Original subtitles

MAN 1.: Choose your targets. MAN 2.: Pull it up, pull it up!

MAN 1.: Tally-ho! Tally-ho!

(MAN CHATTERING IN GERMAN ON RADIO)

MAN 1.: Pull it up, pull it up. Right... Charge!

Keep weaving!

(CHATTERING IN GERMAN CONTINUES)

You're on fire! You're on fire!

Bailing out.

I'm on his tail, Charlie. He's going down. Another score.

I've got one! I've got one!

I've got one. Let him go. He's had it. He's had it.

Another Jerry?

- Yours? - Mine.

All right, you two, stand guard over the plane.

(SIREN WAILING)

Open it, Scott.

One Bosh, sign here.

Come on, you. Out you get.

Thanks for the ride and for your so amusing conversation.

Is this a prisoner of war camp, Sergeant?

Right. He's all yours.

This way.

Guard, halt.

Sergeant, I want to see the Commanding Officer immediately.

Does nobody speak in this country?

SERGEANT: By the left, quick march.

Another German pilot, sir. Name of Franz von Werra.

I've put him in Room 13.

- Have you spoken to the escort? - Yes, sir.

Were standing orders followed during transit?

Yes, sir. Usual routine, sir?

Yes, let me have his file.

- Is there any pre-war record? - Yes, sir.

He joined the Luftwaffe four years ago.

His file's being brought up to date now, sir.

Stay where you are.

I will not be treated like this.

I am an officer.

This way, Mr. Werra.

Where am I going? To a prisoner of war camp?

- What rank is he now? - He's a full lieutenant, sir.

Halt!

- All right, let's have him. - Sir.

- You waste your time, Captain. - Oh, hello.

You already have my name, rank and number. I say nothing else.

No, of course not.

Just wanted to meet you and see if everything was all right.

How are they treating you? Are you fairly comfortable?

No. I wish to be sent immediately to a prisoner of war camp.

Yes, of course you do. Leave it to me.

Cigarette?

Do sit down, Oberleutnant.

Don't think we need that guard, do we?

- You needn't wait, Thompson. - Right, sir.

Let me compliment you on your English, by the way.

Very much better than my German.

If you think to get anywhere with flattery, Captain,

- You waste your time. - Get anywhere? How do you mean?

- Is this not an interrogation? - Oh, my dear fellow.

A chat and a smoke by the fire?

As for getting any military secrets out of an officer of your standing,

well, I know it's just not worth trying.

- Well, as long as that is understood. - Indeed, it is.

Oh, I'm so sorry, you haven't got an ashtray.

Souvenir of the old 1418 scrap.

I wonder who's going to win this one.

That's a very silly question, Captain.

Oh, you Germans are so supremely confident.

- Don't you know why? - How should I know?

- I'd like to if it's not giving anything away. - I'll tell you. That's not secret.

You must understand, Captain, morale depends on strength,

and we are strong.

Stronger in every respect.

- And that's the whole basis of it? - Absolutely.

The German people are as one man.

Our will to victory is...

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

How would you call that?

- Irresistible? - Irresistible.

That is our strength.

- Sounds logical enough. - It's simple.

Of course we admire England's courage to go on fighting alone,

but it's hopeless. If only you would recognize that.

Oberleutnant, you're trying to convert me.

It's I who should be trying to break down your morale.

It's a waste of time. In a few weeks,

it will all be over.

Same old claptrap.

Well, that's all been most enlightening. Thank you.

Oh, not at all. Most pleasant.

- Captain? - Yes?

One question. When shall I get my personal belongings?

And when shall I go to a prisoner of war camp?

You said one question.

When shall I go to a camp?

Why did you choose that one, I wonder?

Oh, because I like to be with other German prisoners.

- So when shall I go? - In due course.

Form up!

Air Defense Intelligence, Cockfosters.

- WOMAN. : A.D.I. Cockfosters. - A.D.I.K.

- Hello? - M.I. London Cage here, sir.

Von Werra, conditioned.

- Usual sort of thing, I suppose? - Not quite the usual.

All the routine jargon, of course, but he doesn't believe a word of it.

It just happens to suit his own book.

- Is he a keen Party member? - No, sir.

The only thing von Werra believes in is von Werra.

A mixture of bombast and sheer nerve.

Yes, sir. I should say that would be the best line.

He's certainly ripe for it.

- Well, let me have him as soon as you can. - Right, sir.

I'll have him sent over tomorrow afternoon. Good night, sir.

Oberleutnant von Werra, no less.

Now then, who would you like to be with?

We've got quite a few of your chums here.

I'll read out a list of the names and you let out a yell.

Now, how about

Lieutenant Fritz Wolff?

Oberleutnant Heinrich Mannheim?

Lieutenant Peter Kleinhert?

No?

You will not get my unit that way.

Never mind. I just thought you'd prefer it. That's all.

Let's see,

come along with me, will you?

Oberleutnant von Werra.

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

Cheer up, it wasn't your unit we wanted.

Oh, Carl, Carl!

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

(WHISPERING)

A black thing with wires.

- He's found the dummy. - Bright boy.

Rather sooner than usual.

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

Here we go.

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

Oh, dear.

Hello, RAF Intelligence. Hello, RAF.

I'm looking for the microphone hidden near the window of my room.

This is Oberleutnant von Werra calling the RAF.

Are you receiving me? Werra calling and testing.

You, Oberleutnant. Out.

(SIREN WAILING)

I want to see the Commanding Officer.

Later.

- I need a wash and a shave. - Later.

Something to read.

Later.

- I have to go to the lavatory. - Later.

Well, then, when do I have the interrogation,

- Sergeant "Later"? - Now.

Von Werra, sir.

(DISTANT EXPLOSIONS)

Thirteen aircrafts, shot down in combat.

Six destroyed on the ground.

That's quite a score, Oberleutnant.

Let me warn you, Squadron Leader,

- I do not talk. - As a minor ace of the First War,

I'm privileged to meet a major ace of the Second.

Perhaps it was you who shot me down the other day.

(LOUD EXPLOSIONS)

Oh, I regret. I'm sorry.

You mentioned your unit a moment ago, Oberleutnant.

- I tell you, I will not reveal. - And I wondered which of your friends

in the Headquarters Staffel of the Second Gruppe of

Number Three Fighter Geschwader

will look after Simba, your lion cub,

now that your deathless exploits with that unit have come to an end.

- Your old friend Sannemann, perhaps? - How...

You've come a long way since you joined the Luftwaffe in 1936, haven't you?

From obscure private, to Oberleutnant Franz von Werra,

cover boy of the magazines.

With competition for promotion so keen in the Luftwaffe,

your flair for publicity has served you well.

While other pilots keep dogs, falcons, pigs as pets,

you have a pet lion cub.

A German radio magazine, hor mit mir,

dated 24th of August, 1940.

With German bombers overhead, it's a pity you are so concerned

with the lion cub of a captured pilot.

What about this one? You're leaning on the wing of a Messerschmitt.

This could be anybody. Any of a thousand German pilots.

It lets you down, doesn't it? That signet ring.

And the rigid forefinger.

I tell you nothing.

Don't you?

It's not my fault if magazines admit my unit.

They don't. You do.

This lieutenant is...

Care to tell me the date of your promotion, or shall I tell you?

It followed your celebrated broadcast of August 30th, surely.

You surpassed yourself then, Oberleutnant.

The German radio described your action

as the greatest fighter exploit of the war.

Remember?

I do not know what you speak about.

Deutschlandsender 1,571 meters,

1800 hours, British summer time.

In German for Germany.

Listen to yourself, Oberleutnant.

(VON WERRA SPEAKING GERMAN ON STEREO)

"Six Hurricanes circling over a field.

"I hit on the idea of pretending to be part of the English squadron."

As I understand it, you claim that while you were over a British airfield,

you shot down three Hurricanes,

possibly four, as they were going in to land,

and destroyed five more on the ground.

Prefer to read it?

Tell me something, Oberleutnant,

where exactly was this airfield?

I should like to know where so distinguished an action took place.

We have no record of it.

- It has nothing to do with me. - Come, are you so modest?

- I know nothing about it. - Or so ashamed? Now,

you could persuade the German public to swallow such rubbish,

but you never dreamed of being faced with it by the British, did you?

But even your own people, do they really believe you could tag along

behind six Hurricanes and not be noticed?

Have they never heard of the Tail-end Charlie,

whose job it is to protect the rear?

Do they think we can't tell a Hurricane from a Messerschmitt?

Difference in size, the black cross, the swastika.

And what about the airfield control tower?

It has nothing to do with me.

This man's name is von Werrer, E-R.

My name ends with "A". And he is a lieutenant.

- Look. - Is that the best you can do?

Tell me,

supposing your comrades were to hear the truth about this

notable exploit of yours?

Their achievements are genuine.

What kind of a life do you think

you will lead among them in a prison camp,

when they know that your glory is largely fictitious?

If I were this Lieutenant von Werrer,

if I were,

I would answer you, "Tell my friends what you like."

They will say, "But naturally the RAF will not admit

"the loss of nine Hurricanes that afternoon."

Why not? We usually do, when it's true.

How do you prove it untrue

to the friends of Lieutenant von Werrer?

So, it is his word,

the word of a German officer and fellow prisoner,

against yours,

an enemy interrogator.

Which do you think they shall believe?

You or him?

Then I would ask myself, "What is it you want?"

Even if you could prove Lieutenant von Werrer's claims untrue,

I would still not give you military information to keep you silent.

If I were that officer.

Here's another version of your story that your friend Harry Gehm

wrote for the Berliner Zeitung.

He spells your name correctly,

and mentions your promotion.

Now you can speak for yourself.

(EXPLOSION)

The answer is the same. No.

You admit to this then?

You have, perhaps, the power to make it hard for me to live with my comrades.

But if I were to give you military information,

I would not be able to live with myself.

You have a unique code of ethics, Oberleutnant.

Now shall I go to a prison camp?

You ask that question too often.

You're not going to escape.

Squadron Leader,

I bet you a magnum of champagne to 10 cigarettes

I do escape,

within six months.

- Daily inspection in 20 minutes, sir. - Oh, thank you.

Oh, you'd better read this.

Well, it appears the Germans

have decided to postpone their invasion of this country.

- You know what that means. - Attempts to escape, sir.

I don't see anybody getting out of this place.

We intended to see.

I shall want a general tightening up all round.

- Have you got a notebook? - Sir.

In the last months, there have been many plans

from officers who are in the camp a long time.

- You are here only 10 days. - What is the hurry?

Trying to get your name in the English papers now?

What are you trying to prove all the time? That you're a fine fellow?

Everybody knows it.

Except von Werra, who is just a little not so sure.

The Wehrmacht will soon invade this country,

why escape now?

The invasion is postponed. I have told you.

Impossible. I do not believe it.

You do not wish to believe it.

I do.

And I want to escape.

Somebody must tell the High Command of these British interrogation methods.

I did not talk. You did not talk.

But many have, and more will.

They must be warned.

Anyway, I don't like barbed wire.

What is your plan?

My plan is this.

The daily exercise march.

As we leave the camp, we sometimes turn to the right, sometimes left.

Right is no use. We must turn left.

And follow this road.

Here we halt for a rest. By this wall.

So, the Tommies

always rest on the other side of the road. Here.

Go on.

Behind the other officers, I get on the wall. Like this.

And wait for the end of the rest period.

Then I drop below the wall.

Like this.

And then run. All this way

behind the wall I am out of sight of the Tommies.

Here, beyond this bend, still out of sight,

I cross the road into the woods and hide until the night falls.

And then? This is an island.

Then across country to Liverpool.

A neutral ship.

- Good afternoon, Wilson. - Afternoon, sir.

And what if the guards do not stay where they usually stay?

You will be seen on the wall.

One must have luck sometime.

If something breaks the routine.

If a truck, anything at all, comes along that road... Finished.

I come.

One thing would help much.

To have the exercise march in the afternoon, instead of the morning.

There will be less time to wait for darkness.

We'll consider it.

Up, sentry!

We'll start through the Common Room, Major.

Very well.

(PIANO PLAYING)

(MAN ANNOUNCING IN GERMAN)

(PIANO PLAYING CONTINUES)

Be seated, gentlemen.

Any complaints?

A word of warning. In the new circumstances,

of which you are no doubt aware,

some of you may be contemplating escape.

Let me dissuade you from any such folly.

If you should get out of this camp, which is in the highest degree unlikely,

the surrounding country is such that you'd probably die of hunger or exposure.

- That's all. - Oh, a request, Herr Kommandant.

Yes?

Just to have the exercise march in the afternoon instead of the morning.

Why?

In the morning, we have our educational classes.

- Very well. Make a note of that, Singleton. - Sir.

Something's hatching.

Prisoners always have complaints, as a matter of principle.

When they haven't, then you watch.

I was a prisoner myself once. I recognize the shining eye.

Do you think it has something to do with the exercise march, sir?

What's the usual strength of the escort?

- A mounted sergeant and four men, sir. - Well, see to it that's doubled.

- And I'll do the rest. - Yes, sir.

Did you escape, sir?

Oh, yes.

Give me Area Headquarters. And then the police.

All right, gentlemen, fall in.

Whatever happens they must turn left.

Guards, attention.

At ease. By the right, quick march!

Left, left. Left, right, left.

Left, left. Left, right, left...

(MEN CHATTERING)

Left wheel.

Stop at the usual place, Sergeant.

Company, halt!

Five minutes rest. Fall out.

- Good afternoon. Got any apples? - Aye.

When you've quite finished foddering your horse, Sergeant.

Stop.

Time's up! Fall in!

By the right, quick march!

Left, left. Left, right, left...

- Look! - What?

Over there.

- One of them's got away! - Come back, Daisy.

- Come back, he'll kill you. - Shout, girl, shout.

Don't, you'll get hurt.

- Hey, no! - Look out! Look, he's over there.

- Look, one's got away! - Hey, look, he's got away, over there!

Look to your front, there.

- They won't listen. Hey! - Hey! Look, he's over there.

Hey, there!

There's women for you, waving to a lot of Jerries.

Oh, come on.

(SINGING IN GERMAN)

Stop that singing! Quiet!

Sergeant, stop the column.

(PRISONERS CONTINUE SINGING IN GERMAN)

Company, halt!

Count them, Sergeant.

Stand still.

- Twenty-three, sir. Should be 24. - 23, sir.

Get after him, Sergeant. Where we halted.

Corporal Wilson, inform the C.O. There's a call box in the village.

Yes, sir.

Now. Who is it?

- Sergeant, over there, on the right. - He's there!

C.O. Grizedale.

Right. Tell Mr. Singleton, bring them back immediately.

If there's any breakaway, shoot to kill.

Get me the Area Commander. Priority.

Grizedale here, sir. Anti-escape Plan B.

One German officer. Direction almost certainly west.

Coniston Police. Priority.

MAN ON RADIO. : ... property in the capital.

Some damage was done in a town in the South West of England,

and a balloon barrage at Dover was twice attacked.

A German Air Force Officer escaped from a military camp

in the North West of England at 3.:15 this afternoon.

He was dressed in a blue shirt, black leather jacket and trousers,

and black boots or shoes. He was wearing no hat or overcoat.

This man has fair hair, blue eyes,

is clean-shaven and the forefinger of the right hand is stiff and straight.

Any information about this prisoner

should be given immediately to the authorities.

That is the end of the news.

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

SERGEANT: You're bunching up in the center! Keep spread out, look about you!

Move up there, on the right there. Move up hill.

Don't close in down the hill.

Yes, sir. Five days now.

He was last reported four miles from the coast,

but he may have doubled back, of course.

Oh, yes, we're combing the entire area

between Coniston and Duddon River tomorrow.

The Army from the north, and the police from the south and east.

Yes, we'll get him.

Good morning! How's it going?

- Nothing, sir. - Confounded nuisance, the whole affair.

Oh, I don't know. Useful anti-paratroop exercise.

- Good for us. - Yes, sir.

MAN: Hey! Hey! Come on up here! I can see your man!

Sergeant Wilson!

Up the hill, look sharp!

There he is! There he is!

Look! Over the hill!

Right-O. Thank you. Come, boy.

Hey!

He went over the hill!

She must be mistaken, sir.

- You see that patch of rough turf? - Yes, sir.

- Walk towards it. - Right, sir.

- This way, sir? - Go on.

Watch your feet!

Is he dead?

No, Colonel.

Very nearly.

See if anyone's got a spare ground sheet or something.

Get fell in on the road.

Under the terms of the Geneva Convention,

I can sentence you to 30 days solitary confinement.

It's the duty of an officer to try to escape.

Twenty-one days solitary confinement.

After that you'll be transferred to another camp.

WOMAN: All change!

Oh, blast!

WOMAN: Derby!

- WOMAN: Derby! - Come on.

All change! All change!

All change! Derby! All change!

Derby! All change!

What's the nearest station to Swanwick?

Sorry, old boy, no more trains going that way tonight.

Do you mind if I ring up the camp? Get them to collect this character.

- RTO. Try the phone next door. - Thanks.

Yes? Yes. 0800 hours. Four carriages reserved. Yes.

(SIREN WAILING)

This is an air-raid signal.

- Cup of tea, dear? - Thank you.

Fire away.

Green Howards? We'll need the lot.

All right. 1915 hours. Tuesday the 17th.

Fine. What?

Oh, she loves it. Shame to take it almost. Goodbye.

- They're sending a truck for him now. - Jolly good.

- Where's this Swanwick? - You'll find out.

And you won't get out of there.

The Swanwick Construction Company is in business.