough...

...to give us your real name, rank and serial number.

Cartwright Jones, corporal, U.S. Army...

...RA 123-025-3964.

SCHMIDT: Thank you.

Having successfully substituted these three British agents for our men...

...what was the next phase of the British plan?

To penetrate the German High Command.

How? Simple.

Stage a fake air crash with a fake American general on board...

...send in special agents to effect his release...

...be sure that they fail in their mission...

...and these men would be taken to Berlin...

...where they would be right in the heart of the Wehrmacht.

And you, Major Schmidt, what were your orders on this mission?

To lead them in and make my own way out through Switzerland.

- But it... It's incredible. - Yes.

But to the British, very, very simple.

You were going to give us some proof of who you are.

SCHMIDT: Certainly, general.

The proof is in three parts. First, if I'm not who I say I am...

...what am I doing here? What can I possibly hope to gain?

The rescue of an impostor, the exposure of three spies. Who to?

To the very people they're supposed to be working for.

I have nothing to gain.

Also, if these people are what they say they are...

...they would know the name of our top agent in Whitehall.

- Yes. - So why don't we ask them?

They should know the man who sent them on this mission.

CHRISTIANSEN: We all work through contacts.

It wasn't necessary or safe for us to know...

...where our orders were coming from.

Then I should be in the same boat as you, but I know his name and you don't.

Secondly, colonel, you have...

...one of the most powerful radio transmitters in Europe.

Put a radio telephone call through...

...to Field Marshal Kesselring's headquarters in Italy...

...and ask for his Chief of Intelligence, a Major Wilhelm Wilner.

Major. Major.

Major.

There's Colonel Kramer on the telephone from the Schloss Adler in Bavaria.

He says it's very urgent.

[SPEAKS IN GERMAN]

Major Wilner speaking.

Ja, colonel.

- Can you describe him? - That will not be necessary.

Ask him to show you his right forearm.

- May I see your right forearm? - Certainly.

WILNER [OVER PHONE]: There are two parallel scars, about three centimeters apart.

The scars are there.

Ask how did he get them.

- How did you get those? - I was born with them.

KRAMER: He says he was born with them.

That is right. Then tell him he's a traitor.

Tell him he's a renegade.

[LAUGHING]

That is Schmidt. No question about it.

- Thank you, major. - Thank you, colonel.

Good night.

Give me the water.

As you know, the real Thomas, Christiansen and Berkeley...

...while working for British counterespionage...

...were responsible for setting up an excellent chain of agents throughout Britain.

Now, if these men are who they claim to be...

...it would be reasonable...

...to expect them to be able to write down a list of those agents.

You could then compare their lists with the genuine one...

...which I have in this book. - There's something very wrong, colonel.

I don't doubt who Schmidt is, but there has been some mistake.

SCHMIDT: Yes, and you're the ones who have made it.

Fr�ulein, would you be good enough to get some pencils and some notebooks...

...and we'll soon find out who's speaking the truth.

Good night, Maria. You are a most charming girl.

Good night and thank you.

We must get to know each other a little better.

- Yes. - Good night.

Good night.

Any one of these will do.

Now compare it with my original.

Guard!

[GRUNTS]

Stay as you were, gentlemen.

Just relax.

Second-rate punk, huh?

All I could think of on the spur of the moment.

- Thanks. That even makes it worse. - Sorry.

Well, between them, they shouldn't have missed anything.

KRAMER: This is all you want. Those books? - Lots of nice names and addresses.

And these men? Then they are who they claim to be?

I'm afraid so. They've been under suspicion for some time.

Classified information was going out and useless information was coming in.

It took several weeks to pin it on the departments controlled by those men.

But we knew we couldn't prove it. Even if we could...

...what we really wanted was the names of their contacts.

These names and addresses. So we thought this plan up.

And Wilner, Kesselring's Chief of Intelligence?

He truly believes me to be one of his top agents in Italy.

I've been feeding him useless, false and out-of-date information for a couple years.

- All right, gentlemen... VON HAPEN: Stay where you are!

[GUN COCKS]

I'd advise everyone to keep perfectly still.

Drop your gun, major.

You too, lieutenant.

By the fireplace.

Thank God you're here. We were just about...

VON HAPEN: Sit down, colonel!

Everybody remain as he is...

...until I find out what exactly is going on here.

What do you mean? Surely, you can see what's...

VON HAPEN: Sit down, colonel.

It's perfectly simple. The lieutenant and myself...

...have uncovered a plot to assassinate the F�hrer.

- This is preposterous! - General!

Sit down.

These people were all involved in a conspiracy to overthrow the Third Reich.

In my pocket here, I have the names of all the conspirators.

Just before you interrupted us, we put this entire party under arrest.

The list in his pocket are the names of German agents working in Britain!

SMITH: I don't expect you to believe me, major.

But you'll certainly believe these names if you'll permit me to show them to you.

Let me see them.

Careful, major.

Go very slowly.

Bring them here.

SCHAFFER: Smith.

[KRAMER GRUNTS]

All of you, get up! Stand over there.

Put your hands up.

Put your hands up!

Jones, see if you can find something to tie them up with.

Mary, bring that bag over here.

- What do we do with these three? - We take them with us.

You were late.

- One day I won't come at all. - Keep your eye on those three.

Lieutenant, in the next 15 minutes...

...we have to create enough confusion to get out of here alive.

Major, right now you got me about as confused as I ever hope to be.

The armory's here. If we blow it up, the castle will think...

...it's being attacked by a division.

On the other side of the castle over here is the radio room.

I'll take the others and meet you there. You take the map.

Mary, we're going.

Let me make myself perfectly understood.

If any of you utters a word, I'll kill you all. You understand?

- Jones, get the major's gun. Now move. - Yes, sir.

Move!

Go!

This way.

Jones.

[MAN 1 SPEAKING IN GERMAN]

SMITH: Wait. Go back. Jones, go on. Mary, get in. Get in there.

[MAN 2 LAUGHING AND SPEAKING IN GERMAN]

At ease.

Hello.

[MAN GRUNTS]

[GUNSHOTS AND GUARD GRUNTS]

[CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

[POLKA MUSIC PLAYING]

[WHISPERING] Get them in.

[CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO]

[STATIC BUZZING ON RADIO]

[POLKA MUSIC PLAYING]

[FLOOR CREAKS]

[ALARM RINGING]

[SIRENS WAILING]

[IN NORMAL TONE] All right, inside, quickly.

You may need this.

Broadsword calling Danny Boy.

- We got company. - Broadsword calling Danny Boy.

Broadsword calling Danny Boy.

[EXPLOSIONS IN DISTANCE]

[RAPID GUNFIRE]

[RUMBLING AND EXPLOSIONS IN DISTANCE]

Get the rest of the men out of here and report to the Kommandant.

[RAPID GUNFIRE]

ROLLAND [OVER RADIO]: Danny Boy calling Broadsword. Over.

Everything ready. We need transport. Understood?

- Over. - Understood.

Do you have it? Over.

We have it. We have it all. Over.

All sins forgiven.

[RAPID GUNFIRE]

Damn it.

[RAPID GUNFIRE]

Get Thomas out of there. Quickly.

[EXPLOSION]

Now!

Get out. Climb out.

Get on with it!

Grenades.

Corporal!

[RAPID GUNFIRE]

[GRUNTING]

[EXPLOSION]

Outside! Out! Out!

[EXPLOSION]

SMITH: All right.

Lieutenant, get the rope.

[FOOTSTEPS AND MAN SPEAKING IN GERMAN]

[WHISPERING] Back. Get back.

[IN NORMAL TONE] All right, to the right.

[MAN SPEAKS IN GERMAN]

Quick. Move it.

[RAPID GUNFIRE]

Damn! Blast it!

Get moving.

All right. Get those men untied.

Better put those coats on if you don't want to freeze to death. Quickly, now.

Christiansen.

Jones, get them out. Mary.

Watch them. Right.

[EXPLOSIONS IN DISTANCE]

- The doors to the corridor are locked. - See what winch controls they have.

- There's a stop and start button. - See if you can make the motor work.

SCHAFFER: Not bad, huh? - Yes, good.

Now bring it down here and we'll get on top, and you can take us back inside.

- Mary, bring them out here! - Go on.

Get ahold of the rope and climb down.

Climb down!

[GROANING]

Look out!

[GRUNTING]

Schaffer?

Schaffer? Schaffer?

We've got him, Smith! Now, listen, Smith.

I'll make a deal with you.

You let us go down in the car and we won't kill Schaffer.

Smith!

You bring him out so I can see he's still alive.

I'm bringing him out now.

[WHISPERING] Get in the car.

[THUDS]

[IN NORMAL TONE] Give me that.

[THUD]

[GUN CLICKING]

Damn it!

Up there. Get him!

[GRUNTING]

[GROANING]

[SCREAMS]

Help me. No.

No. No!

[CHRISTIANSEN WHIMPERING]

[CHRISTIANSEN SPEAKING IN GERMAN]

Help me.

[SCREAMING]

Please.

No!

[BANGING ON DOOR IN DISTANCE]

MARY: Lieutenant.

- Where's the major? - He's on the cable car.

[BANGING ON DOOR CONTINUES]

[SPEAKING IN GERMAN]

[OFFICER SPEAKING IN GERMAN]

[BANGING ON DOOR]

SMITH: Jones, the bag.

Let's go.

[SPEAKING IN GERMAN]

Set the bombs to go off in three and a half minutes.

- Almost ready? - Almost.

Jones. Mary.

All set.

Go.

[SPEAKING IN GERMAN]

- Twenty-five minutes. Can we make it? - We can make it.

- Point is, will they? - God knows.

Everybody on the floor.

[GRUNTING]

[RAPID GUNFIRE]

[ALARM WAILING]

Emergency. Get me the Oberhausen Airfield immediately.

- We've got company. - Yeah, I saw them in the mirror.

How long before we reach the poles?

Just around the next turn.

Oberhausen Airfield?

Give me the Kommandant's office.

[PHONE CLICKING]

[SPEAKING IN GERMAN]

Get ready.

[SPEAKS IN GERMAN]

[MOTORCYCLE APPROACHING]

Set the rest of them and get out of here.

[RAPID GUNFIRE]

PILOT: Oberhausen control tower. Oberhausen control tower.

MAN: Oberhausen control. Over.

PILOT: I'm in serious trouble. Request urgent permission to land. Over.

Identify. Over.

ULRICH [OVER RADIO]: Leutnant Ulrich.

Third Jaeger Junker squadron on night navigational exercise.

One engine out. Losing altitude. Over.

You are cleared for immediate landing. Over.

PILOT: Coming in. Over.

[AIRCRAFT APPROACHING]

[RAPID GUNFIRE]

[ALARM WAILING]

Fighter Wing 126, Oberhausen Airfield calling. Over.

Fighter Wing 126, Ober...

Get the control tower.

Come in... Aah!

SMITH: Get down.

[RAPID GUNFIRE]

- Berkeley wrote these names? - Yes, sir.

Ted Berkeley. I can't believe it.

And Thomas. And Christiansen.

All three of them?

- My God, it's incredible. - Yes, quite.

But not as incredible as the one name that's missing from that list, colonel.

What name is that, major?

I have it in this notebook here in my pocket.

Earlier tonight, I showed it to Colonel Kramer.

He agreed with me that this was the top German agent in Britain.

It's your name, colonel. Don't look so shocked.

Surely, you suspected it.

Otherwise, why were you here to meet us?

In case you were found out?

Go on.

You see, you underestimated Admiral Rolland.

He'd suspected you and the others for some time.

He brought me and Mary back from Italy because we were the only two...

...in his department that he could trust, yourself included.

He asked you to choose a leader for this expedition.

You chose me because you knew from German intelligence...

...that I was a double agent.

Admiral Rolland knew I was not.

But for you, I was the perfect choice.

- Now you're guessing, Smith. - No guesswork, colonel.

Your pointing that gun at me is sufficient evidence.

You are pointing it at me, aren't you?

Go on.

Mary was brought on the mission without your knowledge because I needed her...

...to get me into the castle. The lieutenant, being an American...

...had no possible connection with Ml6...

...and was the only member of the group I could trust.

I wasn't even sure of Harrod and MacPherson...

...until they were killed by the others.

Fascinating. Very fascinating.

Perhaps even true.

- Assuming for a moment... - You're finished, colonel.

- You're overlooking something, aren't you? - Not at all.

Admiral Rolland took you to the plane himself, didn't he?

He also made certain that you had that gun, didn't he?

We took the precaution of removing the firing pin before the mission started.

[GUN CLICKS]

Put it down, colonel.

[GUN COCKS]

Not so hasty, lieutenant. We mustn't cheat the hangman.

What now, major?

You'll be tried for treason.

A public trial would be embarrassing.

Painful, not only for myself...

...but also for British Intelligence and Admiral Rolland.

Perhaps, but not as painful as that long drop to the end of the rope.

Well...

...I seem to have no cards left to play, do I?

No, colonel, you don't.

- Do I have an alternative? - lf you want it.

Mm.

Thank you.

I'll have those books.

Well, is that it, major?

Yes, that's it, lieutenant.

Do me a favor, will you?

Next time you have one of these things, keep it an all-British operation.

I'll try, lieutenant.