Original subtitles

Five men present, sir.

All

right,

Sergeant, carry on.

Now, you men have been chosen to go on a special mission.

You will be given full details when the time comes.

For the moment, I can tell you only that it will be headed by Captain Bruce

Clay.

Bruce Clay.

My ex -officer at Guadalcanal.

A hundred dead men for each medal he won.

Don't we know each other from someplace, Captain?

No, sir.

I'm Bruce Clay.

Best theater of operations is the Mediterranean.

I wish you luck in your campaign.

Good morning. Good morning, sir.

Miss Lisa? Yes, sir.

This way. Thank you.

Bruce!

Was the general given the same greeting?

He just came for some scotch, that's all.

Here's to you. To us.

Tell me, how long can you stay?

Two days.

Unfortunately, only two. Two days.

Only two. Two days pass so quickly.

What a night.

Just look at those stars.

This star is good enough for me.

It's just like at home, only bigger.

I never get tired of looking at them.

Well, take a good look.

From now on, you won't have much time for stargazing. Why don't you shut up?

You're always predicting the worst.

What makes you think that you know any more than the rest of us?

Who do you think you are, a schoolmaster?

What do you mean?

That I'm tired of your crummy predictions.

If you'd seen your best friend get sacrificed so that Bruce Clay would have

glory, you'd think as I do.

Obviously his time was up he wasn't the only one

Which

one

off my shirt.

Let go of me!

But save me a bullet for your captain or you'll be the same as Guadalcanal.

We must be a little deaf.

That so?

We're all deaf.

We heard nothing.

Who could that be?

It must be Halima with our breakfast, I guess.

That's a good idea.

I'm hungry.

Is Captain Clay here? Yes. Why?

I have a message for him. I see.

This way.

Thank you.

One moment.

What is it? I have a dispatch for you, sir.

Give it here.

Private, there's no reply.

Wait outside.

What is it?

Something wrong?

I think so.

They're in a hurry to win the war and I seem to be indispensable.

Congratulations,

Captain.

I'm William Brooks, lecturer in German literature at Yale University.

The captain has no accent.

He could deceive Hitler himself.

Thank you, Brooks.

I'll be in contact.

General Perrymore.

But I think we've already met, haven't we, Captain?

On a different battlefield.

And I must say, I was sorry to leave that front.

I believe you. I observed how attached you were to your duty.

Major Carter.

Major, Lieutenant Cliff Winter, who will be working with you.

You've been assigned to this operation for two reasons. One, your knowledge of

German. The other, your brilliant record in the Pacific.

Were you one merit in action similar to the one you must now carry out?

Actually, I've been told my transfer here was sort of a prize.

War in Africa will be a rest for you, they told me. Something unexpected is

happening. Here, take a look.

In a few days, our forces will join the British in launching a united attack.

This will be an excellent opportunity to drive the Axis out of Tunisia.

The U .S. Army is located over here.

The English will advance from here.

Now, between the English Army's left wing and the American right wing,

an open area.

That ordinarily wouldn't worry us, since it consists of 170 miles of bare, arid

desert.

And yet we have learned that this area is sheltering the only force that

threatens to upset the Allied plans.

At a point which we will indicate to you, the Germans have constructed a vast

bunker which serves as an underground fuel dump and gasoline depot.

According to information we just received from Army intelligence, we know

detachment of tanks is proceeding to the base in formation.

They'll attack the Allies.

By dividing the two armies from behind, your mission is to destroy this base.

And if possible, just from the tanks refueling.

No later, but you know that.

Major Carter will now take over to brief you, Captain.

He will present the men who will serve under your command.

Once you have left, you will receive all orders by radio.

I wish you the best of luck, Captain.

Thank you, sir.

May I ask you a question, General?

Go ahead.

Why on entering was I questioned in German?

Major, please explain.

My plan is for you and your men to enter the base wearing German uniforms, which

means... Which means that if our mission fails, we won't be treated as prisoners

of war, but shot on the spot.

Radio men Terry Wilson every six hours will transmit a series of code

Now, the order for action will be a special code sentence, which I'll give

later. You'll not answer to avoid being intercepted and located.

How will we confirm that we received it? Wilson?

By manipulating the tuning indicator. That is, shifting it just a few

according to the number of letters in the last word of the message.

On this wavelength, we'll transmit only the signal of receipt.

You'll communicate with us only when mission is accomplished.

Or if it fails.

I understand, Major.

Sergeant Dean.

I've been looking over your project, Sergeant.

How much time will it give us to get away from the base?

Exactly five minutes, Captain.

Five minutes.

That's not very much, is it?

We'll really have to move.

Corporal Marwell.

We've met.

Was it in the Pacific?

Yes, sir.

At Guadalcanal in August 1942.

I remember.

I think it most likely that the entrance to the gas depot will be protected by

Armador, so... Maybe the captain doesn't remember that I was at Sing Sing

just before the war.

I was sentenced for forcing the Armador of a bank.

There were two of us.

A certain Dan Stanton and me.

We listed together.

But Stanton died.

Killed during that damned operation of Guadalcanal.

I'm sorry.

Lieutenant, have the men ready to pull out in an hour.

Yes, sir.

Sergeant, we pull out in an hour.

Follow this route inland through the desert, about 170 miles to the oasis of

Kansamir.

You will wait there until you receive the order for action.

Then you will have roughly 30 more miles to reach the objective.

Wouldn't it be better if we parachuted onto the oasis?

The action involves the destruction of the German base as well as your

withdrawal. You would never make it in the desert. Jeep transport is essential.

Well, we could wait in the oasis till the end of the war. Kind of an extra

furlough.

A special code sentence.

When you receive it, you are to answer with alternate signals.

Which will mean you're on the oasis, ready to go into action.

A horse, a horse. My kingdom for a horse.

Shakespeare, I'm impressed.

I suggested it.

You're an actor?

No.

Bank cashier.

I was the manager of an amateur theater group.

Unfortunately.

Ah, yes. A few of them make it, but most of them don't. That's true.

Major me I asked you a favor. Go ahead.

Would you have this letter delivered in case I drew it?

Good luck captain.

Thank you major

You'd better get ready, you bunch of local yokels.

I read all about it in the newspaper.

After the war, we'll catch it, you'll see.

All dames love heroes.

Oh, Betty Grable, too?

Certainly, her, too.

A hero meets a star.

Why, that's perfect.

Oh, my hero, you've conquered Europe for me.

Bring me Hitler's mustache as a souvenir.

What is it?

I come from Niagara Falls.

Every morning there, I open my window and look at the cascade.

It's unjust.

Why?

Too much water there, not enough here. That's what's wrong.

We have enough water to drink.

But not enough to shower with in this damned heat.

Right, Sarge?

Well, I gave definite orders. No booze.

Ready? All set, sir.

The code messages are being sent.

Let there be music.

The lone rider is entering the city.

The bank is the building next to the grade school.

Raw meat is good for your dog.

That all?

Finished. Dog. Three letters.

Inform the Major that Clay's patrol has received our message.

Will do.

German plane. Everybody out. Out.

My well got it

We

get one time I think healthy Jeeps on

fire go to it man Better think of the elements out

damn thing under the sand

Smother it before it all gets fried.

Hold on to me.

I'll help you up. No, I can't make it.

Take it easy, O 'Brien.

You'll be all right.

Put him in the jeep.

Go get the stretcher.

Captain Clay.

What is it?

We're in trouble.

That jeep's had it.

The carburetor and the crankcase both look like strainers, and the radiator's

leaking like a sieve.

That doesn't leave us any choice.

What about the other one?

Hit two.

But not seriously.

We can't use the fuel, but the wiring can be repaired by using parts from the

other jeep.

Give me about two hours.

You'd better get moving.

The crowd may have signaled our position before crashing.

Keep at it, Moore.

There are only two water containers left

sir transfer all useful equipment to the other Jeep Moore's working wonders

We'll be able to leave here sooner than expected and cut the water ration in

half Yes, sir

Yeah.

It's no use.

We'll have to take the wheel out.

You put your backs into it.

We're almost there.

Supposing Benedict Waver saw you now.

She'd say, goodbye, my hero.

Okay, let's get going.

Ich kann nicht mehr. Die Oase.

Es ist nicht mehr weit.

Komm.

Lieutenant Winter.

No one's to drink any water.

We'll stop here for a while.

Yes, sir. Wilson, the radio.

Right, sir.

What are you doing out here the wind will blow you away It's crazy It's all

crazy take cover that's an order

Give

him some water

It's time, Wilson.

Yes, sir.

Captain, O 'Brien's condition is critical.

Could we communicate that?

What are you trying to say, Lieutenant? Radio silence, remember?

Well, what is it?

Got anything?

The owl sends his cry screeching out into the night.

Night.

That's five letters.

Captain, I can't stand it anymore.

Do something for me.

Yes, O 'Brien, we'll see.

I did it once.

I can take the bullet out.

Are you sure of it, Marwell?

It's up to you, O 'Brien.

Yes.

And that's really with your permission, Captain.

All right.

Put up the tent to keep out the sand.

And chief, controlianzee.

Hier Oberstzweig, geben Sie mir den Kommandanten.

Ach Sie sind Herr Kreis.

German message.

Make out what they're saying.

They've found a Jeep In the bottle care desert Our

patrol is there

Disinfect and bandage the wound.

We're moving right out.

What is it now, Smith?

The radiator's boiling.

There's water in the canteens.

We'll keep only two for ourselves.

We're dying of thirst now.

Lieutenant Winter, collect the canteens.

But Captain, it will only take us just a few feet further.

And then?

Now you listen to me.

We have to reach the oasis of Ben Kansamir, whatever the cost.

It can't be too far from here. The map indicates water.

And suppose the well's dried up. It sometimes occurs in Africa.

Once we receive the order, we'll go on, with or without water.

Marwell, no one knows better than you.

But I'll achieve my mission even if I have to do it alone.

Lieutenant, follow my orders.

They're transmitting.

The jeep was shot, I'm sure.

Other tracks?

Yes. A few parts of the jeep were missing.

Vielleicht mussten Sie einen anderen reparieren.

Welche Richtung haben Sie genommen?

Man kann es nicht genau sagen.

Der Wind hat alles total verwischt.

Es ist möglich, Sie sind zurück zur Base.

Möglich, aber nicht sicher.

Lassen Sie sofort die Zone mit drei Panzern durchsuchen.

Ja, Herr Oberst.

Well, Smith?

Captain, we can't go on anymore.

The engine has to cool down.

Son of a bitch!

The Oasis!

Come on!

Okay, men.

You and Morgo take a look.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

There's no doubt about it. We're better off right here.

Yes, sir. I agree.

How do you feel, O 'Brien?

Better, Captain.

Better. I'm glad to hear it. We'll be needing you.

We have enough water for us in the Jeep, too. You can lead us to hell and back.

Excellent.

I may do that.

Lieutenant, when the men are finished, post a guide.

Yes, sir.

Detail the guard duty by turn, Sergeant.

Yes, sir.

Seems impossible that people are still having a good time in the world It's an

orchestra at a nightclub in Lisbon that's living

loose in the crowd.

How'd he get here?

A horse. My kingdom for a horse.

I repeat, my kingdom for a horse.

We've transmitted a special message.

Well, that does it.

From now on, keep tuned in permanently to this wavelength.

Yes, sir.

There's something up ahead.

We're out cheap. Spread out and stay down.

Give O 'Brien a hand. Hurry it up.

I

get

the impression that some people deserve a medal.

Wir werden mal nachsehen.

Where's O 'Brien?

He's dead, Captain.

He'd better be buried.

Lieutenant, you come with me. We'll have a look at their jeep.

Maybe we can use it if it's not damaged.

Come on.

Get the shovels, man.

Sir, no one to be seen within 100 kilometers.

15 kilometers from here is one of our tank columns.

You come here to refuel.

Get the supply officer.

We must be refueled as soon as possible.

Break out the German unit.

There it is.

And there it feels.

Wilson, get on the radio.

You stay with the radio. The rest coming.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

When are you and Smith stay here and cover us?

Follow me.

Go into your act.

Well, all right, we have some time.

off now.

I doubt it. They're coming here.

They're the same people who have already been spotted.

Let's reinforce the guards immediately.

High alert readiness.

Yes, Herr Oberst.

What is there to do here?

We don't need that, do you understand?

Damn!

Kleit? Ja?

Was? Zwei Wachen erstochen?

How much time do we have?

Not a second despair.

We'll never make it. We have to make it. Let's go

What about me?

You'll have to make it look.

Come on.

Come on, we've got to get out.

Take me, Captain.

I've had it.

It'll blow in a minute.

eager fox calling baker dog over

can you hear me