[Military drumbeat]
[Heroic instrumental music]
SOLDIER: All ready here, sir. We're standing by and awaiting your word.
SOLDIER: Right. Over and out.
[Siren wails]
TURNER: Our man was brought down at 2:00 a.m. this morning.
SHAEF, in their all-knowing wisdom didn't let us know until 10:00 a.m.
Damned idiots for not letting us know.
Double damned idiots for ignoring our advice in the first place.
Anyway, here he is...
in a town called Werfen...
at the Schloss Adler, the Castle of the Eagles.
And believe me, it's well-named, because only an eagle can get to it.
Our job is to get inside there and get him out as soon as possible...
before they can get the information from him.
How are you so sure that he's there, sir?
The Mosquito he was in crash-landed only 10 miles away.
The Schloss Adler is the headquarters...
of the German Secret Service in southern Bavaria.
Where else would they take him?
SMITH: How did the plane crash, sir? TURNER: The most damnable ill luck.
TURNER: We carried out a saturation raid on Nuremberg last night.
A German fighter shouldn't have been within 100 miles of the Austrian border.
A wandering Messerschmitt patrol got him.
Anyway, that's not important.
What is important is that we get him out before he talks...
or I should say, you get him out.
What about paratroops, sir?
The Schloss Adler is inaccessible and impregnable.
It would require a battalion of paratroops to take it.
We haven't got the time.
Stealth and secrecy are our only hope...
and you gentlemen are, I trust, stealthy and secretive.
We realize that you've never worked together before as a team...
but you're familiar with one another, except for It. Schaffer here.
You've probably noticed that It. Schaffer...
wears the shoulder flashes of the American Ranger division.
I think that speaks for itself.
Maj. Smith will lead the group in.
You're all expert at survival behind enemy lines...
Smith, It. Schaffer...
Sgts. Harrod and MacPherson in their military capacities...
the rest of you in other duties.
You all speak fluent German.
You've been trained in different types of combat.
If anybody has a chance of getting him out, you have.
There is, of course, another way, sir.
A way with a 100-percent guarantee of success.
Neither Adm. Rolland or I claim to be omniscient or infallible.
Is there an alternative that we've missed?
Whistle up a Pathfinder squadron of Lancasters with 10-ton bombs.
I don't think anybody in that castle would ever talk again.
Nor do I think that you grasp the realities of the situation.
The captured man, Gen. Carnaby, is an American.
If we were to destroy him, then I think Gen. Eisenhower...
might launch his second front against us rather than against the Germans.
There are certain niceties to be observed in our relationship with our allies.
TURNER: Very well, then, gentlemen. 10:00 p.m. tonight at the airfield.
- No more questions, I take it? - Yes, sir.
Begging the Colonel's pardon, sir. What's all this about?
I mean, why is this man so damned important?
HARROD: Why... TURNER: That'll do.
You have all the information you require.
I think if we're sending a man to what may be his death...
he has a right to know why.
It's painfully simple, Sergeant.
Gen. Carnaby is one of the overall coordinators...
of planning for the second front.
He set out last night to meet his opposite numbers in the Middle East...
to finalize the plans for the invasion of Europe.
The rendezvous with the Russians was to have been in Crete.
Unfortunately, his plane didn't get through.
If the Germans can make him talk...
it could mean no second front this year.
- You understand, Sergeant? - Yes, sir.
HARROD: I'm sorry, sir. TURNER: That's all right. Forget it.
Now, if you have any more questions, Maj. Smith will answer them.
That's all, gentlemen.
[Airplane engine drones]
[Tense instrumental music]
PILOT: Get them ready. We're approaching the drop area.
Stand by!
Green on! Go!
[Wind whistles through trees]
Where's Harrod?
SCHAFFER: Last time I saw him, he was drifting towards those trees over here.
All right. Spread out.
Let's go and find him.
[Dramatic instrumental music]
Major!
- His neck's broken. - Damn it.
What do we do now? Do we bury him, or do we leave him here?
SMITH: We leave him here.
The snow will cover him in a couple of hours.
Get back and pick up the equipment. I want to see if the radio's still working.
[Tense instrumental music]
SMITH: The radio works. There's a barn about a mile down the valley.
We'll use it to check our equipment.
- What about the people who live in it? - There aren't any.
This is a high alpine pasture.
They bring the cattle up in May and take them down in September.
The rest of the time, the place is totally deserted.
Come on. Let's go.
[Slow, dramatic instrumental music]
JOCK: Somehow, you know, this just isn't me.
It's not any of us, Jock.
You're the cook. Cook...
some hot food and some hot coffee, and then call London on the radio.
Damn it. I left that codebook in Sgt. Harrod's tunic.
- I'll go and get it for you. - No. It's all right. It's my stupid fault.
Sounds as if it's still blowing a blizzard.
If I'm not back in an hour...
signal me with a flare pistol four times every five minutes.
That should bring a blind man home.
Might also bring the best part of a German regiment.
There's not a German within five miles.
Nobody leaves here until I come back.
- Jock, save me some coffee. - It'll be cold by then.
They say that's an advantage. You can't taste cold coffee.
[Gun cocks]
[Suspenseful instrumental music]
MARY: Halt.
Turn around.
You took your time getting here, didn't you?
Things to attend to.
Enjoy your trip?
Lovely. I nearly froze to death in that damn plane.
Why didn't you supply some hot water bottles or an electrically heated suit?
- I thought you loved me. - I can't help what you think.
You managed to bring your gear.
Is that the greeting I'm going to get?
I'm afraid so, for the time being. My radio operator was killed in the drop.
What happened?
Something struck him in the neck.
Either the haft of a knife or the butt of a gun.
The skin was unbroken, but discolored.
It means someone broke his neck just after...
to make it look like an accident.
Now listen, I'm taking the group at dawn over the ridge into the next valley.
We'll stop in the woods until about 7:00. Don't stumble into us.
As soon it's dark, we'll move into the village of Werfen.
In the village, there's a gasthaus called Zum Wilden Hirsch.
Behind it and to the right, there's a woodshed.
I'll meet you there at exactly 8:00 tomorrow night.
- After that, what? - I'll let you know when the time comes.
- I see you've come fully prepared. - Never mind about that.
How do you know about all these things, Zum Wilden Hirsch and the shed?
I'm entitled to know.
You're entitled to know nothing.
We've worked together for three years. I'm a professional.
So am I.
If I were the marrying kind, which I'm...
- I thought you were in a hurry. - So I am.
SMITH: Aren't you?
[Wind howls]
SCHAFFER: What kept you?
I was very lucky.
I ran into this fabulous blonde.
She was lying in a snowdrift.
SCHAFFER: Does she have a friend?
I'm afraid you're out of luck.
- Thanks for waiting up for me, anyway. - No problem.
Lieutenant, why don't you go to sleep?
It'll be dawn in a couple of hours. You, too, Jock.
Yeah. I'll do that.
[Radio hums and whistles]
Can't get a thing.
Probably the storm?
Yeah, we'll try again in the morning.
SMITH: Lieutenant, come with me. The rest of you stay here.
SMITH: Better leave the equipment here.
[Dramatic instrumental music]
Somebody's got to be crazy.
How'd your Colonel expect anyone to get in there?
He feels if he can penetrate the German High Command...
we shouldn't have any difficulty getting up there.
He did what?
He spent the years '40 to '43 in Germany, first in the Wehrmacht...
and then finally in General Headquarters in Berlin.
They say he knew Hitler quite well.
- I thought he looked a little nuts. - Yeah, probably is.
Now, we've got problems of our own. Get the boys into the trees.
We've brought them too far over. Be sure they go beyond that tree line.
- What about you? - I'll be along in a minute.
- Be sure they stay behind the trees. - All right.
[Train chugging in the distance]
[Train whistles]
Broadsword calling Danny Boy. Over.
[Radio hums and whistles]
AIDE: Danny Boy calling Broadsword. Father Machree is waiting.
This is Father Machree, Broadsword.
What is your present position, please? Over.
Woods due west of castle. Descending at dusk. Harrod dead.
SMITH: Over.
Was Harrod killed accidentally? Over.
SMITH: No. Over.
- By the Germans? Over. - No.
Time of next broadcast uncertain. Will you stand by?
Over.
Col. Turner and I will remain at headquarters till operation completed.
Good luck. Out.
It looks as though you're right, sir.
Yes, I'm afraid so.
Who's next, I wonder?
- Smith himself, perhaps. - I doubt that.
Some people have a sixth sense.
He has a sixth, a seventh, and an eighth.
- He's our best agent. - Except yourself.
Still and all, even if he is the best, this operation looks impossible now.
[Heroic instrumental music]
SCHAFFER: Look down there, at the foot of the castle.
SMITH: Dobermans.
SCHAFFER: Dobermans, a guard tower, and a wire fence.
Fences can be cut or climbed, Lieutenant.
I doubt if that one can be climbed. It's got around 3,000 volts running through it.
If I'm not mistaken, Major, that's an army barracks over there.
SMITH: No mistake. It's the headquarters of the Wehrmacht Alpenkorps.
Swell. If you got any other surprises, I think I ought to know about them.
I thought you knew, Lieutenant.
Why do you think we're not dressed as German sailors?
Training troops come and go all the time.
SMITH: What are six new faces among 600 new faces?
Look, Major, this is primarily a British operation.
I'm an American. I don't even know why the hell I'm here.
Lieutenant, you're here because you're an American.
[Helicopter rotors roar]
Dear Kramer, you have turned a little gray since I saw you last.
I'm afraid so, sir.
- How is Berlin, sir? - Things have changed.
You like my machine?
- It looks pretty dangerous. - You must try it.
Maj. Bergholder, my adjutant.
Maj. Brandt, Jaeger battalion.
Col. Weissner, Field Security.
Maj. von Hapen, Gestapo.
- Have you questioned him yet? - No. I was waiting for you.
That Maj. von Hapen, does he know Gen. Carnaby's here?
Yes. I did inform him of his arrival, but not of his importance.
Good. If possible, I'd prefer the Gestapo to be kept out of this matter...
- until we have the information we want. - Fine.
We don't need them cluttering up things with torture chambers.
This can remain a strictly army matter for the time being.
- I agree. - Good.
I've had a very tiring trip down here from Berlin. I'd like to freshen up a bit.
Perhaps sleep a few hours before meeting Gen. Carnaby.
KRAMER: I'll see you to your quarters.
ROSEMEYER: Thank you.
KRAMER: The meeting will be ready whenever you wish.
[Train whistles]
[Tense instrumental music]
[Men laughing]
[Church bell rings]
GUARD: Halt. Show me your papers.
GUARD: Right.
I've written many times, of course, but...
with so many troops on leave in Berlin, it's hardly likely she'd remember me.
But one always hopes you're the one she'll never forget.
What was her name, anyway?
- Fred. - Fred?
SCHAFFER: Yeah, I remember Fred. She was a short little redhead.
We'll try this one behind us.
When you get inside, circulate around.
Keep your ears open for anything about Gen. Carnaby.
We meet back here in half an hour. All right.
[Band plays lively Bavarian music]
[Din of many conversations]
SCHAFFER: Two beers.
See you later.
Anything else needed here?
And who might you be, my pretty alpine rose?
- Heidi. Stop, Major. I've got work to do. - There's no more important work...
than entertaining the soldiers of the fatherland.
- Shall I sing you a song? - I hear too much singing.
Very well, then. I'll whistle. It goes like this...
[Whistles]
I bet you have a beautiful singing voice, too.
Thank you.
SMITH: [Whispering] Be in the woodshed in five minutes.
Now slap me across the face as hard as you can.
Major. Your conduct does not become an officer of the Wehrmacht.
Herr Major, when you talk to me.
Maj. Bernd Himmler. Does the name mean anything to you?
I advise you to mind your own business in future.
Is that understood?
- Cognac. - Make that two.
I don't suppose you found out anything about Gen. Carnaby.
I didn't get around to that. Thank you.
What were you and that Major talking about?
I told him I was Himmler's brother.
I could see why that would shake him up a little.
More than a little, I should think.
Keep an eye on things. I'll be back.
SMITH: Take your clothes off.
- But I... - Don't argue. Take your clothes off.
MARY: All right.
SMITH: Now, relax. I didn't mean it that way.
You're going up to the castle tonight as a domestic.
How? Naked?
Not a bad idea, but it's a bit obvious.
There's a staff shortage in Germany and the Schloss Adler is no exception.
You're the type they're looking for, young, intelligent, good-looking...
and as we both know, not entirely without humor.
You must be mad.
If I wasn't, what would I be doing in this job?
Listen very carefully.
You're supposed to arrive on a bus from Steingaden in about 20 minutes.
Your name is Maria Schenk. You come from the Rhineland.
Give me that boot.
You've had TB and were forced to give up your job.
You have a cousin called Heidi who works in Zum Wilden Hirsch.
It's because of her that you got the job.
- Where are my identity papers? - In that case...
with your travel permit. Heidi will give you the rest later.
It must have taken time to prepare these things.
Very likely. Our forgery department did a special job on your papers.
But I thought Gen. Carnaby's plane crashed only yesterday morning.
It was carefully arranged.
The plane was crash-landed in Oberhausen military airfield...
about five miles from here.
It was riddled with machine-gun holes, British machine-gun holes.
But what the hell? A hole is a hole, as they say.
Are you trying to say that you'd risk the life of an American general...
and all the plans for the second front?
SMITH: Of course not.
Give me the other boot.
I'm in a hurry to get to the castle...
before they find out they haven't got Gen. Carnaby.
The chap they have knows no more about the second front...
than I know about the back end of the moon.
He's an American corporal.
His name is Cartwright Jones.
He's an ex-actor, probably second-rate...
but he's the dead spitting image of the General.
Did you talk this poor man into getting involved with all this?
I didn't have to. He volunteered. What actor wouldn't?
If he pulls this off, it'll be the summit of his professional career.
Mind you, it might be a short engagement.
Yes. A one-night stand.
[Knocking on door]
Here we are.
Mary, now Maria, this is your cousin Heidi.
Leave this behind in case you're searched.
Heidi will tell you what to do.
She's been one of our top agents in Bavaria since 1941 and...
What a disguise.
He left three minutes after me...
in a hurry, you say, so he wasn't after me.
Any of the others leave?
Not that I could see, but this place is so crowded...
and there are several other exits.
Any one of them could have slipped out.
You better start playing it straight or you can deal me out of this mess.
Now, we both know that radio operator wasn't killed in any drop.
With MacPherson dead, there's only five of us left.
You either let me know what's going on, or there's only going to be four.
All right, Lieutenant.
This morning you asked me why you, an American, was on this mission.
The answer is really very simple.
Oh, my dear Maria, you came after all.
My dear cousin Heidi, how wonderful to see you after all these years.
HEIDI: [Whispering] Gestapo.
I am so happy to see you.
May I introduce you to a friend of mine? Maj. von Hapen.
My cousin Maria Schenk.
Your cousin told us to expect you, Fräulein Schenk, but, Heidi...
you did not tell me she was as beautiful as this.
Thank you.
Perhaps when you're ready to take the cable car to the castle...
VON HAPEN: I'll escort you. MARY: Thank you.
And I am going with her.
Both of you? Then, I am very fortunate.
Fräulein, until a little bit later.
This is a map of the castle.
And your instructions.
Do your homework well.
[Soldiers speaking loudly]
He doesn't seem to be anywhere in here.
Wonder where the devil he's got to. I gave orders that nobody should leave.
Shall I go outside and take a look?
[Blows whistle]
[Music stops, people talk worriedly]
Attention!
We are looking for four or five Alpenkorps deserters from Stuttgart.
To escape, they killed two officers and a guardroom sergeant.
They were last known to be heading this way.
Clever. Very clever, indeed.
I want the senior officers of drafts 13, 14, and 15 to come forward at once.
Check their papers.
Gentlemen, any suggestions?
Lieutenant?
I think we'll stand a lot better chance outside than we will in here.
Agreed.
Gentlemen, see you after the war.
These papers are from the Fourth Panzer division stationed in Stuttgart.
When were they issued to him?
- Colonel. - What is it, Major?
Myself and the others are the ones you're looking for. We've come to surrender.
Lieutenant, take the three men away for questioning.
The officers will come with me.
VON HAPEN: Excuse me.
[Bell rings on telephone]
[Telephone rings]
- Yes. - Maj. von Hapen.
Yes, sir.
Fräulein.
[Tense instrumental music]
- Halt. - It's just my shoelaces.
[German soldier screams]
[Machine gun firing]
SCHAFFER: We better get rid of this. SMITH: Yeah.
Over the cliff. Let's push.
SMITH: Okay. Push.
And a little more.
VON HAPEN: Good evening, Lieutenant.
This is Miss Schenk. It. Kernitser.
She is the Colonel's secretary in charge of all the female staff.
Can I see your papers, please? And yours, Fräulein.
[Soldiers march in cadence outside]
Would you come with me, please?
- Perhaps I'll see you a little later. - Thank you.
Do you find anything interesting, Major?
I hear there was some excitement in the village tonight.
Nothing very serious.
Just the arrest of five army deserters. That's all.
Not quite. Those were the orders that were put out.
But, actually, they were five British agents dressed in German uniforms.
British agents? Why wasn't I informed?
I'm informing you now, Major.
If you sent out the orders, Colonel...
then you must have known for some time...
who they were and that they were in this district.
We called you in your office and in your rooms.
You were not there.
Colonel, I don't have to remind you, do I...
that I am in charge of all the Gestapo activities in this area...
and if there are foreign agents then I am to be informed at once!
- You were not here, Major. - Then you find me, Colonel.
My duty is to inform you, but not to search every gasthaus to locate you.
I know your duties.
And your loyalties.
Let me remind you, Major, that I'm a colonel in the SS...
and not a lieutenant whom you can frighten with your threats!
Your military rank and position are obvious to me, Colonel...
and so are your attempts to discredit me with my superiors in Berlin.
If there is any discredit, you bring it upon yourself.
Good night.
HEIDI: You better lock the door. MARY: Sure.
[Lock clicks]
HEIDI: Here are all the things you'll need.
Automatic, field glasses, ball of string, and lead weight.
- You put those things there? - A week ago.
- You knew all about this even then? - Yeah. Good luck, cousin.
We may need these.
I guess it's occurred to you, the Germans probably know about all this stuff by now.
SMITH: It did cross my mind.
Broadsword calling Danny Boy.
Over.
SMITH: Broadsword calling Danny Boy. Over.
AIDE: Broadsword, sir.
AIDE: Danny Boy calling Broadsword. Come in, Broadsword. Over.
MacPherson murdered. Thomas, Christiansen, and Berkeley captured.
I'm effecting entrance within the hour.
SMITH: Please have transport standing by. Over.
Pull out now, Broadsword. Save yourselves. Over.
You must be joking. Over and out.
That is an order, Broadsword. Over.
[Radio static]
Broadsword. Broadsword!
[Radio static]
Broadsword!
[Radio static]
Broadsword!
He's gone, sir.
Damn it!
It's all my fault.
It's all our fault, Colonel.
It was my idea.
Maybe I'm getting too old.
Maybe we're both too old.
Anyway, there can't be any doubt anymore.
The Germans have totally penetrated Ml6.
They know every move we make almost before we make it.
Where the hell are they getting it all from?
We handpicked every man for this mission.
- We have top security. - Security?
That word has become a bloody joke.
[Trucks pass by outside]
[Soldiers shouting in German]
SMITH: We've got company.
[Tense instrumental music]
SMITH: Open the window. SCHAFFER: All right.
[Dramatic instrumental music]
[Siren wails]
[Shouting in German]
[Gunshot, muffled by silencer]
[Smith chuckles]
[Motorcycle idles]
Put the bag in the bus, and see if you can start the engine.
[Drone of approaching truck]
- How's it going? - Try to give it a start.
Right.
[Engine starts]
[Engine stops]
[Tense instrumental music]
Yes. Capt. Müller, with three prisoners.
All right.
[Tense instrumental music]
[Strikes wood]
SMITH: Leave this one behind and tie that one to the end of the rope.
[Soldiers laughing]
Good God, that nearly killed me.
You shouldn't go on these insane missions.
You're getting too old.
I thank you for those few kind words.
The first time I've been hot since I was in this bloody country.
- You got a plan of the castle? - Yes.
Fetch it for me, would you?
Why don't you give him a hand?
What for? He's perfectly capable of looking after himself.
If I could climb up on my own, why can't he?
First left down the stairs, third door.
Next right-hander takes us into the east wing.
Down again. Second left.
Telephone exchange.
You wouldn't mind giving me a hand, would you?
You seem to have a lot of women stashed around this country, Major.
I'm sorry. This is Mary. She's one of our group.
- It. Schaffer. - Hello.
Hello, Mary.
Take the rope and the explosives to your room...
and bring them with you when you come.
[Suspenseful instrumental music]