Original subtitles

THE WOODEN CROSSES

The government counts on the resolve of this noble nation

that it may not succumb to any unjustified emotion.

They'll pay back our 5 billion.

- My turn. - We were here first.

We want to sign up.

The bloody standard is raised

General Mobilization

The Mayor of the 8th district informs its citizens

that Mobilization is set for Sunday, August 2.

Time to open, shopkeeper!

Let me have my sausages!

He'd open faster if we were the Boches!

Look! The raw recruits are here.

Hey, there's no hurry! The war's over!

You men, that way.

Just a sec!

- Selling wreaths now? - Have to.

It brings in a bit more than canned food.

Reinforcements are here!

5th Squad?

- Corporal Breval. - That's me.

You got a good deal. They look brand new.

What's your name?

Gilbert Demachy, volunteer.

Volunteer! Another tough guy looking for action.

He'll get over it!

Shut up, you fat coward!

Don't judge the squadron by that clown.

That's Bouffiou, our cook.

As he never washes he doesn't risk getting dirty.

His buddy there, Fouillard, our little dandy.

Here's our serious Hamel, the company elder.

And smart Belin, always a song on his lips.

Vieuble, who's much funnier than he looks.

Here's a fella from your hometown!

Vairon. A true gentleman.

So, how'd we end up here!

And our farm boys!

Lemoine, not to be taken for a fool.

And Broucke here, the man without fear.

Last but not least, Lagny, the liaison orderly.

I don't get an introduction?

I'm not worth introducing!

You'll hear him shooting his mouth off.

Sulphart, the company loudmouth.

Look who's talking.

If I were the corporal,

I'd start by giving these pilgrims some pointers.

Damn!

Doesn't he look cute in his little cap.

Let's see now.

A definite improvement.

Damn, this weighs a ton! Have you got paving stones in here?

No, cartridges.

It's safer to keep them in my haversack.

In case we get attacked.

Attacked!

He's mad! Get the dogs!

You may never fire a shot.

The fighting's over.

You're too late.

The Marne retreat was real sport.

If only I could've joined earlier and been part of the victory.

What a little warrior.

I'll tell you how it happened.

We went more than 15 days without pay,

after Charleroi,

and when things got tough, they tossed us each 15 cents.

If you meet guys who talk about the Marne, tell them:

"The Marne was a stunt that was pulled off for 15 cents."

You said it, Sulphart!

Not bad for a drunkard.

I didn't know. I thought we were going to fight.

I feel sorry for you.

You need some guidance.

I'm taking you under my wing.

- Thanks, I'd like that. - What luck!

Pass me your haversack, I'll blacken it with cork.

You're an easy target.

Let him settle in before you do your number.

Clam up, hayseed!

Let me have your mess kit too.

Come with me, fella.

If you want to pay a round of drinks, just give the signal.

- Sure. - Pass the flasks!

Order what you want.

- Bring back the change! - Don't worry.

They're not dishonest, they're thirsty.

He wants to make a good impression.

Take my place.

Don't worry, I'll find another.

Pass me your gun,

your backpack,

and your gear.

I'll get you settled. You'll sleep like a lord.

There you go.

You're all set!

Come have a drink.

Aren't they funny!

I knew this would be more fun than the barrack.

Don't be so sure.

It's not like this every day.

- Tobacco? - No thanks.

What'd you do in civilian life?

Student.

I was finishing law school.

What about you?

Pastry cook.

Married.

A little girl.

That's the hard part.

The party goes on!

The student is suffering. That'll teach him.

Put a muzzle on it.

Hand me your rifle.

One more or less won't change anything.

Pass it on: barbed wire.

Pass it on: barbed wire.

Slow down ahead. We can't keep up.

Pass it on: slow down, we can't keep up.

Pass it on: rifle in hand, heads down.

Pass it on: rifle in hand, heads down.

Not you, Sulphart. We're going up.

What for?

- You're on first watch with Lemoine. - Right.

Always the same ones to get killed.

The complaints window is closed.

You call this a squadron!

- Don't take your boots off. - Why not?

- And if there's an alert? - I'll go in my socks.

'Night, guys.

I haven't had a letter from her in two weeks.

She's never taken this long.

It drives me crazy.

Say, Vairon.

When you go behind the lines, do you get a nice welcome?

Well, they don't poke us with pitchforks.

What a stink!

What's that?

A barber's shop.

The guy's worse than a broad.

Think we'll have war, farmer?

Damn the war. My lice are more important.

Nothing worse then lice, cops and profiteers.

But you can always kill cooties.

You dummy!

I'll do some target practice.

Don't wake them. They're not bothering us.

It's to clean the rust out of my gun.

Who fired that shot?

Here comes Adjudant Morache.

Now you're in for it.

Did you fire that shot?

I want to know who!

You again, Sulphart!

I'd given orders.

That's my first shot in three months.

You'll be punished.

All right. We'll stop killing your Boches.

Then what the hell are we doing here?

Well, Breval! It's patrol time.

- What are you waiting for? - Yes, sir.

Are there any volunteers?

Yes, me.

Gilbert Demachy.

I'll come with you.

Vairon.

It will stretch my legs.

You go with Sergeant Berthier.

Crawl to the German lines

and make sure the outpost is still manned.

But no shooting.

Follow me, guys.

Get down!

Demachy, come with me.

You others, stay here!

Go!

Alert! They're attacking!

Quick!

Where's my rifle?

My boots!

Hold your fire! It's the patrol coming back.

Sir, our artillery is too short.

Lannier, run to command.

Have them lengthen our fire.

There they are.

It's Sergeant Berthier.

Is everyone back?

No, someone's missing.

- Who? - Vairon.

Poor Vairon!

He was with us from the start.

Couldn't you bring him back?

No. He was killed instantly, hit in the chest.

I said the 75 mm guns were firing too close.

Those gunners! What a breed.

Our hides don't mean much to them.

All that blood!

You didn't think war was like that, did you?

Breval?

- Breval! - What?

- What is it? - They're digging.

What?

- The Boches are digging a mine. - There's an echo.

Tell him to stop!

Lemoine!

- What? - Shut up!

No doubt about it.

They're digging a mine.

Someone's using a pick. It's clear enough.

- Inform the adjudant. - I'll go.

Morache and Berthier are coming.

They're bringing an officer from engineering.

- So? - Right here.

True.

You're right. We should have expected it.

They already blew up a post last month.

So?

I'll go see the commandant.

And I'll go see about orders.

What about us?

We have to wait here?

Naturally.

You don't want us to abandon Mount Calvary, do you?

Don't worry.

They're far from done.

There's no danger.

Isn't that right?

You never know.

Okay. We get the message.

This time we're done for.

Not at all, kids.

They're only just starting to dig.

Want some, Sulphart?

I'd rather have wine.

Cut me a slice. I still have an appetite.

A good slice.

Those bastards work nights too.

Here's the soup.

Hurry.

There's a flask of hooch too.

And here is the mail.

The soup's still hot.

You're in a hurry to leave, coward!

If I had to stay, I'd join the pals.

Not even half full for guys going to their death.

If I save my hide,

I'll write to the papers to complain.

Hear me?

Lay it on thick for your missus.

This is no time for jokes.

Tender kisses, Your Suzy

The pounding's stopped.

They're packing the explosives.

This is it. It's gonna blow.

Don't move!

We all go together!

It's starting again!

They're still digging!

We're saved, guys!

I knew it wasn't ready.

They won't get us!

Go on and dig, you bastards!

We may all go up, but damn you to hell!

- Cut it out! - We'll get you first.

It's nothing.

Tomorrow is a long way off.

Two days, damn it!

We've been here two days and two nights.

- How about some target practice? - Good idea.

I'll send up a flare.

Don't despair. We'll be relieved tomorrow.

If we're still here.

What's the time?

4 o'clock.

Relief won't come before 9:00.

Night falls late now.

You can be sure they won't hurry.

Here's a happy man.

You won't wake him up.

What's the time?

9:07.

The relief, boys.

Get a move on!

Get your packs on.

Let them out first. You can settle in after.

So, they laying a mine?

Then we've had it.

Don't talk like that. We came through.

You see? Nothing to worry about.

We're not out yet.

To get blown up now would be bad luck.

Hurry up or let me by.

Will you look at him!

Good luck, kids.

Get a move on.

How many men were there?

Eleven...

And four gunners.

Forward, march!

A can of sardines.

- We're out. - It's for me, Madam.

Hands off!

Camembert is 35 cents. Too much?

- Then it stays. - I'm a good customer.

- How much for the sausage? - Don't finger the goods!

The can of peas up there, please.

The blood sausage...

That's mine, ratface!

The can of peas...

He's always gotta be served first.

This bit?

You pay, Gilbert.

You've got the right idea, but you don't holler loud enough.

You always got to holler.

It's the only way to get your due.

Just like I told you the other night.

All is forgotten.

Keep it up and I won't serve you pigs!

Over here with the brandy!

It's the old timers' milk!

I shouldn't be serving you.

Don't worry. I'm in good with the general.

What kills me is that they named Morache lieutenant.

- He never did a thing. - It's beyond belief.

We're gonna be in for it.

Starting tomorrow morning: kit inspection!

Swell program for a day off!

I can hear him now.

"Take aim... Fire!"

"Forward... march!"

"One, two, one, two!"

Attention! At ease!

Attention! At ease!

Attention!

Gun in hand!

Faster, on the left!

Sergeant Berthier, take over.

Assembly behind me in two rows.

Third squadron.

Come now, hurry!

Are you asleep?

At ease!

Attention!

At ease!

I don't want to see torn pants.

Look at those boots. They're disgusting, Morache.

I want them cleaned.

Actually, lice aren't as bad as all that.

They suck out the disease.

I have a kid brother.

Lice and impetigo cured his meningitis.

One more louse that won't feed on me!

The nastiest are the red lice.

And the ones with the iron cross?

It's great having nothing to do.

- What's on your mind, Sulphart? - My mind?

At mobilization, when I left the factory,

I left my overalls and tools at the bistro.

I said: "I'll pick them up on my way home from Berlin."

They'll be there waiting.

I think the war will be over in 3 months.

In the meantime, I spend my time off in the brig.

No use complaining.

Here we're treated like dirt.

If Morache says to us: "Kiss my ass",

we'll have to pull his pants down.

Since we live in a democracy we should all be equal.

Equality... What's that supposed to mean?

It means being able to say "drop dead" to anyone.

Mail's here, fellas.

- Broucke. - Here!

Demachy.

Sulphart.

Belin.

- Lemoine. - Here!

Another for Demachy.

Bourel...

- Boural? - Not for me?

No, not for you.

She has a bad handwriting. I wouldn't be surprised...

It's a fella in the Second.

A package for Hamel.

And a letter... for Vairon...

Let me have it.

Protect us, Our Lady of the Doughboys.

We accept everything...

The sentry duty in the rain,

the nights without sleep,

the days without bread...

But let us live.

That alone. Live...

Or believe we shall till the end.

Continue to hope, despite all.

Now and in the hour of our death.

Amen.

Feast your eyes on those curves of hers!

Take it easy. That's for the officers.

It's lovely, fresh and golden. It looks like cake.

Hold me back, before I do something stupid!

Over here, the 3rd, for distribution.

Distribution?

Distribution of what?

Let's take a look.

Hurry up!

Who doesn't have a knife?

Let me have two.

And me?

It's a bargain.

I'm not selling them, I'm giving them away.

Imagine there's one in front of you. Just there!

Grip your knife firmly like this.

And... Just like that.

I'm gonna try!

I'll show you how it's done. Step back, kids.

Like this...

I'd forgotten to draw...

Then you complain the meat's too tough.

What do you care? You're not cook now!

You kept your easy job long enough.

To the trenches with you, Bouffiou!

- Fat pig! - Shirker!

Here's yours.

What do I do with this? I'm a bookseller.

I don't care. They told me to distribute knives.

If it were umbrellas, I'd distribute umbrellas.

Funny guy!

Where to, little lambs?

To the slaughterhouse!

Add feathers and you'll look like a bird!

Women like it so I'll keep it.

They hand out helmets, knives and cigars.

Not a good sign, fellas!

Time to slip off to the beach.

This isn't the season.

So what! It's not for bathing.

Some people say it's the final push.

Heard anything about that?

That's a lot of talk!

I believe we'll break through.

I have high hopes too.

You're joking! You think the Boches will just stand around?

If only we were sure prisoners were well treated!

They're really laying into us.

It's a lost cause.

They know we're attacking.

Watch out, sir!

Careful!

Grenadiers, up front.

Gilbert, you have my address, right?

My friends,

this is for France.

A fine attack!

We have to take that damned village.

It's ours!

Everyone ready?

After you, sir.

Why? Are you afraid?

Me, afraid?

I'll go over first.

Morache is backing down.

He'll go over. It's harder than putting men in the brig.

Forward, Third Company!

Forward!

Forward!

I can't hear you.

The village will be hard to take.

That cellar is a machine gun nest.

It's a good regiment. They'll get through.

Carry on.

Get down!

Keep by the walls!

We've taken the first line.

The advance continues.

That was fine. You're a brave bunch!

Thanks, kids.

Now we have to reach their third line.

The captain's been killed. At my command, the Third!

The captain's been killed.

Don't shoot. They're surrendering.

Go on, get going!

Hamel! Hamel!

My God!

AND IT WENT ON FOR TEN DAYS

TEN DAYS

TEN DAYS

- Where's Sulphart? - He took cover back there.

- He may be wounded. - He wouldn't mind that.

Let's use him as a parapet.

That's better than nothing, until our time comes!

Sulphart! Are you there?

Once they sight this ridge, we're in for it!

Here come the Boches.

Aim low!

Here it comes again.

Hit?

Fouillard!

Poor guy's dead.

I'd promised to write to his mother.

Another push, and the position is ours.

Another advance?

He's raving mad.

Charge!

It's true.

It's true, good God, it's a cemetery.

We have to get organized. They're sure to counterattack.

Don't make any noise. They're on the other side.

Don't worry. We're not gonna sing.

It's nothing.

Getting yourself killed for a cemetery!

They'll bury us alive to save time.

They got the size right.

Good news, Gilbert?

"I danced so much I broke a heel..."

Yes, "good."

What are you singing?

Mass for the Dead.

Bouffiou! Anything left in your canteen?

Afraid to show yourself, you tub of lard!

Not a drop all day. I'll die.

When we're on leave, Gilbert will buy us a bucket of wine.

We'll stand around it and duck our heads in

like horses!

Look.

My tongue's as dry as plaster.

The corporal should do his job.

I'll go tell him.

Pass me your canteens.

Hurry.

Breval...

Everyone's out of water.

You have to send someone, there's a well over there.

- Whose turn is it? - Not mine.

I just did grenade duty.

- You won't go. - When it's my turn.

All right then. I'll go.

Breval's hit!

Breval's hit!

Breval's been killed.

- Breval? Where? - By the well.

Good God! While going for water?

- I'll go. - And get yourself killed too!

- Where's Breval? - By the well.

What's this, Breval! Are you crazy?

It's good if you're wounded. They'll evacuate you.

I know that it's over.

It's not for me that I'm crying, but for my little girl.

Try not to talk, it's tiring you.

It's nothing.

But, Gilbert...

Swear you'll take a message for me.

Go see my wife

and tell her

what she did wasn't nice.

It hurt me so badly.

What's going on?

She has to know.

You tell her

that I cursed her before I died.

And then...

that I spit in her face.

In her face and her guy's face.

I'm asking you, in God's name.

Make sure everybody knows how she was having a good time

while I was dying at the front.

The slut!

For my little girl's sake...

Don't.

You tell her

that she has to...

behave properly.

Now...

Tell her I said that

before I died.

And that...

I forgive her.

Help us!

Men are going to the slaughter!

You'll get your cross, of course

It may be a cross of bronze It may be made of wood

You'll get your cross, of course

If it's not the Croix de Guerre It'll be the wooden cross

Can't you sing anything more cheerful?

Shut up!

I wrote it. I'll sing it on leave.

- Who wants some? - Not that crap!

You weren't this cocky in the cemetery last night.

I thought we were done for.

So it was tough, was it?

This is all that remains of the company.

That wasn't war, that was butchery.

Well, I disagree.

- What? - I say it was a victory.

- He flipped his lid. - You bet!

I declare it was a victory.

Because I came back alive.

I gave orders for assembly.

- That Morache! - Talk about an epidemic.

- No sign of him at the cemetery. - Berthier did it all.

Hurry up, sergeants! Assemble your men.

We'll parade through the village with music. The general is here.

- A parade, now! - Aren't we exhausted enough?

It's to count how many they couldn't kill.

Well, they won't get me.

But sir, we can't go marching in the state we're in.

Sure you can. The general wants to see us.

And the reinforcements are here.

We have to show them we're not an army of girls.

We can't go on, sir.

Another effort and we can rest afterwards.

This is going too far.

They're going to squeeze us dry...

to the last drop.

Assembly on the road. Columns of four!

Fix bayonets, right shoulder arms!

Military step.

Attention!

Present arms!

We took the village.

We took it!

It was us!

Are there many men going on leave today?

We don't know yet. Maybe 10%.

The Colonel went to ask the Brigade.

Only 10%? No kidding?

At this rate we'll never leave.

- Shame on you! - Suffer like us, first.

Chew him out another day. It's the Third Division's turn.

- First squadron. - Present.

Some men are back from leave.

Hello, fellas!

Lemoine! How are you, old man? What have you got to drink?

Five days go by too fast to enjoy.

You had time to hoe your beets.

You'll be glad to sip some home-made calvados.

Take it easy! Here's my corkscrew.

Pop that cork.

- What's new in Paris? - They're holding on.

The war could last seven years, the movies would still be full.

So when will this war be over?

No one thinks of the war!

Only old ladies with sons at the front.

Hello, Sulphart!

If it isn't old Gilbert!

I saw your folks, you know. I'll tell you about it.

They're really nice.

I saw them last Sunday.

They had me stay for lunch.

What a feast!

And what wine!

I told them about life in the trenches.

The mud, the rain.

I told them about our last attack and the village we took.

They're not really up on things.

They're amused by the stuff I tell them...

It's just...

they don't understand. They wouldn't believe you had lice.

Say, Gilbert, that little maid...

She's not bad... a real cutie!

I tried to get a date but nothing doing.

Some other time.

I go on leave tonight. I'll talk to her about you.

You lucky dog!

But we stay behind.

Look...

It's been a steady parade of wounded all day.

It doesn't look too good.

You guys on leave, all aboard for Paris!

Present, corporal!

I got here just in time to say goodbye.

Hear those guns! Time to make tracks.

It looks like reinforcements are coming.

What a way to celebrate our return!

Hurry it up, boys.

- The corporals? - Present.

Men into gear. Assembly on the square in 30 minutes.

And us?

The men on leave.

Same as the others. All leave canceled.

And the party goes on...

Slow down, up ahead.

We're not following.

- Big deal. - Silence.

Pass it on: silence!

Silence.

You relieving us?

- Are the Boches far? - No idea.

It's been attack and counterattack for four days.

Help!

- Who's that? - One of ours.

Two men already got killed trying to fetch him.

If you can do anything...

This is real solid stuff. Let 'em shell us.

It's really coming down.

- Someone still up there? - Reduced guard.

Not enough. Post another man.

- Bouffiou, your turn. - Me?

I can barely see. I can't be a lookout.

That's enough. You're appointed.

You can snivel later.

But I can't see.

Want me to get you a pair of glasses?

- Get ready. - But, corporal...

You were told to get ready.

This is awful! A man who can't see...

You make me sick. You whine too much.

I'll take your place.

Lemoine!

Don't worry. My time hasn't come.

It wasn't far.

Fat bastard!

We don't risk much under 12 feet of earth.

But tomorrow we go over.

So we really attack at dawn?

Looks like it.

Lemoine?

Well?

Another lookout.

I think it's my turn.

Help...

The 7th...

Don't leave me here, guys!

I've got a mother.

I've got a mother.

Don't leave me...

Where's the Captain?

We all stay.

Tough luck.

No one lies low in a shell hole. We have to break through now.

I've been hit.

I'm wounded.

- Quick! To the first aid post! - Lucky dog!

- You're gonna lose two fingers. - So what? I'm not a pianist.

I hope Gilbert gets back.

That hurts.

Bouffiou!

It hurts.

- Stretchers! - Gilbert, keep down!

Hey, fella!

Over here!

I'm wounded.

I swear I won't move.

But make the hurting stop.

The stretcher-bearers will come once it gets dark.

I have to wait for nightfall

without losing consciousness.

Wait for the night.

If I'm lying flat they won't see me.

They'll let me die.

I don't want...

I don't want to die.

It hurts.

Hey, guys!

Don't come too late.

I'm dying, boys!

Stretcher-bearers!

Quick! Quick!

I don't want to...

I don't want to...

No. I mustn't fall asleep.

I mustn't.