Original subtitles

Gomer Pyle - USMC.

Starring Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle.

Also starring Frank Sutton as Sergeant Carter.

Oh.

Oh.

Oh.

That's sweet. That's really nice.

Okay, okay, Gomer. Who's the letter from?

Huh?

Who's the letter from? Blonde, brunette or redhead?

Gray.

What?

It's from my grandpa. Grandpa?

Grandpa Pyle, my grandpa on my daddy's side.

And you know what?

He's comin' here in his trailer and everything

just to see me.

See, he travels around in a trailer.

Listen to this.

"When I stopped at Mayberry,

"they said my favorite fishin' partner

"was in the Marines.

"Fishin' wasn't the same.

"I couldn't look a worm in the face

"without thinkin' of you. Ha, ha."

You and your grandpa are really close, huh?

Closer than two front teeth.

Grandpa and me, we done a lot of huntin'

and fishin' and talkin' together.

I learned a lot from Grandpa.

He knows just about everything there is to know.

And you know something else?

He was a cavalry sergeant in World War number one.

A cavalry sergeant, huh?

In the U.S. Army.

Listen to this.

"So, you joined the Marine Corps.

"I thought I learned you better. Ha, ha.

"The doughboys

"used to have a joke about the Marines,

"but I won't tell it to you,

"as your mama wouldn't like me to.

"Anyway..."

All right, men! Fall under the rear of the barracks on the double.

Hey, Sergeant, I just got me a letter from my grandpa.

Swell.

He's coming here to visit.

Good.

Bless his heart. Pyle, fall in.

Yes, sir.

At ease.

All right, listen up.

The battalion headquarters has decided that we should find out

if any of you are potential noncom or officer material.

If they'd just asked me, I could've told them.

But they decided that you should have a chance to lead this squad,

to see if you can take over my job.

So for the next few days, that will be our project.

Each man will get a chance to lead this squad in close-order drill,

and I will be observing.

We'll proceed alphabetically.

Abrams, we'll start with you.

Squad, ten-hut.

Abrams, front and center.

Nice feller, Abrams.

He writes home regular,

but he ain't no Sergeant Carter.

Quiet in the ranks.

Take charge of the squad.

Right face.

Forward, haw!

One, two, three, four.

By the right flank, haw.

By the right flank, haw.

By the right flank, haw.

Squad halt.

Not bad, Abrams. Not bad at all.

Fall in.

Next man, Bronson. Front and center!

He ain't no Sergeant Carter, neither.

Quiet in the ranks.

Hey, Sergeant. Can I see you a minute?

What do you want, Pyle?

Well, sir, I'd like to talk to you

about my turn at leadin' the squad.

What's to talk about? I told you it was alphabetical.

You'll get your turn when the P's come up.

What's your hurry? Get back to your quarters.

No, Sergeant. That ain't it at all.

What is it, then?

Well, I'd just as soon not have a turn.

Huh?

I'd just as soon not have a turn at leadin' the squad.

Just like that, you'd just as soon not have a turn?

Well, it ain't that I don't want to do it.

I do, but I'm afraid I'll disappoint you,

and then I'll feel just awful.

Will you really?

Uh-huh. So even though I do want to do it,

I don't think I should do it,

'cause of the way I'd do it, I'm sure to be doin' it

the way you don't want it done.

What?

I said that even though I do want to do it...

Never mind.

Pyle, we are talking about a battalion order,

not ladies' choice at a dancing academy.

Every man in this platoon will, repeat, will

drill his squad in close-order drill.

You are in this platoon.

You will take your turn when it comes up.

Well, I'd like to, Sergeant, but I...

Pyle, do you know the reason for this program?

It's to train you to take over.

Now, what if something happened to me in combat?

Who would take over?

Golly, Sergeant.

If something happened to you, I just wouldn't want to go on.

Now, isn't that touching?

See, Sergeant,

the reason that I'm beggin' off is, well,

I just don't think I got them qualities of leadership.

Now, followership, that's something else.

I follow real good.

That's enough.

You'll take your turn in this new program just like everybody else.

Yes, Sergeant.

But I sure follow better than I lead.

♪ Katy ♪ K-K-K-Katy

♪ You're the only g-g-g-girl that I adore

♪ When the m-moon shines... ♪

Come in.

Hey, Grandpa. Guess who?

Gomer. Come in here, boy.

Come in here, boy. Come in here.

Good night alive.

Oh, Lordy.

Let me take a look at you.

Let me take a look at you.

Still growin'.

Are you six foot?

Uh-huh. You look six foot.

Hey, what you got in there, a anvil?

Well, you know what they say, Grandpa.

"The Marine Corps builds men."

You got a weekend pass, ain't you?

Yep, I got the whole weekend.

Good. You sure growed up nice and tall.

I'm six foot.

You look six foot.

Hey, Gomer,

I got a present for you, right over there on the couch. That's for you.

Oh.

"Sweet dreams from the Grand Canyon."

Ain't that pretty?

Oh, and it's got a picture of it, too.

Yeah, I was there a couple weeks ago.

That's a big ditch, son.

It sure is pretty, Grandpa.

Thank you.

It's real thoughtful of you.

Oh, it ain't nothing. Let's settle down and get to talkin'

'bout that there Marine Corps you're in.

How are you gettin' along?

Well, tolerable. Just tolerable.

Today wasn't a very good day.

Why? W-What happened?

Well, we got this new program

where each man gets to close-order drill the squad.

What they're doin' is, they're lookin' out for fellers

that could take over in case they had to.

Good. Good.

What's the problem?

Well, I ain't got no leadership to display.

What?

It's true, Grandpa.

For goodness sakes.

Gomer, the Pyles has been knowed as leaders for generations.

Not me.

I just couldn't get out there in front of all them men

and pretend I'm the sergeant.

Tell me one thing. Would you like to be able to do it?

Sure.

I'd like to more than anything.

But I know I can't.

I just ain't got the bellow for it.

Gomer, stop talkin' like that.

It ain't befittin' a Pyle.

I'll show you how to bellow out them orders.

Grandpa, I don't know. I just can't...

Son, it's easy.

You've got to make it come from down here.

Now, listen.

Prepare to mount.

Mount.

Come on. Get up. Try it.

Get up now and try it.

Go on.

Prepare to mount.

Mount.

A little lower, now, a little lower.

Draw sabers.

Draw sabers.

A little lower. A little lower.

Bugler, blow "Charge."

Bugler, blow "Charge."

See? Don't that sound just awful?

No, it don't.

I-It's just that, uh...

Well, you need a little practice before you can practice.

Tell you what. We'll work on it over the weekend.

I'll get you some people to drill with.

Who would you get?

Why, I'll get...

I don't know, but I'll get you some people.

Now, you can do it, son.

Oh, you can, too.

A big boy like you, six foot.

You are six foot, ain't you?

Uh-huh.

You look six foot.

Grandpa, I don't know about this.

Go on, boy. You can do it. Try it.

Go on. They're waitin' for you.

Put 'em through their paces.

Squad, attention.

That means attention. You all got to stand up straight.

Left face.

No.

Everybody's got... Everybody's got to turn this way.

That's right.

Forward

march.

No, that means you all got to move out in that direction, that way.

Come in here.

Everybody, everybody, come back over here.

Everybody get back over here and stand here.

Do you know what's the matter? You're too easy on 'em.

Now, them troops you're gonna drill are just like these kids here.

You got to show 'em who's boss.

Watch.

All right, straighten up them ranks there.

You, down there. Get that smile off your face.

Suck in your stomach.

Stand up straight. I'm talkin' to you.

Pay attention to me. You hear me?

Hey, come back here. Come on back here.

You bellowed so loud, Grandpa,

you scared the troops clean off.

Well, at least they know they've been bellowed at.

And you can do it, too, boy.

I'll sure try, Grandpa.

You can do it, too.

You're a big boy. You're six foot, ain't you?

Uh-huh.

You look six foot.

We'd better get back in the trailer.

Squad, ten-hut!

Forward, haw!

One, two, three, four.

By the left flank, left.

Left flank, haw!

To the right flank, haw!

Left flank, left, haw!

Forward, haw!

Golly, Duke.

You sure can bellow.

I wish I could do that, but I know I'll mess it up.

Ah, you got to stop worrying about it, kid.

All right, all on close-order drill.

That means you, too, Pyle. Especially you.

Come on, Gomer. You can do it.

Come on.

Squad, halt.

Right face.

Oliver, that was good. That was real good.

Of course, you ain't me, but then, who is?

Fall in.

At ease.

Let's see who we're down to.

Pyle, front and center.

Take charge of the squad.

Hey, fellers.

Forward march.

They ain't movin'.

They're still at ease.

Oh, I forgot.

Squad, attention.

Right face.

Right face.

Right face.

Right face.

At ease.

Pyle. March 'em.

Drill 'em.

Squad, attention.

Right face.

Forward march.

One, two, three, four.

To the rear, march.

To the rear, march.

To the rear, march.

To the rear, march.

To the rear, march. To the rear, march.

To the rear, march.

To the rear, march.

Give them something else!

Right flank,

march.

Hey, fellers, whoa.

Stop.

Halt!

Halt!

Halt.

Let's face it, Grandpa,

there's no two ways about it.

I'm just a failure as a leader.

Now, you stop sayin' that. You ain't a failure.

You're a good, strong boy.

You got a good head on your shoulders.

You're six foot.

There's just one thing that you don't have,

one little thing, and that's confidence.

And, now, son, there's where I can help you.

I don't know, Grandpa.

If you don't have confidence,

nobody can give it to you.

Well, I don't know about that. I...

Gomer, we ain't licked yet.

All you need is confidence.

Confidence.

Yes, sir, my boy, with a little confidence,

you can do anything, anything.

And this is gonna give it to you.

What's that?

"Excelsior."

That's right. "Excelsior."

It means high, up, up.

Gomer, Gomer, would it surprise you to know

that that was a emblem on my daddy's regiment

in the Spanish-American War?

No.

Rode up San Juan Hill

attached to your great-grandpa's saddle,

right alongside of Colonel Teddy.

This here emblem?

That there emblem.

Shazam.

Great-granddaddy Pyle was a brave man, wasn't he?

Brave leader.

Gomer, you know, when I first went into World War I,

I never had a dime's worth of confidence.

I was just as scared as you are.

Oh, that couldn't be, Grandpa.

Oh, yes.

Until my daddy gave me this.

He said, "As long as you have that,

"you'll be a leader."

And I carried it, and I was.

That little emblem right there.

You mean it's magical-like?

Well, that's one way to describe it.

Put it in your pocket.

Now, recollect, son,

that ain't no ordinary piece of metal you got there.

When that was attached to your great-grandpa's saddle,

he was fightin' his way up San Juan Hill,

yard by yard, fightin' like a man inspired.

Colonel Teddy turned to him.

He said, "Pyle, you're fightin' like a man inspired."

That's what he said.

Bullets was a-flyin' every which way.

Men was turnin' back, but not your great-grandpa.

And when the smoke of battle cleared,

there he was, plantin' Old Glory

smack on top of San Juan Hill.

And that little emblem you got in your pocket

was with him every step of the way.

Now, can you tell me

that havin' that emblem don't make you feel no difference?

Don't you feel about ten foot tall?

I do, Grandpa. I declare, I do.

You look ten foot.

Try a couple of commands.

Squad, ten-hut!

Right face.

Did you hear that, Grandpa?

I sure did, boy.

You know, with that in your pocket,

when you get out there to drill them troops,

you'll make that Sergeant Carter look like a recruit.

Right.

What's the matter, son?

I just happened to think, Grandpa.

You only get one chance at leadin' the squad,

and I've already had mine.

Well, don't you worry. You'll get a second chance.

But how? Well, you'll...

Well, I don't know, but things has a way of happenin'

to the folks that has that emblem.

They have? Yes, sir.

Come in.

Come in, sir. What can I do for you?

I-I'd like to talk to you, Sergeant.

Yes, sir. Let me get you a chair.

Uh, no need to get a chair. I'll just stand.

Well, I just thought you'd be more comfortable.

The only time I'm more comfortable sittin' down, Sergeant,

is on a horse.

You can sit down if you're tired.

No, I'm not tired.

You spend quite a lot of time behind the desk, don't you, Sergeant?

Not any more than most. I mean...

You know, it's funny, you're shorter than I figured you'd be.

How tall are you? Huh?

You six foot? No, I'm...

You don't look six foot.

Of course, you make up for it

by bein' bigger around the waist.

I always keep myself in perfect physical condition.

In my day, sergeants was tough as hardtack.

Of course, you're in pretty good shape

for the shape you're in.

Look, would you mind telling me

what you want to talk to me about?

And I didn't get the name.

Pyle. Sergeant Otis Pyle.

U.S. Cavalry, retired.

Pyle? Y-you mean...

Gomer's grandpa. That's right.

You know, the reason I come over to talk to you, Sergeant,

after hearing Gomer talk,

I decided you was the brightest noncom around.

And, now that I've met you, I'm sure of it.

Huh?

The way you keep them young fellers

from havin' a chance to take over

is a work of genius.

What?

Now, wait a minute. I give them a chance.

Right now, we're conducting leadership tests.

Hogwash.

What?

It's just the old army game.

You give 'em one chance,

and if you see they're beginnin' to catch on,

you slam the door. Huh? Is that it?

Beginning to catch...

Look,

that grandson of yours, he had his chance.

And you know what he did?

He blew it.

Of course he did.

And not givin' him a second chance

is a smart way to play it.

Now, just a minute.

You might be a little soft around the middle,

but not up where it counts.

Your grandson will get a second chance.

Tomorrow is an inspection day.

The men will have their rifles.

He will really get a chance.

And it will be a pleasure to see what he does with it.

A real pleasure.

And it will also be a pleasure to have you

as my personal guest, Mr. Pyle.

Sergeant Pyle, U.S. Cavalry, retired.

Pyle, front and center.

All right, Private, they're all yours.

Squad, ten-hut!

Right face.

Hurry it up, Pyle.

Right shoulder, arms!

Forward march!

One, two, three, four!

To the rear, march!

Left shoulder, arms!

Hey, wait.

To the rear march!

Squad, halt!

Forward march!

One, two, three, four.

To the right, march!

One, two, three, four.

By the right flank, march!

By the left flank, march!

One, two, three, four.

One, two, three, four.

Gosh, Grandpa, I can't thank you enough for all you done for me.

I just done what one good soldier would do for another.

Well, I don't know.

If you hadn't have brought

Great-granddaddy's good luck piece for me...

It sure done the trick.

You think that emblem was what done it, huh?

Of course it was, Grandpa.

Well, I don't know about that.

Come over here, Gomer.

Let me have it.

Ain't you gonna let me carry it in my pocket no more?

You won't be needin' it no more.

Let's put it back where it belongs.

Shazam.

That's right.

Now that you know what you can do,

you won't be lackin' confidence no more.

Then it wasn't Great-granddaddy's emblem that made me do it at all.

No, and it wasn't some dingus

off a refrigerator door, neither.

Just recollect, son,

it ain't what you got in your pocket that counts.

It's what you got in there.

Shazam.

Hey, Duke, looky here.

It's a letter from Grandpa.

Good. You wanna read it?

No. Then I'll read it to you.

"Dear Grandson,

"it was sure good to visit you at the Marine Corps base.

"I am glad I got to meet your sergeant.

"Always remember, boy,

"there is one man who will always stand behind you no matter what,

"and who will help you with your problems

"no matter how big or small.

"And that man is me. Your grandpa.

"As for your fat-headed sergeant,

"just follow his loudmouth orders,

"and you will be all right.

"I hope to come back in a few weeks

"and see how you are do-doin'."

Hey, Sergeant.

A letter from Grandpa.

You wanna read it?