Original subtitles

SOVIET-ITALIAN PRODUCTION

MOSFILM, USSR VIDES CINEMATOGRAFICA, ITALY

CREATIVE ASSOCIATION 'TOVARISCH'

THE RED TENT

IN TWO PARTS

Script Robert BOLT, Ennio De CONCINI

Mikhail KALATOZOV In collaboration with Yury NAGIBIN

Directed by Mikhail KALATOZOV

Director of photography Leonid KALASHNIKOV

Assistant director Igor PETROV

Music A. ZATSEPIN

Sound V. BABUSHKIN, L. BULGAKOV

Executive producer L. KONOVALOV

Production managers Vladimir MARON, Vittorio Muzi GLORI

Peter FINCH as Nobile

Sean CONNERY as AMUNDSEN

Claudia CARDINALE as Valeria

Hardy KRUGER as Lundborg Eduard MARTSEVICH as Malmgren

Grigori GAJ as Samoilovich Nikita MIKHALKOV as Chukhnovsky

Luigi VANNUCCHI as Zappi Mario ADORF as Biagi

Donatas BANIONIS as Mariano Massimo GIROTTI as Romagna

Yuri Solomin as Troiani Otar KOBERIDZE as Cecioni

Boris KHMELNITSKY as Viglieri N. IVANOV as Kolka

Yuri VIZBOR as Behounek

T. ARCHVADZE as Alessandrini V. SIROVSKY as Lago

V. NAZAROV as Alexeev A. YANVAREV as Straube

V. SMIRNOV as Shelagin R. AREN as Aggie

O. MOKSHANTSEV as Ponomarev I. KHIZANISHVILI as Pomella

Rome, noon,

April 21, 1928.

Sensation!

Stay tuned for the last news.

The Italia airship

under the commandment of General Nobile

took off from its base in Milan

for Spitsbergen.

Its first landing is planned to take place

at Kings Bay.

From there Nobile and his crew

will set course to the North Pole.

The expedition is thus to reach the globe's highest point.

This will be a most risky endeavor

unprecedented in history.

Our agency joins the chorus

of wishes of good luck to the general,

these wishes arriving to him

from all over the world.

Mr. Nobile was especially glad to receive a note of greeting

from Amundsen, the famous explorer of the Polar regions,

a great knight of our times,

the first person to reach the South and North Poles.

We talked to Mr. Amundsen

and asked his opinion

about the Italy and its expedition.

"Dr. Amundsen, of what scientific value

"will General Nobile's expedition be, if it is successful?"

"Of the utmost value", was the answer.

"General Nobile took part in your first expedition

"to the North Pole. What was his role

"in that flight?"

"He was chief of the air crew

"and was in charge of all engineering aspects.

"He then brought the airship to America".

"Dr. Amundsen, why aren't you leading the expedition this time?"

"My expedition days are over.

"Also, I wasn't asked this time", Amundsen said.

"But general Nobile is not

"an expert Arctic explorer, is he?"

"He has experts with him.

"I know some of the men.

"They're excellent men.

"Nobile is a wonderful designer of airships.

"I knows this from our previous expeditions

"when we were flying on his Norge."

We asked: "But this time

"not only general Nobile designed an airship,

"but he will be the leader of the expedition."

"What are the chances of success?"

"Good chances."

"I know General Nobile."

"He is an excellent leader.

"Excellent!.."

An excellent leader.

What is the verdict of the jury?

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Lundborg?

- Lundborg? - Yes, General!

Where are you?

Wherever you want me to be.

Another one of those sleepless nights, Nobile?

- Be civil. - I don't have to be civil.

I've been dead for 15 years already.

- So, we are at it again? - Yes.

This is crazy.

It's only 10 days since you had us here the last time.

"A new book about Nobile, Fresh Light on an Old Scandal."

- That today's? - It is.

Jesus Christ! It's 40 years ago,

and they still think it's interesting.

- Very interesting. - Another trial, then?

- Apparently. - Have you summoned Valeria?

Yes.

Valeria!

You look great.

General!

General, your imagination is working well tonight.

She looks great.

Will you excuse me.

He wants to change his clothes?

Another hearing?

- I guess so. - God, how boring.

Not altogether.

Well, well...

Who are you looking for?

You, old man!

She's looking for Malmgren.

Malmgren the Immaculate.

Will your imagination stretch to that?

- Don't call me old! - Boy,

- it would stretch to anything. - Take your feet off my table.

Dr. Malmgren is arriving now.

- I'm cold, Nurse. - That's funny, Mr. Rindborg,

- because I'm quite warm. - Very good.

- You wouldn't care to... - No, I wouldn't.

Are you sure that mine isn't a double bed?

Absolutely not, Mr. Swenson.

But it is positively big enough for two.

Well, then, take in Mr. Rindborg.

Bravo, Valeria!

You're all such tigers

- when you lie in beg. - Is it an invitation?

- Maybe. - Excuse me, Nurse.

- I've just arrived... - Wait in the dispensary, please.

All right.

Nurse, where are you going? Let me show you...

I've seen everything there was to see.

- Sorry... - Do sit down.

- I� - Name?

Finn Malmgren.

- Nationality. - Swedish.

Surface worker or below ground?

I'm not employed by the mining company, Nurse.

I'm a member of General Nobile's expedition.

Are you the famous explorer Malmgren?

I'm the only Malmgren on the expedition.

- Sorry. - There is no need to apologize.

- What do you want? - Someone dropped the iodine bottle.

I wondered if you could spare some.

Will that do?

Sure.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

Why did you decide to fly to the Pole with Nobile?

Because I was asked to.

Do you always do everything when being asked to?

General Nobile is an old friend of mine.

I would be happy to work with him.

It�s a pity we shall be without Amundsen.

What is this Amundsen?

He's a man.

That�s all?

He is a born leader.

And Nobile - is he a leader?

He's is a leader by profession.

- He is somewhat... - What?

Dreamy.

I like him a lot.

He has a terrible appetite for anything splendid.

He wants to go to the North Pole to see if he's as good as Amundsen.

Isn't that a bit silly?

To measure yourself against Amundsen?

Ambitious,

not silly.

Faster!

My God! St. Sebastian incarnate.

You, scoundrel!

Is that all you're going to do, hold hands?

You were a ghost when you were still alive.

- I've had it. I'm gone. - On the contrary.

- You are tonight's prosecutor. - Me?

Yes. I should have suggested this from the very beginning.

Look, Nobile, if I prosecute...

- I'll reach a conclusion. - Exactly.

Will Amundsen be coming?

I don't know.

You'll never reach a conclusion without Amundsen.

Oh, boy.

There's your prosecutor.

He's pure in heart, and he'd skin you alive

- to prove it. - No, you are my prosecutor.

Well, then...

Well, then in the absence of the great, good Amundsen...

I'll have

Biagi.

Biagi.

I'd almost forgotten Biagi.

I bet Biagi hasn't forgotten about you.

General!

Captain Zappi.

Anyone else?

Nope.

Ready for takeoff.

29.

- Take my place, captain. - Yes, sir!

41.

Airspeed?

About 40 knots.

We'll soon be picking wind gusts.

A slight deviation from the course.

Cecioni!

Watch the oil pressure in number three.

Viglieri.

- Stand by to measure altitude. - Yes, sir!

Mariano!

Now...

Yes!

Yes!

16.

- Troiani, 16 seconds! - Yes, General.

"The dirigible under the command of General Nobile

�left Kings Bay

�at 9:00 this morning.

�Now it is proceeding at an airspeed of 56 knots.

"Weather conditions satisfactory with some overcast.

"Expected time of arrival at the North Pole...

"15:00 hours, May 26, 1928."

- That's all, gentlemen. - Another report.

What's new, if it is not a big secret?

As of three minutes ago...

the Italia was

at 83 degrees North Latitude...

and 26 degrees East Longitude.

Only 12 miles left to the North Pole, General.

Troiani, go down to 400 meters.

- Captain Zappi. - Yes, sir?

- Get the anchor lines ready. - Yes, sir.

- Biagi! - Yes. sir!

- We're approaching the Pole. - That�s great!

Be prepared for landing.

- Check the outfit! - Be prepared for landing.

- Dr. Behounek! - Yes, sir!

Go.

General!

General, landing will be difficult. Strong wind.

19 meters per second.

The anchor lines are ready, General.

The men are standing by.

Hold at this altitude.

Dr. Malmgren,

- circle, minimum radius. - I got it.

- Biagi. - Sir?

Transmit to Kings Bay that we're at the Pole.

May I tell the crew?

Boys!

Boys!

Boys, we�ve made it!

We've reached the Pole!

- Biagi! Come here. - I kept it for the occasion.

Home-made liqueur from Prague.

Thank you.

Look, general.

Your Titina at the Pole.

Viva I'Italia! Viva I'Italia!

It's a real sensation for the journalists.

Biagi!

Open the door. Be careful.

General!

We are ready...

Here.

Will you read it aloud?

"A cross and the Italian flag...

"were dropped at the North Pole at 11:07 this morning."

- Are they going to land? - What about landing?

What�s your opinion, Doctor?

It's better to go back to Kings Bay. It's a head wind, dense fog,

the air pressure is dropping.

Will it mean postponing the landing?

General, we may never get a second chance.

- At least we should try it. - It is risky.

Dr. Malmgren, the honor of Italy is at stake.

- Mine, too. - Excuse me, General...

but your honor lies in accomplishing your mission.

The course is back to Spitsbergen.

To Kings Bay.

- What a boring place... - Attention, gentlemen...

Here's the Captain.

Here's the Captain.

The dirigible is returning to Kings Bay.

General!

General, the metal frame of the keelson is icing now.

Pomella, follow me.

Mariano! Captain Mariano!

Take the wheel.

Keep all engines at full speed. We must maintain altitude.

- Yes, sir! - Dr. Behounek!

- Hurry up! - What happened?

General, the ice is building up in the keelson.

- It's fraught with a catastrophe. - Let's go.

Guide-rope is covered with ice.

We�re getting an extra weight.

Cecioni! We're losing stability.

We're losing altitude.

Our side is icing more and more.

Ciocca! Ciocca! Come here!

Break off the ice!

Alessandrini, Pomella, break off the ice!

Jettison all extra weight.

Jettison it all!

General, I've lost contact with Kings Bay!

Calm down, Biagi!

We're dropping fast.

There's an escape of gas in the prow.

Stop all engines.

Number three control is jammed.

- What do we do? - Stay at the wheel.

Go away, Titina!

My motor is still running. I can�t stop it.

- Do it! If we fall, we'll burn down. - I can't!

Lago, what�s wrong?

Out with the ballast!

General, we'll manage, get down.

- Carry him down. - All right.

Call for Doctor Pontremoli.

Hurry up!

Dump it.

General!

Doctor, hold on!

Hold on!

- I can't! - Give me your hand!

It was me who persuaded the general to lower down!

Look, Zappi got to his feet!

If he died, it will be my blame!

- Maybe they're still alive! - My blame...

I can't take it anymore...

It was me

who persuaded the general to lower down.

General!

I would give my right hand to know what befell them...

Only God knows, General...

Maybe He does...

All right, but we know what happened

to those who were left on the ice pack,

- right, General? - Yes.

General...

General...

There are two of us...

We are alive.

Biagi. Biagi!

My dear man!

Troiani!

How are you?

I'm all right.

All right...

Easy, easy!

Jesus! My leg!

My leg!

Mariano, are you alive?

See? Everything is all right.

What?

What's wrong, Mariano?

It's me, Zappi.

Zappi!

Stop it, Mariano. Stop it!

Stop it!

Enough! Stop it, Mariano.

Enough of it!

Stop it, Mariano.

Enough of it! Enough!

Don�t�

Captain Zappi. Captain Zappi, help me to stand up.

All right, and so you stood up...

- There were nine of us. - And you took the command.

- Yes, I did. - Yes, you did.

- What did you do then? - Organized the search of the debris.

- Some job. - It wasn't so easy.

- I was in pain. - To hell with your pain.

There was that man... Cecioni.

His leg was fractured in two places.

Come here! A tent!

- A tent! - Good! Thank God.

Thank God!

Come here! It's a tent!

Take the rope.

Look! The reserve radio!

The radio!

The radio!

My dear radio!

Zappi, you found it!

Zappi, good for you!

General, we are saved!

Zappi, atta boy!

Where did you find it? In the snow?

You had Nature's call and found it, eh?

Great!

If he didn't have Nature's call, it would be still lying there.

You can fix it, Biagi. I know you can get it going.

The General was like a father to us in those days.

- Like what? - Like a father.

We also found a sextant, a compass

and the food supplies.

On that day we found

something else...

Here! Here!

Everyone come here!

Look!

That was the first life claimed on the ice pack...

Pomella was buried not far from our tent.

We put up a propeller over his grave.

Nothing, captain.

Signal Admiralty, Rome.

�Still no contact with the Italia airship.

�Request instructions�.

Instructions? You signaled for instructions?

That's right. Where was I to look for you?

We had no means of knowing at what time you crashed...

You were last heard from here.

Flying with the gale behind you,

towards Kings Bay you could be here...

Flying against the wind, towards Greenland,

you could be here.

You could have been anywhere within that area.

Two million square kilometers, if you were still alive.

So you assumed that we were dead?

I made no assumption.

I was waiting for orders.

For five days we were waiting for you here,

less than 100 miles from Kings Bay.

And you were waiting for instructions?

Dinner!

Dinner.

Come on.

Biagi.

Biagi.

Bon appetit!

It�s for you.

What�s the matter with him?

- Biagi. - Why painting the tent at all?

No one will find us here all the same.

Well, well...

- The resistor is broken. - Devil!

A resistor?

Too bad.

Any hope?

- It�s growling. - Keep quiet!

He's going towards Pomella's grave.

Silence!

- Biagi, give me some. - And for me, too.

We'll make a nice steak!

And sausages!

Thank you, beast!

Now we'll have a feast!

Biagi, don�t!

Zappi, stop it!

Troiani, Viglieri!

If you gulp it, you'll fall ill

and die!

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Spitsbergen Island

on the 80th parallel of North Latitude.

Never before have tourists been to these parts

from where the great polar explorers

Peary, Amundsen, Nansen, Ellsworth�

Buy one? Souvenirs.

Buy original souvenirs!

...a tragedy which drew attention of the whole world,

a tragedy of Nobile's dirigible. Ladies and gentlemen...

A Kings Bay's souvenir!

I sell only by twos...

Bone carving!

Take aim!

My dear lady!

- Aim at her very heart. - Don't try to be so smart!

And there is the prettiest girl, blue-eyed and so slim...

- Any news? - No signals from the North.

I intended to fly, but the weather is awful.

We'll have to wait for long.

Yesterday Lieutenant Lundborg arrived.

Put more, don't be so greedy.

But there is another problem.

The ice is moving. They are probably drifting.

They could be anywhere within that area.

Two million square kilometers.

The aircraft promised by the Royal Swedish Air Force.

How many aircraft in all now, Captain?

Ten.

Three Italian, three Norwegian...

one German, and three Swedish.

American and Canadian coastguard airplanes are

on their own near Greenland.

How many of them, Captain?

They are on their own.

Don't you have contact with them?

- They aren't within my command. - Captain Romagna,

do you believe there are any survivors?

Amundsen doesn't think so. I flew down to Oslo

and got a short interview with Dr. Amundsen.

- And so? - He says

the chances are that anybody who survived the crash...

won't have survived now.

Do you agree with this point of view, Captain?

Who am I to argue with Mr. Amundsen's opinion?

Biagi.

- Biagi. - What?

What does a resistor do?

It resists.

- It goes between the coil and the� - I know where it goes.

- What does it do? - O, no more talk

about the bloody resistor.

- What is it made of? - Diamond?

Has anyone got a diamond ring?

What material?

I think, carbon.

Solid carbon.

Graphite?

Has anyone got a lead pencil?

Yes.

Here it is.

You see�

Graphite

is the same carbon.

Biagi�

I think that's a resistor.

Well, Biagi?

Shh...

Music!

It�s working! Do you hear?

It�s working!

Listen!

Take it!

Let me listen, too...

Let me listen, too!

Speaking-trumpet, good. So that everyone could hear!

Dixieland!

Enough!

Start transmitting.

Yes, sir.

Anything new?

What about you?

Routine signals.

Idiotic telegrams.

Get out! Fast!

- The ice is cracking! - What?

Come here!

The ice is breaking up!

The ice is breaking up!

- Get out! - Get out of the tent!

- Get out of the tent! - My God...

- Quicker! - Biagi! Cecioni!

A crack.

- A big one. - Yes.

The water temperature is close to freezing.

But the air temperature is rising...

It�s just the beginning.

A drastic difference of temperatures

will cause the pack tear apart.

- How soon can it happen? - What do you mean, 'how soon'?

- It's already happening! - Calm down, Biagi.

We'll have to keep watch, day and night.

If it cracks near us, we'll have to move the camp.

If it cracks again, we move the camp again.

We have to be prepared to move all the time.

You're playing roulette with us.

General...

General, we have the food now.

While there is still time, we can walk out.

We'll walk when Cecioni will be able to.

Look, a small party of the strongest men moving fast...

can get back and bring help.

Do you think you can walk 90 miles across the ice?

Without ropes, without proper boots, without equipment?

No. We stay together...

around the radio.

That damn radio.

Why the hell did I ever find it?

He is right.

This radio is just a burden.

This radio is our hope,

- our only hope. - Hope?

We do hear them, but they don't.

They've done it! Victory!

Italy beat Spain seven to one. Seven to one!

Levratto scored two goals. Two!

What are you shouting, you idiot? You crazy fan!

Mariano!

- Stop... - No fighting here!

Mariano, stop!

General...

We are leaving.

- Who is leaving? - We've made plans.

Who has made plans?

We have to leave today.

It's the only way.

Who else is leaving?

I am.

I am going too.

Is it true?

They know nothing about the Arctic.

They�ll be lost.

You, Mariano?

Yes.

What about you, Doctor?

Viglieri?

Trojani?

And you, Biagi?

I'll follow the others.

You are all insane.

You know nothing about the Arctic. You'll never get anywhere.

There's a grave in the ice for all of you. It's a sure death.

What about Cecioni? You can't just abandon him here...

Now, think, before you go out there and destroy yourselves.

Think.

The famous polar explorer Roald Amundsen said that

Nobile and his men won't be able

to cover a long distance along the ice.

The weather conditions, he added,

and the ice cracking will render impossible

to search for the expedition party.

Higher, higher!

Where you going?

Shoo!

Commissar of foreign affairs attended the meeting

between the Italian consul in Leningrad

and the Soviet polar explorer professor Samoilovich

considering the rescue measures...

Run the aerial

towards the One-Eye's barn!

Come on! Be quick!

Misha, Misha, over there!

Right!

Right to the One-Eye's barn!

Stop! Stop!

Can you hear now, Kolya?

The Soviet brig Persej has set out to sea...

Misha, run it towards the water!

To the water!

Persej is looking for the dirigible Italy...

Silence! Stop babbling!

Misha, stop! Freeze!

Stop!

I�ve got it!

Misha, ring the bells!

He has picked it up!

Hurray to Nobile!

Write down a telegram.

Silence!

What is it?

Urgent message to Moscow.

Telegraph it:

Moscow. Kremlin. Expedition Nobile Rescue Committee.

Have picked up radio signal from Nobile.

His approximate position - Foyn Island.

81 degrees, 14 minutes, North Latitude.

and 25 degrees, 06 minutes, East Longitude.

Here's some money.

Would you please give it to my wife?

But tell her not to spend it.

Always the joker, Biagi.

- Send it to my sis in Prague. - All right.

Bye, Biagi!

See you, Cecione!

We'll move fast.

The rescue party will be here soon.

Everything will be all right.

Bye.

General, please.

Give it to the nurse at the hospital

at Kings Bay.

Valeria.

Why do you give it to me?

You intend to be back before us,

don't you?

I don�t know.

Why did you let them leave?

Because everyone has the right to choose his own way

- to salvation. - But you were their leader.

Sometimes

the leader's power consists in not issuing commands.

Did you hear that?

The uncommanding commander.

An officer who lets everyone act at his own discretion.

I packed your woolen socks!

- When will you be back? - Chukhnovsky,

have a good luck!

Peter, come back soon!

Wire to us when you rescue them!

Let me through, comrades.

- Keep order. - I'm being late to the Krassin.

- I have a permit. - What are you talking about?

I was the one who heard Nobile's SOS signals!

- Back off. - They are waiting for me.

Where are you going?

You, oaf, where you going? They're raising the bridge!

Get back! Stop!

Stop, you oaf!

Hey there, on the Krassin!

Stop!

My train was behind the schedule!

Take me on!

I'm Kolka from Nizhni Vokhma!

- Stop, you silly! - Where are you climbing to?

- Stop! - You'll fall down!

Hold on!

Hey there!

Professor Samoilovich!

Chukhnovsky!

Stop! I gonna jump now!

Stop!

Take me on!

END OF PART ONE

Wait.

- She�s called �Krassin�. - �Krassin�.

Expects to be here in five days.

She's...

She's the biggest icebreaker in Europe.

The biggest one.

Biagi� You've done it.

You are great.

Heavy ice blocking the way.

- I don�t get it. - Ice is getting heavier.

- How much is left? - About 100 miles.

- Use my glasses. - Better...

- Let's go on. - Better two good pairs of eyes,

than three, only half good.

- Take them. - Don't be so obstinate.

No.

Lie down.

- Give me your hand. - Mariano, quick. Pull.

My bag. Hurry.

Take off his boots. Rub his feet.

One mo.

- They won't go off. - Cut them with the knife.

- It's all right. - Cut them.

- Why are you not flying today? - Not in such weather.

- Sit with us. - Sit down, beauty.

We are not in her taste, eh.

You�re not flying?

Only balloons are flying in such a mist.

Only Lundborg is mad enough to try to go up

- in this weather. - Who?

- Lundborg. This one. - Your move.

Excuse me, are you Lundborg?

Excuse me, are you Lundborg?

Are you Lundborg?

When you going up again?

Will you fly today?

Ask Him.

- When then? - Maybe tomorrow.

Maybe in a week.

It depends on the clouds, on the sun.

Whenever the devil makes up his mind, baby.

Why?

Eh?

Why?

It's just that...

What's his name?

I can't...

haul him anymore.

Finn, get up...

- Get up! - We must...

We must walk on.

I won't suffer you just die here.

Get him up.

Let's go.

Mariano!

Mariano�

Mariano, get up!

Get up, we should move on.

Otherwise we'll all die.

Get up.

Let's go.

Let's go.

I thought you would like to see this young lady, Dr. Amundsen.

- Why? - She has come from Kings Bay.

I'm a friend of Finn Malmgren.

Make some tea.

Excuse me while I change.

This way, please.

So, you're on friendly terms with young Finn Malmgren?

Yes.

More than friendly.

Well� I'm glad.

I always thought Finn would die a bachelor.

But you must face the probability that he's dead now.

No. He isn't dead.

If he were, I would know it.

Nonsense.

- Will you come and look for them? - No.

You can't suppose that I haven't thought of it.

And so?

No.

Finn said you had a big heart.

You're needed.

You're needed, Dr. Amundsen.

That is an argument you might use against Finn, not me.

I think you're very alike.

You're wrong.

My dear, airplanes are the only hope now.

And I know nothing about airplanes.

You know everything about the Arctic, they say.

I'm never going back there.

My affair with the Arctic is over.

Now I'm in for a more humble kind of occupation.

- I know. - No you don't.

Now I know that human beings have no business in the Arctic.

This shocking disaster confirms me.

It's a horrible place.

Finn said it was pure and beautiful...

and that only you were fit for it.

You're very unscrupulous.

- Finn Malmgren was my friend. - Is.

I don't think so.

I actually introduced General Nobile to the Arctic.

And to that very limited extent do I feel responsible.

Finn said you were totally responsible.

What exactly did he say?

That Nobile wanted to measure himself against Amundsen.

No.

I have my work to do for the living.

I will not risk my own life looking for the dead.

It makes no sense.

They've been three weeks on the ice now.

- Have you any idea what that means? - Yes.

You have no idea, otherwise you wouldn't be here.

The Krassin icebreaker is their last hope.

The Krassin.

Their last hope. No.

I'm not flying...

No.

Finn also said that to want to be like Amundsen was ambitious...

But not silly.

You are quite the most obstinate young woman I've ever met.

Tell me, how is Kings Bay now?

Horrible. It's full of tourists.

- Tourists? - Souvenir hunters.

People are strange.

Then you'll fly?

Listen,

if I'm lost,

will you feel responsible?

No.

Good.

What is it? Is it a plane?

It's a plane!

It's a plane!

Where�s the plane?

Over here! Over here!

We're over here!

Over here!

We're over here!

Over here!

- Be quiet. - Over here!

Please, over here!

- Over here! - We're over here! Quick!

Silence! I can't hear.

Damned fog!

- He didn't see us. - No he didn't.

If you don't want to lie down and die

This merry carol you should try

If you don't want to lie down and die

This merry carol you should try

So what blizzard blinds your eyes And with your ass you froze to ice

It's the Arctic, we are told It's the Arctic, the land of cold

Now you watch this unending show -

Polar bears and the snow.

Sing and dance and be brave Even if ice becomes your grave

It's the Arctic, we are told It's the Arctic, the land of cold

Our tent stands, so bright,

Like a red patch on the white

Day and night, in the frost, There lurks a cold white ghost

It's the Arctic, we're told It's the Arctic, the world of cold

So what the snow conceals the Sun

And you're forgotten by everyone...

Everyone off duty - get down to the ice.

- What is there? - Something has broken down.

- The propeller? - Divers, stand by.

Here comes an end to an ice expedition...

"Expedition Nobile Rescue Committee.

"Ten-point ice

"is blocking our way.

"The Krassin can't proceed on its way..."

Ponomarev has dived.

Give me a hand.

- Pull him out. - From this side.

Now.

Call for the boatswain.

What�s with the propeller, Pavel?

A blade was cut off.

- Can we repair it ourselves? - Damn it all! We are it.

- No, it needs to dock the ship. - It will take a long time.

- Did you hear that? - Can we move on?

No, the ice is heavy. We'll need to wait.

- So? - We're stuck?

Make the plane ready.

I'm ready to take off.

Permission not granted.

- Why? - Because

your aircraft is the last resort.

I cannot risk it too soon.

- We�ll wait. - We�ll wait?

Wait for what?

Till a new propeller grows up?

Or till the goddamn ice cracks us like a nut?

We are here to rescue people

- and not to collect the bodies. - I'm the head of the expedition.

We can't risk. Nor should you. You are what, so eager to die?

I am a pilot! A pilot!

I'm better at flying than walking. If I'm saying

I can take off, I mean it.

Also...

Don't imagine I'm any less homesick

- than you are. - What?

- What do you mean? - I mean what I mean.

You forbid me to fly?

It's a murder.

A murder. For which you won't face the court, of course.

You're hiding behind the circumstances.

You'll face the court for frowardness!

- Skoal. - You're Swedish?

What?

How can they?

Why shouldn't they?

After the weather grew worse

and the Krassin stopped...

And still you're asking me to save your boyfriend

in spite of bad weather.

Yes.

What will you give me,

if I do find him?

What do you want?

All right. You've got a deal.

- You don't fancy me too much, eh. - No.

But if I find young Malmgren, we've got a deal?

I wish I could have a glimpse of that Malmgren.

Leave him.

Let him rest a bit.

It's not us killing him,

but the other way round.

But if the same happened to you?

What then?

Take them.

They will be

more useful

to you.

Well�

Put them into bag.

Mariano�

Yes, Mariano�

Take them.

You have to...

And something more�

Help me

to dig

my grave.

Otherwise

the bears

will eat my flesh.

Where do you want it?

Here.

Is it good enough?

Go now.

No. We will wait.

We�ll wait.

I'll baptize you.

You must not die without God.

It's not God that I believe in...

No.

I'll baptize you.

No. Don�t.

- In the name of the Father... - No.

Amen.

Amen.

We�ll wait.

Let us go.

Please.

Let�s go.

Let�s go.

- Zappi! - We�ll wait!

Zappi!

Let�s go away from here, Zappi.

Let�s go!

Zappi, let�s go away from here.

Let�s go away from here, Zappi.

Let�s go away from here!

Let�s go away from here!

Over here!

Over here!

- Finally! - We�re over here! Over here!

Over here!

Come on, come on!

We are over here!

Gentlemen, I admire

your courage and endurance.

Cecioni, get ready.

I've brought some food and drinks for those

who'll have to stay behind a little bit longer.

- When will you be back again? - Soon.

- Are you Biagi? - Yes.

- Congratulations. You're a father. - I am a�

- A boy? - A girl.

- How's my wife? - She's all right.

Thank you, thank you, good news!

- The baby's weight? - I don't know.

Help Cecioni to stand up!

Which one of you is Malmgren?

Malmgren is one of the three

- that tried to go out� - On foot?

- Yes. - Good luck to him.

General, I can't risk shutting the engine off.

Your engineer keeps an eye on it.

Please get ready.

Now, boys, say cheese.

All right. Get him up.

Give us a great big smile.

One, two, three...

Thank you.

What are you doing with him?

He goes first.

You are wrong. You go first.

What difference does it make?

The field is excellent, weather perfect.

Six flights, and you'll all be in Kings Bay.

Cecioni is injured. You'll take him.

The man weighs about 100 kilos. If he goes, I'd have to stay here.

All right.

Cecioni, sorry.

You'll take Dr. Behounek.

He's snow-blind.

General!

Kings Bay is in shambles. There's no one in charge.

If you want those three wandering boys of yours found,

you better fly back with me and take over.

No, you'll take Dr. Behounek.

I take you

or no one.

I see.

What's your interest in this?

What's on your mind?

Those poor bastards you sent trekking are my interest.

- I sent no one trekking! - No? Who did?

They went on their own initiative.

I thought you were in charge here.

Well, enough of it.

- The Krassin is stuck among the ice. - Stuck?

That's right. Samoilovich is an old buddy of yours, isn't he?

- Yes, I know him. - So you can talk to him

from Kings Bay.

- I think you should go, General. - Yes, General,

- it's a necessity. - Go, General.

- I'll take over. - Right.

You make them move their asses in Kings Bay.

No.

No?

I'll take off in 10 minutes,

with or without you.

I'm not going to share Amundsen's fate.

What?

- Amundsen? - Amundsen has been lost

looking for you.

- I didn't know that he was here. - He's missing.

No. When?

I was dead by that time. Had been dead for 2 days already.

We took off in clear weather...

but we flew into an Arctic storm.

It took us north and beyond radio contact with Kings Bay.

Suddenly we saw the wreckage of your airship.

No chances.

Such a coincidence.

Strange, was it not?

And still it was just a coincidence...

When we saw the wreckage, we didn't know what to do.

To land was dangerous...

But it was dangerous to stay in the grip of that wind, too.

And we could see people. So I ordered my pilot to land...

And we crashed. My pilot Guilbaud was killed.

A nice man. A Frenchman.

Very brave and amusing.

The people we had seen from the air

were dead.

We shouldn�t have landed...

I could find no food,

nor means of making fire.

So it was just a matter of time.

Doesn�t it seem to you,

it is a bit theatrical, isn't it?

And for whom would I have been performing?

For yourself.

But that's not theatrical. That's necessary.

The trick is to choose a good part.

Lieutenant Lundborg,

why did you persist that General Nobile

was to be saved first?

Bravo, Lundborg! Bravo!

Whom have you brought?

- Was the landing dangerous? - Where did you find them?

- How far away from Spitsbergen? - Are the rest alive?

Let me through...

- Let me through. - How is Cecioni?

- Let me through! - Are the rest in good health?

Let me through! Let me through!

- Grab him. - Nobile?

Careful.

Radiogram: "Nobile is in Kings Bay".

Kings Bay?

Thank God! One of them is safe.

Captain Romagna?

Why wasn't I awakened?

- You left no order, sir. - Damn...

Never mind.

- What�s the weather? - It�s bad.

- Is flying possible? - No, sir.

Operator!

- Sir! - I want a met report.

How soon can you make contact with the Krassin?

- Now, sir. - Well, do it!

Captain, I want five land parties organized immediately.

One can take the tractors, four with dogs.

- I also want to see your logbook. - General...

General...

- What? - These are orders from Rome.

"In view of your extraordinary conduct

- "in abandoning the men in..." - It would be best

for me to continue in command.

In view of�

What do they think that I've done?

They think you have done...

what you have done, I suppose.

General, sir...

The Krassin.

No. Message.

Nobile to Samoilovich. Personal.

I am�

Message begins: urgently request...

No. Cancel. Cancel that.

My dear Samoilovich.

In the name of those

who are dead...

I implore you to save the lives of my men.

Position data:

Zero� Seventy� Four� dot.

One� Nine� Zero�

If your ship

is capable of movement...

I beg you�

immediately proceed there

and save them.

I lay all my hopes on the Krassin.

Umberto Nobile.

Here.

- Rudolph Lazarevich. - What?

Chukhnovsky reporting they are heading for the disaster scene.

Good.

- People! People! - Where?

Portside. Three dots. They are moving.

We�re here!

We�re over here!

We�re�

We�re over here!

Mariano!

Mariano!

- Zappi! - Mariano!

Zappi!

- Can we land? - No.

Too much of ice-holes.

The fog is thickening.

Ttansmit: Have sighted the group of three.

Returning to ship because of fog.

Zappi!

- I'm Mariano! - Zappi!

I'm Mariano!

I'm Zappi!

Mariano!

Zappi!

Zappi!

Zappi! Where are you going? Zappi!

Don't leave me. Don't leave me!

Don't leave me. Don't leave me.

Zappi, don't leave me.

- Grisha! - Give me some fuel.

Bring some hemp! Bring it over here!

Light your fires!

Light your fires!

And make more smoke!

- It seems it�s flying. - The fog.

He will see neither the ship nor the fires.

- Chukhnovsky will manage. - No way.

Flares... More flares.

Transmit. There is too much fog.

Landing not possible. Will look for other landing area!

Just in case I'll repeat the coordinates of the threesome.

The fog is everywhere.

- Samoilovich is here. - Samoilovich...

Yes?

- Their fuel is up. - It�s time.

It has been four hours.

Four?

Where is Chukhnovsky?

Wait, Boris!

What do you want?

- What do you want from me? - Samoilovich frets and fumes.

Asking what happened.

All is good. Nothing has happened.

What do I transmit?

I ask what do I transmit?

Leave me alone.

I'm not in the moods to talk normal, sorry.

I see. But Samoilovich is waiting.

Let him look for Malmgren and the red tent.

I told him that much.

He wants to pick us up first.

He demands our position.

- That moustached walrus. - Right.

The batteries are dying out.

Don't you know yourself what you should transmit?

I know. But you are the commander.

Transmit:

�The situation of the group of Malmgren is desperate.

"You will get our position only after you rescue the others.

"Regards, Chukhnovsky." Go.

But you have sent him your regards already!

Well, then... Kisses!

That was noble.

It�s rather silly.

No, too risky.

It was necessary.

- I knew that my sentimental boss... - Sentimental?

Didn't you know you had a girlish heart?

I knew he'll come for us,

even if crawling.

So I thought that first he should save those three guys.

Two.

Such different two creatures,

and still both called humans.

You!

What were you thinking about in a comfy cabin in Kings Bay?

I thought of Biagi and the others.

I wished to be there.

I won't buy it.

It doesn�t matter.

I wished to be there.

I thought�

There's a crack near the tent! Get out!

- Hurry up! - Get out!

Cecioni, get up!

Get out!

- Throw everything clear. - Where are you there?

Where are you there?

Hurry up!

The crack is widening. Come on, there's no time!

Hurry up!

Be quick!

- The crack is right here. - Get the food out!

Give me your hand!

Biagi, hold it.

- Quicker! Quicker! - Where you are, Viglieri?

Trojani, get out!

- What�s that? - Trojani, immediately out!

Give me your hand!

You are Valeria?

Yes.

He asked me...

to give you this.

Tell me how is he?

He asked me to give you this.

I�m sorry.

You said you are sorry, and that's all?

Commander, you are the only one who is back.

- I wished it was otherwise. - Oh, you are so pathetic.

I returned in order to save the others.

But now I know for sure

that I should have stayed there

- and died... - Oh, you're talking about death!

But you are alive! A celebrity!

I wasn't after fame, believe me.

- I have never sought fame. - Oh, really?

But now you're famous all around the world.

You were saving your own hide...

And Malmgren�

It's enough to press charges against you.

So, General Nobile�

You are charged of the failure to exercise command...

desertion, and cowardice.

What's the verdict?

Guilty.

- Guilty. - Guilty.

Guilty.

But there are alleviating circumstances.

Samoilovich?

We judge a man by his actions...

And by results of his actions.

He left his men and went to Kings Bay

where he radioed to me.

The result of his radio call to me

was the rescue of the survivors.

The action, therefore, was correct.

It's a ship. Trojani.

Trojani!

A ship.

It's a ship.

It's a ship.

It's a ship.

Over here!

Over here!

Hey, hey!

- Over here! - A ship.

It's a ship.

A ship!

Your verdict, Samoilovich?

I'm a witness, and not member of the jury.

In my opinion, we have no right to judge General Nobile.

We fulfilled our duty amongst this tragedy.

Your citizens were in distress.

Our country did everything to save them.

We are not fit to act as judges.

I agree.

What do we have here?

Check and mate, maestro.

Indeed.

- Let's go. Good bye. - Good bye.

It is very sad

they are not going to take part in the hearing.

Then the jury is unanimous.

No!

- Not unanimous. - Biagi.

- Better have a drink. - It's me who is guilty. Me.

If I fixed the radio from the very beginning,

everyone would be saved.

- Right? - Yes, but...

We needed just a piece of graphite.

But you didn�t know about it.

I didn�t know� You�re wrong.

- Did you? - I did.

I studied it back in radio school.

Why didn't you use your knowledge then?

- I forgot. - You forgot?

- I'm sorry. - He forgot.

Forgot...

See?

When I'm guilty, everyone laughs.

When he is guilty - it's a tragedy.

Why? What's the difference?

I'll tell you why.

This here

and this here.

A uniform makes the difference, General.

We are all alike only in pajamas.

And you know what?

Forty years have passed.

So slip into your pajamas

and stay at peace.

You�re right, Sergeant.

A good advice.

What about using it?

Don't condemn me to a life in pajamas.

I'm waiting for your verdict.

All right. You'll hear it.

But I discount the verdict.

What? How can it be?

Why do you discount the verdict?

Take yourself, for instance, Captain Zappi.

You are clearly an officer of great initiative

and perhaps you should have led an expedition of your own.

- Thank you. - But I personally

wouldn't take you on an expedition

across a municipal park.

'Tis a thousand pities that the reliable Captain Romagna

- was not in your place. - Thank you.

And a million pities that Captain Zappi was not in yours.

Lieutenant Lundborg,

why did you so urgently persuade the General to fly first?

Daren't you answer?

You disappoint me.

They said that I would be paid a lot of money.

- Yes? By whom? - By an insurance company

who would have had to pay a lot more for the dead general.

You did it for money, then?

If I did, I wouldn't be ashamed of it.

Men are risking their necks for fame, a medal,

promotion or money.

What's wrong with money? Just a means to happiness.

But you don't look like a happy man, exactly.

More like a man who's indifferent to unhappiness.

I'm glad you know it all, Mr. Amundsen.

But a man who is indifferent to his own unhappiness

is indifferent to everything.

That is why she preferred Dr. Malmgren,

but Dr. Malmgren was in love with purity,

as I was once.

But purity is sterile. Nothing can grow in it,

not even love.

Valeria would have been a lot more happy with a less pure you.

Finn,

you should have given her ordinary pleasure

and left her with a pleasant memory.

But as it was, you left her

to a lifetime of regret.

And now she,

as you all are, is unfit to judge.

I don't want to be misunderstood, General,

and I wish you

a very good night.

You know, you haven't helped me.

They all talked about the role of commander,

about valor, wrongful orders

and duty...

But you haven't helped me.

Samoilovich pointed out the good result of what you did.

But not that keeps you awake.

What keeps you awake is why you did it.

Yes.

- Yes. - And why

- did you do it? - To help my people.

Of course.

But when you got into Lundborg's aircraft,

what were you thinking about?

Tell me.

- I don't remember. - Try.

I was thinking of a thousand things.

For example, were you thinking that by deserting your men

- you could possibly save them? - Yes.

And you were also thinking of the end of your career?

Maybe.

There were 50 reasons for leaving

- and 50 good reasons for staying. - No.

There were 50 for staying, 51 for leaving.

You left.

Which was the 51st reason?

I can't say.

Try to remember�

At the moment of takeoff,

which reason was most vivid?

You�re sitting in the plane.

You're in the air.

You thought of those who stayed on the pack?

Yes.

Of those who perished with the dirigible?

Yes.

Of Malmgren, Zappi, Mariano�

Of the Krassin?

Yes, yes.

Of Romagna?

Yes.

Me?

Yes.

- Of your daughter? - Yes.

- Of a hot bath? - Yes.

O, my God�

I was thinking of a hot bath at Kings Bay!

Of course.

And that was the reason for not going.

You made a mistake.

Just a mistake.

But, my friend, what a moment to make it.

You despise me?

You despise me!

Do I?

If you said anything else, I wouldn't believe you.

You'd been four weeks on the ice.

There was a hot bath 50 minutes away.

It was all too human, to think about it.

But you see,

when we take up leadership, we forfeit the right to be human.

We simply can't afford it.

Though, there is hardly a commander

without human weaknesses.

Thank you. I had always wanted

to be like you at least in something.

Oh, come on.

We have more things in common than you can imagine.

I imagined the great Amundsen

leaving the pedestal

in order to save his old friend from the grips of death.

There were crowds of journalists around me.

Oh, really?

There were 50 good reasons.

And that was one of them.

But not so natural as the thought

of a hot bath.

The only difference between us is that

I had the good luck

to die soon after Guilbaud.

And if I had the misfortune to be still alive...

What would you do?

Forgive myself

and sleep.

That's the proper thing.

Sleep and dream.

Of what?

Of the great things that we attempted.

Of the great things.

And of all the things that we saw.

It was magnificent.

Magnificent...

THE END