Let's go! Come on!
Fall in!
The Lieutenant informs me...
...that 35 lumberjacks...
...and 17 MPs were injured...
...and six hospitalized...
...and that property damage was in excess of $3,000.
Now, every man, regardless of uniform...
...is equally guilty, and will be equally punished.
Until the damage is settled...
...every man will have deducted $1 a month from his pay.
From this point on, the entire brigade is restricted to barracks...
...for a period of eight hours.
Any additional singing...
...drinking, or celebrating...
...will be conducted with proper restraint.
That's all.
Dismissed!
"For he's a jolly good fellow
"Which nobody can deny
"For he's a jolly good..."
Come in.
Sir.
May I presume to offer you a drink?
Sit down.
Come on, lads.
I'll take a snap of you. Send a copy of this to the Krauts.
They'll bloody surrender.
Come on, big smiles. There you are.
Hugh, just one more.
My father always wanted me to graduate from something.
Right you are. That's beautiful.
Gorgeous, Rocky. Just gorgeous.
You're still a big baboon.
First Special Service Force pass in review.
Number 1 company, right turn!
- Number 2 company, right face! - Number 3 company, fall in.
First platoon, forward march.
Second platoon, forward...
...march!
First platoon, forward march.
Eyes right!
Maj. Bricker, Maj. Crown, take over.
But I can't believe it, sir.
I just don't believe it.
Bob, it's no satisfaction to me, but I knew it.
I smelled it. I warned you.
I'm very sorry.
That's comforting. Good-bye.
Come in.
- Project's been canceled. - Canceled?
God, why?
The commando raid on Norway is an entirely English project.
We're out of it. Well, we'll be getting orders soon.
What kind of orders, sir?
Disbanding the brigade. The men will be assigned to other units.
Son of a bitch.
Don't tell me I'm nuts.
I tell you, I just heard. They're bustin' up the force.
What did we break our asses for? Why?
"Ours is not to reason why."
Damn the reasons. I want more than reasons.
I'm going to Washington. Tell the men it's just a routine trip.
Give everybody a 10-day Christmas leave.
Is there a chance, sir? Have you got friends up there?
No.
But at this point, I don't care about making any more enemies.
We don't need your unit.
What we desperately need are replacements for other units.
Anyhow, orders have been issued. It's out of my hands. Gentlemen.
Sir, may I have permission to see Gen. Cullen?
Why, George, he doesn't mean to imply he's going over your head.
He's not implying anything. He's saying it.
- You've got time to waste, go ahead. - Thank you, sir.
Thank you, George.
Look, Bob, I understand, I sympathize.
But you keep on this way, you're gonna retire a Lieutenant Colonel.
General...
...I have men who care more about the one stripe they've earned...
...than I'd care if you buried me in brass.
Why do I help you? Why do I even bother talking to you?
- It's your funeral, Bob. Enjoy it. - Walter?
I want to thank you for your help...
...and your friendship.
Col. Frederick to see Gen. Cullen.
I don't believe you have an appointment, Colonel.
May I ask the nature of your business?
Would you tell the General that it's very urgent?
Gen. Cullen's in a staff meeting.
I don't expect him back before 7:00 at the earliest.
Where can we reach you?
Right here.
You're a lucky dago.
- Joy to the world. - If it ain't old handsome Ransom.
What brings you back so soon?
Sir, I found the old homestead intolerably oppressive.
Not the heat, the humility.
- Pull up a bayonet, and you sit down. - Home is where the heart is...
...also the liver, spleen, and the lower intestine.
- What you need is a drink. - True.
Come on, ante up.
- Who dealt this one? - Come on, get your money in.
This horse should have his kidneys checked.
And why aren't you all partaking of the blessings of home and family?
- What's to go home to? - I went home. Stupid sister's.
That draft dodger she married...
...you know what he called me?
"Sucker." I didn't say nothin'.
I just broke his jaw and walked out. Deal the cards, Hopalong.
- Any word from Washington? - Nothing. Not even a peep.
High muckety-muck Generals.
Jesus Christ was satisfied with just one star.
Some of those brass hats gotta have four.
You know how they get 'em? By screwin' things up.
All right, cowboy, we gonna play cards or not?
All right, I'm in.
- Ante up. - Come in, boys.
Thank you.
My sister's children. Their father's off somewhere in the Pacific.
Hasn't been home in over a year.
I guess the least I can do is make their packages look nice.
Do you have a family, Colonel?
Yes.
Not much of a Christmas for you either, is it?
Gen. Cullen's office. Gen. Cullen.
Sir, there's a Col. Frederick here.
Been waiting since 3:30. Says it's very urgent.
I see.
And a very merry Christmas to you, General.
Gen. Cullen won't be back to the office.
He says he's fully aware of your situation, but there's absolutely nothing he can do.
I'm sorry.
Colonel.
From Gen. Walter Naylor. He just phoned. Can you read it?
Merry Christmas.
Gen. Mark Clark, Gen. Hunter, Col. Frederick.
- Colonel. - General.
Thank you.
- Gen. Naylor informs me you need men. - That's right.
In Italy, we're facing a solid wall of mountain...
...defended by the best troops in the German army.
As you've doubtless heard, we're getting nowhere.
Have your boys had any mountain training?
I promise you, sir, whatever the job is, we can handle it.
That's quite a promise coming from a man with no combat experience...
...commanding an outfit that nobody wants.
Gen. Hunter's been making some inquiries. He's a little dubious.
One misfit can foul up a whole company...
...and one fouled-up company can ruin a whole attack.
A lot of your men are chronic misfits, that's the word I get.
I don't know where the General got his information, sir...
...but I can guess.
Probably from the people who sent us the misfits.
As of now, man for man, they're the best combat unit in the world.
And that's a fact, sir, not a promise. If you doubt it, let us prove it.
Unfortunately, there's no luxury in war.
Gen. Hunter won't agree with me, but this is no time to be conservative.
I do need your men, Colonel.
- When can they be ready? - Right now, sir.
Attention!
As you were.
Sorry to interrupt your religious services, but good news requires a drink...
...and I detest drinking alone.
Yes!
You've heard from the Colonel. We're still alive!
Very much alive.
I knew it.
A merry Christmas to him, to us...
...and to the brigade.
We're alive, I knew it!
Follow that stream up ahead.
Lower! Get lower.
Sir, we're gonna get our ass shot off.
- All right, let's head back. - Yes, sir.
Colonel, my first impression of you was a whole lot less than favorable.
This daredevil flight of yours... I don't want any officer around me...
...who takes unnecessary or unauthorized risks.
- Is that understood? - Not entirely, sir.
- Depends on how you define unnecessary. - Never mind the definitions.
Your outfit is being sent on an ordinary, routine patrol.
You were given maps and reconnaissance photos, right?
All of which fail to indicate that the entire route is under enemy fire.
Sure, enemy fire. Would you like to be relieved?
No, sir. But I think I've found a safer route.
Show me.
Sir, if we could enter the stream two miles above or below the bridge...
...around Hill 418, and then enter Santa Elia from the south...
Take your men two miles through ice-cold water...
...arriving, if they arrive, behind the town...
...in a position to be cut off, captured, wiped out.
- Very good. - Not if they perform as expected, sir.
What do you think Santa Elia is, a Boy Scout camp?
It's a key German supply line to the mountains and heavily fortified.
- Here it is. - Yes, sir, you're right.
Now, listen to me.
You've got to take Santa Elia sooner or later...
...but I've gotta know what we're up against.
Now, frankly, I don't know what to expect from your men.
I'm hoping they'll scout the area and bring back a few prisoners.
That's what I want from you. Is that clear?
Do I gather, sir, you're trying to test us?
You can stop worrying right now, sir. Let me tell you...
No, sir, we understand. You're quite clear, sir.
I'm glad of it.
When your outfit comes back from the patrol...
...you report to me immediately.
Yes, sir. Very good, sir.
Yeah, all right.
I must say, sir, you accepted his insults graciously.
You get a great idea, he doesn't like it. So you just forget about it, right?
Do it by the book.
That's what he thinks. What do you think?
He wants prisoners, we give him prisoners.
Damn, why does this guy love water so much?
Why? He's nuts.
Who ever heard of a Colonel on a patrol?
A daddy wants to take care of his little kiddies.
- Right, pretty boy? - Right.
- There goes my chance to be a daddy. - Don't worry about it, frog.
Keep quiet. Pass it on to the other morons.
Quiet up there!
It's only a mailman.
Peacock. You, McDonald, Bronc...
You know what to do. Kill if you have to.
But the most important thing is prisoners. We've got to get 'em.
In an hour, the whole town'll be awake, so we have to move fast.
In Deutsch.
"Silence, or you're dead."
No mistakes.
One mistake, we're all dead.
You stay here.
Drag these bodies. Hide 'em someplace. But you stay here. Let's go.
- Move. - Keep it quiet. Don't let up.
- Come on. - Come on. Keep going.
Keep it quiet. Get a move on.
Move!
- Get a move on. - Let's go.
Move!
Once more! How many men? What is your objective?
Rockwell W. Rockman, Corporal.
Serial number: 15359...
Once more! How many men? What is your objective?
Rockwell W. Rockman, Corporal. Serial number...
You bastard.
Another one? Maybe he can be persuaded.
At least he is looking more intelligent than this one.
Rocky, lad.
What have they done to you?
Peacock!
Gunter!
We took it, sir.
- Now what the hell do we do with it? - We keep it.
Does this answer your question?
At ease.
Absolutely everything you did, from beginning to end...
...was directly contrary to my orders.
Sir, I recall a lecture, some advice...
...some criticism of our ability, but I don't recall any orders.
How's your recollection concerning unnecessary risks?
Why did you lead that patrol?
If you will recall, sir, I hadn't had any combat experience.
I wanted to see what it was like.
You've never been killed, either. Do you want to find out what that's like?
- How many men did you lose? - None, sir. Six wounded, not bad.
There's no doubt, sir, that we were lucky that it worked out as well as it did.
Yeah. As well as can be expected, sir.
Come over here.
What'll you have?
Sir, I'd like about a dozen cases for the men if you can spare it.
- You're an insolent bastard, aren't you? - You're right, sir.
Two hundred German prisoners will tell you that.
- You want a drink or not? - No thank you, sir.
- Dismissed. - Yes, sir.
Sir, you must come now. It's very important.
- You won't believe what we just found out. - It's an emergency, sir.
Emergency?
What kind of an emergency? Make sense.
The clerk was going over personnel records. There's no denying it.
No doubt about it. We got proof.
Proof of what? What are you talking about?
It's your birthday. Happy birthday, sir.
Happy birthday, sir!
Give me a drink!
"For he's a jolly good fellow
"Which nobody can deny
"Which nobody can deny"
Okay, knock it off! All right. Pipe down.
Listen. If you guys can hold off gettin' drunk for a couple of seconds...
...you're gonna hear a few well-chosen pearls of wisdom...
...from that distinguished Irishman and eminent scholar...
...Maj. Crown.
Today I had the pleasure...
...of interrogating some German prisoners.
They said some flatterin' things about us...
Gangsters, murderers, savages...
But the most memorable compliment...
...came from their commanding officer.
And he referred to us as...
...members of the Devil's brigade.
Long life...
...to the devil!
- Give me a drink. - You organize this?
No, sir. It was a popular uprising.
Cast your bread on the waters, it comes back a testimonial dinner.
But where it comes from, I wouldn't be askin'.
It's done my heart a world of good the way you guys have shaped up.
I couldn't have done a better job myself.
Attention!
- General. - General.
- Frederick. - What is going on here?
Little celebration, sir.
- May I offer you a drink? - Certainly.
No, later. Is there someplace we can talk, Colonel?
This way, sir.
Mount la Difensa.
It's on the road to Rome, flanked all around by mountains.
Mount la Difensa's the key point to this entire sector.
We've been trying for weeks to take it from them.
We've had total failure. And we've had heavy casualties.
But we've got to get it.
For good behavior in prison, you're rewarded with time off.
In the army, double time, and a swift kick in the rear.
Your reward, Colonel, is la Difensa.
Study the maps, send out scouting patrols, give me a plan of attack.
General, this fellow doesn't send out patrols.
- He leads 'em. - Full Colonels are not expendable.
Sir, how low in rank does a man have to be before he's expendable?
Good night, Colonel. Enjoy your celebration.
Night, Colonel.
"Around her leg she wore a purple garter
"She wore it in the springtime and in the month of May
"And when you asked her why the hell she wore it
"She wore it for her parents who were far, far, away
"Far away, far away
"She wore it for her parents, who were far, far away..."
Our reconnaissance has shown...
...that the German guns are facing west and south.
That's why I propose that we attack from the east.
What I need from you, sir, is an artillery barrage, all you've got...
...on the forward slopes.
That'll give 'em the idea that we're attacking from here.
In the meantime, at 06:00, I can be here...
...at 09:00, here.
By reaching this point, we'll be above them, holding the high ground.
For us, it'll be a downhill fight all the way.
If we can drive them beyond these big rocks, they'll have no cover.
They'll have to surrender or die.
It sounds good, Colonel, but your attack force up that cliff in three hours...
...with weapons, ammunition, food?
You must have remarkable faith in your men.
Yes, sir, I have.
Faith moves mountains, it doesn't take them.
How would you know until we try?
Overlooking your disrespect, there's no sense trying what can't be done.
I hope the Germans have the same sensible attitude.
If, in their opinion, it can't be done, they won't be expecting us.
That'll give us a chance to get from here to here without being discovered.
I tell you, that's the only way it can be done...
...with all respect.
Any further comments?
You'll get your artillery support, Colonel. Good luck.
Thank you, sir. General.
They're giving us artillery until 09:00.
By that time, we have to be on top.
Our one and only chance is surprise.
- How much of a chance is that? - Ask me tomorrow.
Ask me now.
This'll be their Dunkirk.
We'll whip 'em this time.
There'll be nothing stopping us but a white flag.
I'd settle to be alive tomorrow night.
- Wonder how many... - 20 minutes.
Pass the word, 20 minutes.
That's quite a load, soldier.
Good luck, son.
Double-check all weapons, Captain.
Ornery...
...send my love to your wife.
If you don't make it out of here, I'll give it to her myself, in person.
I didn't mean it, you know me better than that.
- I know you. - You all packed up?
How is everybody? In good shape?
- Fine, thanks, sir. - Great.
- Leave something for the mules. - I will, sir.
Be sure everyone has a sweater on. It's gonna be cold.
Sweater, yes, sir. I'll check 'em out.
You okay?
- As well as could be expected, sir. - Need anything?
Yes, sir, an honorable discharge.
Stick around. You'll get one if you deserve it.
- Sgt. Peacock? - Sir.
- How are your men? - The best, sir.
- Take care. - Will do, sir.
How about that?
What's eating him?
Have you never heard a man say good-bye?
Holy cow. It's straight up.
What's the beef? It's only a mile high.
Greco, Guthrie, Gatling, Smith.
Three hours of artillery. Three hours only. Let's go.
Batteries ready.
Batteries fire!
This is as far as we can go.
- Overhang? - Yeah.
Give me your grappling hook.
No, Bronc. This is my part of the act, right?
We're okay. There was only one guard on this side.
Move. Get the ropes over fast.
Secure the ropes. Let's get moving fast.
Keep your head down.
- Keep down. - They're over the ridge, sir.
Stay low. Fix your gear.
Spread out. Keep down.
Keep down.
- Give 'em hell! - Cover fire!
Come on, you don't live forever.
Bastards!
- Move out. - Come on! Let's go!
Look out, Bronc!
- We made it. By God, we made it. - Not yet. Keep the fire up.
Damn right. We'll keep it up.
Medic!
- Help me. - Don't worry.
I fix you good. Don't worry, bad boy.
Give my love to your wife.
Cover me, Colonel!
Damn it to hell. Medic!
- Keep moving. - Shove it!
- Keep moving! - Medic!
Come on.
I can't...
All right! Come on!
Keep down over there. Fan out and keep moving.
Medic!
There you are, my friend. The pain will be gone in one minute.
Be right back.
- How 'bout the bullet? - We have no doctor here.
We'll get him down the hill as soon as we can.
How soon?
When we have men to carry him, if he's still alive.
Tony, I need a big crowd to help carry a wounded man.
- Take your pick. - You. Get up.
You speak English?
Never mind. It don't matter. Come on.
Pick him up. Up!
Easy.
What?
- Put me down. - Okay. Over there.
Water.
Don't be stupid. You got a belly wound.
You get no water, so just go to sleep.
Rocky!
Peacock!
No!
Come on. Let's go.
- Keep 'em covered. - Let's do it. Let's go.
Get going.
Hold the mortars!
Cease fire.
Keep 'em covered.
Major, this is your white flag.
Thank you, sir. Thank you very much, indeed.
I'm ready to discuss surrender under the following conditions...
You'll discuss nothing.
You'll keep your mouth shut and listen while I tell you the conditions.
Keep me covered. Watch them.
Come on out of there. Come out!
Come on! Move it!
He's dead, sir. Come on.
There may be a counterattack. We've got to be ready.
See that we are.
How about reporting to Gen. Hunter? Shall I do that?
No, I will. Take care of him. Come on out of there. Come out!
- Keep 'em covered. - Hands over your head!
Keep moving.
Keep going.
Come on. Close it up.
Hands over your head!
Keep your hands up.
We didn't surprise them as completely as I had hoped.
Our losses were more than I...
...made allowance for...
...including my top-ranking Canadian.
A fine officer. I'll miss him.
We're getting some artillery fire.
If there's a counterattack, we'll be ready.
We're prepared to hold until relieved.
That's all from here, sir. Over.
That's not all from here.
We tried for three weeks to take what you took in three hours.
I want to tell you, it's absolutely fantastic, and it's magnificent.
I'm going to recommend the entire unit for a citation.
I want to say to you, Colonel, I couldn't be more delighted...
... that I was absolutely wrong, and you were 100% right.
I'm pretty happy.
I want you to give my congratulations to every officer and man in the brigade.
They've unlocked the whole front and got us moving again.
They say you find out what something is worth when you pay for it.
Well, la Difensa was ours now.
Not much of a mountain, really.
But I never knew that a mountain could be so tall...
... or plain rock cost so much.
We'd won a battle, but the war went on.
Beyond la Difensa lay more peaks, more Germans, more bloody fights.
Mount Remetanea, Sammucro, Radicosa, Anzio...
... and finally Rome.
As the men fought, their legend grew.
In all its history, the force never retreated...
... never surrendered an inch of ground.
But the price was high.
The American misfits and the proud Canadians...
... lay dead in a hundred fields and crossroads.
Together they had built a myth.
Too many died to keep it true.