Original subtitles

ICARUS

Mr. and mrs. Ellinghaus await the appearance of their son.

What is keeping Günther so long today?

Dad, my model has won a prize at the school exhibition! Look, this nice book...!

Icarus

Günther's favorite occupation.

Icarus

Legends of Classical Antiquity. Daedalus surpassed nature with his inventiveness.

He started sorting bird feathers of different sizes, so that they took the shape of wings. These pens...

Ten years later. After completing his studies at College, Günther joined an aircraft factory

as engineer, and built an engine that attrated attention in specialized circles.

Legends of Classical Antiquity. Using the wings, Icarus soared. With care and art he flapped the plumage.

Made overconfident by the happy flight, he strived for higher regions against his father's warnings,

But the looming punishment came quickly. The sun's heat destroyed the artfully constructed wings and before

Icarus even noticed, he began to fall. His bare arms no longer contained air and suddenly he fell into the blue sea.

Dear friend, The last two weeks I miss you at the morning ride in the park.

Are you interested only in your Icarus engine and have you forgotten your Clémence de Montignon?

A telephone conversation with consequences.

"Clemence de Montignon speaking!"

"Baron d'Aubigny here!"

"Hurry, please, the issue of little Ellinghaus. I am keen to know more details

about the fabulous Icarus engine. Maybe you could introduce Ellinghaus at the next Esplanade-ball! But: Beware!"

Clemence de Montignon casts her nets.

Günther's parents have adopted an orphaned cousin, Erika, in their home.

"Nothing but bills for our clean mr. son!"

"Again a few thousand Mark to pay for you. I'm sick of your wasteful life.

"Besides, I think your frequent contact with that mrs. Montignon are insensitive to say the least!"

"In Erica's book?"

The Party at the Hotel Esplanade.

"Where is Ellinghaus?"

"Can I introduce the gentlemen? Sir Ellinghaus... Baron d'Aubigny."

"There is much talk of the fabulous invention of your new Icarus engine, mr. Ellinghaus.

I would be interested to get the patent abroad.

"My invention is not for sale to foreing countries, mr. baron."

"He won't let go of anything. I have another idea! Take him to the playroom."

"You are surely lucky in the game!"

Before long, Günther has lost a very large sum and has to play without cash.

"Lucky in love!"

"Cheater!"

"Do you want to have a cup of tea at my place?"

"Now he has to come to me!"

When love dies...

Because Günther cannot pay his gambling debt, he turns to his father with a heavy heart.

"I will not help you. In company you are impossible. You'll have to see now how you can manage by yourself!"

"Give my regards to Mom!"

Icarus

for higher regions against his father's warnings. But the looming punishment came quickly.

The sun's heat destroyed the artfully constructed wings and before Icarus even noticed, he began to fall.

His bare arms no longer contained air and suddenly he fell into the blue sea.

"Günther, don't be a coward, stand up to all prejudice and build yourself a new life! That seems more honorable!"

After two months.

Berlin, May 8, 1914. Madam, Ellinghaus seems to be a waiter in New York at the Hotel Astor.

Please, try to get his address and, if possible, his picture. Your affectionate, d'Aubigny

The waiter at Hotel Astor.

Finally, some news: Madame de Montignon and Baron d'Aubigny have disappeared from Berlin some time ago.

They must have been secret agents of a foreign government. Fare thee well, Erika

In the director's office of the Coudron aircraft factory in Paris.

"A German, sir director! Besides, in business there are no feelings!"

Take the next steamer to New York. Try to get the plans of his invention from Ellinghaus, by cunning or force."

BOMB ATTACK ON THE AUSTRIAN SUCCESSOR TO THE THRONE. The Austrian heir to the throne

has been murdered. Austria puts an ultimatum to Serbia, political situation extremely dangerous.

With eternal adoration, Günther Ellinghaus

"Waiter!"

"Good morning, mr. Ellinghaus!"

"I don't understand how you, with your aeronautical knowledge, can play the waiter here!"

"We pay you 10,000 dollars if you hand us the plans for your Icarus engine."

War! War!

New York Herald telegram 31 July 1914 War between Russia and Germany.

New York Herald telegram 31 July 1914 War between Russia and Germany.

The motherland is calling!

Because being German, Günther cannot get passage to Europe,

he gets himself hired as a stoker on a Dutch ship, the 'Amsterdam'.

At dusk, the 'Amsterdam' leaves the port of New York.

While the 'Amsterdam' is heading to Europe with Günther, his father tries to enlist in the army.

English patrol sighted.

"Good morning, mr. Ellinghaus! Perhaps now you are willing to sell me your invention?"

The English board the 'Amsterdam'.

"All passengers to their cabins!"

From cabin to cabin, British officers check the passports of passengers.

"Are you still interested in my invention now?"

"German aircraft!"

The 'Amsterdam' hoists the neutral flag.

With accurate bombing the German planes manage to sink the British patrol.

The German pilots board the 'Amsterdam' to inspect the ship's papers.

"I'm German. Can you take me with you?"

"Do you have identification?"

Clemence had retired to her estate in northern France.

"In the event the Germans advance further! The tunnel leads directly to our airfield Amiens."

Meanwhile, the area where the castle lies has been taken by German troops.

"Wat you say? Hun?"

"No understand, Madame!"

Günther wins new laurels for a reconaissance flight on the Italian front.

Military Weekly. The pilot Lieutenant Günther Ellinghaus, until now in a bombing squadron,

has won the Iron Cross 1st class and has been moved to a fighter squadron.

Lieutenant Ellinghaus has already distinguished himself on numerous occasions.

... And after a series of successes, Günther Ellinghaus's name was soon

among the most succesfull fighter pilots on the Western Front.

Between castle Montignon and the aerodrome of Amiens the secret phone continues to operate.

"Today the 13th Division has relieved the 51st!"

"I still note the grieving widow here and I convinced the German commander to exempt me from quartering completely.

Günther's squadron is kept ready for imminent takeoff.

Against the Bapaume-Peronne flies since 10 August fighter squadron nr. 79.

Commander: Captain Baron d'Aubigny Aircraft Type: Nieuport Aircraft sign: Skull

Alarm! The enemy balloon line must be attacked!

"Number two!"

The squadron d'Aubigny prepares to fend off the attack.

On the flight back, Günther finds himself attacked from a great height by a Frenchman.

From the castle Montignon the exciting air combat is observed with great interest.

Above Castle Montignon.

"The skull-plane!" "d'Aubigny!"

Unfortunately, Günther engine stops running.

Only with a swoop Günther can save himself from the enemy, who fires from an advantageous position.

At the last moment, Günther manages to catch his plane and land behind his own lines.

A Fighter Squadron II, Made emergency landing 5 km north of N. Send mechanics with a new carburetor soon. Ellinghaus.

"Ten minutes from here is a castle where mr. Lieutenant can stay."

"Ellinghaus!"

"Ellinghaus just made an emergency landing here! This becomes dangerous! Bring me across the lines tonight!"

"The lady baroness asks at the table."

When love dies...

"Duty calls me to my plane. Bon soir, Madame!"

"Make all the haste you can! I have to get out of here!"

In order to take off at dawn, Günther lends a hand himself.

11 o'clock p.m.. The plane is ready. Günther has sent the mechanics to rest.

"There's something suspicious...!"

4 o'clock in the morning!

"I fly towards Montignon...!"

"He sleeps up there!"

"Günther!"

"Madame, I already told you I don't want anything to do with you!"

"Devil... the engine does not start...!"

"A plane, a plane!"

"We are being pursued...!"

"I have him now!"

Günther lands near the crashed, burning plane.

D'Aubigny is carried off heavily wounded.

A few months later. After the declaration of the armistice, Günther has returned to home.

"Where is Erika?"

6 months later. Günther and Erika are on their honeymoon in Switzerland.

A strange encounter in the Grand Hotel in Lucerne.

The weapons are quiet... he storms of war fall silent...

The end.