All language subtitles for The Prince of Homburg (1997) English

Arthur!

What are you doing?

Why do you spend the night here?

Your cavalry's on the march
an hour and you're asleep here?

What cavalry?

Your cavalry, commander.
Don't you remember?

Quick, my sword!

- Where is it?
- On the bed.

- What bed?
- I remember putting it there.

Quick, get it!

Where's this glove from?

How should I know?

What are you waiting? Run!

I swear, Heinrich.

I don't know where I am.

In Fehrbellin,
in the garden behind the castle.

Once again I've gone out
walking in the moonlight.

There he is!

He was drawn here by
the moonlight while sleeping.

He's asleep?

Fast asleep.

Call him
and he'll fall to the ground.

Stand back with the torch!

I thought it was a fairy tale.

Let's get closer.

- This young man is ill.
- He needs a doctor.

We should help him.

Don't worry,
he's in perfect health.

What is he fiddling with?
Willow leaves?

No, it's laurel.

He could not have found them
in the sands of the March.

Don't laugh.

Don't laugh!

Natalia!

My princess!

My wife!

Friedrich!

My prince!
My father!

My mother!

- Who's calling his mother?
- He's truly mad.

Natalia, why do you
escape from me?

Quick, Prince,
let's help him forget all this.

Go back to the void,
Prince of Homburg.

To the void, the void...

We'll see each other
on the battlefield tomorrow.

Glory is not achieved
in a dream...

Excuse me, now I remember.

It was so hot yesterday that
I couldn't bear to stay in bed.

What time is it?

- Eleven thirty.
- Have the squadrons already left?

Of course, at ten.

The Princess of Orange's
regiment is in Hackelwitz

to cover the advance
against Wrangel.

Doesn't matter. Kottwitz is in
command, he knows the objectives.

I would've had to return
for the password anyway.

Let's go.

Does the Elector know anything?

He's been sleeping for some time.

What a strange dream I had!

It was like

a royal palace suddenly
appeared before me

glittering with gold and silver.

The people I love most came
down a marble staircase:

the Prince Elector, the Electress,

and then...

There was...

an other woman.

Who?

The one... who is on my mind.

- Platen?
- No, my friend.

- Ramin?
- No.

Bork, Winterfeld?
What did she look like?

It's not important.

In waking up I forgot,
it's not important.

The Prince Elector stood in front of me
holding a laurel crown

and to inflame me wrapped
his own neck chain around it

and then gave it

to this person
who put it on my head.

He handed it...

To whom?

Answer.

It must have been Platen.

But she's in Prussia.

- Or Ramin...
- Ramin?

With the red hair! Not her...

If anyone, Platen,
we know you like her.

Yes, I like her.

Well...

you were saying it was she
who offered you the crown?

Like in an allegory of glory,
she sought to crown a hero.

She raises the crown
with the chain dangling from it

and very moved I reach out
to try and grab it.

I wanted to throw myself
at that woman's feet!

But like the mist lifts from
the valley with a breath of wind,

the group withdraws
back up the stairs.

I place my foot on the stairs
and they stretch to infinity.

I wave to try and get hold of
their presence, but in vain,

the door of the castle
suddenly swings open

and a flash of light from inside
swallows them all up.

The door then slams shut.

While I followed them,

I managed to remove a glove
from that gentle dream creature.

I found it in my hands
when I woke up!

And you think
it belongs to her?

To whom?

To Platen?

To Platen.

- Maybe Ramin.
- Maybe Ramin.

It's midnight, do we want to
sit around chatting all night?

Is the Electress still here
with her niece,

the beautiful Princess d'Orange?

Why?

I was to have led an escort
to take her from the war zone.

I entrusted Ramin with the task.

They'll have already left,

or are about to leave.

Ramin spent the night
in readiness at the door.

Now let's go.

I want to rest a little
before the battle begins.

Let's go.

What are these shots?
Is it Goetz?

Yes, he left yesterday with
a division of vanguard.

A Swedish contingent has
reached the Hackel mountains.

Goetz said to proceed as if
his division has already beaten them.

Gentlemen, the Field Marshall knows
the battle plan. Write it down.

Is Ramin ready?

The plan devised by our Sovereign

aims at the total dispersion
of the Swedish army...

Ramin will escort you to safety
with thirty horsemen.

You will go to the Havelberg Castle
where there is no shadow of a Swede.

Has the barge been repaired?

Yes, everything is in order.

It will be day before you arrive.

Natalia...

Why are you so silent?
What is wrong?

I'm afraid, dear Uncle.

You are as safe as
in your mother's womb.

When will we see each other again?

Should God lead me to victory,
no doubt He will, in a few days.

The Prince of Homburg...

What is the
Prince of Homburg doing?

- Arthur!
- Present.

At your orders, Field Marshall.

Where's your head?

...to whom His Highness once again

assigns the command
of the entire cavalry of the March,

without the prejudice
of Colonel Kottwitz,

who will be his advisor.

- Kottwitz is not here?
- No, general.

He sent me to
take down the orders.

- Is Ramin ready?
- He's waiting by the gate.

His Highness the Prince,

according to the formal orders
of our Sovereign...

The glove...

What is it, child?

I don't know
where I left my glove.

...whatever the outcome
of this battle.

no one is to abandon
the position assigned to him.

- What is the Prince doing?
- At your command.

Must not abandon the post
assigned to him.

- Is he speaking about me?
- Certainly.

- I must not abandon.
- Certainly.

...until, followed by
Hennings and by Truchss,

the enemy's left wing
overturned...

Pages, light the way.

...and all divisions
fall into disorder.

In those marshes
with numerous trenches

the battle plan calls for
their destruction.

After which the trumpet will sound.

The glove of Princess!

- There, at the Prince's feet.
- At my feet?

Oh dear... Is it yours?

Thank you, Prince.

- Is it really yours?
- Yes, I was looking for it.

Farewell. I hope we
see you soon and happy.

After which the trumpet will sound!

But His Highness the Prince Elector,

to avoid the possibility that
the trumpet is sounded too early...

...to avoid the possibility that

the trumpet...

...is sounded too early...

- Heinrich?
- Yes.

- What's going on?
- Didn't you see anything?

...will bring you the order
to attack the enemy.

Before that moment you
will not sound the trumpet.

Are you with me?

Before that moment he will
not sound the trumpet.

Have you written that?

- Field Marshall...
- I asked if you'd written it down.

- About the trumpet?
- What trumpet!

Yes, not before... but then
he will sound the trumpet.

If it's possible,
don't forget it, Baron Gotz.

I would like to speak with
Colonel Kottwitz.

I will inform him, Sir.

Have you made note of everything?

We have finished.

Your battle plan
has been faithfully illustrated.

Sir, Prince of Homburg...

I recommend you keep calm.

Recently you made me lose
two victories on the banks of Rhine.

Control yourself and make sure
a third time will not happen today.

Gentlemen, let's go.

My white horse.

I want to be on the battlefield
before the sun rises.

A beautiful day, that God created

for other occupations
more gentle than fighting.

Have you seen how
the cavalry's been deployed?

I hope you will
be satisfied with me.

You know I approve
everything you do.

What orders did Doerfling
give me yesterday?

You were very distracted,
I saw that.

I felt bewitched.

Don't know what it was, and
writing on dictation confuses me.

Truchss and Hennings and
the infantry attack the enemy.

You wait here with the cavalry,

ready to attack when
the order arrives.

How strange...

What, my friend?

Wrangel is firing on Hennings.

Look at the Swedish dispatches
how they race right and left.

Look, brothers!

Wrangel's turning back!

He's retreating.

Follow me, Kottwitz!

Calm down, boys.

Sound the trumpet and follow me!

Heavens, earth and hell, follow me!

The Prince Elector commanded us
to wait for his orders.

- Gotz, read the instructions.
- Wait for the order?

- Hasn't your heart given it to you?
- Why do you treat me like this?

I'll tie that horse
that brought you here

to mine and drag you back!

Trumpeter, sound the charge!
Gentlemen we march!

- Kottwitz will not stay behind!
- Not this!

- Hennings hasn't reached the Rhyn.
- Take his sword away.

Prince, your sword!

- Insolent boy, here's your sword!
- Prince what are you doing?

Guards, take him away,
he's under arrest!

Now the orders are: he who doesn't
follow his general is a traitor!

- Who isn't with me?
- Why are you so upset?

The responsibility is yours
and I am with you.

Of course,
the responsibility is mine.

Follow me, brothers!

The Elector has fallen!

The Elector is dead!

So it's true?

Who will protect us
from this world of enemies?

If this wasn't an hour consecrated
to mourning, I would tell you...

Will I be lucky enough to grow
in the heart of your hearts?

What?

- Let's go.
- No, wait.

In the depths of my heart!

In the heart of my hearts.

Prince...

The Elector is alive,
Count Sparren just told us.

Quick, bring him here to me.

Count Sparren...

is it true you saw His Highness unhurt
at Hackelwitz with Truchss' men?

Yes, in the church courtyard.

He was giving orders to bury
the dead of both armies.

But I saw him fall with his white
horse, hit by cannon fire.

Yes, but the man in the saddle
was not our sovereign.

But where's the Elector?

He's in Fehrbellin,
all generals are to join him.

There's a truce, the Swedish Count
Horn's here, we may have peace.

- What a splendid ending!
- Quick, let's follow him.

Whoever commanded the cavalry

and attacked on his own initiative
before I gave the order,

before Colonel Hennings
could destroy the enemy bridges

deserves to die

and I submit him to court martial.

Wasn't... the Prince of Homburg
the commander?

No, sir.

Sire, the trophies won
from the enemy.

The Prince fell from his horse
before the battle.

He was seen inside
a church being bandaged,

he was gravely wounded.

Good.

In any case, today's was
a splendid victory,

but even if it had been
ten times greater

this would not justify
the man who offered it to me.

There will be other battles
and we must obey the law.

Whoever gave that order, I repeat,

will pay, I will bring him
before a military court.

Prince, from where did you come?

From the battlefield, my lord.

They told me you were wounded
and seriously.

My sorrel fell before the battle.

I can't really claim that
this hand is wounded.

Thus it was you who
commanded the cavalry?

Certainly.
The proof is at your feet.

Remove his sword.
He is under arrest.

Allow me a word, Prince.

All flags are to be hung
from the church tomorrow

for the celebration of victory

Prince, please, give me your sword.

Arthur, keep your calm.

Am I dreaming or am I awake?

- Am I alive or gone mad?
- Please, give up your sword.

Am I under arrest?

Yes, unfortunately.

- You heard him.
- And may I know why?

You entered the battle too soon,

you didn't wait for
the order to attack.

Help me, friends.

I must have gone mad.

- Was the March beaten?
- Doesn't count, you must obey!

I understand.

Take him to headquarters
and summon the military court.

Heinrich...

My friend Heinrich...

Well, my arrest is over?

You're free?

- Did he send back your sword?
- To me? No.

Then why did you say
"my arrest is over"?

I thought you'd come to tell me.

I don't know anything.

It doesn't matter.

He'll send someone else to tell me.

Sit down.

Has the Elector returned
from Berlin?

Yesterday evening.

- Did they celebrate the victory?
- Yes.

The Princess and Natalia
were also in the church.

By order of the prince
you were proclaimed victor.

They told me.

Your luck has changed in
such a strange way.

What do you think?

What you and Golz
and the judges think.

The Elector has done his duty,
now he will listen to his heart.

He'll tell me:

"You made a mistake..."

Maybe he will even mention
death and prison.

"But I set you free..."

If not,
I never deserved it anyway.

Arthur.

Tell me.

Are you really so certain?

He's very fond of me, like a son.

He's shown it to me
in a thousand ways, always...

What makes you doubt it?

Hasn't he always enjoyed
watching my fame grow?

And don't I owe
everything I am to him?

And you think that
forgetting that love now...

You have been tried
by a court martial...

and you're still so confident?
- For that very reason.

One doesn't go this far
unless he wants to forgive.

I regained my confidence
in front of that court!

Do you think it is
a crime worth death

to have destroyed the Swedes
two minutes before ordered to?

It seems a verdict
has been reached.

Yes, I heard.
The death sentence.

You already knew?

Golz told me,
he was there for the reading.

And it leaves you cold?

Completely.

Then you're mad.

What do you base
your confidence on?

On what I feel for him.

Don't insist, why should I torment
myself with unfounded doubts?

The court had to sentence me
to death, it's the law.

But the Prince, before allowing
that this heart be...

- Arthur, I assure you...
- Stop it!

Please...

Just two more words,
then I will be quiet.

I already know everything.

Alright, speak.

The Marshall gave him the news
of the death sentence at the castle.

And instead of granting you
a pardon as he could have,

he asked for
the document to sign it.

- It's not important.
- Not important?

To sign it?

I swear to my honor.

The sentence or trial record?

The death sentence.

Who told you this?

The Marshall himself,
a moment ago.

- After speaking with our sovereign?
- Just after.

Seeing me speechless,
he added that not all was lost,

that the sentence could be
modified even tomorrow but...

he didn't believe it either.

He admitted "But I'm afraid..."

He cannot hold to such
a horrendous decision.

He can't kill the man who gave him
a diamond only slightly flawed!

- You must believe it.
- The Field Marshal remained silent?

What could he say?

Have you ever done,

consciously or not,
anything to hurt his pride?

- Never!
- Try to remember.

- For me even his shadow was sacred.
- Don't get angry if I doubt it.

Count Horn arrived, the envoy
from the King of Sweden.

They say that he seeks
the hand of Princess Natalia.

But something the Electress said

appears to have hurt
our sovereign greatly.

They say that Natalia
has already made her choice.

Are you involved in any way?

- What do you think?
- Are you?

Well, Arthur?

Now it is all clear.

This marriage request
is my downfall.

It's my fault if Natalia refused.

The Princess is engaged to me.

Help me, my friend, I'm lost.

You could talk to the Electress.

Guard!

Guard!

If you can make this move well,
you're saved.

- Yes, Sir.
- Call the officer.

Franz!

Will you allow me out for an hour?

Prince, I'm not your keeper.

My orders are to let you go
wherever you want.

That's better.

- Am I not a prisoner?
- Even your word is a chain.

The chain follows him
step by step.

Mother!

You're under arrest and come here?

Why add to your guilt?

Do you know what happened?

I know everything

but what can I do for you
aside from suffering?

You would not speak like this
if you felt the shiver of death.

I am alone
on the face of this earth.

Unarmed.

Abandoned,
incapable of reacting.

You lost your head.

Why?
What's happened to you?

On my way here to you
I saw them digging my grave.

They want to bury these eyes
that look at you now

and riddle this chest with bullets.

The windows on the square
have already been booked

to watch this macabre spectacle.

The man...

who today looks at his future
as if it were a fairytale kingdom

tomorrow will begin to decompose
inside a narrow grave

and his tombstone will read
"He was".

My son, if this is God's will,

you must have courage and dignity.

But this world is so beautiful!

Do not send me into the shadows
before my time comes!

He can punish me another way,
why must it be by firing squad?

He can strip me of my command,
expel me from the army.

Since the moment I saw my grave
I want nothing else but to live,

I don't care if it's undignified!

Have you gone mad?

I renounce all happiness.

As for Natalia, tell her,
I no longer desire her.

Everything I felt for her is gone

as if I never existed.

She can give her hand, word,
to anyone, even the King of Sweden.

Yes, yes... Go now...

Go back to your prison.

If you want my favor,

this is the first thing
I ask you to do.

You weep, poor child,
for the death of your hopes.

I look at you now and I know
you will never be of another.

But in my disgrace
what can I do to console you?

Go, young hero,
return to your jail,

and look again, without dismay,
at the grave they have dug you.

It is no less dark than that
every battle has prepared you for.

I, true to you until death,

will say to my uncle those
words which may save you.

Now go, the propitious moment
passes all too quickly!

Maybe I can touch his heart.

Natalia...

- Let me be.
- What is it, dear?

I beg you on my knees
to pardon my cousin Homburg.

I do not ask his life for me.

My heart desires it,
I do confess,

but I do not ask his pardon for me.

I want him to live for himself,
free, serene, like a flower I like...

I know you will grant my wish.

You know the crime he's committed?

Was it nothing?

Did he not break the law because
of his enthusiasm for you Glory?

History doesn't want you
to crown him because he won

and the cut off his head.

It would be so sublime, dear Uncle,
that appears almost inhuman.

No one is more human than you.

My child...

were I a tyrant, my heart,
would already have melted.

But tell me yourself

can I annul a sentence
passed by the court?

What would the consequences be?

- For you?
- What do you mean "for me"?

Have you not heard of that sacred
thing called the fatherland?

It will not crumble
if your heart has pardoned him.

In fact,

that which you,

educated in the military,
call disorder,

the will to annul the sentence

to me seems like order
in its most precious state!

I know...

martial law must command.

But even gentle feelings
must command.

The fatherland does not need
this macabre sacrifice,

the blood of a friend,

to survive the splendid
autumn of my Uncle.

Does your cousin also thinks this?

That for the fatherland the law
and will are the same thing?

Poor young man...

What's happened?

He only thinks of saving himself.

So terrified of the rifle barrels
pointing at him,

that he is stunned and delirious,

he has no other wish
than that to live.

He could watch
the Kingdom of March collapse

and not even ask
what is going on.

That's not possible!

Does he beg for a pardon?

If you had not condemned him!

Is he asking to be pardoned?

Why do you cry?

Have you spoken to him?

Yes, a short while ago,
in my aunt's apartment.

He was distressed,

frightened,

he moved like a thief
without dignity!

A miserable spectacle!

I'd never have believed
that a man considered a hero

could fall so low!

Look...

I am a woman.

and an innocuous worm that
touches my foot scares me.

By even if death were to confront me
with the face of a lion

I could not lower myself
to this point

If this is the case,
take heart.

your cousin is free.

What do you say?

He's pardoned.

- Your pardon him? He won't die?
- No, I swear.

I respect his sentiments.

If he thinks the sentence is unjust
I cancel it and set him free.

Heart, why do you beat so fast?

Is the Prince still in the castle?

No, he returned to prison.

Do you want to
deliver it yourself?

Get a carriage immediately because
the Princess must go to Colonel Homburg.

This way he can thank you
for saving his life.

Well, my little one...

are we friend again?

I'm not interested to know
what made you decide for clemency,

but I feel certain

that you are not fooling me

and I thank you.

Leave us alone.

What news do you bring?

Good, very good.
You're pardoned, free.

Read the letter.

'My Prince of Homburg...

when I had you arrested I thought
I was only doing my duty.

I even counted on your approval.

If you feel you have been done
an injustice, then write me

and I will send you back your sword."

What did I tell you?

You just have to write.

Take the pen.

Take it and write.

Is this his signature?

Yes, it's his mark.

It says if I think...

Yes, of course.

Quick, sit down. I'll dictate.

- I want to re-read it.
- What for?

Have you not seen the grave
ready to swallow you?

There's on time to lose.
Sit down and write.

Think of that grave as a partner...

Write it or I'll get cross.

Franz!

Bring me paper, pen,
sealing wax and my seal!

Stupid beginning...

Why? It was fine/

The style of a charlatan,
not of a Prince.

I must say it in another way.

- What did he say in his letter?
- Nothing.

- Give it here.
- Haven't you read it?

I only want to see
how I should express myself.

Look....

You may have missed the point.

Which one?

He entrusts me with the decision.

So what?

Very good...

A big heart.

His generosity is boundless.

Now do your part and write
what he wants you to.

It's only a pretext,
two words and it's done.

I want to think until tomorrow.

But why?

You haven't considered
the meaning of the letter.

I cannot write that I have
suffered an injustice on his part.

If you force me to say
what I feel at this moment,

I must say he treated me fairly.

You're totally mad!
What are you saying?

Give me a moment
and I'll know how to reply.

Homburg...

Tell me...

My dear friend...

I admire your heart's reaction,

but the regiment that will
celebrate the reconciliation

at your tomb has been chosen.

If you do not oppose
the court's sentence

and do what the Elector
is asking you to do

then he will reply to you
in an equally sublime way

and, with even great compassion,
he will allow the execution!

It's not important. He acts as
he wants, I must act as I must.

What are you writing?

Take this letter to my sovereign.

I cannot respond in an ignoble way
to the man who's been noble with me.

The mistake was mine.

Even if right now you were to
go before a firing squad,

and there were nothing
I could do,

I could shout with joy, cry and say
"That is how I like you".

But if you follow your heart,
then I must follow mine.

Count Reuss!

Take this letter to Colonel Kottwitz.

Immediate departure,
orders from the commander.

I expect him here before midnight.

Highness, a rebellion.

Slowly, slowly...

You know I cannot bear people
entering unannounced...

Forgive me, but there's a reason.

Kottwitz, acting without orders,
is here with 100 officers.

- Because of the Prince of Homburg?
- Yes.

Those madmen want to
hand you their petition.

If you confirm his sentence,
they will use force to free him.

If you intend to pardon,
the Prince, then do so.

All armies love their hero.

Colonels Kottwitz, Hohenzollern
and others request an audience.

Is this from the Prince of Homburg?

Yes, Your Highness.

Prittwitz, bring me
the death sentence

and the passport for the Swedish
minister, Count Gustav Horn.

Kottwitz and the others...

Send them in.

Allow me to present you this
on behalf of the whole army.

Kottwitz, who called you
to the city?

I ordered you to stay in Arnstein.

Your orders called me here.

What?

Let me see.

Here, Sir.

"Natalia, from Fehrbellin...

On behalf of my august
Uncle Friedrich."

Who brought it to you?

- Count Reuss.
- Good.

Tomorrow you and your squadrons

will pay the last honors
to the Prince of Homburg

after his execution.
- What, Your Highness?

What news do you bring me?

It's a petition from
your loyal army

but what you have just said
annuls all hope.

"Petition to Your Royal Highness
to pardon our commander,

Colonel prince Arthur
Friedrich of Axel-Homburg..."

- Does the Prince know this?
- Not at all.

Strange!

An old soldier like you defending
the actions of the Prince?

You justify his attacking Wrangel,
disobeying my orders?

Yes.

I want the Prince of Homburg here.

He will teach you what military
discipline and obedience are.

My dear Prince, I called you
here for some help.

Colonel Kottwitz has presented me
with a paper in your favor

signed by over 100 officers.

The army asks for your release
and disapproves of the sentence.

Please, read it yourself.

I accept the sentence.

- Prince, are you mad?
- Prince Elector, listen to us.

With my freely accepted death,

I want to celebrate the sacred
law of war which I violated.

Forgive me if I served you
with too much haste.

Death will absolve me of all guilt.

Give this heart which submits to
your sentence with serenity

the proof that you too
will renounce all rancor.

And in this hour of farewell, to
comfort me, grant me one favor.

Speak, my young hero.
Whatever you ask is already yours.

Do not buy peace from King Gustav Karl
with the hand of your niece.

Squash whoever made you
such a cruel proposal.

I will do as you said.

I will write that Natalia is
the bride of the Prince of Homburg,

executed according to the law.

The King of Sweden will have to win
her from his spirit in battle

where he marches dead
in front of all the flags.

You have now given me back life.

Bring him back to prison.

My dear, unhappy friend!

- Go!
- Prince, never!

- Where are you going?
- I've finished with this world.

May we go now, Your Highness?

Not yet. I will tell you
when you can fall out.

This passport must be given
to Count Horn.

This is the promise I made
to the Prince.

In three days the war resumes.

Gentlemen, judge for yourselves.

Last year,
because of superficiality

the Prince of Homburg deprived me
of two wonderful victories.

He seriously compromised
even the third.

Would you want to risk
a fourth with him?

Would you?

Would you?!

Now, immortality, you're all mine!

Through this cloth you blind me
with the light of a thousand suns.

My wings grow and my spirit is
freed in the silence of the heavens.

Like a ship which sees
its port disappear,

I'll see all forms
of life fade from me.

For a second more I will
distinguish colors and shapes,

then all will become haze...

the world evaporates...

What a sweet scent
the violets give off at night!

They are stocks and carnations.

Stocks, here?

Some girl planted them.

Can I offer you a carnation?

My dear friend...

I want to put it in water
when I get home.

What light is this?

Prince, you can stand up.

What is it?

Nothing to be frightened of.

I want to take off the blindfold.

In this last moment
of my suffering?

The joy kills him.

Wake him with the cannon!

Long live the Prince of Homburg!

Long live the hero of
the battle of Fehrbellin!

But tell me...

Is this a dream?

A dream, of course, what else?