Original subtitles

On a Sunday, the 2nd of September, 1945, World War II came to an end.

And on the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay, General Douglas MacArthur accepted

the surrender of the Japanese armed forces.

The war to end all wars had ended, or so people believed.

But less than five years later, war was to break out again.

This time, in Korea.

Already in the north, Premier Kim Il-sung was planning

the invasion of his neighbors across the 38th parallel.

And when, in April 1950, he flew to Moscow, it was to

obtain support for the war from the communist leaders.

As the result of a treaty signed by the Russian Foreign Minister Vyshinsky,

a new military alliance was formed by which Premier Kim

received offensive weapons for his invasion of South Korea.

Russian aircraft, heavy artillery, anti-aircraft

guns, and, most important of all, tanks.

And it was with these Russian tanks on the 25th of

June, 1950, that a peaceful neighbor was to be invaded.

Another war was to break out that soon was to involve 25 different nations.

They'll all be this quality, Jimmy, huh?

Uh-huh.

You know my clients in Philadelphia are very fussy.

Well, have I ever laid anything but the best on you?

Oh.

I remember some soapstone curios.

Oh, that's when I didn't know you.

This is quality craftsmanship.

This is art.

Better not say too much, Jimmy.

I understand you can get shot for perjury in this country.

What would the cost be on two dozen?

For you, such a beautiful lady, such a good customer, my very best price.

It's so cheap, it embarrasses me to say it.

Oh, and of course, there's 25% discount, and...

What's he saying?

(Korean) The invasion from the North. You must all go home to get out.

From the north, the communists have crossed the border.

Listen.

They come through this way.

Toward the capital.

You must get out.

Now.

Get out?

Uh-huh.

What about your army?

Army? No.

American Embassy in Seoul.

They'll take care of you.

Please go now.

Hurry.

Hurry.

Well, get me this number.

- Inchon. - No time.

- Please go now. - Please get it for me. Please.

How close are they?

We're only 10 miles from the 38th parallel.

The border.

Nobody answers.

I might've guessed.

Please. Hurry.

Please. Hurry.

Your husband must come.

You will need him to leave the country.

No.

I'm going to get the hell out of here without him.

I have to report to Seoul.

Then I'll come back for you.

Your wife is in Seoul.

You've seen her.

Yeah, that's right.

I wanted to talk to her about the divorce.

Now it's my responsibility to get her out of Korea.

You understand that, don't you?

I understand that you're leaving.

Lim.

What's between you and me has nothing to do with anything else.

But a war's started.

There's nothing between Seoul and the parallel,

but a lot of green kids and under-equipped ROKs.

They don't know it.

But right now, as we're talking, they're dead.

Hey.

I told you I'm coming back to take you away.

To America?

I'd feel a lot better if you waited down south.

I'll wait here.

And when they come, you know what they'll do

if they find out an American officer was here?

Nevertheless, I will stay with my family.

Just remember one thing.

I love you.

(Japanese) Greetings.

(Japanese) Good morning.

Saito-San.

Your shadow is in the wrong place, my friend.

You heard.

I have to go.

I understand war.

Only because of the war.

I liked it here.

You'll need this.

All those hours we talked together.

About the Buddhism.

About the non-violence.

You think that was all talk?

War changes everything.

This is war, you know.

And this is life.

So, that's how this man feels today.

You know how women are.

My wife will not let me throw that picture

or that sword away.

No matter.

I have had my last of wars.

Yeah, well.

If some son of a bitch laid a hand on my family, I'd sure as hell want to use this.

Now, we see if talk becomes my way of life.

Wait while I change.

I will accompany you to Inchon.

Why did you stay on here?

Thought you had enough of war?

Maybe I'm wrong.

After what I saw at the Hiroshima.

I never thought there could be war again.

And only five years later.

Well, anyway.

I'm glad you stayed on.

A man's wife is his wife.

You know what my wife did when I met her at the airport and told her about Lim?

She got a car and a driver.

And went shopping for this furniture for her damn interior decorating business.

Some woman.

She is still your wife.

Lim doesn't believe I'm coming back.

You too?

War.

People are changed.

Yeah, I know.

I've been there.

I want you and your family to go south.

To Pusan.

Pusan is not our home.

This is.

Goodbye, Frank.

So you know about the war?

Sure, I know. Does the brass know?

Well, it's after midnight back in Washington.

You used to work for MacArthur.

Don't want to be the first one to tell him there's a war starting in Korea?

I think Truman can tell him.

Hell, I bet you he doesn't even know where Korea is.

All right, let's move. Seoul.

Time to take care of business, huh?

Barbara's hotel.

Then we're on a plane out of here.

- So? - No sign of her. She's still registered.

Well, maybe we'd better head back north then?

Yeah.

I mean, the orchestra's rehearsing right now.

That's where I oughta be, not here.

You don't think my newspaper made a mistake, do you?

What, the New York Herald make a mistake?

Never happen, yank.

Who cares about the 38th parallel anyway?

Try the White House.

Try the world.

I always thought it was a dumb way to divide a country.

But when the war ended and the Russians started to

come into Korea, we had to do something in a hurry.

So this very bright staff officer decided to draw a line on a map.

And that's the 38th parallel.

God, you don't think they'd send me there, do you?

And what makes you so special?

Johnson, he's our regular Tokyo correspondent.

He's home in the States, on leave.

I'm a critic.

I came all the way here with the New York Philharmonic.

From New York, by the way.

Yeah, be thankful it's not L.A. You ever heard them play?

They're not so bad.

As a matter of fact, the string section's very good.

Especially since Wallenstein took over.

My boy, your editor says you will fill in till Johnson gets back.

So you will do what your editor tells you to do.

Be prepared to cover the war in 4/4 time.

Anyway, it won't be a long one once the U.S. comes in.

And they will, you know.

They always do.

This time, maybe they'll have to.

Or it's tomorrow the world.

And goodbye, Japan.

I'm glad you didn't say "sayonara, Japan."

For these small mercies, thanks.

You take the pictures I told you.

I'll do the captions.

My friends, it will not be a short war.

After five years of peace, the greatest army

the world has ever seen has grown fat on beer.

You want an example, look at Japan.

Half the regiments couldn't go to battle without their Mama-sans and their shoeshine boys.

And for this, we thank the politicians.

Gentlemen, ladies, good morning.

I have a short statement to make.

One hour ago, the President of Korea, the United States Ambassador, and the U.S.

military advisors requested help from Washington.

General Douglas MacArthur will hold a press conference in two hours.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

Please.

Thank you.

MacArthur.

He's the best we've got, Feld.

Says right here.

The most gifted general the U.S.

ever produced.

22 medals, 13 for heroism.

Well, at least he's not superstitious.

And you have to admit, he did a marvelous job here in Japan.

Yeah, making himself emperor, not preparing for war.

Hell, the man's 71 years old.

He's been on active duty for 50 years.

I mean, he's in shape, he watches his weight, but...

Maybe you should, too.

Hey, listen, I told you, you take the pictures, I'll do the captions.

Want to know something confidential?

Dyes his hair, too.

You never do pass up a chance to knock him, do you?

Harry, I'm a journalist.

I've covered the man since Pearl Harbor.

If he is what we're counting on to save the free world...

God help Korea, and God help us all.

Lieutenant Haig, sir.

Good morning, General.

Lieutenant.

The cable line's been burning up this morning, sir.

First things first.

Two messages from the President, and...

The real news.

Of course. Sorry, sir.

Army 5, Penn State 3.

Good.

At least the scandal didn't affect the baseball team.

Proceed.

Looks like the Communists will be in Seoul in the next 24 hours.

Report says the ROKs don't have the equipment and their troops are too green.

And all this time, our veteran troops are back here.

Veteran troops grown soft with the occupation.

I warned Washington. I knew it. I knew it.

What do you expect from politicians?

Bullshit!

They'd sell out the army.

Their mothers, too, come to that.

For a handful of votes.

Washington?

Washington's a long way away, it would seem.

The President still doesn't know?

Saturday night in the States, and Truman's at home in Independence, Missouri.

So... Soldier!

I've been trying to reach...

Hallsworth! Put him on!

You remember Frank?

Used to be my driver.

He's a good soldier. A Major now.

Frank!

Yeah!

Yeah, I can hear how close they are.

Are they good, these Communists, or is it the tanks?

They look like Russia's.

We just can't penetrate their armor.

Hey, tell the Old Man they got one!

Field artillery through open sights? Tried that?

Sure, the ROKs are trying everything.

But they're hopelessly under-equipped.

How long before they reach Seoul?

About 24 hours.

The ROKs have no anti-tanks, no armor.

Well, you've given me some information, Frank.

And I want you to give me a lot more.

Meet me on the airfield at Suwon.

I'll confirm the exact time tomorrow.

Yeah, well, if it's still there, you can bet your ass I'll...

- And remember one thing for god's sake... - I mean, roger, sir.

Yes, sir, I'll remember that.

Sergeant, grab this, will you?

Remember what?

That we're not combatants, just neutrals.

Hey, he called you Frank.

Yeah.

Well, the man's not God.

He's just an emperor, for chrissakes.

I was his driver.

Australia. Leyte. The Solomons.

Oh, you're telling me he had a Marine on the staff?

That's right, a token marine.

Oh, shit.

Looks like a hell of a time to start being neutral.

Of course I know Frank.

We went to their wedding.

Nice girl from Boston.

And good family.

Almost something in between the Cabots and the Lodges, I seem to remember.

My dear, there's nothing between the Cabots and the Lodges.

They wouldn't allow it.

Besides, it was Philadelphia, now I remember.

I even remember that it was a silver tea set like this that we gave them.

And Frank even promised he'd learn to drink the stuff.

So soon?

I'll see if signals at Dai Ichi can raise the dead in Washington on our direct line.

Truman's an early riser.

It's too good to last, wasn't it?

Because it doesn't look as if I'm going to be seeing much of you in the future.

Don't you believe it.

They'll probably send out Joe Collins or Omar Bradley.

They don't like me in Washington.

Who you fooling?

If there's anybody's gonna save this world, you know it just has to be you.

My, but you put it strongly.

That's the way it's going to be.

Now, on your way.

Oh, Jean.

Don't say it.

I know I shall return.

But not too late for dinner.

Come on, Blackie.

It's up to you and me to save this world.

Mo, we've been traveling for 24 hours and we've only gone 10 miles.

Isn't there another road?

God give me strength!

They're turning around! Dive out of the way!

Mo!

Any U.S. military advisers on this frequency?

Please come in.

Hello? Hello?

Any U.S. military advisers

Do you read me?

Please.

Please, Americans.

You go to Seoul?

Give me a ride.

Don't encourage her.

Don't even look at her.

Henderson, you're looking at her and you're under arrest.

Please.

What's that?

This?

I'm going to Seoul to get married.

Please.

Take me to Seoul station.

Come on, you're still in the way.

Come on.

She picked one hell of a day for a wedding.

Yeah.

Think we can get her to the church on time?

Negative. Pick one of them up, we'll have all of Korea on our necks.

All right.

Keep an eye on this, will you, Soldier?

Mila.

Mila.

Thank you for bringing Mila to me, Colonel, I am in your debt.

Yeah, well, I'll remember. that

And it's Major.

Oh, please.

What can I do for you?

You can get the hell out of town before the North Koreans get here.

Happy wedding.

Good luck.

Thank you.

Well, maybe she got out last night with the other Americans.

Yeah, well, she hasn't been here.

The airport's shut down.

Probably on her way to Suwon.

Bright girl.

Give me a hand here, will you?

Anything to help win the war.

One, two, go.

I think I'll have a last look up north.

I'll head south to Suwon.

That's a good idea.

Hey, listen. You sure you wanna do that?

Well, I'm the one who got her here.

- Okay. - See ya.

So long.

Barbara!

Barbara!

Henderson!

God, I'm glad to see you.

It seems like years.

- Jump in. - No, no. I'll be...

(Korean) Get back, you have to clear the road.

Oh man, just be cool.

Listen, I'll have to meet you on the other side.

I'm back behind you here somewhere.

So are the tanks. Isn't there another way to get through?

No, it's the only bridge still open to the south.

Look, Frank went to look for you.

Now, he'll put you on a plane if you can get to the Suwon airport.

Might be easier to walk.

No, it's 20 miles.

Listen, if I should miss you, anything goes wrong in Suwon, keep heading south.

South, that way.

Wait, wait a minute.

Listen.

Take this.

I'll tell you, it's better than a poke the eye with a sharp stick, okay?

Take care.

Please move on. I can't advance.

Get out of the way! Please!

Sir, please.

We're holding everybody up, please.

(Korean) Please, these are my grandchildren.

(Korean) Their parents are dead.

(Korean) Please get them to safety in the south.

Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing?

Come on, get out of there.

Quick.

Sir.

Get these little bastards out of here.

(Korean) Get into the car quickly. This bridge is going to blow up at any minute...

I can't move.

There's a man in front of me.

Get out.

You're gonna have to get out as soon as we get to the other side of the bridge.

Tanks?

No, no. Don't worry. It's all right. Come on.

Mila!

Mila!

Mila!

(Korean) I can't blow the bridge now.

(Korean) Five more minutes to get the people off.

(Korean) The Reds must not take that bridge!

Shit!

(Korean) Attention.

(Korean) Orders from Headquarters Staff, Republic of Korea Army.

(Korean) This bridge is to be blown immediately.

What's he saying?

They're going to explode up the bridge.

What?

(Korean) Fire it! Fire it!

Mila!

(Korean) As you are now volunteers in the Red Army.

(Korean) You will soon be joined by all your other comrades in the country.

(Korean) Who are waiting for liberation from...

(Korean) That's a lie.

(Korean) The South Korean people will never join you. Communists. Bastards.

(Korean) He's right. They hate you!

(Korean) These are the recruits from Seoul. Trouble makers.

(Korean) Anybody who opposes our cause will die.

(Korean) Shoot them.

(Korean) Communists. Murderers. Liars.

(Korean) Wait a minute, Commissar.

(Korean) Come here and speak.

(Korean) Let me talk to them. Make them see the error of their ways.

(Korean) Better still, you shoot them.

(Korean) I've never killed a man in my life.

(Korean) If you want to prove you're not a capitalist puppet, shoot them.

(Korean) Show us you support the revolution.

(Korean) I can't, Commissar. I can't kill them.

God help him, whoever it is they pick.

Gonna need all the help he can get, both from here and the States.

Much as it pains me, they may even have to call

in the, what do you call those amphibious...?

Marines, sir?

Still rankles.

'Dugout Doug' they called me.

The ones that did didn't have your congressional medal.

Or all the other...

Yes, sir, he's here.

No more, Lieutenant.

Let's call it a night.

It's Washington, sir.

President Truman.

MacArthur.

How are you, General?

Just fine, Mr. President.

You and all your family are well, I trust.

All very well.

Thank you.

Now, General, the United Nations have authorized me to let you know that you are

to be appointed Supreme Commander of the United

Nations forces during the coming Korean Police Action.

It's a great honor, sir.

And I hope to prove worthy the only way I know how.

How's that, General?

By defeating the enemy, of course.

Yes.

Well, good night, General.

Good night, Mr. President.

Young man, you and I have lived to witness a miracle.

The nations, I'm sure Russia abstained, have voted to work together to prevent,

no, oppose violence, aggression.

Something, which if done in 1939,

might've saved the lives of around 30 million people

from battle, starvation, gas ovens.

Well, I guess that's something.

Something.

I'll tell you.

It's the first time, it's probably the only time, it's ever going to happen.

Time you got some shut-eye, young man.

We're going to war in the morning.

Good night, sir.

Good night, young Alex.

Jean.

Jean.

We've come home.

Come in, darling.

Knocked very softly.

In case you were asleep.

I was too excited for that.

I'm not excited.

But I can't sleep.

What's worrying you?

Jean.

Yes?

You don't think I'm too old?

You ask a silly question, you'll get a silly answer.

I don't think I'm too old, but other people will.

Since when did you ever care what other people thought about you?

You have to see this as the hand of God.

Mr. Truman and all those little men in Washington thought that by leaving you out

here, far away from everything, that you would be forgotten,

that you would simply disappear from sight.

- Simply... - Fade away.

I remember when the soldiers used to sing that old song.

It was Manila, wasn't it?

Manila.

Everywhere.

The Australians used to sing it at me.

And now, once again, you are the center of the world.

The man of the moment, if I say so myself.

And you are going to show them that you are the greatest general in the world.

Greatest 71-year-old general?

No. There's nothing to that.

You just have to believe that this is what you were born for.

All your life has been leading up to this.

So now, you go to bed.

And this time, go to sleep, you hear?

Sure I can't get you a warm drink or something?

No.

Are you absolutely sure?

Yes. Communist soldiers.

Do exactly what I say.

Open the door.

We are driving now.

Oh, yes. Okay, it's a good idea.

I was feeling tired.

You can drive.

Get the gun. It's in the compartment.

Don't let him see.

I've gotta get the door open.

- Hurry! - Wait a minute.

I can't get the door open. I'm sorry.

Hurry!

Son of a bitch!

Buzz off! Come on, down.

Hey, Barbara!

Since that bridge I've been looking all over for you.

Am I glad to see you.

What's this?

Last time I saw you, you had a Jeep.

Well, hell.

The last time I saw you, you didn't have five kids.

Was he anyone I know?

You don't know how glad I am to see you.

You wouldn't believe what we've been through.

The kids, the car.

- Gus. - Hmm?

I used the gun.

I killed a man.

You did?

Yeah, back there.

A North Korean.

Hey, hey, come on, come on, come on.

Take it easy.

Just one less.

Geuss they're infiltrating everywhere around here now.

What else you do, try to kill this car, too?

Ow!

Damn, that's hot.

Is it fixable?

Yeah, yeah, just good old American know-how.

Between us, I don't know how.

All right, Mrs. Hallsworth, you wanna hand me that box of tools?

What's this Mrs. Hallsworth bit?

Well, officer's wife, rich Philadelphia lady.

Right now, I'm just a woman with five kids, stuck in the middle of a war.

Hmm, you have changed.

I have?

Uh-huh.

You're all dusty.

Quite a bit worn, and I must say, motherhood does become you.

Thank you very much.

Wait, time out, time out.

Listen, you guys have gotta make yourselves useful, all right?

Come on, here, take some of this.

Biggest.

You hold onto that.

Big.

Smallest.

Come on, take that.

Middle.

Small.

Okay?

Now, I don't want to hear a peep out of you, got it?

Not a peep.

Yeah?

Yeah, what?

How would you believe the entire time we're up by the parallel...

And in Seoul, the only thing he was worried about was you?

No, I wouldn't believe you.

Well, it's true.

I mean, there's a war going on, a man can get himself killed, and what does he do?

He takes off for a couple of days looking for you.

I just thought you ought to know that.

End of speech.

Ah, a battery cable.

All right, go ahead, jump in.

Let's try to start it.

What happened to what's her name?

His little Korean cookie, Lim.

Did he get her out too?

Inchon, that's where she lives.

Ah, you see? Didn't I tell you?

Just good old American know-how.

Come on, everybody in, let's go.

Come on, move, move, move, move.

Quick, quick, quick.

Next stop, Suwon.

That's where we'll meet Frank.

If all goes well.

Oh, great.

That's all Frank needs.

An abandoned wife, and five Korean orphans.

Hungry orphans to get on the last plane out of here.

Ah, don't worry, he can handle it.

No, we're gonna head south.

All the way to Pusan.

It'll be safer for the kids.

And if that sounds noble, it isn't, um...

Maybe I just want Frank to know that I don't need him.

What if he really wants to help you?

Well, he can always find us through the Red Cross.

Right now, a care package would come in pretty handy.

Good luck, Barbara.

So long.

Thanks.

Oh, okay, you guys.

You keep it quiet back there or you're gonna walk all the way.

You hear?

Out of the way.

Suwon?

Suwon it is. Population one hundred and twenty-four thoursand.

And one scared U.S. Sergeant.

What about Barbara?

Don't worry, I saw her.

She get across the bridge?

Yep.

And the lady says she doesn't need your help.

She's gonna make it all the way to Pusan on her own steam.

Stubborn bitch.

What does she think this is, a game?

Navy planes!

Navy planes!

Good. That's our side for a change.

Radio the Bataan, it's all clear for the General.

- President. - Welcome to Korea, General.

- Ambassador. - Welcome to Korea, General.

Gentlemen.

General Park.

- Frank. - Sir.

Thank you, General. Welcome to Korea.

We're gonna see about that in time, Frank.

Let's go upstairs. Take a look.

Yes, sir.

Congratulations, sir.

How about one of those little doodads for me?

I'll tell you what, I'll let you wear it at night.

Sir.

The pilot says we'll be over the coast in a few moments.

Inchon.

Yeah.

Why I sent for you.

That channel into Inchon from this distance looks...

...difficult.

Well, up close is impossible.

I know.

I've got friends down there.

Those two islands serve as natural guards to the mouth of the channel.

You'd have to go right in between 'em.

At night?

At night.

Well, with that lighthouse out, it'd be suicide.

Fifty ships going through that channel at night.

Not fifty ships.

More like two hundred and fifty.

Nothing to be ashamed of.

I always had a weak stomach myself.

So did, uh, Caesar.

So, by the way, did Admiral Nelson.

All will be well.

I guess the Old Man is really feeling the pressure this time.

Well, he was raised to handle pressure.

He's his father's son.

Who was his father, as if right now I care?

General Arthur MacArthur.

They called him the... the boy general of the Union Army.

Hey, Toscanini.

Let me tell you a little story.

It'll take your mind off other things, alright?

Now, it seems a long time ago that General MacArthur's regiment, that's Arthur

MacArthur's regiment, the, uh, survivors of his famous

victory at Cemetery Ridge decided to hold a reunion.

The Smithsonian Institute.

The regimental flag draped behind the dais.

When the meal ended, the general got to his feet to give the benediction.

While he was speaking, he was seized by a stroke and collapsed on the table.

The remaining members of the regiment, and God knows why, they did not go for help.

Got to their feet.

Raised their glasses high and began to sing.

The Battle Hymn of the Republic.

While they were singing, Arthur MacArthur died.

His men wrapped him in the tattered battle-scarred flag of Cemetery Ridge.

And hoisting him on their shoulders, which must have

been very difficult considering how old they were.

Carried him through the night to Arlington Cemetery.

And Douglas MacArthur has grown up with that memory.

And has felt the pressure of living up to that image.

That, uh...

legend.

So, we'll get your 24th Division over here in a couple of days.

I've already given the orders.

And where do you think the enemy will be by then?

Shh.

At the rate they're moving...

Somewhere around here.

Osan.

Better get there, Frank.

Tell me what's happening.

What's really happening.

Not one of these army news bulletins they hand out.

Not that I haven't handed out a couple in my time.

Just wait till the 24th get here.

Once our boys are in action, it'll be a pushover.

Depends on who pushes who.

Hi, Marine.

Hey.

Sorry we had to take you boys of the 24th away from all your Japanese ladies.

Yeah, well this'll only take a few days.

Let's show these gooks how Americans fight.

Kick the shit out of 'em and get the hell back to old Nippon.

Sounds like you got business there.

Sure.

You're damn right.

She can cook, too.

And not just rice.

Stand by, all companies.

Alpha, come in.

Bravo, come in.

Charlie, come in.

T-34s. Or so our Intelligence boys think.

Fire!

All right! You got the ball!

Easy, driver. They're hurt bad.

We just lost contact.

Gimme that. Hello, Captain, come in, Alpha.

Alpha...

Let's go, we're pulling back. We're pulling back.

Come on, bring your weapons. Don't leave the ammo.

Come on, let's go. Let's go. Hurry it up.

Let's get this thing moving.

Yes.

It's a great defeat.

A crushing defeat.

For the enemy.

Yes.

We lost Osan.

We retreated. But look how the enemy has spread out his forces.

For days before the battle, we have shown our enemy an arrogant display of strength.

Utter bluff.

We had nothing.

If the enemy had concentrated his forces, he could have broken through anywhere.

Driven a wedge, thrown us right into the sea.

Now he has five different thrusts coming at us.

Not one of which will ever pierce the defenses I'm building up around Pusan here.

Believe me, my friends.

God is on our side.

Though at times you may find it hard to believe.

No! No, get back.

My Biggest.

Play a game. Start a game.

Don't let them look outside the window.

Let me help.

What happened?

Don't worry about me.

You can take care of him.

I'll get you more bandages.

Come here.

Come and help.

Come on.

I told you we'd make it.

Come on. Let's go.

What is she saying?

She asked if she could now tell you she's hungry.

Welcome.

Welcome to St. Mary's Mission.

Come.

(Korean) Stop!

(Korean) Keep an eye on our new conscripts. I don't trust them.

(Korean) Stay where you are.

(Korean) Didn't I tell you men would volunteer to join us?

(Korean) You may be right, but I want to make sure they're not armed.

(Korean) Stay where you. We have to search you first.

Okay! Okay!

Cease fire!

Round up those prisoners!

Cease fire. Hold it. Hold it.

All right.

That's enough.

Put it down.

What do you know? It's the bridegroom.

No. Not yet.

- Mila. - Mm?

I can't say goodbye.

Barbara, do you really have to go?

Yes.

I'd rather go on alone.

The kids will be safe now.

And you'll take care of them.

Yes, but... Barbara...

They're starved.

Why aren't they eating?

They waited for you.

Oh, Smallest.

All of you.

The Army Chief of Staff, Collins.

All the way from Washington.

I think I know why.

Bill, if you're so goddamn smart, you tell us what's going on.

You really want to know?

Oh, I'm still learning.

Tell me.

Uh, kid, you hire a spy, just like the North Koreans.

And what does your spy tell you now?

Well, he tells me that Admiral Sherman could be

carrying a letter authorizing him to fire

one General Douglas MacArthur.

Operation Crow, my gentleman, revolves around Seoul, the capital of South Korea,

and most important, Inchon, its port.

All in enemy hands for the past two months, like the rest of the country,

except for the tip of the peninsula, where we still hold this small area,

around Pusan.

Pusan, I repeat, and not Dunkirk, as most of the newspapers would like us to

believe, because General MacArthur has no intention of

being defeated, nor is there any question of a withdrawal.

Now, that's the rough part.

But in the past two weeks, our defenses in the Pusan

perimeter have been strengthened almost every day.

And as you can see, the area we still hold is not very large.

It has succeeded in drawing the North Koreans a hell of a way from home,

with long supply lines, all concentrated here in Seoul, which controls all the road

and rail communications between North and South Korea.

Now picture Inchon and Seoul as an anvil, upon which a hammer will strike.

The hammer of our Eighth Army, breaking out from Pusan, pushing up to the

North, and joining with our forces in and around Seoul, cutting off and destroying

100,000 enemy soldiers.

Now you have the folder of Operation Chromite in

front of you, and you are at liberty to open them.

General Almond, the Joint Chiefs of Staff have asked me to voice our objections.

First, we think September 15th is too soon.

The Navy has insisted on a water depth of 26 to 32 feet for the landing.

We have it that day, maximum high tide.

High tide also occurs on October 11th and November 3rd.

We should wait till then.

There is danger of monsoons in the Yellow Sea after October 1st.

The Marines have to land in Inchon Harbor itself.

The sea walls are 20 feet high.

If we don't complete in one hour, our ships will be high and dry on the

mudflats, which run out for three miles.

We will complete in time.

Schedule on page seven.

Inchon is so far from the Eighth Army in

Pusan, it's a hell of a long way to fight back.

After we take Inchon and then Seoul, the enemy will have

to retreat in order to protect its lines of communication.

Which General MacArthur intends to cut off.

One bold supreme stroke.

Here in Inchon.

I've already given you the details.

The date of the operation is September 15th.

Admiral Doyle, you want to say something?

Quite apart from the date.

Well, I couldn't take my fleet.

And you're talking about more than 250 ships in the dark, down narrow sea lanes

in Inchon Harbor, which is certainly mined.

Impossible, General.

Impossible.

I can't let my marines go in there.

Knowing they must hold the entrances in the islands, with no means of evacuation,

it would be suicide.

I don't know why the president bothered to send us.

It doesn't look as if I need any letter of authority.

That's for sure.

My objections don't mean much.

If the Navy and the Marine Corps aren't going forward,

I don't think there's any reason for any further discussion.

- Therefore... - But I think there is, General.

Admiral Doyle is right when he says the invasion of Inchon is impossible.

It is.

Utterly impossible.

And that is why it is going to succeed.

Nobody in their right minds would ever dream of an invasion of Inchon.

And nobody in his right mind would ever set up any serious defensive.

I suppose that must be why, as of last night, there were only 4,084 North Koreans

from their 112th Division, guarding the entire Inchon area.

That was the report on the defending forces as of last night.

But, uh, 12 minutes ago, I received a signal from the British Navy submarine,

Trident, where she lies submerged in Inchon

Harbor, reporting that no mines have been laid.

Of course, I cannot guarantee what may have happened in these last 12 minutes.

I may also say at this time that the British Navy has

offered to escort any landing forces that may be necessary.

They will also supply us with landing forces of Marines

to go in with our Korean allies, should this be necessary.

That is correct, Admiral Lawson?

Yes, General, that is correct.

And the Turkish Brigade, under Brigadier Kemal here, have volunteered...

General, I never said we wouldn't go.

I have not finished.

Now that we have established that the Marines will land at first light September

15, we know they will hold the necessary positions until the rest of the 10th Corps

can land on the high tide that evening, so that Inchon and then the capital city

of Seoul will be recaptured in a matter of days.

And the whole invading army of North Koreans will be cut off.

This, I promise you, will happen.

For right is on our side.

And right is with God.

And he will not let us fail.

I can almost hear the ticking of the second hand of destiny.

We must act now.

Or we will die.

Inchon will succeed.

And it will save 100,000 lives.

The reason we need all of these ships is

we have to land the whole of the 10th Corps in just one hour.

The high tide in these waters lasts one hour.

It's just possible that'll be enough time.

But if the Marines don't take the protecting islands in the dawn attack,

you obviously can't go ahead with the main invasion at dusk.

To get the Marines into position, we'll have to sail through here by night.

So the lighthouses there, there, and especially

this one, will have to be in operation.

Two ships colliding in the dark, the whole entrance would be blocked.

We'd be... we'd be sitting ducks.

I have to tell you, General, I didn't sleep last night.

And I'm still worried stiff right now.

I'm sold on the landing.

Any landing that'll take the pressure off our forces out of the Pusan area.

But I strongly propose Kunsan.

Here, instead of Inchon, which has every known difficulty for a landing.

Kunsan has no tide problem.

It's got a convenient harbor.

It's on the same side as Inchon, and it's not half as dangerous.

My friend, you've been looking at the map, but you've not been reading what it says.

Kunsan, sure, easy to take with good reason.

It has no decisive influence on the war.

We still have to drive the Communists from the Pusan area all the way to North Korea.

Yard by yard, mile by mile, may take months.

With thousands of casualties, we land at Inchon.

We take Seoul, Seoul, the hub of all North and South communications.

Here, I shall crush them.

I shall drive them right beyond the Chinese frontier.

Korea shall be reunited.

Peace shall come to this peninsula, to Asia, perhaps for a long, long time.

If we fail here to destroy them totally, we shall be fighting another bloody futile

war somewhere else, a year, ten years from now.

If now, we merely stop them, stop them going

east to Japan, and they'll turn somewhere else.

South, inevitably, Indochina.

Victory at Inchon means a boost for the morale of the United Nations.

It means a positive effect on public opinion throughout the world.

It means the end of the Kremlin's ambitions of taking a hold in Asia.

And it means the Koreans can harvest this year's rice crops, and the people can eat!

All right, let's submit.

We take the beaches.

We land here, at Inchon.

But say we can't reinforce the Marines for the whole of 12 hours.

What's to prevent another fiasco like at Anzio?

Admiral, I was not at Anzio.

But everything seems to depend on one small thing.

A lighthouse.

Gentlemen.

You have my word.

If the lights of Inchon do not go on.

And stay on.

The whole invasion will be abandoned.

What's really worrying the Joint Chiefs of Staff is this date.

September 15th doesn't give you any time for preparation.

Why, it's less than a month.

You had nearly six months to prepare for Okinawa and Leyte.

I have to agree.

General Collins.

In one month from now, we'll be fighting ten times as many troops defending the city.

I have information the North Koreans plan

to reinforce it toward the end of the month.

So.

September 15th, it has to be.

You're right, General.

September 15th, it has to be.

I realize I'm merely the token Turk.

And my brigade hasn't arrived yet.

But perhaps in the first reconnaissance party, you'd find a place for a few of us.

Which reconnaissance party?

I'm not that simple.

You're going to have to send a small force to seize those lighthouses.

Particularly this one.

For the Marines to get in position by daybreak.

Colonel Hallsworth here's probably been wondering why he's sitting in.

Now he knows.

God almighty.

If that's a prayer, Colonel, don't stop now.

You mean, sir, I've just found out I'm the lighthouse party.

You're the only man I know who's lived almost a year on that island.

Of course, it's a job for volunteers.

I could swear I distinctly heard someone volunteer.

Dinner'll have to be late.

Pick you up at your villa around 9 o'clock.

Don't make it any later.

We have lots of things to talk over.

- Right. - Ciao.

Ah, did you find your girl?

No, not yet.

How are you, Colonel, sir?

How'd you like to fly in a plane at 14,000 feet without oxygen?

Land on a carrier in a half-gale.

Hell no, not me.

Any word about Barbara?

No, but knowing her, she'll be along at any time.

I hope so.

And this, this is crazy.

Day after day, they keep bringing more and more men into Pusan.

That's good. I like company.

Oh, yeah?

Comes time to evacuate, you'll be responsible for getting these men out.

Don't look to me for help.

That looks like Marguerite.

Marguerite?

What are you doing here?

What's going on?

Looks like I might be free for dinner tonight.

Come on with me. I will give you a ride.

I tell you, things like that never happened to an enlisted man.

Those Turks are some tough babies, so they tell me.

Great fighters, too.

The next two get it in the balls!

Instead of fighting each other, next time, fight against the enemy.

Put that bloody camera away!

Maybe this would help.

Thanks.

Oh, another mess.

War is hell, isn't it?

Hey, what's this?

Oh, God, I'm never gonna get this thing started again.

And whose, may I ask, are these young children?

Mine.

All right, let's go, let's move it!

Come on!

Okay, come on!

Let's move it!

Come on!

Move it! Move it!

All right, that's it, hold it.

That's it.

Perhaps you'd all like to come inside. I'm sure there's plenty to drink.

We have ten miles to walk home.

But Brigadier Kemal Efcet said you should feel as if this is your home.

Thank you.

You've all been terribly kind.

Come on, you little rat.

Hold!

Right, face!

Goodbye, thanks!

Okay, everyone.

Bath time!

Bali, Bali, come on.

What's the hurry?

Well, General Kemal, he, doesn't want you to be late at the villa.

What the hell's going on?

Make a date with some broad?

Want to use my room?

Oh, come on, Colonel.

- Now, would I ever... - Yes, you would.

Come on, that's enough.

Oh, little mite you are.

In to bed! Quick!

Now everyone, fast asleep.

Or I'll be back.

You'll see.

Small, don't you imitate me when my back's turned.

Good night.

(Korean) Good night!

Some pad, huh?

Yeah.

What the hell are we doing here?

A little social get-together.

Obviously, some rich American family used to live here.

What else is new?

Same old view.

High tide on the 15th.

Dark in an hour.

Hey, come on, don't you ever relax?

There's something fishy going on around here.

It's feeling late, you little...

Right, I'll see you two later.

I suppose this is his idea of a good turn.

Cooking up this family reunion.

Yeah, well, I'm gonna kill him.

Nice place.

You like this kind of furniture?

It's beautiful.

Now, they get you a ship?

Day after tomorrow.

Straight home.

Good old Philadelphia.

Rah, rah, rah.

Are you alright?

I'm okay.

I should ask about you.

Oh, why? They tell you anything?

Just hints that you're on to something important.

I guess.

And dangerous?

I go in before the others.

Tomorrow.

And Henderson figured...

Since this was your last night.

Look, Frank, I have to say something.

As you only gave me five minutes at the airport to tell me the wonderful news.

Well, I didn't have time to explain everything.

I mean, I prepared a longer speech, but then I was never much for talking.

Especially when it, uh...

I don't know what to say.

Well, do you... Do you know what you want to say now?

I mean, four years together.

And all it added up to was a conversation.

We never talked.

Or at least we never told the truth.

We went to other people always.

But between us two...

Barbara, for Christ's sake, what the hell do you want me to say now?

Well, for a start, is she so goddamn marvelous?

Does she cast some special exotic oriental spell that I know nothing about?

I swore I wasn't gonna do this.

But I really want you to tell me.

Is she so marvelous?

Or was she simply warm and available?

Was it because she was there?

I wanted to tell you, it was nobody's fault.

We got married too fast.

And it was fun at first.

It was fun at Camp Pendleton?

Yeah, but then more and more you wanted something to do.

I know it's tough being a soldier's wife.

At first it was music and painting.

Then it was New York.

You wanted to publish books.

And now there's interior decorating.

When I got posted here, you took one look and...

That is not fair!

First it was this place.

Then it was Tokyo you were being sent to.

Then it was the Philippines, Pearl Harbor.

Well, I sat here like Madame Butterfly.

I'm a Marine.

And that's a special kind of cat.

But you made me feel awkward and clumsy in the world you lived in.

Like an enlisted man in your private officer's club.

I was bored.

And I was lonely.

Funny thing in our country about wanting to be a soldier.

They think you must be soft in the head.

Or you're so stupid you couldn't find a better job.

In times of peace you're a second-class citizen.

But when there's a war, it swings the other way.

And any stupid son of a bitch...

...can become an instant hero.

It's taken a war for you to tell me this?

Yeah.

Could be.

Look, Frank.

Tomorrow you're gonna be off wherever it is.

You've got problems of your own.

Let's leave ours for a moment.

And later when you... come back...

...you tell me the way you want it.

That's the way it'll be.

I'm sorry.

Don't apologize.

You didn't make this war.

I'm sorry you had to go through it all.

I'm not.

Come back, Frank.

God let you stay alive.

Well, now I gotta believe it.

You don't believe in anything.

But what?

Yeah well, we're about to be kicked out of the country...

...and the Old Man brings in two new divisions.

What for, Cherie?

What for?

You tell me.

As if you're not going to.

Invasion.

By God, invasion.

Don't say what you're thinking.

It's gotta work.

Or, baby, no invasion.

The tent?

Hidden up there in the trees.

All right, let's go.

Come on.

From the guardhouse here, running to the lighthouse, takes nearly two minutes.

That means that even if the guards in the lighthouse

give the alarm, we've got two minutes to take over.

How many guards are there?

- In the lighthouse? - Mm-hmm.

Never more than three or four.

They are not expecting anything.

From my father, charts of the channel and the Inchon Harbor.

Better than anything the Communists have.

And it's up to date.

You promised to get this cleaned.

Next time?

How many next times?

I did not make this world.

I just...

You'll be back.

You won't fail.

Anything else, Sir Boss?

A prayer, Jean.

Just a prayer.

We'll need all the help we can get tomorrow.

Someone else is gonna take the lighthouse at Wolmido.

Man named Clarke.

If the fleet's gonna pass through our channel,

our lights have to stay on no matter what.

The entire invasion.

The entire operation depends on it.

When they realize what we're up to, they're gonna hit us with everything they've got.

All right.

Let's go.

I will be here.

If you need me.

Typhoon Kezia has passed by us.

No damage and no new trouble in sight.

Visibility, ten miles.

Clear sky in the morning.

Wind northeasterly, six knots.

Probably cloudy later in the morning and chance of showers towards evening.

Should be fine for the next three days.

That's all we need.

Time to take Inchon, then move on into Seoul.

All our preparations are completed.

No change in the plans in front of you, gentlemen.

Operation Chromite is on its way.

Sir, as senior officer present in age, if not in importance, I would like to say

on behalf of the six other nationalities, the Foreign Legion, you might call us,

that we're proud to be here today

and to be serving under the command of General MacArthur.

Command of the United Nations.

Now, the lighthouse will be working in five hours.

Time to get back to your ships, gentlemen.

And I thank you all.

You and the planning staff have done all could possibly be done.

Now, everything rests in the hands of our fighting men and in the hands of God.

Hey!

(Korean) Sergeant.

(Korean) Hey! Who's there?

(Korean) Sergeant!

(Korean) Please... some strange people have appeared...

(Korean) Tsungmo?

(Korean) Down there!

We've got less than thirty minutes.

You keep everybody out. You hear?

To hear is to obey.

No one here.

It's very old.

Hasn't been working in years.

Made in France, 1905.

Well, that's a good year for wine, but I don't know about lighthouses.

General?

Sorry, but you can't light that.

We're blacked out on board.

I thank you, sir.

261 ships through that damn channel.

Fifty-eight more minutes, sir.

Without that light, we cannot make a move.

Come on, baby. Give me some light.

Try, try again.

Shh!

Turn it off.

Saito-san!

Come. Come.

Are you crazy? We've got to get those ships through the channel.

You have to stop them.

Tonight, the North Koreans mined the channel.

It is true.

I followed them.

I know where they placed each one.

Come.

I must have your help.

Talk about minutes.

Then you are wasting time.

Park, you keep that light covered.

You can't let the boats in until you hear from me.

- I'll signal. - How?

You'll hear the mines explode.

So you fight after all.

I do not fight.

But you're here.

I'm here.

Can't see a damn thing.

Where the hell are they?

You see?

Right.

Don't touch it.

Don't worry, I won't.

You take the oars.

Yes, sir. Anything else?

Sit still.

And try not to blow us up.

Those are Russian.

The mines.

No.

Old one.

Makes them more dangerous to work with, I suppose.

Uh-huh.

Hey, careful with that.

You think I wouldn't be?

That would be something.

Fast to go.

Yeah.

By about a hundredth of a second, I guess.

Well?

I don't know.

I don't know.

I need some more.

The electrical wire.

Cut off two meters.

And hand it to me.

Hurry.

Hurry.

Good.

Get down.

Get down.

Come on.

(Korean) Got a match?

(Korean) First, you give me a cigarette.

Thank God.

Now the next.

15 minutes.

It's gonna take us all night to wire these fuses.

Only two more to go.

I have already wired the others.

Quick.

Ten minutes.

Give me another wire.

Plenty of time, General.

Jesus.

I wish to God there was.

- Now? - Now.

Baby!

(Korean) Take fifteen men. See that the lights are put out.

Signal the Navy to stand-by for bombardment. We 're going in!

(Korean) You must stop them! The one last thing you have to do!

Let me through. I'm Hallsworth.

Christ! To happen right now!

Park, get that light back on!

I will try! If it isn't, damn it, too much.

Still five minutes to go, sir.

If the landing-crafts don't start right now,

they'll never be in position by daylight.

General, it'll take ten minutes to send the signals out in code.

To call off the operation.

And I'm trying to tell you, General.

We don't have ten minutes.

The boats are already coming into the channel.

Hmm.

I can just see them.

General, you promised.

If the lights didn't go on, you promised you'd cancel.

I shall keep my word.

- General Almond. - Yes, sir.

I wish you to send a message to the President.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States.

It is with text as follows.

It is with sadness and regret that the operations at Inchon are to be called off.

As at this moment.

No blame for this should be attached to any officer or man of the United Nations

expeditionary forces.

All and any responsibility for the disaster.

Change that.

It's a failure.

For the failure.

At Inchon.

Must fall on me and on my inability to serve my country.

As I once was able to in the past.

With this message

is contained, my relinquishment of power granted to me

as Commander of the United Nations forces in Korea.

Signature...

to be appended.

Douglas...

MacArthur...

General... Of the Army.

They did it!

It's working!

It's working!

Battle stations!

Send in the first and second Destroyer divisions.

And prepare for fleet bombardment.

General Almond, sir.

Get a relief party ashore that island. That light must not fade again.

Ah, General Almond.

Have you that message?

Documentary evidence.

So damnably conclusive.

But you would have kept your promise.

I did.

With a little help.

Of course, I took as long as I could, dictating it.

I wanted to give God... every chance... to get that light on.

Thank God.

Thank God.

Sir, there's snipers on that roof up there.

Why, so there are.

Look! Over there.

Run along, you'll be late.

On with it, you'll get left behind. Come on!

I don't have yellow hair.

Are you alright? I'm sorry.

I've never seen so God damn many press in one place in my life.

Haven't you heard? The General's got an important announcement to make.

Did you hear that from the New York Philharmonic?

He's going to say that he's running for President.

He could get in as Emperor.

I thought you didn't approve of generals who dyed their hair.

From now on, I would make it compulsory for every other U.S.

General to do the same.

I'm not kidding.

On behalf of the United Nations of the World,

I am happy to restore to you your seat of government.

All I can offer is what I have tried to write down here.

The undying gratitude of the Korean people.

All's silent, as America's greatest soldier is

about to make a statement that may change history.

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

...barrack ballads of that day.

And lead us not into temptation...

Which proclaimed most proudly...

That old soldiers...

Never die.

They...

Just... Fade away.

And like the old soldier of that ballad...

I now close... My military career...

And just...

Fade away.

An old soldier...

Who tried to do his duty... As God gave him the light...

To see that duty.

Goodbye.