All language subtitles for The.Hindenburg.1975.1080p.BluRay.x264-FGT.En

(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)

NARRATOR: The Hindenburg
is coming again.

That's what all
the excitement is about.

In spite of
protests like this,
the pride of Germany

is due here on
the morning of May 6th.

During the 1937 season,
the giant airship

is scheduled to
make 18 round trips

from Frankfurt
to Lakehurst, New Jersey.

Just 10 years ago,
the Montgolfier brothers,
two Frenchmen,

made the first
controlled flight
in a hot-air balloon.

This rock-a-bye baby
is perkin' along with
a new gas, hydrogen.

Soon an airborne
banana split,
with four scoops.

In the Gay Nineties,
ballooning really
got off the ground.

Ladies, check
the balloon sleeves

on those stylish
aeronauts in the basket.

By the early 1 900s,

everyone agreed that
an airship should be
shaped like a cigar.

Yes, sir, what the world
needed was a good five-cent
flying machine.

Alberto Santos-Dumont,
a young Brazilian in Paris,

achieved
a major breakthrough

when he hooked a two-cylinder
gasoline motor to the basket.

Flat tire, Alberto?

All the same,
he went on to win
the 100,000 franc prize

for circling
the Eiffel Tower in
his 80-foot Tootsie Roll.

Next came
the semi-rigid airship

with a light metal
frame supported by...

Oops!

Things are looking up.

These early birds have
more varieties than Heinz.

Bigger and better airships,
all of them air conditioned,

continued to pop up
before the World War.

The outdoor types.

With a girl along,

that probably was more fun
than the rumble seat
of a Stutz Bearcat.

Around this time,

a retired German
army officer known as

the "Crazy old Count"
von Zeppelin

flew a 400-foot sausage
equipped with
two marine motors

for 20 miles.

But seriously, folks,
after this amazing feat,

everyone wanted
to be associated with
the ZeppeIin Company.

The Count and
a young associate,
Doctor Hugo Eckener,

founded the world's
first air passenger line.

In 1 924, the ZeppeIin Company
built an airship
for the U.S. Navy,

the LZ-1 26,
re-christened
the Los Angeles.

Until last year,
the Graf Zeppelin

was considered
the marvel of the age.

Since 1928,
she has carried
13,000 passengers

over a million miles
without a single mishap.

But then, at
the ZeppeIin Company works
in Friedrichshafen,

German genius created
the airship supreme,
the Hindenburg.

Her vast, cathedral-like hull,
almost three
football fields long,

is an intricate web spun
from more than ten miles
of Duraluminum girders.

Fifteen stories high,
it houses sixteen
giant cells,

containing over seven million
cubic feet of hydrogen,

which lifts her
242 tons of luxury
into the clouds.

She is the climax
of man's dream
to conquer the air,

the new Queen of the Skies.

SECRETARY: The Embassy
received hundreds of letters

like that last year,
Mr. Ambassador.

Mostly from cranks.

We can expect
many more
this season.

Mrs. Rauch's letter
is different.
It's specific.

She spells out
how and where

the zeppelin
will be destroyed.

A time bomb over
American territory.

Franz.
Erwin.

Showing us how
you do it in Spain?

Well, I'm afraid
I don't fly
very much there.

Good to have
you back, Franz.

We hear they're giving
you a Knight's Cross
to your Iron Cross.

For writing up
dossiers, I suppose.

Half the time
on our own people.

They're turning us
into a Gestapo, Erwin.

Get me out
of intelligence.

Give me back my old
Reconnaissance command.

That might not
be easy, Franz.
Why not?

All you have to do
is sign the order.

You've been brought back
for a special problem
which we've inherited.

GOEBBELS: We've had
our suspicions, Colonel.

And now that letter
confirms there is a plot

to sabotage
the LZ-129
on this flight.

Obviously, Dr. Goebbels,
the sane thing to do
is to cancel the flight,

until the Gestapo
uncovers the plot.

Sane, but weak.

The propaganda
value of the LZ-129
is highly important.

(SCOFFS)

From a military standpoint,
she's a flying dinosaur.

Colonel, the LZ-129
is a world symbol
of Nazi power.

It is an honor to
guard her safety.
And you've been chosen.

My field is the
estimation of enemy
air operations.

It's not espionage.

A zeppelin ride
should be a vacation
compared to Spain.

So you're being
loaned to the LZ-129

as the officer in charge
of security for this trip.

You will have the power
to do anything
you think necessary, but

quietly, discreetly,
or it might appear we
have internal opposition.

Ah, you're afraid
it might strengthen
the resistance movement.

There is no resistance
movement, Colonel.

That's reassuring.
Coming from the
Minister of Propaganda.

I mustn't keep
you from your
next appointment.

Let us hope you'll
change your opinion
of our flying dinosaur.

Perhaps I will,
unless there's
an egg hatching in her.

LEHMANN: The Hindenburg
is scheduled to leave
in two days, Colonel.

Why did the Gestapo
wait till now
to show us this?

It's inexcusable
that our passengers

have to make
other travel
arrangements this late.

The flight hasn't
been canceled.

Not canceled?
I thought...

Why are you here?
I'll be aboard.

Sort of special
security officer.

I'd like you along,
Captain Lehmann,

as a Senior
Airship Observer.

You may have to work
with the Gestapo,
Colonel, but I don't.

You built the Hindenburg,
Dr. Eckener.

Don't you want to
protect your interests?

I've protected
them for 40 years,
by taking no risks.

Even if I wanted to
go, you'd never be
able to clear it.

Dr. Eckener and l
are out of favor
at the Chancellery.

ECKENER: I refused
to name the Hindenburg
after the Fuhrer.

Captain Pruss, the new
commander, is an
excellent air shipman.

We trained him.

Don't embarrass yourself
by requesting me, Colonel.

They won't allow it,
and I prefer to
leave it that way.

It's all arranged.

I'll see you at
the airfield Monday.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

MAN: Give me a drink.

Stupid SS men
crawling through our ship
morning till night

with dirt
on their shoes.

If we had an elephant
in the lounge,

they couldn't find it.
(LAUGHS)

They weren't looking
for an elephant.
(ALL LAUGHING)

Did you see Karl
when the SS dog barked?

He jumped 1 0 feet
and the dog bit
him in the brains.

Here.

(ALL LAUGHING)

It's better than
being bitten by the SS.

ALL: Ooh!

You should've
refused to go
on that whale.

(SHUSHING)
The crew might
think I'm a Jonah.

I can't bear it.
Alfred, then Spain,
now this.

We aren't far from
Switzerland, Franz.

I was walking
along the river today.
No.

But you hate what
you're doing now.

What would you
have me tell them
in Switzerland?

Yesterday, I was
a colonel in the
German Air Force?

No, it would be
different if we were
Jews or pacifists,

or even Communists.

Uncle Gustaf
is in Geneva.

I can't.

I'd be a deserter.

Listen, to me, Eleanore,

I spoke to Erwin.

He says he'll try to
get my old group back.

We can live in the south,
far from Berlin.

Poor Franz.

(LAUGHTER)

ALL: One, two, three,
four, five, six,

seven, eight,
nine, ten.
(ALL LAUGHING)

The winner.

You'll be
drunk, Karl.

We'll be dry
for two days
on board, woman.

Please, Karl,
not tonight.

MEN: Ooh!

MEN: One, two, three,
four, five, six, seven,
eight, nine, ten.

Behave yourselves.
You act like gypsies.
(ALL LAUGHING)

Good night,
good night.

Stewardess,
we're going to bed.

We'll ring
if we need anything.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Excuse me. Excuse me,
I beg your pardon.

I'm just
a poor gypsy.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

That Freda Halle.
She's a loose woman.
Oh...

They say she works
for foreigners, some
French bank in Frankfurt.

We should report it,
Frau Knorr.

KNORR: Look,
it's women's gossip.

I mean, we're
all loyal Germans.

Besides that,
Karl is no fool.

Enough now.

I drink to
the one I love.
(CHUCKLES)

The Hindenburg.
(ALL LAUGHING)

ALL: (SINGING)
Raise high the flag

Uniting us forever

Prepare to march
with swastika unfurled

And when we've purified
the Fatherland together

That song is going
to make me sick.

Will dominate the world

(TICKING)

(TICKING STOPS)

(BRASS BAND PLAYING)

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

WOMAN: Charlie,
yoo-hoo!
We're over here.

It has wrecked more men,
blasted more lives,

and dishonored
more ladies

than any other
scourge on this earth.

I wish you'd forget
this zeppelin crap

and come on over
to the Coronation.

Quaky's rented
a Duke's palace

or something
outside London.

Oh, not
for us, Hattie.

Reed's finished
the score on
his new show

and rehearsals
start on the 1 2th.

We couldn't possibly.

Besides, British
quarantine won't let
Heidi into the country.

You should've
had children
instead of dogs.

The evil spell's
been lifted,
Bess is pregnant.

At your age?
(LAUGHING)

Finally.
No rooftop
announcements just yet.

We don't want
to push our luck.

Bess.

Isn't it wonderful?
(BOTH LAUGH)

OFFICIAL: How long
will you be away
from us, Countess?

COUNTESS: Oh, I suppose
until I get homesick.

What's the purpose
of your trip?

To visit my daughter
at school, in Boston.

Where will
you be staying?

With friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Alden Winthrop.

In Boston?

Yes, and at their
place on Cape Cod.

What does he do?

His occupation?

He's with the Winthrop
First National Bank,
and I can assure you, Major,

he is not the doorman.

MAN: Estelle, I've been
looking all over for you.

PAGE: Mr. Douglas.
Mr. Edward Douglas.

Cablegram for
Mr. Douglas.
I'm Mr. Douglas.

Here, sir.
Thank you.

MAN: (OVER PA) Will
Mr. Kenji Shimura please
come to the information desk.

Mr. Kenji Shimura.
Please come to
the information desk.

Looks like we'll
get off a little late.

Yeah. What's the holdup?

Let's get this
show on the road.

WOMAN: I know
I had it on the bus.

We're keeping
all passports
this trip, Countess.

It will be returned
to you when we
arrive at Lakehurst.

Oh, I see.

Your lighter will be
returned after we've
landed at Lakehurst.

OFFlCER: The official
photographer
should know better.

If you'll just
step into the booth
for a body search, sir.

It's company policy.

Stay up here
with me now.
And don't you get lost.

Oh...
Oh.

So clumsy.
Help Daddy.

Thank you.

Oh, your name
is familiar,
Mr. Breslau.

Oh?
Do you have
relatives in Germany?

Many friends
and associates,
but no relatives.

Well, now, you
might have, Albert.

I've always been
sure our name
once had a "Von".

Von Breslau.

That's Prussian nobility.

That's where
I've heard it.

Too bad, Mildred,
The von doesn't count

when you're born
in the States. (CHUCKLES)

We all were.
Me, too.

Couple
of cowboys, huh?
(ALL CHUCKLING)

Come on, boys,
now stay together.

Watch where
you're going.

Over here.

That's a handsome cane,
sir. May I see it?

You wouldn't
admire it so much
if you were crippled.

I don't intend to be.

Would you tape
the end of
Mr. Pajetta's cane

and return it
to him, please.

Yes, sir.

I say, you must
be the special
security officer.

It's a good thing, too.

You know,
this ruddy blimp is
filled with hydrogen?

I'll make
a note of that.
Thank you.

They call that
dumb Dutchman
a security man?

The tape is for
your own safety, sir.

The steel tip
could strike sparks.

I'd expect
more courtesy
on a cattle boat.

Now, you just do
as you're told.

May I help,
Countess?

Franz. Are you on board?

Yes.

What's wrong
this trip?

These people insist
upon going through

all of my luggage
and my trunk.

Will you speak
to them, please?

Certainly.

Search it.
Strip the lining.

Remove the metal corners.

If you run out of time,

ship it to the Countess
on the Bremen.

Not very gallant,
was it, Colonel?

The German Air Force
is not at all
what it used to be.

But then,
nothing is these days.

Nothing.

(DOG BARKING)

Hi, nice dog. Hi. Hi.

(IMITATES BARKING)

(CACKLING)

No, no.

Your papers, please.

SPAH: Introducing
the world's greatest,
the one and only.

Here's my passport
and ticket.
All in order.

Throw the bag
on the zap, my boy.

Oh, goody. We are
going to play doctor.

Why not?

Give it a thorough
examination.
Also the suitcase.

Will Miss Breslau
please write down
her correct weight?

Well, I did, 106.

Keep the pen.
It's a present from
relatives in Germany.

And not a word
to your father until
after you've sailed.

He'll understand.
We don't have any
relatives in Germany.

(BRASS BAND PLAYING)

My God, Lehmann,
are you suggesting
I disobey orders?

No, Pruss. I'm
saying the Captain
has the authority

to cancel a flight
anytime he doesn't
think it's safe.

You know
our situation.

I know that
I don't believe much.

If you say there's
a weakness in the new
wrist pin on engine four,

you have a valid reason
for not taking off.

I'll back you
up on it.

Number four is
perfectly reliable now.

The rest of your
ship may not be.

No, it's out
of the question, Lehmann.

The ship was
searched twice today.

At least two Gestapo men
on board that I know of.

And we have
Colonel Ritter with us.

I'd look like a fool,
or worse. No. Ritter,
come board with us.

Colonel,

did you know
we have the pleasure

of Captain Lehmann
for this voyage?

Just as an
observer, Captain.

And as a diplomat.

(LAUGHING)
A worried diplomat.

Seems I'm to go
to Washington to try
to get us helium.

I wish we had it
this trip.

(BRASS BAND CONTINUES PLAYING)

(DOG WHINING)

To the right,
please. Countess.
Excuse us, sir.

We'd like to look
around a bit, first.

SPECK: Oh, yes,
ma'am. I'll just put
these in your cabin.

COUNTESS: All right.

(ALL MURMURING)

What's that?
Let's go
look in here.

(PLAYS NOTE)

(SCATTING)

MAN: This is
my favorite room now,
if we can get a drink.

MAN: (OVER PA)
CoIoneI Ritter. Your party
has been contacted.

I had to
see you again.
Yes.

I'll be back in six days.
Then we'll talk.

Everything's in order, sir.

Prepare to weigh off.

(BRASS BAND PLAYING)

MAN: Bye now. Have fun.

PRUSS: Drop line.

Up ship.

(CROWD CHEERING)

MAN 1: In New York,
Mitzie, remember,
it's six hours' difference.

MAN 2: Happy landings.

Colonel Ritter.
Martin Vogel.

Did you know?
We're cabin mates.

Are we?
Yes. I feel honored.

I hope the Colonel
doesn't mind sharing
quarters with me.

Delighted.

(ENGINES STARTING)

Weather over
the Channel.

If you fly
the north side
of the storm,

the pressure pattern
will simply push us
over England.

The British don't
want us over
their chimney pots.

They'll complain
to the Foreign Office.

The Foreign Office
isn't aboard.

I'll do the worrying
this trip, Captain.

We'll stay on course
and try to outrun the storm.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

She's on her way, sir.

Left Frankfurt
ten minutes ago.
8: 1 8 by their clock.

Now we sweat, Hank.

Yes, sir.
Till 6:00 a.m. Thursday.

Listen to this.

"No voyager
on the Hindenburg
need fear fire

"from within the ship."
Etc, etc, etc.

That's the same
magazine that predicted

Landon would beat
Roosevelt in 32 states.

Well, that's why
I read Ballyhoo
exclusively, sir.

Every time
she puts in here,

it's like walking
on a crate of eggs.

A booby-trapped
crate of eggs.

Remember what happened
the last time we took
the Los Angeles up?

TRUSCOTT: Yes, sir.

If we hadn't had helium,
we wouldn't be here.

Have you
found it, Colonel?

Found what?
There are no
secrets on zeppelins.

Let's hope not.

When do we eat?

A light supper will be
served at 1 0:00, sir.

It's important
that you put me at
Mr. Reed Channing's table.

I've been checking
on his dog.

You should not
have gone back
there, Mr. Spah.

It's against
regulations.

So don't say anything.

Okay, Comrade?

Well, I still
say the French line
has the best of society.

Daddy, there's
something I've been
meaning to show you.

A young man at
the airfield
gave me this.

He told me not to...
Where did you get that?

Daddy, I'm trying...
Hey, give it
to me, Dumpling.

Valerie,
your father's right.

You shouldn't
accept gifts
from strange men.

Mother!
No.

She's a pretty
little thing.

With only 4,000
miles to go,
I'd better meet her.

4, 1 00.
Excuse me?

We've got 4, 1 00
miles to go.

(CHUCKLES) Right.

Ah.

Holland.

Uh, nine minutes late.

Or do you make it 1 0,
Mr. Douglas?

(CHUCKLES)

Bring me
a beer, please.

When you are
quite through,
may l, Mr. Pajetta?

PAJETTA: Only
one damn lighter.

Hell on
cigar smokers.

Filthy habit, cigars.

Oh?

Hmm.

COUNTESS: Ah.

Join me, Colonel?
Goering adores it.

But it's true, sir.
Right in there
on the bar.

The pen stood upright
for more than two hours.

That's how steady
the Hindenburg flies.

Let's have a go at it
ourselves, shall we?

Who has a pen?

Ah! Do you mind,
old boy?

Yes, I need my pen.

NAPIER: Oh, not for
a few minutes, surely.
(CHUCKLES)

Come along.

Now, 50 quid,
the bally pen
will be toppled

in less
than an hour.

Now, really,
this is nonsense.
Leave it. Be a sport.

I'll take the bet.
Right to, anyone else?

Howell? You'll defend
the honor of old Eli,
won't you?

It's Harvard.
NAPlER: A hundred,
did you say?

The gentleman
from Yale wagers
one hundred dollars.

I didn't say that,
I said, it's...

What would
we bet, Colonel?

The honor
of the Third Reich

also hangs
in the balance.

On so thin a thread?

Five hundred marks
it stands eight hours.

NAPIER:
I'll take that bet.

Will you watch it
through the night
with me, Colonel?

I told you,
I need my pen.
I'm sorry. All bets are off.

(SIGHS)

When they came to me,
I refused to do it.

They brought it
to my daughter anyhow,

but she didn't
know what it was,

neither did my wife.

Are your relatives Jews?

Damn you, yes.
My grandmother
was a Jew.

Look here, Colonel.
I import a lot of German
surgical instruments.

And you can bet
the manufacturers
won't be so sensitive

about my grandmother's
background.

Mrs. Milstein.
Yes.

They wanted me to
sell the diamonds

so they could
get out of Germany.

Does their name have
to be a part of it now?

You know what
could happen to them.

Just make sure that
you declare those
to U.S. Customs.

I'll keep the pen for
the Gestapo museum.

(THUNDER RUMBLES)

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

Whoa!
It's all right.

Oh, yeah,
when I saw your dog,
it was doing fine.

That was
real kind, Joe.
Thank you.

Oh, no, thank you.
I never touch the stuff.

(LIGHTNING CRASHES)

Over here, Captain.
See it? A clearing
in the storm.

Alter course 30 degrees
right, Frankel, head
for that bright spot.

Forward engines
to half speed.

We'll slow down
in this turbulence.

That's how your
American friends
lost all their ships.

I would like to be
in your new show,
Mr. Channing.

I'm working on this
new act, a zep act.

Real sophisticated.

Perfect for a show
like yours.

(THUNDER RUMBLES)
Ooh!

It's all right.
It's okay.

Sugar, next time,
let's take the Titanic.

That pen incident.

It was obvious what
you were looking for.

Obvious to me,
at least.

I knew he was the kind
for diamonds, not bombs.

I could've told
you about Breslau.

All the characteristics.

Brach cephalic skull,
heavy lower jaw, skin.

Breslau happens to be
just one quarter Jewish.

(LAUGHS)

The world
is mongrelized, Vogel.

Only in Berlin is
everyone so pure.

Well, we have all shapes
of heads to choose from.

Can your x-ray eyes
see inside them?

Major Napier, for one,

who has no
traceable income,

but makes frequent trips
on luxury liners.

A good way to pick
up information from
important people.

Why suddenly
the Hindenburg?

His big earlobes
make me think
he's a British spy.

VOGEL: There's no need
for sarcasm, Colonel.

May I humbly suggest
that Mr. Edward Douglas
also bears watching?

So very afraid
we'll arrive late.

RITTER: He's head of
the foreign branch

of an advertising
company in Berlin.

Their big account
is pharmaceuticals.

But he collected information
from German plants

that supply parts
for the Hindenburg.

VOGEL: Mmm, America also
prepares for war.

RITTER: He was
Naval intelligence
during the last one.

Stayed abroad.
Went into advertising.

But he's careful
not to advertise
his business this trip.

VOGEL: Joe Spah
is just the opposite.

RITTER: Spah's just a clown.

VOGEL: A clown who
canceled a performance
for the Fuhrer

just to be on this flight.
Also spent a week in Moscow.

To see the Russian circus,
he says.

You can't deny Spah
has an unfriendly attitude.

RITTER: Hmm. A lot
of people fail to see
all our lovable qualities.

VOGEL: Which are well
displayed in the Countess.
How do you happen to know her?

RITTER: Her husband and I
were members of the same
flying club in the days

before the Luftwaffe.

He was killed in a crash,
and she went back
to her family estate.

I hadn't seen her for years.

VOGEL: A rich widow
with an estate.

RITTER: Yes, she's from
a very distinguished
North Baltic family.

Von Reugen
from Peenemunde.

VOGEL: Peenemunde?
At the mouth of the Oder?

RITTER: Owns half the island.

VOGEL: Not anymore.

Peenemunde's
just been taken over
by weapons research.

Big new development
in rockets.

If she knows
what's going on there,

it's risky letting her
out of the country.

RITTER: I'd say it was risky
for the ship's photographer
to step out of line

with the Countess.
VOGEL: If I were you.
Colonel, I'd find out

just how much she really
knows before I let
her off this ship.

RITTER: Leave that to me.
You stay away from her.

VOGEL: Tomorrow,
this photographer

might take some
pictures of the crew.

Find out what
the common people
are thinking.

RITTER: They say the rigger,
Karl Boerth, has
a mistress who works in

the, uh, Frankfurt branch
of a French bank.

Where did you hear that?
I also hear
she's been around.

Boerth is not the first.
Her name is Freda Halle.

I understand
Boerth's a good man.
Hitler Youth leader.

By the way,
am I also a suspect?
You?

You're my staunch ally,
my teammate,
my good right arm.

The Gestapo.

(LAUGHS) Ridiculous.
Where'd you get
such an idea?

Detailed information
on everyone
except Martin Vogel.

All it says here is official
Hindenburg photographer.

Gestapo sources
of information
are really excellent.

Maybe not so good
as you think.

It fails to mention

that Colonel Ritter
doesn't like
Gestapo methods,

doesn't use them himself,
and doesn't want you
operating behind his back.

That's why we're
cabin mates.

HANDFORD: I'm sorry,
Dr. Luther.

Captain Lehmann
is wasting his time
coming here.

Well, perhaps this at least
will persuade state to
make arrangements for

appointments for him.

You know how Congress
feels about helium.

They're afraid that
Chancellor Hitler will
use it for military...

Dr. Luther, what's been
done about this?

Everything possible
to guarantee the safety
of the Hindenburg.

The chief danger
to her is the American
monopoly of helium.

Now, if anything
does happen,

Mr. Hanford,
it could be blamed
on your country.

Would you step
outside for a moment,
Lessing, please?

Certainly, Colonel.

Get this off
to Gestapo Headquarters,
Berlin.

Attention, Hochwald.

Send results.

Freda Halle
surveillance so far.

Also run check on her
lovers before Boerth.

Signed Ritter.

Destroy that after it's sent
and record the message
by code number.

Yes, sir.

REED: I don't like
the dog so far away.

Suppose something happens?

Impossible,
Mr. Channing.

Your dog is
traveling
first class,

as good as any
of the passengers.
(DOG BARKS)

You see, she agrees.
RITTER: Kirsch.

What are you doing
bringing passengers into
the interior of the ship?

REED: Now, wait
a minute, Colonel.

When we bought
our tickets,

we were told
we could visit the dog.

That may be,
Mr. Channing,

but the ship's interior
is now off limits
to passengers.

No matter how
much anyone tips.
So please...

(DOG BARKING)

Damn it. I'm going
to visit my dog.

Passengers are barred
for their own safety.

Take a look,
Mr. Channing.

If you fell, you'd
go right through
into the sea.

Rot.

Last year passengers
were permitted
inside the hull,

but not this voyage.

Typical. You're running
this ship like
a concentration camp.

I agree that I am
running this ship.

Go to hell!

I take it back. That
would be a lot better
than Germany is today.

I'm curious,
Mr. and Mrs. Channing,

as to why people like
yourselves would choose
the Hindenburg.

If you must know,
only because my wife is...

Well, she gets
sick on boats.

Hmm. The Zeppelin Company
couldn't ask for
a better recommendation.

I'll assign the cabin
boy to visit your dog

every watch and
report back to you.

Fair enough?

Now, why don't we talk
about the arrangements

for your concert,
Mr. Channing?

Do you really think
I'm going to go
through with that?

I announced the concert.

I'm sure you won't
disappoint us.

(SIGHS) Okay.
You're the Captain.

You want a concert,
I'll give you a concert.

Take her down below
the fog layer, Hans.

But no lower
than 200 meters.

(CLICKING)

By all means,
come right in, Franz.

Where did you
get the lighter?

Our radio operator
is hot-blooded.

Give it
to me, Countess.

Behave, Ursula.
You know it's dangerous.

Franz, I've learned
a new game.

Breaking all the rules.

It's much more fun
for people like us

than those shoe clerks
and butchers in
their brown shirts.

Because, my darling,
we made the rules.

I made this one.

Go ahead, take it.

Help yourself
to anything else.

That's the official
policy now, isn't it?

They've taken my
house and my land.

So I heard.
How generous of you.

Generous?
I screamed bloody murder.

Oh, Franz,

if I told you
what was going on
at Peenemunde...

You don't know.
No one knows.

If they thought you knew,

you would never
be allowed
out of the country.

Listen to me.
No questions
asked or answered.

You have made
a great sacrifice
for the Fatherland.

Do you understand me?

Good.

Why anyone would want
that wretched island
I'll never know.

Did I tell you, Franz,
I managed to get rid of it?

Trudi will be delighted.

Oh, Franz, she's
growing up so nicely.

She'll be at the airfield.
Perhaps you'll see her.

Beautiful child.

I heard you say she's
going to school in Boston.
That's marvelous.

And doing very well.

It's the best school
for the deaf, I'm told.

She's learning to
speak, and lip-read.

Maybe this summer
we'll...

(CRACKLING)

(PANICKED CHATTERING)

MAN 1: Atmospheric pressure.

WOMAN 1: Steward,
I want my things
out of the safe.

MAN 2: Stand still, Peter,
don't stir the air.

MAN 3: It's making
me choke. (COUGHING)

MAN 4: What is all this?

WOMAN 2: Thank God,
it's going away.

Please, please,
don't be upset.

You've just been treated
to a harmless display

of Saint Elmo's fire.

What's that?

As the ship came
through the fog,

we accumulated
an electrical charge,

like a child
shuffling his shoes
across a carpet.

We've been
in no danger.

The ship is completely
bonded together

and the charge has
dissipated harmlessly.

(CROWD APPLAUDING)

PAJETTA: I was pretty
sure it was Saint Elmer's
fire all along.

Jolly good.

MAN: Personally, I could
use a little Schnapps.

Marvelous sensation
on an airship.

Floating, timeless.

Past, present,
no difference.

They all seem to
run together here.

Don't you find
it so, Franz?

Do you still play
cards, Countess?

Why?

Major Napier and Mr. Pajetta

piqued my
professional curiosity.

I've been
propositioned frequently,

but this is the first time

I've ever been
recruited by
the German Luftwaffe.

That is what you're doing,
isn't it, Franz?

(CHUCKLES)
Yes. With apologies.

I'll give you
10% of my winnings.

You probably remember.

I'm good at
games of chance.

You're in
the right place.

That's an
odd thing to say.

LEHMANN: It's obviously
some kind of private code.

In any case,
we'll see the answer
before Douglas does.

That gives us
an advantage.
True.

Go ahead and send it.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

(PLAYING UPBEAT MUSIC)

Spah made this sketch
of the ship's interior.

See if you
can open this.

Standard combination.

Now what do you think
of your pet clown?

I think we better
watch him more closely.

Simple for a man
who knows his job.

RITTER: Douglas got rid
of that airport
telegram very quickly.

We'll have to
wait for the answer
to the one he sent.

How long is
this concert
supposed to last?

No telling.

However, I asked the Captain
to arrive 15 minutes late.

VOGEL: It's a coding device.

RITTER: I've never seen
one quite like it.

Luftwaffe intelligence
has been too busy sunning
themselves in Spain.

RITTER: Operation "K".

What do you suppose
that stands for, Vogel?

Kraut, Knockwurst,
Kosher?

What more do you
need to question
Napier and Pajetta?

My orders are
to move quietly.

Besides, when you
surface a spy

and he doesn't know it,

you can turn him to
your own advantage.

(CONTINUES PLAYING
UPBEAT MUSIC)

(CROWD APPLAUDING)

(INAUDIBLE)

With your
permission, Captain.

I would like to play
for the first time in public,

a little number from
my upcoming show,

and Mr. Joe Spah
has kindly agreed

to take part in
this little entertainment.

(CROWD APPLAUDING)

I hope you like it.

Captain, Mr. Spah.
Mr. Channing.

(PLAYING PATRIOTIC MUSIC)

(SINGING) There's a new voice
sweeping the Fatherland

Loyal Germans understand

As they rally round
it’s exciting sound

How their hearts expand

There's a new voice
keeping the Fatherland

To its ancient noble vow

Helping restless men
start to build again

Showing where and how

There's a lot to
be said for the Fuhrer

Why, I hardly know
where to begin

For our pride
in Aryan purity

Security

Thank Berlin

All the bold youthful steps
he is taking

Make you feel
like something
special's in the air

What has got to be
said for the Fuhrer is
(CROWD LAUGHING)

Who else
would ever dare?

(IMITATING HITLER)

(COUGHING)

(THANKING IN GERMAN)
(THANKING IN SPANISH)

(CROWD LAUGHING)

REED: (SINGING) There's a lot
to be said for the Nazis

They are bringing
the press into line

They have modernized

The cinema
Blech.

The radio
(SNORING)

And the Rhine

BOTH: It's a simply
spectacular party

And the failure to
attend would be a crime

(GROANS)

(CROWD GASPING)

REED: There's a lot to be said

For the Nazis

And I hope it's said

In time

Who else is
making opportunities

For busy pioneers
in occupa...

(CLOSES PIANO)

(IMITATING ENGINE)

Thank you so much,
Mr. Channing.

Unfortunately, your humor
is not the same as ours.

Good night, sir.

(CROWD MURMURING)

Oh, it's you, Boerth.

What the devil were
you doing up there?

Routine inspection,
Colonel.

Inspecting what?

Control cables, sir.

A rigger's duty.

Is there anything
I can help you
with, sir?

I understand you were
a Hitler Youth leader.

Yes, sir.

But you haven't
been active for
the last two years.

Only because of
the Hindenburg, sir.

I helped build her
at Friedrichshafen

and last year,
I made all 10 trips.

If there's nothing else, sir,
I'll get on with my duties.

Boerth.

I wonder what you were
really doing, Boerth.

My duty, sir.

We're from the FBI,
Mrs. Rauch. We'd
like to talk to you.

G-men?

Oh, Lordy, Lordy.

You're sure you
got the right party?

Yes, ma'am.

What...

Then you confirm
that that is your letter
in your own handwriting

to the German
Ambassador?
I certainly do.

And everything
in it will happen.
Just like I say.

Tomorrow, the zeppelin
will fly over New York City
and blow up.

I know it
for a fact.

How do you know it,
Mrs. Rauch?

Because two weeks ago,
I saw it in a vision.
Clear as crystal.

I'm clairvoyant
and I'm never wrong.

Just ask any
of the neighbors.

I also predict
that Bette Davis
will play the part of

Scarlett O'Hara
in the movie.

And the Duke of Windsor
will never marry
Mrs. Simpson.

Read it from
the shorthand.

"Checking information
that former lover
of Freda Halle

"was killed fighting
for leftists in Spain.
Signed, Hochwald."

To Hochwald.

Is there any information
regarding bomb from Halle?

Have several suspects,

but I need
evidence. Ritter.

Magnificent.

Icebergs!

VOGEL: They're too
far away to photograph.

Will you turn around?

I never dreamed
we'd see icebergs
from the air.

That's interesting.

(PLAYING CLASSICAL MUSIC)

WOMAN: Where have
you been, George?

Look at
the icebergs.

GEORGE: Makes you
feel like an explorer
flying over the pole.

You still play beautifully.

Only I wish you
were playing cards.

3:00, this afternoon.

(DOG WHINING)

You won't say anything
about me bringing her
down here, will you?

Oh, hell. I've been
doing it since we left.

What kind
of dog is she?

She's a Dalmatian.

She used to follow
behind carriages,
didn't you, girl?

She needs
a lot of exercise.

(RIPPING)

(LOUD FLAPPING)

Cover on port fin
ripped loose, sir.

Engines three
and four idle.

Forward engines
to quarter speed.

Suppose I go aft
and take a look?
Go ahead.

CREWMEMBER: Riggers are on
their way to make repairs.

Right, yes, right.

Hold her
into the wind.

Captain, we're
losing altitude.

We're heavy.
Picked up rain
in the squall.

More power, sir?
No.

The riggers would
be swept overboard
by the wind.

What's the altitude now?

350 meters, sir.

Rate of descent?
1 0 meters a minute.

That gives them
about 25 minutes.

Argh! (GROANING)

Hold him!
Grab him!

MAN 1: Foot on
the bar. On the bar!

Lift him up.

Put your feet
down here.
All right, hold him.

Put me down
on the girder.

Damn.

Jesus.
It looks bad.

It's all right.
Let's go.

Altitude, 280 meters.

Can't risk
going below 100.

Altitude 260 meters.

Now losing 15 a minute.

Forward engines
to half.

A little more breeze
won't blow them away.

We'll gain some lift
and a couple of minutes.

Forward engines
half speed.

You've only got
about 15 minutes.

KNORR: You sew, Karl,
you're faster.

What exposure are
you using, Mr. Shimura?
SHIMURA: Five-six.

Thank the Lord
I brought this camera.

WOMAN: Colored glass
I bought in Sweden.

BESS: Look, darling.
It's gorgeous

BOY: Get them away.

IRENE: That's
worth the whole trip.

It's breathtaking.

It's all right to tell
the Captain he can
go on now, Kirsch.

We have all
the pictures we want.

Yes, ma'am.

Go back inside and
look after your eye.

Just finish up.

Stand by, Dimmler.

When we're down
to 100, I want all
engines full speed.

Get the riggers inside.

LEHMANN: Knorr. Boerth.

No more time.
Back inside.

It's still too big.
It'll rip.

LEHMANN: Captain's orders.
Back inside.

Karl.

One rigger's
still outside,
Captain. Boerth.

Captain, Boerth
is still outside.

I heard you, Dimmler.

All engines full ahead.

Nose up five degrees.

Knorr! Knorr, I'm going off.

Pull me!

(GRUNTING)

Pull me.

You're all right,
Karl. Come on.

She's about
seven hours late.

I assure you, madam,
there's no need to worry.

She's right there.

100 miles off the coast
of Newfoundland.

Then they won't be landing
until tomorrow afternoon.

I suggest you come back
tomorrow morning.

We'll know much
better by then.

Thank you so much.
My pleasure.

Mr. Douglas.

Oh, thank you.

I'll take that
to the radio room
for you, Mr. Douglas.

No, thank you.
I'll do it myself.

But, sir, passengers
aren't allowed...

I know, I know,
I know. Here's my
special pass. Thank you.

I'd like to see you,
Mr. Douglas.

How about a drink later?
Now.

What's this strong arm
stuff? Come on.

You'd better tell me
about this, Mr. Douglas.

While you're at it,
explain these in code.

I don't have to explain
a damn thing to you. Get out.

You'd better set it
back to Frankfurt time.

That's where a fast
police car will
be meeting you

in roughly 94 hours.

Barring accidents,
of course.

Okay, I'll tell you, Ritter.

But you've got to let me
send that message.

It may mean
the difference.
To what?

To pulling off the biggest
deal of my life.

Right now,
I'm in a race.

A race to beat my
competitor into New York.
Who?

Fred Seemans, head
of Seemans & Poelzig.

At this moment he's
on the Queen Mary,

which left a day and
a half ahead of us.

In the messages, we call
his outfit the sharks,
mine the hawks.

One by air and one by sea
and both carnivorous.

You're beginning
to get the idea.

Tomorrow, it will
be announced that

General Motors
has acquired the
Opel Motor Company.

The advertising account
will be up for grabs.

Whoever gets there first
will have the jump.

All right.

Let's see if there's
a Fred Seemans on
board the Queen Mary.

POLICE CAPTAIN: Yeah?

Hi, Captain.

Three hours.
Where you been, Baker?

All you had to
do was phone
the steamship line.

That was the
easy part, Captain.

The individual
Frederick Seemans

is on board
the Queen Mary.

Occupying suite 31 2,
First Class, C Deck.

It's the others
that took the time.

Operation K, Passage,
Raid, and Mr. Chandu.

You know who they are?

You're gonna
tell me any day now,
aren't you, Baker?

They're horses, Captain.
What?

Well, you see,
it had me stumped.

So I contacted the FBI,
and was my face red.

These are the names
of race horses.

Now why does some
German on a zeppelin

want us to find out
about the ponies?

You got me.

Maybe he's heard New York
cops make book.
Mmm?

Maybe he thinks he can
sneak over to Belmont

and win himself a bundle.

That's near Lakehurst.

Two of these nags
are running tomorrow.

Operation "K"
and Mr. Chandu.

Well, send him the odds.
That's probably all
the guy wants anyway.

Think so? Hmm.

Which two horses?

I need it for the record.

Captain. (CHUCKLES)

Hi, Tony.

Now, you boys
are going out
to beautiful Jersey.

Special request of
the State Department.

And this time,
they got a Luftwaffe
colonel aboard.

Name is Ritter.

Big wheel
with intelligence.

Coming to land
a couple of espionage
agents, maybe?

Now don't you experts
let any goddamn Nazis
slip into the country.

That blimp better
not fly too low over
them Jersey woods.

Full of moonshiners.

They'll shoot any
big-ass bird flying
over their stills.

Yeah, The T-men
are also sending
a special customs squad.

Byrnes Duncan
will be with them.

Duncan?
Hmm?

He's with the
Bureau of Explosives.

Oh, thanks a lot.
Now we get
the picture.

That's right.

Ravishing.

(PLAYING FOLK MUSIC)

Ah.

I thought we might
be able to find
time to relax

now that the famous
Rauch letter turns out
to be from a crank.

The Gestapo often
exaggerates
their information.

Are you
building this?
Yes.

My own design
for a house
in Zeppelinheim.

A new village
near the airfield.

We're hoping a lot
of our airship families

will settle there.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Come.

For you, Colonel.
Thank you.

It's from the Gestapo.

Boerth's woman
has been arrested.

She's confessed
that her ex-lover

was killed fighting for
the leftists in Spain.

In the hands
of the Gestapo,

anyone can be made
to confess anything.

In bed with his mistress,

Boerth could've been
talked into a plot.

What plot, Colonel?

A crank letter
has been made into
a matter of state.

The purpose of
exaggerating
the bomb scare

was to get helium.

I went along with that.

There are other
sources of information.

Perhaps no more
valid than the letter.

(SCOFFS) I'm not a believer
in the occult,

like our Mrs. Rauch,
but I'll tell you, Captain,

I have an uneasy
sense of disaster.

As if a bomb were
ticking inside me.

It's a constant feeling

with some people in
Germany, these days.

A decent man,
like you, Colonel,

with a wife, probably
raising a family,

have you never had
this feeling before?

Probably raising
a family.

My only son was killed
three months ago

working for
the New Order.

But believe me, Captain,
I'm not much better
working for the Gestapo.

One of their spies
lying in the bed above me.

What's happening
to people like us?

I've given my life
to zeppelins.

Last year for the
sake of our company,

I even dropped political
pamphlets from this ship.

Where does it stop?

I've been in the Air Force
since the World War.

When the Versailles
treaty abolished it,

I worked with Goring
and the others to
build a secret one.

I remember those days.

You people
trained in gliders.

Yes, all over Germany.
Mostly at night.

I was proud when Hitler
brought the new Luftwaffe
out into the open.

But I wasn't proud after
last week at Guernica,

a little Basque village,
a few hundred peasants.

We dropped
3,000 bombs on it.

You were there?

Chief of intelligence.

So that's how one
wins the Knight's
Cross in peacetime?

Peacetime.

Well, now we have
two heroes aboard.

Boerth did valiant service
to the Hindenburg today.

He doesn't seem
to be the man
to destroy the ship.

He does to me.

He's exactly the kind
of man I would choose
for a dangerous mission.

Bold, tough, cool.

You have those qualities
in common with him.

You're both good men.

I must get to
know him better.

Please, show this to Pruss.

Thank you for the coffee,
Captain. Good night.

I hope you get
your house built.

(SIGHS)

Freda Halle
has been arrested.

Traffic violation?

No, by the Gestapo.

Because she works
for foreigners?

Because I think
she works with you.

She lives with me.

She's admitted
that your, uh,

predecessor has
been killed in Spain.

So?

If she knows
about the bomb,

they'll make her
confess that, too.

Where is it, Boerth?

They'll work on Freda
until you tell me.

You filth.

No worse than
the filth who wants
to blow up 97 people.

But you won't have
a chance because
I'm locking you up.

You're under arrest.
Ritter, get your
hands off me.

Let's go.
Get your hands off me
or I'll blow it up now.

You can't stop it,
I can make it
go any second.

Don't force me, Ritter.

I need you to help me.

For Ritter, get it
to him immediately.

He's hard to find.
Prowls all over the ship.

RITTER: Where is it?
The Gestapo knows
about the bomb.

This ship is
the Nazis' greatest
propaganda weapon.

You patched her up today
for your own propaganda.

No good if she simply
tumbled into the sea, huh?

No politics
in an act of God.

No survivors, either.

But that's not
how I plan to do it.

It'll happen at
the mooring mast
at Lakehurst.

A hydrogen airship?

That's deliberate murder.

The Luftwaffe in Spain
is deliberate murder.

And that's practice
for Hitler.

You people are going
to save the world

by blowing up
the Hindenburg.

It's a place to start.

It'll prove there
is a resistance.

Decent Germans will get
the courage to join us.

And no one has to be
killed if you help me.

You're the key to this.
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

LESSING: Boerth, is that
Colonel Ritter with you?
RITTER: Coming!

LESSING: Colonel,
I've a message for you.

I have a date with
my little Jewish model.

I'm curious to try one
before they're all gone.

Cologne won't help you.

Why didn't you
arrest Boerth?

Pruss showed me
the message.

I'm still looking
for a bomb.

Arresting Boerth
won't keep it
from going off.

It will, damn it,
if you make him talk.

Your thumbscrews didn't
make Freda Halle
talk about a bomb,

before she was shot
while trying to escape.

That was the mistake
of a stupid guard,

you're making
a worse one.

Arrest Boerth, Spah,
Douglas, all of them.

Brilliant, Vogel.

The Hindenburg will
come into Lakehurst
like a prison ship.

I can see the headline,
"Anti-Nazi Plot on Zep."

There are ways
to keep it quiet.

lf it offends
your delicacy, Ritter,
I'll handle it for you.

Just do as you're told.
I'll take care of Boerth.

You watch Napier
and Spah, and of course,
your little model.

I'll also be watching you.

Fine! Who'll be
watching you?

I'm really
disappointed, Colonel.

We thought, certainly,
after the splendid
example of your own son

that you would
personify...

(SIGHS)

Gentlemen, new time
of arrival, 5:00 p.m.

(ALL GROAN)

Now, you reporters
can go back
to the gin mills.

I'll ask the police
and the security officers
to stay on, though.

All right, boys,
get 'em while
they're hot.

Who needs
a passenger list?

I'll take one.

There's a real pair,
Napier and Pajetta.

You know those
men, Sergeant?

Sure do.

The Major and
Emilio "The Cane."
They're boatmen.

Uh, card sharks.
Usually work
the luxury liners.

Real characters.

I'm supposed to check
the copper tubing
on the airship, sir.

Are those guys
kidding about a bomb?

That's very funny.

BOY 1: Hey, look!
BOY 2: Yeah.

Ah, yes.

Rainbows like that
are very common
in airship travel.

Hey, Dad! Did you see it?
Hmm? What?

It's nothing, Dad.

Rainbows like that
are very common
in airship travel.

Oh, is that right?

Yeah.
Yeah.

Are you with me?
I have something
to tell you.

I have no time
for you.

This ship and I have
six and a half hours left.

It concerns Freda Halle.

Gestapo?

Killed while trying
to escape, they say.

Boerth?

I know, Boerth. I...

Lost my son
last March.
My only child.

He was in
the Hitler Youths.

They went out to have
some fun one night.

Paint slogans
on a synagogue.

Alfred was on the roof.
He slipped and fell.

His neck was broken.

Your son died for Hitler.
Isn't that enough for you?

Plenty. I don't want 97
more dead on this ship.

I told you, it will happen
at the mooring mast.

No one aboard.

My God, that's
the last thing I want.

Ask Lakehurst for Marines
to cordon off the ship.

Keep everyone at
least 50 yards away.

I would have
to see the bomb,
know how it works.

No, you have
a wife at home.

What time do we
set the bomb for?

I've got to see it.
Too much can go wrong.

You just see that
the ship is empty.

Now, what time do
I set the bomb for?

Ritter, I can do it
without you, very easily.

The ship lands at 5:00.

All the passengers
off at 5:30.

Another half hour
to unload the freight
and the mail.

Liberty party
leaves at 6:30.

Remaining crew
will eat at the
naval station mess.

Captain Fellows'
dinner party for
the officers at 7:00.

Anyone standing watch,
I'll evacuate.

I'll say...

U.S. Customs search,
something.

No supplies or fuel
or hydrogen will be
loaded until after 8:00.

What time?

You leave with
the Liberty party.
Disappear into New York.

I'm staying aboard.

That can't
help Freda now.

In the last few seconds
I'm sending out

a radio signal that
it was no accident.

What time?

7:30.

NAPIER: Check.
Check.

I bet 100.

Ooh, the lady's
out for blood, eh?

I use it to polish
my fingernails.

HOWELL: I'm out.

I'll, uh, see you
and raise you.

And I'll raise you, sir.

And I'll see you both.

Well, I'm afraid
that lets me out.

Full house.

Sorry it's not
strip poker, Countess.

You'd be looking
for a fig leaf.

Straight flush.

PAJETTA: Well,
we live and learn.

Well, once more
into the breach,
dear friends.

Spah was
in the hull again.

And the stewardess
found these in the cabin.

RITTER: Excellent, Martin.

This could mean
he's working for
someone else.

Someone who
needs these.
Who?

That's the man
I want you to find...

After we, uh, take care
of these two.

What happened
to the tape,
Mr. Pajetta?

Since when have you
become the local
house detective?

I deputized him.

Until we land,
you and Major Napier

will be confined
to your cabin.

Come along.
What about the game?

Well, you can
play hearts with
Mr. Pajetta in the cabin.

You're going to
regret this, sir.

My nephew was very
close to Mussolini.
Thank you both.

May I send a bottle of
Chianti to your cabin?

Madam, what you
can do with that
bottle of Chianti...

I won't say in front
of these gentlemen.

Well, Countess,
I never thought I'd
enjoy losing so much.

Thank you, dear Franz,
for the assignment.

I made enough
to fill 20 trunks.

How did you do it?

They cheat.

I believe they earn
their living that way.

The cane?

Pajetta taps out
signals with it.

And you still won?

I managed to scramble
their signals.

I'd say your
ten percent

was worth several
cases of champagne.

Shall we start
drinking it up?

Better send it to me.

I'll celebrate
my homecoming in
a bath of champagne.

I'd love
to join you, Franz.

But I'm not going back.

I know.

Who tries to bring
a wardrobe trunk
aboard a zeppelin?

Oh, dear, sweet Franz.

It's all so
depressing, isn't it?

This helps a little.

It's not what I
need now, thanks.

No, it's
a poor substitute.

It makes no sense at all,
does it, Franz?

That you and I
ever met.

I'll see you
to say goodbye.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

Kirby! Kirby!

Check over your procedures
for a high landing.

Pruss just sent word
he's gonna try one.

Pruss is nuts!
An electric front
is moving in.

Well, he's gonna try it.

And, Kirby,

when she's hooked up,
slip her nose into
the cup real easy.

Just keep
remembering,

there's seven million
cubic feet of hydrogen

at the end of
our fishing pole.

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

DOUGLAS: My God!
The Queen.

I've had it.

Not necessarily.
We land at
Lakehurst at 5:00.

She's just taking
on her tugs.

(TICKING)

Boerth! What's there?

Find something, Karl?

That patch looked weak.

Must've loosened when
the outer skin ripped.

I reinforced it.
I'm sure it's secure now.

Uh-huh.

Well, come on.
The chef's got
sandwiches waiting for us.

They refused us the
detachment of Marines.

Did you tell him
the score?

He knows the score.

It was quite a battle.

He called the Hindenburg
a flying crematorium.

Doesn't want
his men near her.

Damn.

I hope Washington
gives Lehmann the helium.

Mr. Dimmler...
Yes?

I just found this
stuck in the catwalk.

Jesus!

Any damage?

No, I don't think so, sir.

Something wrong?
Ludecke just found
this in the catwalk.

Some idiot must
have dropped it.

Who does it belong
to, Ludecke?

I don't know, sir.

He didn't report it?

Damn fool!

A knife dropped
inside the hull
could cause sparks,

damage a wire,
control cable...
Christ knows what.

We have got to
find out who owns the knife

and why he didn't report it.

We want
to see your knives.

Your knife, please, Karl.

Ludecke found
this in the hull
a few minutes ago.

He doesn't have it.

I know I left it in
the sheath on my bunk,
when I went to wash up.

Someone must
have borrowed it.

Please forgive my
appearance, Captain.

Is this yours, Knorr?

No, sir.
Can you prove it?

My knife has
a nick in the guard

from that fight
we got in in Shanghai,

when we went around
the world on the Graf.

Arrest him,
question all of them.

Arrest me, Captain?
Because my knife
was borrowed?

(SHlP HORN BLOWING)

Enough of this
stupid business.

Get dressed and go to
your landing station, Chief.

Yes, sir.
You men, too.

I trust the men in
the Zeppelin family.

MAN: Look! Look up there!
Here she comes!

(CAR HORN HONKING)

That's at least 25 knots.

Hell, they're only
showing surface winds.

What's happened
to gusts?

TRUSCOTT: We can't
get it fixed, sir.

Flash red, damn it.
Flash red.

Signal red, Captain.

Thank you kindly.
I thought it was
a Christmas tree.

Send this to Fellows.

"Riding out weather.
Shall delay landing

"until further
notice from NAL.

"Looking forward
to dinner. Pruss."

Make sure the dog
is unloaded as soon
as we land. All right?

Here's a little
something extra for you.

You've been a doll.

That's okay, Mrs. Channing.
I like dogs.

Thanks, anyway.

Well, lovely.

It's the set for
my zeppelin act.

I had better ones,
but they disappeared
from my cabin.

Somebody's trying
to steal my act.
That's how good it is.

Joe, I've got to
be honest with you.

It's not right
for my show.

You don't like it?

Well, I guess it's
back to the circus.

Joe!
Yeah.

You forgot this one.

Oh, it's just
a drawing
that I made

of that crazy
rainbow for my kids.

How many children
do you have?
Three.

One seven, one four...
And a baby boy
who'll be an acrobat.

(ALL LAUGHING)
Believe me, we have
circus enough at home.

I'll bet.

Anyhow, it's been
a great honor to
know people like you.

Thank you, Joe.

We had some fun, huh?

Yeah.
Goodbye.

Reed, I'd like
to see Joe's act.

Okay, little mother.

I guess we'll
give him an audition
sometime next week.

(CHUCKLES)

This is absurd.
Yes, ma'am.

I'm sure it's
just a technicality

that will be straightened
out before we land.

I want my passport
this instant.

It's not here, Countess.

It's been picked up.

MAN: (LAUGHING)
Same thing happened
to a friend of mine in Italy.

You wouldn't believe
the excuse they gave him.

Franz...

They've picked up
my passport.

On whose orders?
Yours, maybe.

Who else knows
about Peenemunde?
You're the only...

It's only a little
storm, Countess.

In an hour you'll be
laughing about it
with your daughter.

ln fact, I'm going
to escort you from
the ship, personally,

to make sure
that I see her.

All right?

(SIGHS DEEPLY)

(TICKING)

Let me see your knife.

You've seen my
knife. I'm busy.

This is Knorr's knife,
isn't it?

The hell it is.

A nick on the guard,
just like Knorr said.

You stole it from him
when you broke your own.

Now, what were you doing?

It's my knife.
You're lying.

You can't arrest me
without Ritter.

(SCOFFS) Watch.

Vogel, you Gestapo idiot.
You're making the
mistake of your life.

Captain, some
of the passengers
are getting nervous.

How long will it be
before we land?

Whenever Naval Air
at Lakehurst gives us
the green light.

When do you estimate
that will be?

You can tell the
passengers we'll land
when conditions are right

and not a minute sooner.

Three degrees
out of trim.
Lighten the bow.

Drop ballast aft,
200 kilos.

LEHMANN: Yes, she does
feel tail heavy, Captain.

She's tail heavy
because wind
drove the rain aft.

The moisture
will evaporate
in a few minutes.

When we're
over the field,

how long will it
actually be before

the passengers
can leave the ship?

The passengers
are certain to ask.

A high landing
takes 1 5 minutes.

Allow another 20 to
disembark passengers.

Um, I understand
that the Countess's
passport is being held.

Vogel said it
was a matter
of internal security.

Vogel took it?

What the hell's the
matter with you, Ritter?

I assume you know
what's going on in
your own department.

Yes, sir, I do.

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

If the wind shifts,

have your linesmen
hang on until the
main wire comes down.

Boerth?

I'm looking for Boerth.
Have you seen him?

I need him, too.
Try the nose section.

What's that?

That's just a worn
place we patched,
but I'm sure it's secure.

All right, but let's have
a man watch this bag
until we're on the ground.

KNORR: Yes, sir.

Boerth! Boerth!

Send to Dekka.
"Recommend landing now.

"Ground crew is ready."

Reply to NAL,
"Proceeding to land.

"Will be late for dinner.
Apologies to madame.
Signed, Pruss."

I'm uneasy about
Cell Four, Captain.

You might have to
make a major repair
before going back.

We'll see.
Landing stations.

Two degrees light in
the bow and tail-heavy.

Six men from
the off-watch
into the bow.

Have you seen Boerth?
MAN: No, Colonel.

No, sir.
He should be here.

Winds shifted to the west.

Gusts?
No reading on gusts.

No wonder they lose
all their airships.

Hard rudder to port.

Aft engines full astern.

HOBAN: Come on, line up
with her, knuckleheads!

Come on, move your butts!

She'll keep her
nose in the wind.

Come on, move it.

Where's Boerth?

His landing station's
in the nose.

(ALL LAUGHING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Ship in trim,
but rising slightly.

Valve all cells
five seconds.

Stand by for
starboard line drop.

Beautiful.

Level as a board.
Pruss is really
showing us how.

The ship is
standing still now.

Everything seems
remarkably still.

She hovers just
short of the mast.

Waiting for her nose cone
to be connected up.

A great floating palace.

Please, Mr. Douglas,
you have to leave.
I'm closing up.

So, we're
finally landing.

That calls for
another drink.

I should've taken
a rowboat.

Neuhaus, we've got
a jammed cable.
Come bear a hand.

Out, Ritter.
I've taken over.

Out!

(BOTH GRUNTING)

(BARKING)

Boerth!

Boerth! It's Ritter!

It's 7:20.
Where's the bomb?

It's not my knife.

Listen to me.
There's less than
10 minutes left.

They're all going to die.
Where's the bomb?

Repair patch four.

(GRUNTS)

VOGEL: Ritter!

No, no!

(ALL SHOUTING)

It's burst into flames!

It's burst into flames
and it's falling
and it's crashing!

Watch it! Watch it!
Get out of the way!

Please, get out of the way!
Get this, Johnny.
Get this, Johnny, no!

(ALL SCREAMING)

Some landing!

Run! Run! Get out of there!

Hold it. Hold it.
Stand fast there!
Stand fast, damn it!

(PRUSS SHOUTONG INDISTINCTLY)

Let the stern fall.
Give them a chance
to get out back there.

Oh, my God!

Downstairs! Come on!

Here, give me that!

(PEOPLE CONTINUE SHOUTING)

Come on! Fire!
Out of the way!

Stay with me.
Help me.

(SCREAMS)

(COUGHING)

(SCREAMING)

Jump! Jump! Please!
I can't. I can't. I can't.

My babies! No!
Please! You've got to jump!

(SCREAMS)

(GROANING)

(SCREAMS)

Come on!
Come on, jump!

Come on, jump!
Come on, jump to me!

(SCREAMS)

Come on,
get her out of here!

(WAILING)

Come on, jump!
Don't be afraid.
(CRYING)

You're the boys.
You gonna let a girl be braver
then you are? Come on!

Your brother did it!
You can do it, too.

(CRYING)

(WHEEZING)

(COUGHING)

(PEOPLE SHOUTING)

(CRYING)

My God! My God!

(VOGEL GROANING)

Help him out.

(PANTING)

(COUGHING)

MOORE: Major! Emilio!

I was afraid your luck
had run out on you.

GRUNBERGER: It's a miracle
anybody's alive.

MOORE: All right!
Get out of here.

Come on, get out,
get out! Go ahead!

Take care of yourselves.
Go ahead.

Thank you.

(COUGHING)

Trudi! Trudi!

Oh, my baby. Thank God!

Lehmann.

PRUSS: Ernst!

What happened, Ernst?

FELLOWS: Ernst! Ernst!

How? How did it happen?

(PEOPLE SHOUTING)

NARRATOR:
Colonel Franz Ritter, dead.

Rigger Karl Boerth, dead.

SS Captain Martin VogeI,
survived.

Captain Max Pruss, survived.

Captain Ernst Lehmann, dead.

Albert Breslau, dead.

Mildred Breslau, survived.

Edward Douglas, dead.

Elliott Howell Ill, dead.

Dead.

Survived.

Dead.

Survived.

Dead.

Survived.

In all, 13 passengers,

22 members of the crew,

one Navy linesman, dead.

62 survivors.

The final report of
the Board of Inquiry states,

"The most plausible
theories for the
Hindenburg disaster are

"structural failure,
static electricity,

"St. Elmo's fire, sabotage.

"No completely certain
proof has been found

"for any of
the possibilities cited."

The German commission report
goes a step further.

It states, "The possibility
of deliberate destruction

"must be admitted since
no other originating
cause can be proven."

However, the new Reich
could not admit
that a resistance,

much less a single saboteur,

had brought down the great
symbol of Nazi power.

Chancellor Hitler
concluded, therefore,
that it was an act of God.

During the investigation,
the eyewitness account,

recorded by Herb Morrison
for radio station WLS Chicago,

was heard many times.

MORRISON: Standing still now,
the back motors

of the ship are
just holding it...

Just enough to keep it
from... It burst into
flames and it's falling!

It's tragic. Watch it!
It's tragic, terrible!

Oh, my!
Get out of the way, please.

It's burning
and bursting into flames.

And it's falling
on the mooring mast,
and all the folks agree

that this is terrible.

This is the worst of
the worst catastrophes
in the world.

Oh!

Four or five hundred
feet into the sky...

It's a terrific crash,
ladies and gentlemen.

The smoke and
the flames now...

The frame is
crashing to the ground.

Not quite to the mooring mast.

Oh, the humanity,
and all the passengers.

(CRYING) I told you...
I can't even talk to people
whose friends are on there.

(STAMMERING) It's a...

I can't talk, ladies
and gentlemen. I can't.

Listen, folks, I'm gonna
have to stop for a minute

because I've lost my voice.

This is the worst thing
I've ever witnessed.