Original subtitles

Kutuzov

Produced by MOSFILM, 1943. Art Director I. Pyryev

Written by Vladimir Solovyov

Directed by Vladimir Petrov

Assistant Director - M. Yegorov Cinematography - Mikhail Gindin Production design - V. Yegorov

Composer - Yuri Shaporin Sound - A. Korobov Assistant Operator - A. Prieszhev

Trick Photography: Camera - B. Aretzky, Backgrounds - F. Krasny, M. Semionov

Consultants: Professor Ye. Tarle, Major-General N. Talensky

Associate producer - Ya. Antselovich

Cast:

Kutuzov - Aleksei Dikij

Commander First Russian Army General Barclay de Tolly - Nikolai Okhlopkov

Commander Second Russian Army General Bagration - Sergo Zakhariadze

Chief of the Russian Headquarters General Bennigsen - Vladimir Gotovtsev

Napoleon - Semion Mezhinsky

Chief of the French Headquarters Marshal Berthier - Eugeny Kaluzhsky

Marshal Murat - Nikolay Brilling

Marshal Davout - Anton Poliakov

Other cast: Alexander I - N.Timchenko, Volkonsky - N.Ryzhov, Platov - S.Blinnikov, Konovnitsyn - K.Shilovtzev

Davydov - B.Chirkov, Becketov - V.Yershov, Zhestiannikov - I.Skuratov, Fedia - M.Pugovkin

Marshal Ney - A.Stepanov, Loriston - G.Terekhov

The year 1812

With his 600.000 men, Napoleon invaded Russia on June 24th.

The French occupied Vilno, Polotsk, Minsk, Mogilyov and Vitebsk.

The Russian army retreated into the country, without accepting a decisive battle

On August 16th Napoleon approached Smolensk.

I order you to abandon Smolensk.

You want to open up the road to Moscow for Napoleon?

Everyone must do his duty.

I'm doing mine.

Citizens, leave the town...

... by the Moscow road!

Why are we abandoning Smolensk?

Why?

Napoleon's forces are still ...

twice our strength.

It will be the same in Moscow!

I don't think so.

He must leave garrisons on his way.

But this...

It's too late to argue, Prince.

The order's been given.

You have to obey.

Tell the 2nd Army Commander,

Prince Bagration,

that my army is abandoning Smolensk.

With his 2nd army alone, he couldn't defend the town!

Bring me pen, paper, ink!

To His Majesty, the Emperor Alexander

The road to Moscow opened up. I believe Barclay is a traitor.

Prince Piotr Bagration. Sept. ??? 4th, 1812

Is that true, Prince?

I don't quite understand Your Majesty's question.

Is is true that our army abandoned Smolensk

and that the enemy marches on Moscow?

Yes, Your Majesty.

People say,

there's one general,

who could beat Napoleon at once.

Who is that?

The one who smashed the Turks with Suvorov.

He has a difficult name.

First it sounds like a boot...

...then a name.

Rumiantsev was victorious.

Potyomkin was victorious.

Suvorov was victorious.

But once a foreigner is given the command...

You may celebrate!

Today the Assembly of Nobility

signed a petition to appoint

a Russian general!

May I ask... who?

The Emperor won't consent

to appoint Kutuzov anyway.

He will never forgive his defeat at Austerlitz.

But the battle of Austerlitz wasn't lost because of Kutuzov,

but because of His Majesty!

Kutuzov was very frank about that.

This is exactly

what the Emperor will never forgive!

Send for Kutuzov!

Since all Russia wants it so, I'm ordering it.

Why do you wash your shirt?

For my death.

The Czar recalled our little Barclay!

There'll be a battle!

Who said that?

My countryman. He serves as valet with General Bennigsen.

He said Kutuzov will arrive in place of Barclay.

What if it's a lie?

Maybe your countrymen tell a lie,

but we are from Tver!

He said that the general himself

is very angry all the time.

- Who, little Barclay? - Not Barclay. Bennigsen.

Why is he?

It's clear why. Because he won't replace Barclay.

Why are you so joyful in the camp today?

Why are you so joyful here today, guys?

They say Kutuzov is coming, Your Excellency.

And that German gets a kick in the arse!

Which German?

Barclay, Your Excellency.

He's not a German,

he's a Scotsman.

- Do you know who that was? - I know.

- The General. - That was Barclay himself.

You fool!

# When on the march a hussar sees

# the eyes of a beauty at the window,

# he smoothes his moustache a little

# and tenderly pats his horse.

# Then the trained horse, his old mate,

# stops by the door as if rooted to the ground,

# and under the beauty's window

# he waits sometimes until the morning comes.

# We're not born for a peaceful life.

# The hearts of hussars are in our breast.

# Onward, onward, hussars! Attention!

# The victory awaits us.

# Onward, onward, hussars! attention!

# The victory awaits us.

Basta!

We won't retreat one single step from this point!

Yeah,

Bagration will surely leave you here.

How could he not leave me?

I say he'll do it, and he will.

Am I his adjutant or not?

Are you his adjutant or is he - yours?

It makes no difference, we don't make a big deal of it.

Let's make a bet on this:

that I won't retreat a single step from this point!

Agreed!

I'll take 1000 hussars and go behind the French lines

to fight as a partisan!

I've had this idea for a long time ...

Don't make a bet with him.

You'll lose!

I like his idea.

Your Excellency,

you've been here for long?

Long enough.

Don't worry, Denis!

Not every braggart is a hussar,

But every hussar is a braggart!

I won't give you 1000 hussars,

but I will talk about your idea

with the new Commander in Chief.

The new Commander in Chief?

- Who is it? - Who's the new one?

Kutuzov.

And he'll be here tomorrow.

Hurrah!

Gentlemen,

go on with the song

and pour me a glass!

You?

Your moustaches seem to have risen a bit.

Your Excellency,

those were the moustaches for retreat.

And these are the moustaches for the offensive.

# When on the march a hussar hears

# the clank of sharp sabre blades,

# he smoothes his moustache a little

# and tenderly pats his horse.

# Then the trained horse, his old mate,

# rushes at the enemy at once,

# and the enemy flees from the hussar

# because he cares for his life.

# We're not born for a peaceful life.

# The hearts of hussars are in our breast.

# Onward, onward, hussars! Attention!

# The victory awaits us.

# Onward, onward, hussars! attention!

# The victory awaits us.

To the offensive!

To the offensive!

To victory!

With this army,

with such valour,

why retreat?

Kutuzov came to beat the French!

Go figure that Kutuzov of yours!

And he said there will be no more retreat!

Then what is this?

This isn't a retreat, didn't they tell you?

We're looking for a battle position.

How can you give a battle without a position?

What a yokel!

# Brothers! Serve with your breast,

# Look brave at your enemy.

# And prove to the universe

# how valuable is Russia for us!

# And prove to the universe

# how valuable is Russia for us!

# Look, who's coming to us!

# there's a crowd of straw puppets

# Bonaparte is pulling out

# a weak rabble of different nations.

# Bonaparte is pulling out

# a weak rabble of different nations.

# They are not of the same faith.

# They are going under constraint.

# In case of severe casualties

# they can turn back against him.

# In case of severe casualties

# they can turn back against him.

# Brothers! Serve with your breast,

# Look bravely at your enemy.

# And prove to the universe

# how valuable is Russia for us!

Company... halt!

- What village is this? - Borodino.

Borodino 112 verst to Moscow

Borodino 26th August 1812

The great battle has been going on for many hours now.

Napoleon's plan is becoming clear -

to break through the Russian left flank,

then throw all his forces to the center

and push the Russian army into the river

to destroy it.

So what is it?

Napoleon has called in his Guard battalions?

Napoleon's veteran guard hasn't joined the battle yet, Your Lordship.

From the 1st Army Commander, General Barclay de Tolly, Your Lordship.

Let him come in.

Your Lordship, the general asks for reinforcements!

Bagration isn't asking for reinforcements.

Rayevsky isn't asking for reinforcements.

And he's under a heavier attack from the French!

Only Barclay asks for it!

I don't even have my own reserves.

I suppose Mikhail Bogdanovich (B. de Tolly) knows this.

You may go!

The French are constantly attacking, Your Lordship.

We can't repel them!

The Prince asks for immediate reinforcements.

I didn't expect that from Bagration.

Barclay isn't asking for reinforcements.

Rayevsky isn't asking for reinforcements.

Only Bagration asks for it!

I don't even have my own reserves.

Take one division from Barclay

and give it to Bagration.

How long will my Cossacks stand idle?

Let me attack the French,

Your Lordship.

When the time comes,

I will not only let you attack them, but order you to!

A message from General Rayevsky.

The General is begging ...

...for reinforcements.

Give him a division from my reserves.

What division is this?

A division from Barclay's army, Your Excellency.

What?

The Field Marshal sent it, and said he had no reserves of his own.

Prince Bagration is

being saved by whom?

By Barclay?

Why did you accept this division?

I'd rather be dead!

You may go!

Fedia!

I washed my death shirt in vain.

Now it looks not only embarrassing before God...

but even in hell.

I can only hope that I'll stay alive.

Fedia!

Fedia!

Do you want water, son?

No.

I don't care.

Write...

to Semion, Lipki village.

It's near Ryazan.

This is a massive attack on the fl�ches.

We need to ask for reinforcements urgently,

if it's not too late!

It's too late.

Marshal Davout asks...

The King of Naples asks...

Marshal Ney begs...

Don't wait another minute!

Bagration started the offensive!

For the fatherland!

For the homeland, brothers!

For Russia, friends!

No, no.

Not yet.

There's no need yet

of your Cossacks.

So far everything

is going well, thank God.

For reinforcements again, I believe?

Prince Bagration

is mortally wounded.

??? [asking for a horse]

General Barclay de Tolly says

the left flank has collapsed.

Napoleon throws all his forces to the center.

The General reports that all opposition is useless.

The battle is lost, Your Lordship.

Are you ...

out of your mind?

We won the battle against Bonaparte!

Do you understand?

We won!

Tell this ...

to your general!

You may go.

Will Napoleon call in his guard battalions or not?

He must do it now.

This is his last reserve.

Well.

Ataman Platov,

your Cossacks will finally fight.

My orders...

Cross the river...

Your Majesty,

the Russians are smashed,

but they are still holding on!

Give me the Guard battalions,

and I will cut up the Russian Army and drown it in the river!

Your Majesty, one last effort

and the Russians will be destroyed. Call in the Guard!

Give me the Guard, Your Majesty

and I will bring you victory!

Our Emperor will now wave his glove

and say like he always does:

"The Guard into the battle!"

Cossacks are on our left flank.

They have broken through our lines and are approaching the headquarters, Your Majesty!

Suspend the attack, and drive back the Cossacks.

The Guard won't budge!

800 leagues away from France

I cannot risk my last reserves!

Good work!

I will recommend you for an order!

For what?

Don't you understand, Your Lordship?

My cavalry is scattered.

The attack has failed.

Is that so?

Napoleon didn't call in his Guard.

And what if had done so?

We won the battle, gentlemen!

Did we?

If we didn't win it,

we surely didn't lose it.

What about the Russians?

They keep holding their position, Your Majesty.

Withdraw the troops.

Your Lordship,

Prince Bagration

is dying.

Yes, yes.

I'm coming.

Mikhail Illarionovich,

Say that you won't abandon Moscow!

Answer me truthfully!

Tell me the truth!

Don't you doubt it.

Prince Piotr,

How could one abandon Moscow?

Don't worry.

Thank you!

Now I can ...

die in peace.

The War Council at the village of Fili

My opinion, gentlemen,

has not changed.

I am a soldier.

To me, Moscow is first of all just a position.

And this position cannot be defended.

I propose to abandon Moscow without a battle.

Abandon the Holy Ancient Capital of Russia without a battle?

We had better die in Moscow ...

than abandon her to desecration by the enemy!

If this position cannot be defended,

why don't we attack instead?

I propose to attack!

To give a battle near the Sparrow Hills.

We must retreat!

I doubt the Emperor will approve of your constant retreating.

By the authority I'm invested with by His Majesty,

I order the retreat!

Russia is not only Moscow.

If we lose Moscow, but save the army,

we will still have a chance.

If we lose the army,

then we will not only lose Moscow,

but all Russia!

The responsibility for this,

before the fatherland and the Emperor,

I am taking

on myself!

Will you order the retreat to Kaluga?

We'll retreat...

to Ryazan.

You may go, gentlemen.

Now you've got what you wanted, Mikhail Bogdanovich!

You determined the fate of Moscow back at Smolensk!

Wasn't my plan of retreat the right one?

If I hadn't agreed with your retreat plan,

I would have attacked Napoleon

right at the moment I arrived at the front,

and wouldn't have retreated to Borodino.

Then why did you allow them to offend me in your presence,

which I don't deserve?

Isn't Bennigsen right ...

by saying that the fate of Moscow ...

was determined back at Smolensk?

But does he have a right to reproach me for this?

I did that ...

for the common good, didn't I?

From the day when you understand the truth,

until the day when the truth triumphs,

sometimes a human life isn't long enough.

You must accept that, Barclay.

At a moment which is so painful for the whole fatherland,

how is it possible to think about ...

the offences painful to one's person?

Oh, Barclay, Barclay.

Is Moscow...

only a position?

Moscow...

is Moscow!

They have abandoned Moscow.

But where is the Russian Army?

Maybe in our back?

Kutuzov ordered his generals

to retreat to Ryazan.

--Ryazan. Kaluga--

Your Lordship, we turned the wrong way!

You ordered us to go to Ryazan, but we're turning to Kaluga.

We are?

We can't go back now.

It would mean bad luck for our campaign!

We have to retreat to Kaluga.

And let Napoleon ...

search for us ...

near Ryazan.

Having performed a famous flanking movement,

the Russian Army has settled down at the Tarutinsky camp

halfway from Moscow to Kaluga.

The French were cut off ...

from the rich southern provinces.

Kutuzov reinforced his army, getting it ready for battle.

From His Majesty the Emperor.

I can't read it clearly.

I have one eye, and it must watch over so many things.

It is probably tired.

Here, read it.

Prince Mikhail Illarionovich!

I must say I'm very astonished

at your sluggishness and inactivity.

The Chief of Headquarters General Bennigsen informs me...

Not much of a Chief of Headquarters,

more like a snitcher and intrigant.

Read on.

Chief of Headquarters General Bennigsen informs me

that the influence of your predecessor, Barclay de Tolly

is still very strong in the army.

And it's because of this influence that we abandoned Moscow,

while according to your report

we won the Battle of Borodino.

Barclay's influence! I see!

But if I dismissed Barclay,

that day Bennigsen would complain to the Czar,

that I dismissed a wise general.

I know ...

what my Chief of Headquarters wants.

I know.

Your Lordship, if I may say so, the staff at headquarters also know that.

So much the better if they know it too.

Well...

You're neglecting me, Mikhail Bogdanovich.

- Can you come over in the evening for a talk? - About what?

We are wise men, and can speak frankly.

What Kutuzov is doing now,

...we could have done that without him.

Prince, I'm not sure if I am born for victories,

but certainly not for intrigues.

The Field Marshall is asleep.

Ever since we're stationed here at Tarutin, he's always asleep.

Pussy, how could you!

Lying down on my artillery!

Go for a walk.

Your Lordship, General Barclay de Tolly.

Let him come in.

Your Lordship, you really need some sleep.

If you go on like this, you might fall asleep right at the table.

Your Lordship,

although it was painful to me,

but at the time, I was needed,

so I kept on.

But now I'm no longer needed.

I hand in my resignation...

...because of illness...

Tell me, Barclay,

what do you think now?

Did we win the battle of Borodino,

or did we lose it?

A battle,

which is followed by a retreat,

is counted as a defeat, Your Lordship.

Good.

Your adjutant reported the same during the battle.

But the battle was not a defeat.

Because the spirit of the army was not broken.

And we didn't retreat under the pressure of an enemy,

but of our own free will.

The victory was not theirs,

but ours!

Because the spirit of the Russian Army

was not broken!

I approve.

But you,

Mikhail Bogdanovich,

excuse an old man,

you didn't quite understand it yourself.

So how can your soldiers be blamed if they didn't understand your plans in their hearts?

God is my witness,

I deplore your resignation.

But now,

while Moscow is in Napoleon's hands,

I can't say a word in your defence.

Since they men definitely don't like you,

my confidence ...

must be withdrawn.

Farewell,

Barclay!

Your Excellency, the Field Marshall is asleep.

I know.

I'll come later, Your Lordship.

Well, since you're here ...

Speak.

You dismissed Barclay, Your Lordship.

Will the Czar like it?

Barclay commanded the army...

Have you commanded the army, General?

No, Your Lordship.

So I could dismiss you without hurting His Majesty?

You will go to Kaluga.

- Why? - For treatment.

Treatment? What treatment?

They'll find out in Kaluga.

Your Majesty, the Russian peasants again refuse ...

to sell our troops food and forage.

Then just take it.

They attack our foragers.

The string of carts from Smolensk ...

has been intercepted again by that Russian officer.

If you catch him,

he will be hung!

What is that, Berthier?

Drunk soldiers?

They are yelling under my very windows?

Your Majesty, it has become almost impossible to restrain them.

The soldiers think the war is over.

We promised them peace in Moscow.

So, Piotr Pietrovich,

what are the soldiers talking among themselves?

Your Lordship, I won't conceal it,

the officers are complaining of inactivity.

We're sitting and waiting.

But why?

Do you mean, an offensive again?

While Napoleon is in Moscow ...

waiting for a peace offer,

we are leisurely reinforcing the army.

Is it true that the French have eaten all the crows?

And now they're eating mice?

Haven't you heard?

Send my peace offer to the Emperor Alexander.

Tell him, I'm doing this only because of my sympathy for him.

But if they won't consent,

I'll march with my army on Petersburg.

So they'll have to burn their second capital.

Your Majesty,

the Russians won't consent.

Don't hesitate, Loriston, to make concessions to the Russians.

The army is tired.

Your Majesty,

I think the Russians won't accept peace.

I need peace ...

at all costs.

Peace!

To His Imperial Majesty

In our rear, the peasants are robbing on the highroads.

They are robbing and killing soldiers.

During war ...

actions of the mob are bad for both sides, Your Lordship.

You could easily calm your people.

I don't feel it necessary to calm the righteous anger of the people.

I can't give you a laissez-passer to Petersburg.

But I will send this letter...

to his Majesty the Emperor today.

But till the answer,

could we agree on a ...

temporary truce?

Unfortunately, it is not in my power to do so, Count.

Your Lordship,

hasn't it been enough?

It's time to end this war.

To end it?

But we haven't even begun, Count.

We're just about to begin.

# Though Moscow is in the hands of the French,

# This is not a disaster:

# Our field marshall, Prince Kutuzov

# Let them enter for their death!

# Our field marshall, Prince Kutuzov

# Let them enter for their death!

# The whole world knows

# how we pay back our dues.

# Now the enemies will receive

# their payment for Moscow.

# Now the enemies will receive

# their payment for Moscow.

# It's an honour to visit the capital.

# But we know the taste of revenge.

# Warsaw knows this very well,

# And Paris will know this too!

# Warsaw knows this very well,

# And Paris will know this too!

Take two regiments each,

march around Moscow

to the French rear.

Occupy all the roads.

Don't start any big battle,

but see to it that ...

not a single cart,

not even a crow ...

can fly to Moscow.

God help you!

No answer from the Russian Emperor.

And apparently there won't be one, Your Majesty.

The Marshalls are waiting for Your Majesty's decision.

The French have left Moscow?

They have, Your Lordship.

Russia is saved!

The enemy has left ...

our holy capital Moscow!

Hurrah!

Gentlemen,

I understand your great joy, but it's too early yet.

Our army is reinforced.

Now it'll be war!

Ataman Platov.

We all know your bravery.

Napoleon's army is rushing towards Kaluga.

Take the avant-guard,

block his path below Maloyaroslavets ...

and keep your stand there ...

to the last man!

We will follow you soon!

The glorious Russian Army!

???

for the liberation ...

of out great and long-suffering fatherland!

Onward!

Maloyaroslavets became an indestructible barrier on Napoleon's path

Yes.

It seems tomorrow we can expect a new Borodino.

Well?

Should we give a new Borodino to Napoleon?

Our victory doesn't lie in a new Borodino,

but to force the French to retreat by the old Smolensk road

and save our army.

You're looking for victories,

but I am looking ...

for a meaning in them.

You may go, gentlemen.

Your Majesty, you've seen the battlefield.

The ground is covered by the bodies of our guard.

And against whom were we fighting?

Against volunteers of the people,

poorly clothed,

and badly armed.

Those Russians were fighting till death, and in such a rage!

Against such people we'll have to fight tomorrow.

I wouldn't presume to advice His Majesty...

whether or not to give to the Russians a decisive battle tomorrow,

but since we have food supplies for six months in Smolensk ...

and the army could settle down there ...

- for the winter... - Enough!

If tomorrow's battle will be won at the same price as Borodino,

then I also vote for wintering in Smolensk, Your Majesty.

So we'll retreat by the old Smolensk road?

Borodino!

Let it be Borodino again!

We shall give a battle!

We shall go to Kaluga!

And inflict woe on those who will stand in our way!

Berthier, order my horse!

I will examine our positions.

A gift?

Soldier Semion Zhestiannikov sends a gift to Your Lordship.

Horseshoes are for luck.

But what else?

Why did he send them?

Careful, Your Lordship!

Sit down.

Sit down, Semion Zhestiannikov.

Thank you for the gift.

But what should I do with it? I'm not a blacksmith.

Look closely, Your Lordship.

Well...

What can there be so special about them?

No spikes, Your Lordship!

These are from French horses.

No spikes on those horseshoes.

Now in this mud, horses may slip,

and once a bit of ice appears,

all their cavalry will tumble with those horseshoes.

It seems you just handed over to me the entire French cavalry.

You see?

Thank you.

Thank you, brother!

For each horseshoe ...

I give you ...

a gold rouble.

Your Lordship,

tomorrow I'll be able to give you a thousand of these.

No no.

I have not enough gold for your shrewdness.

Ataman Platov,

take the cavalry along the Medyn road,

and attack the French in the morning!

Mustn't we save the forces for the decisive battle,

Your Lordship?

The whole French cavalry is standing there.

Carry out the order!

By the way, are your Cossacks still attacking the French rear?

Absolutely, Mikhail Illarionovich!

Keep it up!

You are sitting too close, guys, too close.

Order all around the camp ...

that no more than two soldiers may sit at each fire.

How many fires would we have to light then, Your Lordship?

As many as are needed.

You might borrow some shrewdness from Semion Zhestiannikov.

The Emperor on horseback to examine our positions.

Suddenly, at full gallop, riding right upon us,

Cossacks appeared, their lances tilted forwards.

Marshall Bessi�res and I shielded the Emperor and fought them off.

One more minute and the Emperor might have been killed ...

or captured.

But the Chasseurs and the Polish lancers arrived in time.

But what about the Emperor?

The Emperor was absolutely calm.

The Emperor was smiling.

Apparently the Russians have had some new reinforcements.

What should we do, Berthier?

Retreat, Your Majesty.

Fleeing ...

for the first time in my life.

I order:

parallel with Napoleon's army

march off ...

westwards!

Whether Napoleon will be captured, that depends on God's will,

but to pursue him till he's outside of Russia -

that depends on myself!

Why are they running so fast, Berthier?

Are the Russians near?

They are starving, Your Majesty.

We can't send foragers into the country.

Kutuzov's army marches parallel to us, on the left,

Platov's Cossacks are following us.

We're marching as if under a Russian escort.

Starvation is whipping our soldiers towards Smolensk.

Berthier, give the order ...

not to let them into Smolensk before the Guard.

The starving French Army rushed into Smolensk.

He will be shot!

For what, Your Majesty?

Because you allowed the storehouses to be plundered!

And it seems you've helped yourself too! See!

It's the wind, Your Majesty, which has blown away our supplies.

Give the order ...

for immediate retreat.

We...

... are leaving Russia.

Cancel the ambush, Denis.

Our Frenchmen were intercepted.

- Seslavin? - No.

- Figner? - No.

Over there, look.

- Who's in charge here? - Vasilisa, sir.

- Which Vasilisa? - Everybody knows...

the Elder's wife.

The Elder died two years ago.

And she left.

So she's in charge.

And who captured the French?

She did.

Who else?

Vasilisa.

- Good work! - March on, "cher amizniks"!

I've been tracking that French detachment for five days.

And now somebody snatches them from right under my nose.

And who? A woman!

There's still enough Frenchmen left for us.

In the forest nearby ...

General Augereau and his whole brigade is straying.

Maybe we should capture him?

Mount!

Destroying the French rear-guard, the Russian army took Orsha, Vitebsk, Polotsk, Mogiliov.

Heroes!

After many victories ...

gained by you,

everyday and everywhere,

we only need to pursue the enemy!

And then the Russian soil,

which the enemy wanted to enslave,

will be covered by his bones!

The winter is coming, with snowstorms and the cold.

Children of the North,

this doesn't frighten you!

Suvorov taught us ...

to bear with cold and hunger,

when there's victory and glory ahead!

Onward!

God be with us!

Before us ...

runs the enemy.

Let there be ...

calm and peace behind us.

Pressed from all sides, Napoleon retreated to the Berezina River with the remainder of his army.

What happened?

Your Lordship, the horses can't pass, the bridge is coated with ice.

The horses' legs are straddling on the ice.

Your Lordship,

let the cavalry walk then.

What are you thinking about?

That I've given away those French horseshoes too cheap to his Lordship.

Your Majesty, the Russian guns have smashed the pontoons!

Will you order the repair?

Marshall, did all of the Guard cross the river?

Almost all, Your Majesty.

Then burn the bridges!

But part of the army is still on the other side, Your Majesty.

Burn the bridges!

Does anybody know ...

why the Emperor has summoned us here?

I believe ...

he wants to tell us

about the principal mistake ...

which led ...

to this fatal ending.

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about ...

your mistake, Berthier!

When you failed to execute the Emperor's order ...

to let the Guard enter Smolensk first!

If you had executed that,

the marauders wouldn't have plundered the food stores,

and we would have spent the winter in Smolensk.

But I believe,

that the principal mistake ...

was made by you,

when you advised the Emperor to retreat by the old Smolensk road.

Don't quarrel, gentlemen.

I can reconcile you.

The fatal mistake was made a bit earlier,

when we were sitting idly in Moscow for more than a month,

losing time, waiting for a peace offer from the Russians.

You are wrong too, Loriston.

Our principal mistake ...

was made even earlier,

when we started ...

the war with Russia.

I summoned you here, gentlemen,

to say goodbye to you.

I must go back to France.

Our army is almost annihilated.

I can't do anything more here.

I will recruit ...

a new army in France.

Goodbye, gentlemen.

The end.

English subtitles: IDBoris & Serdar202 for KG 21 August 2012