Original subtitles

The commanding officer of the local forces

welcomes you in the name of the French army.

You are instructed to get ready immediately for a general inspection.

Signed, Lt. General Bouchard, commanding.

- Commanding, what? - I don't know.

[cheering]

Please, Sergeant.

Please.

Be kind.

Monsieurs, le Américain

[speaking French]

Bravo, bravo!

What did we do, get the keys to the city or something?

That old General has taken over.

You just been drafted into the French army, you guys.

Are you kidding?

[speaking French]

Sergeant.

I will now inspect your men.

Sergeant.

I realize your men have been through a difficult campaign.

But I fail to see how that excuses their present appearance.

Please, you will report to my headquarters in three minutes.

[applause]

What's going on here anyway?

- Who's that old guy think he is? - Is he a real general?

Thank you, Sergeant.

Thank you very much.

That's all right miss but who is he?

He is my grandfather.

I am Jacqueline Bouchard.

Was he really a general?

Yes, he was a graduate of Saint-Cyr.

And he served on the General Staff.

You must be very proud of him.

They forget all he has done for France.

They cannot understand an old man's pride.

He has a need to be wanted.

It broke his heart when they rejected him for being too old in this war.

That was the reason for what happened here today.

You speak English very well.

Thank you.

My grandmother, his wife, was English.

You are going to go and see him, aren't you?

He expects you.

- Well, you see, Miss... - Oh, Sergeant!

Please.

Who is she, Sarge?

The old man's granddaughter.

Hey, she's not bad. This whole town's got possibilities, you know that?

How long we going to be here, Sarge?

Ten ten then fall in front of the old man's house.

What do you mean? You're going down to see that old coot?

That old coot was a general. Knock it off, Kirby.

He's an old man so treat him with respect.

Ten minutes!

Thank you for coming.

That's all right.

He is old and forgets.

And he lives in the past

When the Germans were here, it was very difficult.

They might have shot him.

Grandpapa?

You are 30 seconds late, Sergeant.

Please, give me that hammer. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. Oh, you see.

Here, Vosch and Dejalve and this is your own General Pershing.

Usually, my headquarters are not this disorderly.

It was necessary to keep things hidden while the Bosch were in control.

Now, Sergeant, here is the present situation.

As I see... no, no, no!

A strategy conference cannot be interrupted with...

Maybe you are right.

Sergeant.

Our local brandy, Sergeant.

It is very powerful.

To you and your brave men.

[glasses clink]

[grunts]

This area map, Sergeant, shows our present position as you see

the tactical situation is fluid at the moment but

but you see here.

[clears throat] You mean this village here, sir?

Exactly. It is now liberated thanks to you and your men.

But the big picture that counts for so much in battle, Sergeant.

It will take time, of course.

Plus accurate intelligence to fill in the strategic situation.

Yes, sir.

That map has seen a lot of use.

Oh, far more than you appreciate, Sergeant.

Do you know that I plotted my campaign in

the National War games in 1911 on this very map?

And I outwitted the great Joffre himself?

1911? That's more than 30 years old.

Some things do not change.

Good times perhaps nations even but the Earth?

The terrain, that does not change.

Even some old maps still have great value.

Well, General, I didn't mean it that way.

I mean, it's... it's a nice map, sir.

I must be sure to complete the picture with accuracy.

Naturally, my sources of intelligence are limited

But I will manage, I will manage.

I'm sure you will, sir.

Bradley, I follow him like a chess master.

Classical, he is sound, he is very deep.

But your Patton? I am breathless.

Brilliant!

Him, I follow with my heart. Such audacity.

Such daring and where does he go?

Straight to the heart of the enemy: Berlin!

And we must be sure to be among the first to get there!

We, sir?

Grand-père, please.

Would you imagine that I would permit my men to go on to victory without me?

Which reminds me, Sergeant.

Before you assemble the men,

Tell me, in broad terms of course, what is the plan,

of this campaign? What are our orders?

Well, sir. I don't...

I don't know what the plan is.

Come now, Sergeant.

I am a general officer, surely I am to be a party to this strategic

plan if I am to conduct operations in the field.

Well, General. You see, I'm only a sergeant.

I don't know what the strategic plan is.

And the ones who do, sir, they wouldn't think of letting me in on it.

In fact, sir, I don't have any orders to turn my men over to a new command.

Naturally, not turn over, Sergeant.

I was assuming that, naturally, we would...

Share it?

General, you know what you ask is impossible.

Always, they say, I am too old.

Perhaps I am.

But one thing I do know.

I know this terrain, this countryside.

This place is of my heart.

General, somewhere east of this town, we have

to set up a first class observation post.

Now, your map shows five roads outside of town. Ours only show four.

This could cause us a great deal of difficulty.

General, would you consider serving as our guide?

I would be proud.

Thank you, sir.

We're moving out in three minutes.

Jacqueline.

Jacqueline, si vous plait.

It's only a couple of miles from here.

I don't want any wisecracks, no smiles and no smart stuff.

Ten-hut!

The men are ready, sir.

Have the men proceed, Sergeant.

Yes, sir.

At ease.

Caje, take the lead.

The thing to remember, Sergeant,

together we shall cross the Rhine.

Beaulieu?

Beaulieu. Oui, yes, it is that way.

All right, that's the road, move out.

Well, General.

I want to thank you, sir, for all your help.

Sergeant, it was my honor to be of some assistance.

Oh, Sergeant?

I cannot leave you like this.

I am being selfish, very selfish.

You see, I know this terrain and you do not.

I cannot permit you to get lost.

I appreciate your thoughtfulness, General.

But believe me, we'll find it.

No, it would be easier if I go with you.

General, we're late as it is.

I can march fast with you!

We have to move out, sir. I'm sorry.

Sergeant?

There is something I must warn you.

About a thousand meter forward,

The Chateau de Bourron It goes to the left.

This is very difficult to find.

- We'll find it, sir. - Oh.

No, no. Oh, no.

You see, you will come to the little

little river, the bridge.

Destroyed.

You will need somebody to take you to

the shallow path.

Well, you see, we're very well taken care of in that department.

Caje, here, is from Lousinana. There's a lot

of shallow water there and he's an expert.

You are?

[Caje speaking French]

Oh.

Sergeant!

I forgot!

What day this is!

What day?

My weekly visit to my dear Elisabeth.

- Elisabeth? - My wife.

My beloved wife.

In the very direction you are going!

Come!

Little John.

Scout the ridge up there, see if we can set up an OP between here and town.

Caje, check the road.

Hey, Sarge? How about it?

The Army travels on it's stomach, y'know?

All right, go ahead, break them out.

Is this your idea of an OP, Sergeant?

The men are out scouting now, Lieutenant.

I thought you would have found one by now.

We've been moving a little slowly.

I heard.

Stopped at that village down the road.

Met a Miss Jacqueline Bouchard.

Heard all about the noble, wonderful, kind, American Sergeant Saunders.

[clears throat]

Is that the grandfather general?

He wants to lead this squad, Lieutenant. Won't take no for an answer.

Sergeant.

You will please present me to your Lieutenant.

I'm Lieutenant Hanley, sir.

Bouchard, Armand.

General, The Army of the Republic of France.

I am delighted you have arrived, Lieutenant.

Your sergeant is a very good man.

Very good man but I must say he

does not understand the

nuance of military necessity when it comes to

overall command.

What do you mean, sir?

I only felt my taking command in the field since

I know this terrain so very well.

You understand that, of course, Lieutenant?

Well, sir, as a former

As a former military man yourself

you understand the importance of taking orders.

I'm going to give one now.

We appreciate your help up until now,

and we are, at this time, going to move on without you.

You are to return to your village.

You are talking to a General!

In the Army of the Republic of France!

I know that, sir.

I realize this is a combat situation.

In other circumstances, I would bring you to court martial.

Sergeant, you are to see my orders are carried out.

You are to find and set up an observation post.

Without further delay.

Yes, sir.

Insubordination!

This is insubordination!

Well, General.

The Lieutenant is an officer and as an officer

he expects his orders to be carried out.

I will not take orders from a junior officer!

There's a great, big, old stone house.

You can see it from the bridge down there, it looks

like it might have been a big castle or something.

We'll take a look at it as soon as Caje gets back.

Poor old guy.

Lieutenant really laid it on the line, didn't he?

That's the Lieutenant's job.

Well, there's no high ground in that direction.

All right, let's take a look at that place Little John spotted.

Saddle up.

They are speaking the truth.

Elisabeth.

I am too old.

Tell me what to do.

Of course.

It is the only thing to do.

Je t'aime

Nelson, check the road.

I'll see what we got here.

No good from this side, you can't see over the trees.

Sarge! Krauts coming down the road!

[humming]

[singing in French]

Camarade!

[speaking German]

[singing in French]

[laughing]

You may come out now, my good companions.

It is now safe.

Hey, he sure saved our bacon!

So, you see, a good diversionary action is sometimes

better than a direct attack.

General, I don't know what to...

No, no. You have your orders.

I hope that the war goes well for you,

and your brave men, Sergeant, and perhaps

we shall meet again?

I hope so, sir.

Yes, yes, yes. There will be happier times for us all.

But I am keeping you! Naturally, you must continue.

But, Sergeant, your orders are to find a high position near here

to establish a look-out post, no?

That's right, sir.

My dear Sergeant.

I have the perfect place for you!

Perfect! May I see your map please?

- It's right here. - Yes, now...

Let me look here.

Aha, here.

Yes, there it is.

See that hill, up that hill. The Château de Komine.

Yes, sir. It's not very far, do you know it?

Oui, everything.

You see it is owned by a dear, old friend of mine, Count de Komine.

It is an impregnable position.

You can see everything miles around.

Everywhere. It is a perfect position, the only position in the area.

Wait a minute, if it's that good, how do we know the Krauts aren't up there?

No, no. I can assure you, they are not.

This morning at Mass, I saw the Countess de Komine.

She would have mentioned it, no?

That's good enough for me, General.

Can you show me the safest route there?

I mean, on the map, sir?

You see the lake?

You go past the lake.

Then across the bridge and then directly up the hill.

Thank you, sir. I think I can find it.

Naturally, I should be very happy to join you, Sergeant

but I beg you to excuse me from docilely guiding you.

It has been a long day. I am very tired, indeed.

I shall rest here before I go home.

Of course, sir, and will you give my regards to your granddaughter?

Of course! I shall be most happy.

That ought to do the trick, it looks high enough.

Doc, stay here while we check it out.

Stay low and spread out.

How about it, Sarge? The rest of the guys okay?

Yeah, they're over there in the woods.

All except Jones.

That old general screwball really knew what he was talking about, didn't he?

No Germans!

He talked to the Countess after church. Big deal!

We gotta get out of here. How is he, Doc?

We're going to have to wait until I can stop the bleeding before you can move him.

I'm afraid he's going into shock, Sarge.

The General was right.

It's a perfect spot for an OP.

They can spot our convoys coming down the roads for ten miles.

It'll be like sitting ducks.

Sarge, get a load of this. Now that's all we need.

I was sure it was this morning I saw the Countess at Mass.

But, no, it could not have been.

No.

Sergeant, can you forgive me?

Sarge, I can't do anymore for him here.

We'll have to build a litter.

Get him out of here.

Do not tell me you are going to withdraw, Sergeant.

General, I got one man killed. This one here is wounded.

My whole squad is split up.

There are Krauts in that house up there.

I have to get back to Company and report their position.

It's a long way, I hope he makes it.

One man killed?

That's right.

Sergeant, you should have come from the side where the tunnel is!

That's where you could have surprised the Bosch

and taken them with no shooting!

What tunnel?

Did I not tell you of the tunnel?

No, General, you didn't.

It is there since the Revolution.

At that time, it was common for the aristocrat

to have a secret means of escaping the terror.

Come on, Sarge. Let's don't have no more fairy tales.

Doc, let's get him on this thing.

Were you ever in this tunnel?

How do you think I outflanked Joffre?

- We're ready to go, Sarge! - Hold it a minute, Kirby.

- Where is the tunnel? - Come here.

In the woods.

On the other side of that wall, it leads into the house.

Through the wine cellar and up into the [stammers]

Cooking, cook place.

- Kitchen? - Kitchen!

Kirby, I'm going to take a look.

Sarge, don't be a sucker!

You just give me cover across that road.

If the tunnel is still there, how long will it

take us to get to that point below the kitchen?

One minute, two minute. No more.

If I find that tunnel, I'll signal. Give me five minutes.

Then you open up with that B.A.R.

Look around for a tunnel in here somewhere.

They better find it pretty soon.

It is there.

I know it is there.

Hey, come back here!

Hey!

You could not find the tunnel?

- Maybe it caved in or something. - No, no.

It is strong.

It is made with stones.

It is here!

I know it is here!

I stood here in 1911!

I looked at the chateau knowing that Joffre was there.

He thought he was impregnable.

That tree, I was standing by that tree.

It was about here.

No. No, no.

Just about here.

Hey!

Little John.

All right, take off your packs.

Caje, signal to Kirby we found the tunnel.

You see!

We can handle it from here, General.

No, no. I must show you the way.

Please.

I told you there was a tunnel.

[whistles]

Give me your jacket.

Sergeant. Attention now, this staircase leads to the ground floor.

Just around from it is another one.

A spial staircase, that one takes us to the top floor.

- Come! - General, you have to stay here.

You must not prevent me!

Somebody has to stay and watch this tunnel and you're the only one without a gun.

- But, I... - General, please.

Well.

Joffre had the same surprise on his face when I walked into this room.

All right, get them out of here.

Sergeant.

You remember what I said to you:

Together we will cross the Rhine!

All right, close it up.

Pick up the step!

Detail!

Eyes right!

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