Original subtitles

You've made a peasant out of me after all.

You're laughing at me again.

No. Waiting like this for you.

I'm laughing at myself this time.

Caterina Malatesta.

From the first moment when you touched me,

I wanted you.

You didn't act like you did.

I was pretending.

"One place is as good as another," you said.

No, I wanted you.

I wanted you like a schoolboy who has just seen

the most desirable woman he can remember.

So now, after all, you can be gentle,

and not so shy,

and not afraid.

I love you for that. Caterina...

You and I,

we need each other.

Perhaps only for a little while.

Yes.

Without being afraid.

Yes.

Without promises.

Right.

Hey, wait, wait.

To you! To you!

The last... The last bottle!

It's almost time. Hey, Tufa, should I change clothes?

Wear what you have on. Be yourself.

- What do you say to a German? - Nothing. Answer what they ask you.

How do I act? I don't know how to act.

- Like yourself. - Well, I don't know how I act.

Hey, Tufa, I want you to take command. I mean, you know what to say.

You know how to act.

Hey! Hey, I'll make you mayor.

The people chose you, Bombolini.

Tufa, I'm no mayor.

You're a much better mayor than you think.

Go home, Tufa.

And you'd better stay out of sight.

You don't look like a man who tends grapes anymore.

Welcome to the free city of Santa Vittoria, sir.

We, in this city, know that in times of war,

certain... Certain things...

- Who are you? - Italo Bombolini, sir.

Mayor.

I see.

Well, Mayor, I must tell you that this town and the surrounding region

for a radius of 30 kilometers

are, from this moment, and officially, under German occupation.

Captain, sir, I understand perfectly, sir.

In fact, it is my hope we can find

some way of cooperating with the great German Army

in a way that will be satisfactory for all of us.

And now, if I may offer you the hospitality of our ancient and historic city hall.

Thank you, no. I think

I prefer a house instead.

- A house? - That one will do very well.

- Traub! - Captain.

Notify the occupants of that house with the balcony

that we regret the inconvenience to them. They shall be remunerated accordingly.

But they have 15 minutes to vacate.

Yes, sir.

Um.

Bomble?

Bombolini, sir. Yes.

- Bombolini. - Bombolini.

Bombolini, who are those people over there?

- Oh, those? - Yes.

That? That is the Grand Council of Santa Vittoria, sir.

You may dismiss the Grand Council.

Yes.

Curfew will be from 9:00 p. m. till sunrise.

And I shall have the pleasure to meet with you again

tomorrow morning at 10:00. Zopf!

Fix me a decent supper, will you? And some wine. The local wine will do.

Anything else?

- Shut up, everybody! - Shut up, everybody!

All right, all right.

Quiet for a word from the butter-nose husband

of Rosa Bombolini.

That was uncalled for, Giovanni.

And I will thank you to leave my wife's name out of this.

He's right, Bombolini.

When the Germans came, all I could hear was, "Sir, sir, sir! "

Everything but "HeilHitler! "

Shut up! We've had enough democracy for a while. I am the mayor here.

I am the voice of the people!

What the hell do you know about the people?

I smell the people, and the people smell me!

At least no one can argue about that.

An officer and 10 men, and there are 1,200 of us!

They could send an army here in an hour.

You all shout like heroes. You're a bunch of grape growers!

Sometimes a man has to fight!

Oh, you want to be a martyr. You go be a martyr somewhere else.

We can't afford martyrs in Santa Vittoria.

As long as the Germans are here and to save our wine,

our policy is butter on the nose.

When they push, we give. They go on pushing, we go on giving.

Every Santa Vittorian has known for the last 1,000 years

brave men and good wine,

they don't last long.

It's criminal! You keep us locked up. We don't get enough food.

You tell us nothing. There's not even a toilet!

Next time, vote communist.

Gentlemen. Nice morning, huh?

Officer, may I?

- Bombolini. - Yes, sir?

I am considering the question of whether it would be useful to me if you were

to remain in office as mayor.

I certainly hope it will be, sir.

I'm pleased with the attitude of your people thus far.

Thank you, sir.

Do you think we are able to work together?

Yes, sir, I am sure we can. I know we can. And we will.

A very, very realistic way of looking at things. Very mature.

Now, I want a complete inventory of everything in this community.

- Yes, sir. - How many people,

ages, occupations and...

Yeah, go ahead. And savings.

People, occupations, savings, ages.

- Savings. - Now, number of houses,

total acreage,

uh,

- complete records of annual yield. - Yield.

Mmm-hmm.

How many mules, oxen, list of all machinery and tools,

and... Oh, yes, precisely how much wine you have in store here.

- Have I said something to disturb you? - Oh, no, no, no, sir.

It's just that it will take several weeks, maybe months, to get all this information.

There are so many things about you Italians

that, for me, are genuinely delightful.

And I'm sure you could be months about this task,

but unfortunately I need this information in 48 hours.

Will you do that for me?

Sir, you do something for me, I will do something for you.

I mean, you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.

We have a saying. "You lend me your mule, I will lend you my ox! "

Well,

I have no mule.

And as for scratching your back, I'm not so sure.

However, Bombolini, we'll talk from time to time.

Perhaps we can learn from each other about things.

Yes, sir. Well, sir, it's...

I want to say it's... I mean...

It's...

It's been a great pleasure.

Excuse me, my hat.

Sir, the fact is we don't see this war as our war.

All we want to do is act in a way that will cause us the least harm in the end.

- I see. - Excuse.

Well,

good day, sir. Good day.

So I said to Vingolini, "Look, Vingolini, I... "

Did you see what I saw?

If there are two people in the world who should never meet,

it's the German and your wife Rosa.

Babbaluche, do you think she'll make trouble?

With Rosa, there's trouble.

Italo Bombolini is your husband?

- I can't deny it. - How does it happen that

you are here, and he's there?

In Santa Vittoria, anything can happen.

If you have a pig with six ears and two bottoms,

you say, "Santa Vittoria. What do you expect?"

If Germans come here, we say the same thing.

Your manners leave something to be desired.

We didn't invite you here.

Sometimes, it would be a good idea for you to keep your mouth shut.

- Bombolini is well rid of you. - Listen, German,

the whole town is one big Bombolini.

"Good evening, German Army. How are you, German Army?"

The whole town, 1,200 people,

1,200 butter noses! But not me. Not me!

Signora, even for a woman with your powerful face,

you're becoming a little too brave for your own good.

How can you talk to the German like that?

It's not so hard.

Try to understand my position. Rosa, Rosa, you could help me.

Rosa, I can't eat. I can't drink. I have nightmares.

Just this afternoon, I fell asleep,

and I dreamt he asked me how many bottles of wine we had.

- Tell him the truth. - Yes.

And go back to sleep. And don't try to cheat him.

You are not smart enough.

I am not trying to cheat him.

I'm only trying to make him think I'm cheating.

If he doesn't think I'm cheating, he's going to start wondering

why I'm not cheating, or even trying to cheat.

And, Rosa... Rosa, then he's going to start thinking

maybe this isn't all the wine we have, you see?

Bombolini,

why do you always have to go all the way around the mountain

when you want to take a leak next door?

I don't know.

I guess cheating comes more natural.

Out. Out!

Look!

You be reasonable and keep your fat mouth shut,

or I'm going to feed you my fist, I swear!

I'm frightened to death of you and the cat!

Oh, Captain, sir, I want to apologize. I'm not responsible

- now for what my wife says. - It's all right, Bombolini.

- I decided to forget it. - Thank you.

But she certainly is a bitch.

Good afternoon.

- Bombolini. - Yes, sir.

Tell me, what did you do before you entered the field of civic administration?

I was a wine seller, sir.

- Were you? - Yes.

And to whom did you sell your wine?

Well, to anybody who had money to pay for it.

- You mean table wine. - Yes.

But the wine that this village produces, it goes to the Cinzano Company

for the making of vermouth, does it not?

Some.

The products of the Cinzano Company are appreciated even in Germany.

No! Even in Germany.

You know, sir, the people of Santa Vittoria often speak

of the valiant efforts of the great German Army.

- Do they? - Yes.

Mr. Mayor, how many bottles?

I'm sorry, I didn't quite understand.

You've had ample time to make the inventory I requested.

Now, tell me, how many bottles of wine are there in Santa Vittoria?

Oh.

Well, I can answer that quite easily, sir.

Please do.

BOMBOLINl: Exactly

310,000 bottles.

Three hundred and ten thousand, huh?

Three hundred and ten thousand bottles.

Bombolini, you are lying.

Well...

Sergeant Traub's count is

three hundred seventeen thousand six hundred and one.

That many?

- That many bottles. - That many.

Well, that proves I'm not lying

because, if I was going to lie,

I wouldn't lie for 7,000 bottles, would I?

That would be stupid, no?

Yeah, that would be stupid.

Bombolini, it is your fate to be a civil authority.

It is my fate to be a soldier.

What I'm about to say to you now

has nothing whatever to do with my personal feelings,

but since I am a soldier, I can only follow my orders.

What is it that you're about to say to me, sir?

They want your wine.

Bombolini!

Are you afflicted with some incurable disease?

But our wine. To take our wine... No, I don't believe it.

Please...

Please, tell me it isn't true. Please, I beg you, tell me it's a joke!

It's a cruel joke!

Only a portion of it, Bombolini, only a portion.

But to take our wine when that is all we have?

It's the blood of the people...

How large a portion?

That matter is, up to a certain point, negotiable.

Up to what point?

- Twenty percent. - That's terrible.

That's horrible. You take 20% of our wine!

I think you misunderstand.

We take 80% and you keep 20.

Sir,

I gave you my word that we would cooperate

to avoid the shedding of a single drop of blood.

I now withdraw that guarantee

unless you're willing to compromise.

- What's your idea of a compromise? - Sixty-forty.

Bombolini, Germany has no need of vermouth.

We are simply trying to defray the cost of occupying,

and if necessary, protecting this community.

But it's like paying a stranger to sleep in your bed with your wife!

I suppose it is.

All right, then, 25%, but that's as high as I'm willing to go.

I couldn't ask my people to rape themselves for 25%.

For what figure, then, would you be prepared

to ask your people to rape themselves?

They won't do it

- for less than 50%. -50%?

I doubt. I doubt that my superiors could possibly agree.

But still...

Still, I suppose...

I suppose it does no harm to see what I can do for you.

Oh.

- You drive a very hard bargain, Bombolini. - Who, me?

Tell me, tell me, who was that attractive woman we passed on the steps?

Oh!

And frankly, to find someone like yourself in a mountain town like this,

it's startling.

One grows lonely here, no?

The grapes, oxen, peasants, soldiers.

Not much to talk to, is there?

I think I know you.

Want me to guess where you used to spend your summers?

Let me see.

Montreux.

And where would you go to ski?

Innsbruck.

St. Moritz.

You see, same thing, same place.

I want you to come have dinner with me.

Monday.

If you say so.

I say so.

They should be crying. We are taking their wine.

I just don't understand these people, sir.

You didn't listen. I told you. They're children.

They've probably hidden an extra 1,000 bottles somewhere

and feel flushed with victory.

- Good morning, gentlemen. - Mayor Bombolini.

- Yes, sir. - If you please.

At your service, sir, night and day.

- Perhaps you can explain something. - What?

Why, in the circumstances, are the people so gay?

Well, we Italians always try to look at the bright side.

Unless we are depressed.

I see.

And which would you say is the bright side of this situation?

Now that you mention it, there isn't one.

I guess we Italians are just naturally...

- Optimistic. - Optimistic. Yes.

Fabio!

Fabio!

Stop it! Stand back!

Stand back!

Sergeant.

Put the herd swine on bread and water for three days.

Maybe that will weaken your sexual appetite.

Bombolini, I'm sorry for this.

Fabio. Fabio.

Angela, what are you doing here?

I came to say thank you for what you did.

It's 2:00 in the morning.

Mmm-hmm.

Thank you, Fabio.

That's all right.

I would do it again

for you.

You shouldn't be here.

Does it bother you for me to be here?

No! I don't think so.

Just a little?

More than a little.

A lot!

Angela, I think... I think I want you!

- Oh, Fabio! - Angela!

- Angela! - Fabio!

Angela!

Holy mother of God!

Mayor Bombolini! Wake up!

What's all that noise? What, are you drunk?

Rosa, is that you?

Pax vobiscum, woman.

Shut up, you!

A crime is being committed, Honorable Mayor.

A crime?

You stay in there fast asleep, and a man is seducing a virgin.

- Where? - Right under your nose.

At this time of night? Who is it?

He's your young friend Fabio.

- That young goat! - Good for him!

Who is the lucky girl?

The lucky girl, Mayor Stupid of the stupid city of Saint Stupid,

is your daughter, Angela.

Angela. My baby Angela.

It's impossible. She can't do this to me!

You're telling the whole town.

Rosa. Rosa, maybe... Maybe it's love.

She doesn't even know what love is, and she's making it right now!

I brought her to you. You were supposed to teach her.

It's the mother's fault!

I told you, shut up!

Listen, Mayor Bombolini,

I demand that you put on your pants immediately

and come down and kill him,

or kill yourself. I really don't care which.

Don't worry, Rosa.

I'm going to punish that boy so he'll remember it the rest of his life.

Thank you, Padre. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hey, Babbaluche! Vittorini! Thank you.

Good morning.

Good morning.

They look quite well together, don't they?

Yes.

- Tonight, at 8:00, if you remember. - I remember.

- There's going to be trouble. - I had no choice.

He didn't order you. It wasn't a command.

There are ways, Carlo, of commanding without shouting.

And what will you talk about, huh?

All the people you know in common

from the beaches and resorts and all the right places?

Perhaps.

- Things I wouldn't understand. - I suppose not!

Carlo.

Carlo, what are we doing to each other? What's the sense in this?

I don't want you to go.

What's wrong, Carlo?

Are you afraid I'll jump into the German's bed

because he gives me dinner?

I thought we knew each other better than this.

Let's go over it again.

No promises.

I owe you nothing, and you owe me nothing.

I have a body, and you have a body.

We are both grown people, and we can do with them as we please.

To the gentle life we knew when there was peace.

A lovely toast.

My father kept talking about the war.

I couldn't believe him.

I was young and in love and I knew they wouldn't make war

and spoil it for me.

And they did, didn't they?

Why are you here? You don't belong here.

And you?

In my case, I came to steal some wine.

In mine, to hide.

All right, you've stolen your wine. What keeps you here?

They haven't told me to go. It might be weeks, who knows?

They might even forget about me completely.

What a wonderful thought.

Winter comes and the cold sets in,

when the armies move up, or move back, either way,

there's no food and the wine turns to acid.

We're going to need each other, you and I.

May I be quite frank?

Please.

I find myself really attracted to you, and not just physically.

But that, too.

Well,

that is quite frank.

Does that offend you?

No. Not at all.

Excuse me.

Contessa, I'm afraid we might have to cut our evening short.

- Sir, an SS officer just arrived. - Yes, I know.

Tell the gentleman that I'll be at his disposal

after I've finished my dinner.

I'm sorry but...

Well, perhaps it's just as well for my reputation

since the coffee here is truly dreadful.

Next time you come,

I promise you we won't be disturbed.

Caterina, I'm sorry for what I said earlier.

It's all right.

Did you have a pleasant evening?

It was not unpleasant. He's courteous.

It kept grinding here in my head all evening while you were gone.

Why I acted as I did.

It's because I love you, Caterina.

I offer you, Caterina Malatesta,

a pair of hands like shovels,

a piece of grape terrace 30 meters by 10.

No home, no money, no future.

How does such a generous offer appeal to you?

- Carlo. Carlo, I... - I know.

I know. But you'll think about it.

Carlo, leave things the way they are.

You said yourself it's best that way.

But

you'll think about it.

Yes, I'll think about it.

As we said.

Scipione is the chief bookkeeper of the Montefalcone bottling plant.

Oh, it's a pleasure, sir.

This wine is only one-fifth of what his records show is in Santa Vittoria.

In other words, four-fifths is missing.

Four-fifths?

What happened to the rest of the wine, Captain?

Where is it?

What have they done with it?

Say, he's made a great mistake. Four-fifths.

Where's the wine?

I swear by everything that's sacred. My father's grave, my mother's grave...

Now, my dear Mayor, if you want to lose your eyesight...

All right!

Bombolini, I ask you to tell us, as a reasonable man,

to save both of us further effort and further pain.

Captain,

this is unworthy of you.

How can I tell you about the wine when there is no wine?

We could do with a little less grace and a little more personality.

It works better with these people.

I know these people very well, Lieutenant.

I can handle this matter my own way.

How much more time would you suggest for your way, Captain?

Thirty-six hours. If I don't find the wine, I'll turn the matter over to your men.

Thirty-six hours.

Bombolini.

Get the hell out of here.

Go away. I don't want you to see me like this.

I've seen you worse, my hero.

You couldn't bring yourself to say something nice at a time like this?

With a face like that, do you want me to kiss you?

You never cared for me, did you?

There was a time, I guess, when I loved you.

That first year we were married.

I was blind until the day you came in out of the rain,

soaking wet, and fell into bed, drunk.

It was one day too many.

You were nothing but a big, stupid clown,

and I lost my respect for you.

Keep still.

Rosa, it's going to be bad in this town for everybody.

For me.

That doesn't make me tell less than the truth.

No, not you. I could be dead, you would walk up to my grave,

spit in my face and tell me the truth.

We lie. We lie to each other all the time, all of us.

I'm sick of it.

I'll wash the shirt and iron it, and Angela will bring it to you tomorrow.

Rosa.

Rosa, tell me something.

These past few weeks,

I did surprise you, didn't I?

Yes, you surprised me.

That's the best thing you ever said to me.

- Rosa. Rosa, you're crying. - No.

Rosa, I know you.

You're crying.

You see, that's the way it is. You will always make me cry.

Rosa.

Rosa, don't you want me to come back home, huh?

No. You are the Mayor, Bombolini. You'd better stay over there.

I have divided this place into four sections

as indicated on this map.

Technically, mathematically, logically,

there are very limited possibilities for the hiding

of one million bottles of wine.

We'll start here at the cellar of the city hall.

Nothing.

- There is no wine here. - No, of course not.

Zopf, do you believe there's wine here?

- No, sir. - Why not?

The priest said there is no wine, sir. Priests don't lie.

In Germany, priests don't lie. In Italy, they lie.

Now he is tearing up all the houses, one by one.

Babbaluche, to want something you can't have is ridiculous.

Now, he is becoming ridiculous.

Italo, I have something to tell you.

- What? - The Fascists, Copa and Bara...

Jesus, Mary and Joseph! I forgot all about them!

The Germans will find them!

- No, they won't. - Put them off. They will...

They are not there.

We moved them last night.

- Where to? - Here in the cellar.

Here? What, are you crazy?

They already looked here. They won't come back. I swear to God.

- You swear? - I swear.

Hey, God, you hear?

- Prum. - Contessa.

It has become necessary to search each house individually,

so for the sake of appearances, we have to search here, too.

May I? Thank you.

- Who are you? - I work on the terraces.

You look like a soldier. A deserter, eh?

There's no wine in this town, Captain. You're in pursuit of an illusion.

It wouldn't be the first time I've been in pursuit

of an illusion, Contessa.

Come on!

I think it is time, Captain.

Just one moment.

Bombolini.

Bombolini!

Yes, sir?

Yes, sir?

The time is up now.

Time?

- How stupid can you be? - What, sir?

- Bombolini. - What?

You won't believe what's going to happen now.

I know, sir.

And when it does, the responsibility is yours.

- But, sir... - Yours!

So I ask you the last time,

where's the wine?

Sir, I have told you. I promise you, there is no wine.

- How many do you need? - We prefer two.

All right, two then.

What are you going to do?

I have good news for you. The Germans are here.

They want to see two of you in order of importance.

You first, Copa, then Bara.

Come on.

Captain. Captain, you can't ask me to choose anyone for this.

Captain, I just couldn't do it.

Captain, you can kill me right now.

Right here, but I won't do it!

Captain, I have an idea.

Why not pick the first two men who happen to come to the piazza?

That way, I won't have the responsibility.

Not even you would have the responsibility.

We could leave it up to God.

I would have said the Devil.

On the double.

We set up our equipment in the Roman cave.

It's quiet down there.

- Well? - There's no wine.

I see.

I take it that you'll deliver your report to headquarters?

Definitely.

You were right all along. The SS will vouch for it.

Marvelous.

For 20 years, you had no mercy on us.

I had to do this to you to save our wine.

Do you understand? To save our wine!

So,

everything you did in all those years, that's settled.

That's...

That's paid for.

And

you've paid in full.

Copa, do you understand? You've paid in full.

Bombolini! For God's sake, let them be.

I'm just trying to explain. The slate is clean.

For Captain Von Prum.

- It's from division command, sir. - Read it.

Orders to leave, sir. Tomorrow morning at 7:00.

You don't understand, do you, Traub?

They've made a fool of me.

There's wine here. Everybody knows it. Everybody.

They shut their doors, and they close their windows, and they laugh at me.

Sir, even the SS...

To hell with the SS! I tell you there is wine here!

But what would we do with the wine, sir?

It's too late. There's no transport available.

- What would you do with... - What would I do?

What would I do? I...

I'd make Bombolini drink it.

Every damn drop of it.

Shall I make the necessary preparations to leave, sir?

That man who's living with her,

get him.

Attention. Carlo Tufa, the deserter,

will be shot at 6:00 a. m.

unless one million bottles ofmissing wine

are surrendered to the German Commander by that hour.

Attention, attention. Carlo Tufa, the deserter,

will be shot at 6:00 a. m.

unless one million...

- Always the women in black. - They pray for me.

They won't let you die, you know.

There's always someone who wants to save you.

It's very hard to become a martyr these days.

Is there wine here?

No.

- There is no wine. - Then how can anyone save you?

That will be difficult to do.

I take it back. You begin to look like a martyr to me.

Sergeant, please, may I?

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Tufa,

you think it's worth it

- to save the wine? - What else have we got?

Just wanted to hear you say it.

- Do you have... - No.

Boy, I'd love to tell the German everything.

Just to see the expression on his face.

Let him go.

Why do you want me to lie to you?

I slept with the German.

He forced you. You had no choice.

I slept with him.

Carlo, what do you want from me?

Must I say I love you, Carlo?

I want you to say it.

- The "I love you's" in my life. - Say it.

Two people with nothing,

so different from each other.

We have each other.

For a month, a year,

maybe longer, if we can stop saying, "I love you. "

Say it. Don't be afraid, Caterina.

Please, say it!

I love you, Carlo.

I've been an anarchist all my life, but I've never been sure what it means.

Except that nothing means anything.

- Hey. - Eh?

How do I look, huh?

Like always. Like a clown.

Italo.

I have a confession to make.

No, I don't believe it.

If there is anything that means anything, it's this stinking town.

HeilHitler.

HeilHitler.

Captain, the people of Santa...

- Bombolini? - Yes, sir?

I want to hear from you just once more, "There is no wine. "

There is no wine.

Bombolini, all you have to do before I leave is to tell me

where the wine is.

I don't want it.

I won't touch it. Not one bottle, not one drop of it.

I give you my word of honor.

Just tell me where it is.

There is no wine.

You know I know there's wine here.

- Oh, you know. - I know.

Now, you tell me, or I'll blow out what's left of your brains.

Now. Ten seconds.

What are you trying to do to me?

Look, don't you remember, you lend me your mule if I scratch your back?

I remember.

I...

I'm going to kill that man

unless somebody tells me

where the wine is.

See? They don't give a damn for you.

Not your wife, not the priest, none of your friends, nobody.

They'd let me blow your head off

for fermented juice.

Look.

For God's sake, what kind of people are you?

Sir, it is time.

What kind of people are you?

Excuse me, we have a gift.

To the Captain

from the people of Santa Vittoria.

It's not a great wine, but it's not bad.

You sure you can spare it?

There's one million more where this came from.

What kind of people are you?