(CHATTERING)
MAN: Ten-hut!
(SILENCE)
(BUGLE PLAYS)
Be seated.
(SHUFFLING)
Now, I want you to remember. . .
. . .that no bastard ever won a war. . .
. . .by dying for his country.
He won it. . .
. . .by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.
Men. . .
. . .all this stuff you've heard about America not wanting to fight. . .
. . .wanting to stay out of the war. . .
. . .is a lot of horse dung.
Americans. . .
. . .traditionally love to fight.
All real Americans love the sting of battle.
When you were kids. . .
. . .you all admired the champion marble shooter. . .
. . .the fastest runner, big-league ball players, the toughest boxers.
Americans love a winner. . .
. . .and will not tolerate a loser.
Americans play to win all the time.
I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed.
That's why Americans have never lost and will never lose a war. . .
. . .because the very thought of losing. . .
. . .is hateful to Americans.
Now. . .
. . .an army is a team.
It lives, eats, sleeps, fights as a team.
This individuality stuff is a bunch of crap.
The bilious bastards who wrote that stuff about individuality. . .
. . .for the Saturday Evening Post...
. . .don't know anything more about real battle than they do about fornicating.
Now we have the finest food and equipment. . .
. . .the best spirit. . .
. . .and the best men in the world.
You know. . .
. . .by God, I actually pity those poor bastards we're going up against.
By God, I do.
We're not just going to shoot the bastards. . .
. . .we're going to cut out their living guts. . .
. . .and use them to grease the treads of our tanks.
We're going to murder those lousy Hun bastards by the bushel.
Now. . .
. . .some of you boys. . .
. . .I know are wondering. . .
. . .whether or not you'll chicken out under fire. Don't worry about it.
I can assure you. . .
. . .that you will all do your duty.
The Nazis. . .
. . .are the enemy.
Wade into them!
Spill their blood! Shoot them in the belly!
When you put your hand. . .
. . .into a bunch of goo. . .
. . .that a moment before was your best friend's face. . .
. . .you'll know what to do.
There's another thing I want you to remember.
I don't want to get any messages saying we are "holding our position. "
We're not "holding" anything. Let the Hun do that.
We're advancing constantly. We're not interested in holding on to anything. . .
. . .except the enemy.
We're going to hold on to him by the nose and kick him in the ass.
We're going to kick the hell out of him all the time. . .
. . .and we're going to go through him like crap through a goose!
Now. . .
. . .there's one thing. . .
. . .that you men will be able to say when you get back home.
And you may thank God for it.
Thirty years from now when you're sitting around your fireside. . .
. . .with your grandson on your knee. . .
. . .and he asks you:
"What did you do in the great World War ll?"
You won't have to say:
"Well. . .
. . .I shovelled shit in Louisiana. "
All right, now, you sons of bitches. . .
. . .you know how I feel.
I will be proud. . .
. . .to lead you wonderful guys into battle anytime. . .
. . .anywhere.
That's all.
(JEEPS RUMBLING)
(DOG BARKS)
The Arabs need food and clothing.
They strip our dead before we can even bury them.
Looks like the reports were pretty accurate.
Sixty-one armored vehicles, 45 tons of ammunition. . .
. . .twenty-five 40mm guns, three self-propelled 1 05s.
Not counting mortars, machine guns, rifles. . .
. . .pistols, telescopes, belt buckles, Gl socks.
One thousand, eight hundred men.
(CHEERING)
(SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
Our people salute you, general. . .
. . .for your brilliant amphibious landing on the continent of Africa. . .
. . .and for your enlightened administration of our country.
I've enjoyed being here, Excellency.
Naturally, I'd prefer to be in Tunisia fighting the Germans.
(BAND PLAYS)
"The lions in their dens tremble at his approach. "
I appreciate that, Excellency.
(BAND PLAYS)
Magnificent!
I wish our troops looked that good.
Tell me, general, what do you think of Morocco?
I love it, Excellency.
It's a combination of the Bible and Hollywood.
BRADLEY: These men fight at Kasserine? CARVER: Yes, sir.
For the American Army to take a licking like that. . .
. . .the first time at bat against the Germans. . . .
Up against Rommel, what we need is the best tank man we've got.
Somebody tough enough to pull this outfit together.
-Patton? -Possibly.
God help us.
(SIREN WAILS)
(SPEAKING IN ARABIC)
Lieutenant. . .
. . .where is the duty officer?
Sir. . . .
-He said he's caught at shaving. -Why isn't he here on duty?
Guess he needed a shave.
We got a new commanding general due today.
(CRASHING)
MAN: Who the hell is kicking me in the butt?
Oh, sorry, sir.
-What were you doing down there? -Trying to get some sleep, sir.
Well. . . .
Get back down there, son.
You're the only son of a bitch here who knows what he's trying to do.
Yes, sir.
PATTON: Brad, how the hell are you? -Fine, George. Good to see you.
We were all under the impression you wouldn't be here until 0900.
Yes, I gathered that.
-You know my boy, Dick Jenson. -Yes.
Brad, tell me.
-What are you doing here? -Ike wanted a report on Kasserine.
Meanwhile, I have to stay here as an observer. . .
. . .but I report directly to Ike.
You're spying.
Get me General Eisenhower's headquarters.
Tell me, Brad. . .
. . .what happened at Kasserine? I heard it was a shambles.
Apparently, everything went wrong.
We'd send over a 75mm shell, the krauts would return an 88.
Their tanks are diesels.
Even when we managed to hit one they kept on running. Our tanks. . . .
The men call them "Purple Heart boxes. "
One hot piece of shrapnel and the gasoline explodes.
I warned them about the tank.
I taIked to one of the soldiers about the half-tracks.
I asked them if the machine-gun bullets pierced the armor.
And he said, "No, sir.
They just come through one side and rattle around a bit. "
I understand they had a little trouble coordinating the air cover.
The trouble was no air cover.
-General Smith on the line, sir. -Excuse me, Brad.
Bedell?
Listen, I'm calling about Bradley and his job here.
I need a good number-two man, I want to make Brad my deputy commander.
You clear it with Ike?
All right, thanks, Bedell.
Now you're not spying for Eisenhower anymore, you're working for me.
-Okay? -Fine, okay.
Dick. You got those stars?
-Yes, sir. -Let's get them on.
What's the matter, Brad? I've been nominated by the president.
I know, but it doesn't become official until it's approved by the Senate.
Well. . .
. . .they have their schedule and I have mine.
George. . .
. . .if you were named admiral of the Turkish Navy. . .
. . .I believe your aides could dip into their haversacks. . .
. . .and come up with the appropriate badge of rank.
Anyway, congratulations. Premature congratulations.
You know. . . .
I think those stars look better on a green shirt.
Did I ever tell you about the time I designed a uniform for tank crewmen?
It was green leather, it had red stripes. . .
. . .and sort of a row of brass buttons down across here.
And topped off by a gold football helmet.
The Army rejected it, of course.
Goddamn, it was beautiful.
(WHISTLE BLOWS)
Lloyd Fredendall is just leaving.
George, there's one other thing I put in my Kasserine report.
Some of our boys were just plain scared.
That's understandable.
Even the best foxhound is gun-shy the first time out.
I can remember. . .
. . .when nothing frightened me as much as the idea of. . .
. . .a bullet coming straight for my nose.
I don't know why, but the image of a bullet coming right for my nose. . .
. . .was more horrible than any other possibility.
Well, I can understand that, with such a handsome nose.
You want to know why this outfit got the hell kicked out of it?
Blind man could see it in a minute.
They don't look like soldiers. They don't act like soldiers.
Why should they fight like soldiers?
You're absolutely right. The discipline's pretty poor.
ln about 1 5 minutes we're going to start turning these boys. . .
. . .into fanatics, razors.
They'll lose their fear of the Germans.
I hope to God they never lose their fear of me.
Up bright and early, general? Breakfast?
Have all my officers finished breakfast?
We're open from 6 till 8.
Most of the officers are just coming in, sir.
Please inform these officers the mess hall is closed.
But, sir! It's only a quarter to 8.
From now on, you will open at 6 and no one will be admitted after 6: 1 5.
Where are your leggings?
Leggings? Well, hell, general, sir, I'm a cook.
You're a soldier.
$20 fine.
Gentlemen. . .
. . .from this moment any man. . .
. . .without leggings, without a helmet, without a tie. . . .
Any man with unshined shoes or soiled uniform. . .
. . .is going to be skinned.
This is a barracks. It's not a bordello.
(CHATTERING)
-Good morning. -Good morning, sir.
Doctor.
Sir.
I understand you have two cases of self-inflicted wounds.
Yes, sir, we do.
Get them out of here.
One has developed a serious infection.
I don't care if he dies, just get him out of here.
Doesn't belong in the same room with men wounded in battle.
-I'll see that they're moved. -One more thing.
There'll be no "battle fatigue. " That's an order.
Battle fatigue is a free ride to the hospital.
I'm not going to subsidize cowardice.
Yes, sir.
Doctor. . . . Where's your helmet?
I don't wear a helmet in the hospital.
Start.
I can't use my stethoscope when I'm wearing my helmet.
Well. . .
. . .then cut two holes in your helmet so that you can.
And get those yellow-bellies out of here, today.
Hold it.
Turn right, here.
The battlefield is ahead.
Don't argue. I can smell a battlefield.
He was out here yesterday.
It's over there. Turn right, damn it.
It was here.
The battlefield was here.
The Carthaginians defending the city. . .
. . .were attacked by three Roman legions.
They were brave, but they couldn't hold. They were massacred.
Arab women. . .
. . .stripped them of their tunics and their swords and lances.
The soldiers lay naked in the sun. . .
. . .2000 years ago.
I was here.
You don't believe me.
You know what the poet said:
"Through the travail of ages
It's the pomp and toils of war
Have I fought and strove and perished
Countless times upon the star
As if through a glass and darkly
The age-old strife I see
Where I fought in many guises Many names
But always me. "
You know who the poet was?
Me.
There's an opportunity for us to mount an offensive.
We've concentrated on the flank. . .
. . .draw strength from the British.
It appears now that we could. . .
. . .split the African corridor.
Drive through Rommel to the sea.
I'm sorry, but that territory has been reserved. . .
. . .for General Bernard Law Montgomery.
We're supposed to let him win this one no matter what.
They're entitled to have their hero.
Montgomery did push Rommel clear across North Africa.
What about the Americans? Don't they need a hero too?
You have anybody in mind?
Air Vice-Marshal Coningham is here with General Buford.
Excuse me, gentlemen. . .
. . .while I ask our British friends what's happened to our air cover.
BRADLEY: Harry.
How are you?
George. Good to see you.
-You know Arthur Coningham. -Sir Arthur.
Delighted to see you.
I've heard so much about you.
Gentlemen, it appears there's been a slight misunderstanding here. . .
. . .and Ike thought we should fix it.
No, no. No misunderstanding.
We're supposed to have Allied air cover and we don't.
German planes are strafing my troops.
lf I may say so, general, I'm afraid your operation reports are inaccurate.
Report? Three days ago, the crowds took off after my command car. . .
. . .ran my ass into a ditch.
My staff has assured me, we have complete air supremacy. . .
. . .everywhere in the Mediterranean.
PATTON: When I complained about air cover. . .
. . .you said our troops were not battleworthy.
You spoke of the discredited practice of using air force as an alibi. . .
. . .for lack of success on the ground.
I have to wet-nurse Montgomery, I don't have to stand for that.
I sincerely apologize for that remark, whoever made it.
And I promise you one thing, general:
You will see no more German planes.
(CHICKEN SQUAWKS)
We were discussing air supremacy, Sir Arthur.
(HORN HONKS)
(GUNFIRE)
Damn door won't open!
By God, that's enough!
Get that thing out of here!
Come on, you bastards, take a shot at me on the nose!
Get back in here, George! We need a corps commander, not a casualty.
CONINGHAM: How'd you manage to stage that?
I don't know. . .
. . .but if I could find the Nazis flying those things. . .
. . .I'd give them each a medal.
PATTON: Can't get over how cold it gets in the desert.
Awfully cold, sir.
PATTON: Rommel's out there somewhere, waiting for me.
JENSON: Yes, sir.
PATTON: You know. . .
. . .if I had my way, I'd send that genius son of a bitch. . .
. . .an engraved invitation in iambic pentameter:
A challenge in two stanzas to meet me alone in the desert.
I'll deliver it.
Rommel in his tank and me in mine.
We'd stop about 20 paces. We'd get out, we'd shake hands. . .
. . .then we'd button up and do battle, just the two of us.
That battle would decide the outcome of the war.
It's too bad jousting's gone out of style.
It's like your poetry, general.
It isn't part of the 20th century.
You're right, Dick.
The world grew up.
Hell of a shame.
Dick, I want a 24-hour guard put around this area.
lf we don't, the Arabs will dig them up for their clothes.
Yes, sir.
Our graves aren't gonna disappear like everybody else's who fought here.
The Greeks, Romans, Carthaginians.
God, how I hate the 20th century.
General.
General?
We intercepted a German radio message.
Rommel's 1 0th Panzer is going to hit us near El Guettar.
Rommel, huh?
(BRAYS)
All my life. . .
. . .I've wanted to lead a lot of men in a desperate battle.
Now I'm going to do it.
Look.
Battalion strength at least.
They haven't spotted our positions yet.
They'll get an education in about 1 0 seconds.
Wait till they get a dose of that artillery fire.
Commence firing. Fire at will.
Commence firing. Fire at will. Commence firing. Fire at will.
What a hell of a waste of fine infantry.
-Get General Bradley on the radio. -Yes, sir.
Sir, I can't raise him.
Go tell him to hit them hard. Here's where we hold them by the nose. . .
. . .and kick them in the ass. Go on.
Put him in my car.
(PLANE WHINES)
Rommel. . .
. . .you magnificent bastard. I read your book!
PATTON: Captain Richard N. Jenson was a fine boy.
Loyal, unselfish and efficient.
I am terribly sorry.
There are no coffins here since there is no wood.
We will have a trumpeter and an honor guard...
...but we will not fire the volleys as people would think an air raid was on.
I enclosed a lock of Dick's hair in a letter to his mother.
He was a fine man...
...and a fine officer.
And he had no vices.
I shall miss him a lot.
I can 't see the reason such fine young men get killed.
There are so many battles yet to fight.
NARRATOR: Battle-weary, but victorious, American Gls and Tommies...
...of the British 8th Army meet in an Allied victory celebration...
...at Wadi Akarit in North Africa.
For the first time in this war, Broadway and Piccadillyjoin hands.
Meanwhile, General Montgomery, hero of El Alamein...
...continues to lead his victorious British 8th Army...
...in a relentless drive against Rommel's vaunted Africa corps.
(SPEAKS IN GERMAN)