Original subtitles

I love it when she touches her lip with her finger like that.

Did she tell you where her husband was fighting?

Like I care about her husband.

You should not let her down there, Casey.

It's against orders.

Yeah. And if we did everything we were told, we'd be natural.

You'll do what I say.

Did you find out I was only 15?

Only 15?

Yeah.

So that makes you our old man.

17.

You know, you don't ask questions in Toronto.

Let's go to the park, and I'll show you some answers.

Just ignore him.

He's bursting to death.

I know,

I

don't smoke.

Everybody smokes after.

After what?

After what you and I did in the park.

Okay, deal.

Hey, y 'all.

I bet she taught you some French you didn't know, huh?

Well,

she told me I was the fastest.

That's great, huh?

Yeah.

Yeah, that's great.

But how come...

It feels so good.

I mean, it's a sin.

Did you? Yeah.

You were never a good shot. You never were a good shot.

Coming round.

He's coming back for another go.

Here he comes.

Dive!

Sorry, I seem to have lost my knickers.

Cut.

Stop the smoke, please.

Can we get Mr. Coward some underpants?

Right away, Mr. Lane.

Well, we ought to have somebody standing by with a towel.

Is anybody watching this slide?

Can we get someone for make -up, please? No, you're marvellous. That's exactly

what happened.

And even after the Kipling rescuers, we were under constant attack until we

reached Cairo. Lord Mountbatten, could we have you over there, sir? Of course.

Sorry, no, this won't take a minute. Oh, don't mind me. I've grown accustomed to

being abandoned naked and covered in grease.

Oh, you are.

On second thought, why don't we have the two of you together? Oh, good idea.

Yes, all right, all right. Hold on. Let me wipe my face so the world will think

that you are pulling Al Jolson out of a vat of chocolate.

If you could perhaps extend a hand to Mr. Coward.

Like this?

Yes, yes, that's marvellous. It'll make a wonderful headline.

All right.

All right, lads, we've got to get this shot. It's important.

Yes, that's good. The two of them together. Perfect.

Perfect. Very good.

What was it that fellow Clausewitz muttered?

Something about war being the continuation of diplomacy by other

Well, in your case, war is the continuation of publicity, by other

Come along. I want you to meet someone.

Who? My dear, dear Celia. Oh, I'd love to meet Celia.

How are you, darling? She is so talented.

So very good. Very realistic, all of this.

Marvelous, really.

Just marvelous.

Dickie Mountbatten?

You're not serious?

He left a convoy unprotected and blundered into a trap.

Ah! Well, it showed initiative to hunt that submarine.

Give him combined operations.

Why not?

Keyes has done nothing with it.

Surely it's a task for a younger man, a man with dash, a man the public regards

as a hero.

Really, Winston.

I realise that Mountbatten... At least he has an

offensive spirit.

Whenever I ask you for offensive plans, all you offer me is a masterly treatise

on why nothing can be done.

You all stink of defeat.

Even you've gone native, Brookie.

We're fighting for our survival, Winston, not your place in the opinion

Don't any of you understand?

None of us will survive if the Russians are defeated.

They are desperately sending off three million German troops across a 2 ,000

-mile front.

The only way to take the pressure off them is to force the Germans to withdraw

troops to fight on another front.

The public understand this, gentlemen, which is why they want to see us

in France.

France.

In the future, Brookie, I'd suggest a little less the headmaster,

a little more the nanny.

Well?

Are you the man I want?

What would be my exact responsibilities?

To never say no.

To do what needs to be done.

Which is?

To convince the Nazis an invasion of France is imminent.

And it will silence your critics to boot.

Perhaps.

To do all this, I'd assume Admiral Keyes' rank and title?

Ah, no.

We thought your title should be Advisor to Combined Operations.

Advisor.

To begin.

I see.

I swear they get this from the officer's latrine.

I haven't had anything that looks like me in months.

They keep telling me the same stuff every night. They just keep changing the

color.

Beats my mom's.

Hey, Lionel, I was thinking that, uh,

maybe tonight we could,

uh, you know, go out and bash ourselves in Linus. What do you say?

You? You were thinking?

This ain't food, it's an infection!

Attention!

As you were.

Who threw that?

Pick this up, Private.

I said pick it up, Private.

Hurry it up.

This isn't a girls' school. This is the Army.

The kid volunteered, God damn it.

We all volunteered to come here and kill Krauts, not wipe the crap off your

boots.

Sergeant, arrest this man.

Soldier, you have...

I tell you, this is a lot of fun.

the last war, men were shot for lesser offenses.

You men are not fit to wear this uniform.

You're not even fit to wear these long johns.

I'll see you all naked and crawling in the mud before I allow you to dishonor

me.

Understand this.

You're not just men.

You're soldiers.

Never again.

How could he do that to his own men?

This uniform is sacred.

And I will see to it that you will stand here forever.

Before I allow you to dishonor it.

If that means all year, I'll do it.

Am I making myself clear?

Yes, sir!

I'm asking as a friend.

Please, don't ask.

Look, I just sent Brian packing. I need someone to take over the second division

right now. You're the best I've got. Andy, I can't walk away from the men of

horse artillery.

What did you do to get put on that list anyway? I don't know. Not now.

Sir.

I promised them I'd lead them back to France and all the way to Berlin.

I don't have time to hear about promises. We're fighting a goddamn war.

we're not.

Your problem with morale won't be solved by shuffling officers. It won't be

solved until you get us fighting.

We've been sitting about for two years.

You're taking charge of the second, effective immediately.

Is that an order?

for the entertainment?

This is a normal night.

No, it's abnormal.

Morrison's sober tonight.

Morton.

Hear the impertinence I have to put up with?

Trade out of our good law school.

Crowns on his shoulder and a lip on him worse than his father's.

You remember his father?

I sure do.

So, how are you, Morton? It's been a long time.

Yes, sir.

You're in charge of these men, are you?

Most of the time.

Not a part -time job, Major.

I've never seen Churchill so upset.

He's absolutely desperate.

Got to come up with something big.

What about invading Norway?

Winston's man keen on the idea.

Sir.

The distance and the weather present considerable...

There are no obstacles.

Only challenges.

I ask to see my staff.

This is the staff, such as death.

It is.

Gentlemen, please be seated.

I realize combined operations has been a bit of a poor cousin to the other

services.

But let me assure you, those days are over.

Now, the War Office has identified six French ports suitable for raids on a

divisional scale.

That's ten times bigger than anything we've ever attempted.

Right. Well, it's up to us to choose one of these and do it.

Sir. Yes?

With respect, sir, we've been making up plans for two years, but it's hard to

see the point since the Army, Navy and Air Force commanders keep finding

not to carry them out.

Gentlemen, let me assure you, raids planned on my watch will be carried out.

I intend to make combined operations the rival of all the other services.

I trust none of you have plans for this evening.

May we begin?

Can you believe this?

Another six miles, and we'll have done 250.

With the 60 -pound pack on my back.

You actually got stuff in there?

No.

Carry 60 pounds, 250 miles.

What do I look like, a bloody camel?

Deep breath!

More than enough to get out of the Jeep in a week. Who cares?

Hey.

It's General Roberts.

I swear, you cheer Hitler.

Magnus, get him a full pack.

Morton, doing the rest of the march double time.

Yes, sir.

You can't stay out and leave these men when your war is over.

Driver, get this vehicle back to Trent.

Sir.

Make way for the general chief.

Close up! Close up!

Drew Morton, take your light. That's right.

Charlie, don't worry about the problem.

Just do it and see.

We can always get it right a second time. Yes, all right.

Oh! Remember your four o 'clock. May I take those? Thank you. You're welcome.

Now, what is it we want to show? We've almost finished planning for Santa's

there. What's there?

It's the only dry dock on the Atlantic coast capable of servicing German death.

Hmm.

I suppose that's a start.

It'll be our biggest raid to date, 500 men.

Should be good fun, sir.

All right.

As soon as you have a plan, I'll sell it to the chiefs.

Then, in May, we're hoping to retake the channel out onto Haldane.

Pellet, I can hardly spend a weekend at Chequers with the PM bragging about

putting a couple of chaps ashore in a rubber dinghy.

What about that list of six French ports I gave you?

Over here.

In June, the weather is perfect for something big in France.

But I think we should go direct.

Take the old ferry route.

New Haven?

Dieppe.

Dieppe?

Pellet, have you been there?

Dieppe's all rocky beach and great ruddy cliffs.

It wasn't even included among the six.

Precisely. Far too many people had access to that list. If we're to send 5

men over to France, we need tighter security.

Hmm.

Dear, it is, then.

And what will we do there?

We're working on that.

What's that?

Operation Imperator.

Here's the search result.

Thank you. We land three brigades, they race to Paris, blow up the Cassapo

headquarters, and then try to find a way home.

Oh, exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for.

my office.

It's coming along rather well, don't you think? Yes.

It should be done by now.

They've been working through the night.

Here. Rome wasn't built in a day, you know, sir.

That's because it was built by foreigners.

All right, Hallett.

Give us a hand.

Here.

Yes, sir.

How was the flight from Ottawa?

Uneventful, thank God.

So, Andy, who's at the party?

Your old school chum, Brookie, is here.

Come in.

Churchill's on the wireless.

We shouldn't be doing this.

Steph, who holds all the food in there?

I guess the army.

Now, since we're in the army, I mean, doesn't it follow?

That that food belongs to us.

Yeah.

Let's go.

We have only just been able to keep our heads above water at home.

Only by a narrow margin have we brought in the food and supplies.

Everything we have.

either against the enemy or awaiting his attack.

We had to do our best to give substantial aid to Russia.

We gave it in her darkest hour, and we must not fail in our undertaking

now.

You know I have never prophesied to you or promised smooth and easy things.

And now all I have to offer...

or millions ahead.

Many misfortunes, severe, torturing losses.

The whole future of mankind may depend upon our action and

upon our commitment.

So far, we have not failed.

We shall not fail now.

You have been listening to Prime Minister... Are

you

going? Are you going? Go!

It was nice.

I saw you staring at her. So what

did you do? I wasn't staring.

Oh, she's beautiful, isn't she? Her name is Anne Westwood. We worked together on

the Russian Museum.

Vivian years.

I'll introduce her. Mabel, will you stop trying to set me up? It's time you took

an intro.

Now, we've got a bit of a problem in the kitchen.

Keep calm.

Andy.

No, you're right. Introduce Hamilton to Al.

Come on. An important introduction.

Al Roberts.

Congratulations on getting the second division. Thank you, sir.

Certainly the safest job in England.

How so?

If you insist on his fighting under Canadian command, you'll never have to

the barracks.

The Canadian command of Canadian forces is not about some vanity or pique on my

part. It's official government policy.

Actually, that position has changed.

If you want us to fight under British command, we're available.

Not as long as I am in charge.

They had 85 ,000 men in Singapore and couldn't hold off 10 ,000 jets.

You want them to command us?

Well, the last time you gave our troops to the Brit, they lost them all in Hong

Kong.

Excuse me. Don't worry about Andy.

Believe me, we're on side and anxious to get into the fight.

I understand Mountbatten's planning a big show.

We'll take it.

Don't you want to know what it is? I'll take anything as long as it gets us into

action before the Americans.

I've insisted Monty oversee the military planning.

There wouldn't be any room at the top for Andy.

Well, since you'll be in Ottawa for the next month or so, I shouldn't think that

would be a problem.

And in his absence, you'll be in charge.

Of course.

So good to have you back, Harry.

I can't believe Ottawa wants to push us into action.

I hope Whitey can.

Crearer announces it like it's the weather.

They want us to fight.

Fine, let's do it for military reasons, not political ones.

I need you in the kitchen.

Hamilton?

Are you okay?

I've

lost

a few battles in my time, but I'll be damned if I'm going to go in there and

announce that I've lost a roast of beef.

Now, it didn't just climb back on the hoof and wander out.

Find it!

Wait. Don't you guys think we should wait for Katie?

Nah, she's probably upstairs with the maid. I don't think so.

Hey, pass the potato.

Here's the potato.

Fred. Andy, there you are.

I almost forgot to give you this.

Anything important?

They want me back in Ottawa for consultations. Ah, well, it'll be good

away.

You need a rest?

It is good.

You bastard.

Casey, I can explain.

You forgot the wine.

Come on, quiet, quiet.

And for those of you who are red meat lovers...

that I may kiss but they won't thrill

me like yours used to do yes

I may dream a million dreams but how can

they come true if there will never

ever

I'll just play it, shall I?

I... I can't talk and play at the same time.

Especially when I'm playing with both hands.

You're doing very well.

Here it is.

I'm sorry, I... I'm afraid I've forgotten the etiquette. I'm...

Good night.

You might come in.

No.

I suppose I should confess, our meeting wasn't exactly a coincidence.

What do you mean?

It took all of my courage to follow you into that music room.

I'm glad you did.

Tell me, when you swim, do you dive in or do you wade in?

One toe at a time.

Thought so.

Well.

Now you know the address.

Good night.

Good night.

Let me try to put it another way. Frankly, General, I'm only meeting with

because General Brooke asked me to. You play polo, I understand.

The cave.

Lord Mountbatten is regarded as one of the great players of his generation.

Well, then, have you ever been injured and forced to sit on the sidelines?

It's a hazardous sport.

Well, perhaps you can understand then how frustrating it is for my men to be

sidelined for three years.

And just to be constantly reading about the Australians and the English troops

getting into the fight and not being able to join them. Commando operations

require a good deal more training than your chaps. Well, we'll get the

Just give us the chance and we'll fight the same daring as we did in the last

war. Forgive me, sir.

Might I have a word?

Would you mind waiting in line?

They might be right for Kiev.

But we have the Royal Marines.

They don't have a tail.

A tail? This job doesn't call for marsupials.

They lack support.

We'd have to find them everything.

Engineers to tanks.

The Canadians come fully equipped.

And there's no no.

Well, Harry.

Perhaps we can do business after all. Come and have a look.

to be successful over there.

Hey, sorry.

That's enough, eh?

Jeremy! Another round!

Disgusting. Allies fighting and dying. The Canadians never met an enemy they

couldn't bring.

That's what I asked the bishop.

Who's the defender?

Ignore him.

God, you're lovely.

What's Casey doing?

Hey, what's going on?

Move, I can't see, I can't see. He's drunk.

Can't you read?

Off limits.

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear.

Did you have to underline it so hard? I'm a married woman. This is a small

It's called discretion.

Well, where I come from, it's called hypocrisy.

You promised never in public.

You promised.

And you rub up on me in front of everyone like I'm some Shaftesbury tart.

You're right about that, Katie.

I was bored, and I wanted you.

I'm not going to apologize for that.

Of course, the paratroops will also be in a position to assist the Canadians

landing at Puy with seizing the harbour guns up on the east headland.

Simultaneously, troops landed at Pourville will move off the beach to

close support for engineers dismantling the radar station here on the west

headland.

Then, once the port has been encircled and overrun, we can move on to seize the

divisional headquarters here at Arc.

I can't see any real military objectives.

Objective? The only objective is a bit of good publicity.

And that's about it.

Oh, and then we go home, of course.

Are you expecting to stay on shore for more than a fortnight?

As presently envisioned, it's a two -tide operation.

That's 15 hours on shore, but no doubt you knew that.

And you intend to land 5 ,000 Canadians along with a brigade of tanks?

Correct, sir.

Canadians here at Puy and Pouville and the tanks at Kieberville.

In and out in 15 hours?

Cannot be done.

Cannot.

Tanks landing six miles from town.

Six.

Crossing not one, but two rivers. Two.

If the bridges are not heavily defended, they're no doubt rigged to be scuttled.

By the time the men are off the flank beaches, the enemy will have summoned

overwhelming reinforcements and destroyed the port before you set foot

town.

This plan is the work of an amateur.

An amateur.

When Monty says something cannot be done, he means it cannot be done by mere

mortals.

Perhaps the General has a suggestion.

Pass me that folder, would you?

Only 500 conscripts man the defences.

Do you have confidence in this intelligence?

Absolutely.

If the intelligence provided here is correct and the area is not heavily

defended, I would, of course, land troops on the flanks.

Here and here at Puy. I would, however, then the bulk of my force

directly.

Yes, gentlemen, frontally.

Right onto the main beach.

Now, the key to the right.

will be massive, devastating aerial and naval bombardment. That is

essential. It must be so devastating that only nominal opposition will be

encountered when you land the bulk of the force with tanks here on the main

beach.

That is the only way you will capture Dieppe.

Agree?

Well, I'd say that's game, set and match.

Agreed. Good.

Then I'll pop along and tell the Canadians, shall I?

What, you mean you didn't like it?

I liked it. But if it wasn't propaganda, it was a fairy tale.

It was great.

You're such a softie.

For Greer Garton? Sure.

Every man's fantasy wife. Oh, please.

She'd drive you round the bend in a minute. It would be like being

surrounded by a choir of angels.

Admit it, Hamilton. What you really want is for Rita Hayworth to come along,

push you into this alley, put you up against this wall, and say something

like, Don't worry.

I know it's going to get harder.

But I'll make everything all right.

Major General Robert?

Yes.

It's urgent, sir.

I've got a car waiting for you.

Beckman will drive your wife home.

My... Run along, darling. I won't wait up.

Okay.

Any idea what this is about? No, sir. You must be Beckman.

Yes, ma 'am.

No, sir.

You should have known you'd have something to do with it. with all of

and dagger.

Magnus? And then there were three.

What's going on?

We were hoping you'd know.

No idea.

I was... Well, they just picked me up off the street.

Planning? Intelligence?

Divisional commander?

I'd say someone wants us for an operation.

Gentlemen, the second division has been chosen to be the first to go back to the

continent. We're going into action?

Where? What's the target?

Captain Hughes Hallett here and his staff have combined operations to work

Monty to prepare the outline plan.

I want you to spend a week reviewing it. This week?

Block's ticking, Roberts.

We launch in seven weeks.

Seven? But I only just took over the division.

Yes, ample time.

Especially with Church here doing the detailed planning.

Man has a mind like a steel trap. Thank you, sir.

May I say how excited I am that we'll be getting into action before the

Americans. The General made a compelling case for Canadian participation.

Well, there's no way I was going to have a frank second fiddle with those Johnny

Cubs lately.

Come on, let's have some champagne.

Hold on.

Is anyone going to tell us the objective?

Do it.

Now, Robert, it's up to you and your men to carry the ball down the field.

But when you triumphantly cross the finish line, just remember who threw you

that ball.

Dieppe. Dieppe.

German troop strength here is estimated at 500 conscripts.

So we'll be coming ashore ten against one.

More than enough to make quick work of any opposition.

Are you sure of those numbers?

Intelligence isn't my bailiwick, I'm afraid. Whose is it?

The Marquis of Casamore.

Magnus.

Get on over to Combined Ops and talk to him. And ask him how they decided there

was only a handful of machine gun posts along this beach.

Who is this guy?

Look at what he sent us.

It's not intelligence, it's gossip.

I asked for agents' reports and photo reconnaissance, and this is what I get.

Someone's bloody holiday snaps from 1937. You spell out the number of ships

requested, but not the bombers.

We thought between 100 and 150.

I want the higher number, and let's fix it immediately.

Everything depends on the initial success of the bombardment.

Hello. You must be Roberts.

Lord Mountbatten.

Come in. Oh, come in. Do call me Dickie, please. I'm not one for formality.

This is Major Martinson.

How do you do? Sir.

And this is Churchill Mann.

I saw you jump once at the World Championships in New York.

If you're half as good at war as you are on the back of a horse, Jerry is going

to have quite a nasty day at the beach.

Thank you, sir.

We were just reviewing the run into shore.

It's going to take a hell of a lot of firepower to shoot us in from the sea.

And you shall have it.

Ever seen a battleship with its guns blazing?

You'll have to shoot the crowds to get them to stop blithering.

But will it take out these big guns here on the Eclipse?

Regard.

Eclipse before bombardment.

After.

Sold.

In that case, welcome aboard.

Sir, there is some question of the intelligence of Cousin Morris. There is

intelligence of Cousin Morris.

Running astragalus. The men have been marching for weeks.

The Boy Scout days are over, Magnus.

Thirty seconds?

Under thirty seconds.

Under thirty seconds.

What, one buck?

Five bucks.

Five bucks.

Gentlemen, we have a wager.

Sten gun assembly, under.

30 seconds.

Five bucks to get in. You guys, you want to get in?

Let's see it. Hey, I'm in. I'm in.

Okay, yeah, me too.

You want to go to the outside? Who's going to watch?

Here. You ready?

Ready.

Four, three, two, one.

You're on.

15 seconds. Five.

Four. Done.

27 seconds.

Thank you, gents.

27 seconds. Attention!

How fast?

27 seconds, sir.

Not bad.

Thank you, sir.

You taking fishing?

I haven't yet, sir.

Taking fishing.

Kids like that.

I'll do that, sir.

See the doctor about that.

I'm fine, sir.

If you don't, it'll get infected.

Yes, sir.

It's his boots, sir. They're too big.

Yeah, I stuffed them with rags.

It's not so bad, sir.

What's the use, anyway?

Marching about.

For what?

We're never going to get to fight.

Not true.

I'm marching you hard so we'll not only be able to meet the enemy.

Let's chase him home.

Next stop, Berlin, eh, sir?

Let's hope so.

Let's go!

Bugger's trying to kill me!

A

fellow

who makes model train sets made this up.

Such lovely toy, Dickie, huh?

Don't like these clips.

If they're not got to right away, a devastating course fire will rain down

the main beach.

This cliff especially.

The battleship should flatten it.

And if it doesn't, the bombers will.

The Royal Regiment of Canada will land here.

Yes, sir, along with Major Morton and his men.

They'll land in darkness.

Quickly. take out these pillboxes, then work their way up the cliff to overrun

any gun left in operation.

And there's an army barrack somewhere in here that will be taken out.

All that in the 30 minutes before the main landing comes in?

They're very good, sir.

What about these houses on the promenade? Surely every one of them

machine gun?

Once again, the battleship should level the whole lot.

Winston was so impressed by the raid on St. Nazaire, he's made me the youngest

vice -admiral since Nelson.

What do you think, Dudley?

Your title, as I understand it, is acting vice -admiral.

And while you may act in parts, you'll always be a captain to me.

Do I make myself clear, Captain?

Yes, sir.

Now, when your stint at combined ops ends, you'll come back to the Navy,

perhaps I might let you captain a battleship.

So answer me this.

After the loss of the Prince of Wales and the repulse, would you risk a

battleship at the Channel in broad daylight?

Sir, Dieppe is hardly at the same show.

We'll have 78 fighter squadrons providing protection overhead.

There would be no battleship.

Monte's entire plan is based on a battleship.

And if he takes the town and I lose my battleship and 1 ,500 sailors, what do

you think the press will say?

They'll say Dieppe was a disaster.

heavy cruiser?

No.

And if you ask for a ship at this meeting, I'll veto the entire plan, I'm

warning you.

It's just not on.

You have to rely on bombers, heavy bombers.

What if I went to Winston?

Who the blazes do you think warned me?

Ah, Vice Admiral.

Are you joining us?

What? Oh, yes. Yes, of course.

Tell me, is it serious?

I wish I could get him alone long enough to find out.

Isn't she shy?

Oh, that's not shyness.

It hurts.

The poor man still blames himself for his wife's death.

You should see the men, Andy.

I have never seen them looking so eager and so disciplined.

What are you talking about?

Didn't, uh, Freer table Ottawa?

Not that I was told. And what's this Operation Rudder?

Full division raid on Dieppe.

I want a drink. This drink sounds good.

What do you say, Andy?

You deliberately

plotted behind my back.

You've committed me to the very thing I spent the last three years trying to

avoid.

Andy, you can't avoid it.

You can't bury your head in the sand.

Didn't you look at a newspaper in Ottawa?

Recruitment is down. Production is down.

Morale is down. You son of a bitch.

You set me up and you damn well know it.

Andy, you're not listening.

The government wants us fighting.

And that is what the men want.

My men.

And you gave them away to Mountbatten.

Look what just happened at Saint -Nazaire.

Half the force killed outright.

Another 25 % wounded.

Don't you understand?

The only way we can protect our own is by being in charge.

Monty is allowing us to do the detailed planning.

It's window dressing.

Dieppe won't be a Canadian show.

You mean it won't be Andy McNaughton's show?

I want nothing to do with it This is going to have your name on it

I just ate my dinner for the third time.

Sir. Yeah.

Are we three hours late?

Three and a half.

Hey, buddy, you gonna live?

Men dropped in the middle of the English Channel, everywhere but the right

beach. Total bloody shambles.

Must you smoke?

He has every right to be angry.

I'm working with crews that have virtually no experience of this sort of

operation.

And quite frankly, I still think the troops will have a sticky time getting

ashore without a battleship.

What do you mean without a battleship?

I was told there was.

And believe me, the first thing I did when I was appointed naval commander was

to ask why there wasn't one.

And I was informed it had been vetoed in the highest circles.

Did you request a battleship?

My plan absolutely called for a battleship. I made it quite clear.

Sorry, old man. I would have mentioned it earlier, but I thought I could change

the Prime Minister's mind.

And?

Unfortunately, he feels the loss of another battleship might bring down the

government. Quite frankly, given the failure of the exercise and the lack of

battleship, I suggest we cancel the entire operation.

It's not worth the risk.

Let's not be hasty.

I'm sure if we could have another run at it, another exercise.

Absolutely.

We'll delay a few weeks and then mount another exercise.

Is there anything else I should know?

I've yet to hear if the cabinet has decided to lift the ban on bombing

ports.

You mean there's some doubt about the bombers as well?

Not anymore.

It took a bit of prodding, but I was able to convince Winston to give us an

exemption.

So I still have my bombers.

Absolutely.

You may have had three ships sunk from under you, Dickie, but you still have a

little sense.

Whatever could have become of them?

Probably lost.

At this rate, we'll be lucky to find Europe, let alone Dieppe.

You mustn't fret, Robert.

This doesn't become an army problem until the troops land on the beach.

Until then, it's Dickie's show.

And just look at him.

as the summer bleeds.

My men are razor sharp. When they're put down twice in the wrong spot, it

affects their confidence.

Everyone's aware of the problem. All I can say is we're working on it. The

problem is this is supposed to be a combined operation, but nothing

Major, we don't need star captain.

We need solution.

Yes, sir.

It's a six buck fine.

Big deal.

He was long missed and deeply mourned, at least so far as anyone

could mourn one who has gone on such a happy journey.

Where he went, or who went with him, it is impossible to say.

But perhaps his godmother took him on his traveling cloak to the beautiful

mountains.

What he did there?

He's been asleep for the last half hour.

I know.

But this is a good story.

Hey, let me take him up.

Let me tuck him in.

Goodbye, darling.

Where in the script does it say that you can kiss me?

We have a problem.

Cut.

Honestly, Meryl, you're heading off to war. You might be killed. The star never

gets killed.

See there, darling, I think the kiss may be too much.

I went to Bomber Harris to finalize his participation.

But it seems he's already been to Churchill and got him to reverse his

about the bombing.

What does that mean?

No bombers.

Did he manage that?

By convincing Winston there'd be nothing but negative publicity if bombing

Dieppe kills more innocent Frenchmen than Krauts. And now Harris doesn't have

go on record as refusing to participate.

He can blame it on the politicians.

Power boy.

We've already had two raids cancelled by nervous army commanders.

If we don't come through with bombers, Roberts might be the third.

Nonsense. He simply needs to be convinced he doesn't need bombers.

The key to success is tactical surprise.

Turnover! You can hardly have surprise with bombers waking everyone up, now can

you?

Speed, mark it.

142, Athol, take three.

Goodbye, dear

I don't know about politics. I'm a gunner. You understand?

I'm used to going in under barrage. I can't ask my men to go in without

I can't.

They'd follow you in with pea shooters, Ham.

But do they have to?

Is that my choice?

Unfortunately, Bomber Harris has made the decision for me. Yes.

And too late to come up with another plan.

I didn't pick you out of a hat, Roberts.

I checked your record.

It's all guts and glory.

Now, did I make a mistake?

What the hell's gotten into you?

Remember, you're taking 5 ,000 crack troops against a third -rate garrison of

500.

I'll sleep on it.

We're the first commander back to the continent. Those are pretty good odds.

You lucky bastard.

Do you think Roberts is any good?

What's goodness got to do with it?

Jesus was very good. No one ever won a war by lounging about on a cross all

I can't demand to sign.

Obviously nothing can replace bombers.

But what they can do is wrap these guns in so much smoke.

We'll be able to file with any accuracy.

Pam, we're all concerned about the east headland.

Oh, we'll have Cato and Morton landing in Puy with paratroops landing behind

tanks landing in the front. Plus, we'll still have all my fighter aircraft

overhead.

What about this new magic box?

Can you guarantee we'll land on the right beach?

If you're going, we'll certainly set you down on the right beaches.

We don't have any... hard intelligence here.

There's too many things we've just guessed at.

I'm apprehensive. We're all apprehensive, but let's be blunt here.

Our troops' contribution to this war so far has been minimal.

I think it's important we do this.

You're right.

The men are ready.

With a little bit of luck and surprise, we should be able to keep casualties to

a minimum.

For three long years, we have sat here on this side of the English Channel.

Well, I'm here today to tell you that our waiting is over.

Shortly after midnight tonight, we'll sail for France.

the one you've waited for.

So at dawn tomorrow, when the ramps go down and you come running off the boat,

don't stop until you have reached your objectives.

Good luck.

And now, Lord Mountbatten has a few words to say.

Pull this right out, Dippy. You're a complete invasion.

Some of you are probably wondering what a big American general like Eisenhower

is doing here.

After all, there are only 50 Americans in this party.

But the truth is, I brought him here to show him what real soldiers look like.

Some of you are going to die.

I won't lie to you.

And I sure as hell am not going to stand up here and tell you how to fight.

Because word is out that the men of the second division are the toughest bunch

of sons of bitches in England. Am I right?

Let's see.

There, there's Lord Mountbatten.

What the

hell did they tell us? We're

going in and keep us waiting.

Back up on your perch, Lionel. Or else what?

You can't tie us all up, Jaworski.

I'll follow.

I'll follow him.

Sir.

Lord Mountbatten.

I just have a word.

Sir.

Sir. The reporter you're already referring to is the boy who cried wolf.

ask them to hold the front page another night.

As long as you're buying the scotch, they'll wait.

We are finally going tonight, aren't we? I'm afraid they're still debating the

weather. That's ridiculous. Where are they? This way.

My men have been cooped up on ships with little food or fresh water for four

days. Now, we either get them off or we go.

What is the debate?

Let's just go.

Why are you looking at me, Dickie? I can't control the weather in France.

And I'm certainly not about to hazard an amphibious landing in rough seas.

Please. I've had rougher waters in my bath.

One of the sailors said he heard they're going to cancel. Got a cigarette?

Got a cigarette?

Oh, Jesus, Jaworski.

Get over here.

Hey, don't touch him!

As long as he screams, he stays like that.

He's there.

Damn. Look it.

I've got orders that says no one's to go up on deck. That means you too, Casey.

Let him go.

Let me out!

Let me out!

Tie him up.

claustrophobic. I got stuck in this stuff to take once.

We're all stuck in one right now.

Come on.

Let's get you up for air.

It's German!

Two

ships

damaged, with only minor injuries to personnel.

Ships can be replaced.

Can't replace the element of supply. Too true.

After this, Jerry's bound to know we're coming. They have no way of knowing

precisely where along the entire Channel Coast we'll strike.

They sure as hell know where we are right now. If I don't disperse the

they'll be back to sink every ship in the harbour.

I'm afraid there's nothing for it but to cancel.

You have no authority to cancel.

Does he?

Actually, once the troops are on board, the decision to sail belongs solely to

the naval commander.

Chiefs of Staff.

Bloody hell, man!

This is not some dinner invitation.

Do you have any idea of the planning, the training, the favours, I call it, to

get us this far?

We will not stand down.

It's not your call, Dickie. It's mine.

The operation's cancelled.

You did a good job.

Thank you, sir.

Keep moving.

Frankly,

I was starting to feel queer about the whole thing.

My recommendation to the chief will be to cancel the operation for all time.

all time.

Oh, and, uh, Robert.

What?

Never go hunting in the jungle with Dickie Mountbatten.

Never.

Bailey Grohman should be forced to justify his cancellation in front of a

government inquiry.

Oh, Monty.

Vicious little prick.

He knows damn well I have no other plans except, dear... Winston is begging me

to do something and I have nothing. Nothing!

We could remount it.

You're not serious?

Why not?

There's no time to train for anything else.

The tides will be right again in a month.

We could go then.

Monty's gone on record against it.

And what about Bailey bloody Gromit?

A word in the right ear and he'll be transferred.

And I... I might easily take his place.

But to remount?

It's just too incredible.

That's the genius of it.

Who would ever imagine we'd try again?

What's

that you

always say?

Don't worry.

We can always get it right.

The second time.

Good night.

Good night, gentlemen.