I grandi condottieri (1965) - full transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING]

NARRATOR: Freedom was barn
for the Israelite peoples

about 3,200 years
ago, when Moses

freed them from
Egyptian bondage.

Later in the history
of the Hebrews,

Gideon and Samson were
to prove that freedom

must be won in every generation.

Gideon and Samson were
leaders of their people,

whom the Bible called judges.

When the Hebrews came to
dwell in the Promised Land,

they forgot the God of
Israel who had redeemed them



and began to worship to pagan
gods of their neighbors.

The anger of the Lord was
kindled against Israel,

and he sold them into the power
of their enemies roundabout.

[BATTLE CRIES]

Then, the people cried out
to the Lord, their God.

and he listened and looked
upon them with compassion.

Long before the days of
Samson, great troubles

had come upon Israel.

Midianites bands of
raiders descended upon them

and carried off their
crops and their animals.

One peasant was able to
outwit the Midian bandits.

The peasant's name was Gideon.

-You're the only one
who saved his crop.

It takes a clever man
to do that, Gideon.



All the others were taken
by surprise in the fields,

but not you.

-That's too bad for them.

You all know that the same
thing happens every year.

No sooner is the
harvest ready, then

those greedy Midianites
descend like locusts.

They don't leave us a sheep, an
ass, a grain of wheat, nothing.

Why can't the others
think of it in time?

I cut my grain when it's still a
bit green and bring it up here.

-Maybe it's the
fault of the people

down there, around
the Alter of Baal.

-Even if they
believed in Johovah,

they wouldn't be spared.

They're not very
bright, that's all.

-They've become
idol worshippers.

They've done evil in
the eyes of Jehovah,

and Jehovah has abandoned them.

-I knew it!

I knew it the moment
I set eyes on you.

Every time we're
in trouble, someone

arrives with a sermon
all ready for us.

Profits and wise men,
that's all Jehovah sends us.

And all they ever do is repeat.

You've become idol worshippers.

You've done evil in
the eyes of Jehovah.

Jehovah has abandoned you.

-Jehovah's also
sent you his judges.

-Yes, but for some
time now, we've

had to make do with prophets,
unless, you are the new judge

who's come to save Israel
from the Midianites.

-No, Gideon, I'm not.

But I know whom the Lord
has chosen this time.

-You do, do you?

And who could he be?

-It's you, Gideon.

-Look here, friend,
that's not funny at all.

-It wasn't meant to be funny.

-Who are you, anyway?

You spring up out of nowhere.

You know all about me, and I
don't know anything about you.

I'm Gideon, all right, but
as far as I'm concerned,

you are nobody.

-The Lord knows you
are a brave man.

And even if you don't
seem to be aware of it,

you will free your brothers
from the yoke of Midian.

-Come now, you
speak as if the Lord

had whispered all that
stuff in your ear.

-He has Gideon.

-(ANGRILY) Oh, stop it!

My family is the poorest
in the tribe of Manasseh,

and I am the least
in my father's house.

How can you think that--

-The Lord is with you,
what are you afraid of?

The first thing you must do
is this, take a young bull

and pull down the Alter of
Baal, cut down its sacred pole,

then build there an alter
to the lord your God

and sacrifice the bull to him.

-(WORRIED) No, you can't.

You can't order me to do that.

If I destroy the Alter
of Baal, I'll-- they--

They will tear me to piece I--

-I'm not the one who
is asking you, Gideon.

It is the Lord who orders you.

Your unconscious wants it.

NARRATOR: Gideon wanted a proof
that it was truly the Lord who

was commanding him
to fight the enemy.

He placed a fleece
outside his house

and asked that dew
appear upon the fleece

alone and not upon the ground.

ANGEL OF GOD: That's what
you wanted, isn't it?

-Did you sleep out here?

-I had to, no one asked me in.

-I know but-- Was it full?

-Yes.

-And what became of the water?

-I drank it.

I don't know why, but last
night I felt very thirsty.

-Hm.

Hm.

Well, uh--

-Come now, tell me, what must
I do to put your mind at rest?

-You mustn't think
I'm any different

from the other peasants.

I have all their faults, and
maybe a few more besides.

Are you hungry?

It will break your teeth.

Distrustful, that's
what all peasants are.

You can't really blame them.

What I mean to say is
I want another proof,

but not like the first one.

This time-- this
time the goat skin

must be dry while all
the ground around it

must be covered with due.

-Very well.

-Very well?

Is that all you can say?

Very well.

And this time, we'll
both go in my stable

and wait there together.

-Very well.

Come on.

[ROOSTER CROWING]

-All right!

It's dry.

But look here.

I don't know how to lead people.

I can tell them how to hide
their wheat or how to-- Here.

This is my son.

You see?

Has a knife in his hand.

Ask him what he's got
to do this morning.

All right then, I
tell you myself.

I don't even have the
courage to kill a rabbit.

When it has to be done,
he's the one who does it.

Otherwise, I-- everyone,
everyone here knows it.

I-- who would follow me into
battle against the Midianites?

-Maybe you're right.

Still, you might at
least give it a try.

-The shadow is already
up to the stone,

and I still can't see anybody.

-It hasn't reached
the center yet.

-It's almost there.

-They are coming.

in the middle Zebulun.

On the right, the
men of Naphtali.

On the left, the
tribe of Manasseh.

-Welcome!

Welcome, my friends.

Good.

Fine.

How may soldiers do you
think there are, huh?

How many?

How many more of this?

-Perhaps 2,000.

-Nearly 5,000.

(ANGRILY) I told
you to stay home.

-But I-- I finished
all there was to do.

The grains all
threshed and the hay--

-On a farm, there's
always something to do.

Understand?

-Yes.

-You know what I have in mind?

We'll attack the
Midianites in a new way.

First, the animals, goats,
asses, the few horses

we have, and then, we'll
send forward the old men,

and the young will follow.

-Don't you think that
would be too many?

-What?

-All those men.

-But--

-What you say about
yourself is right.

Even a blind man can see
your the last man on Earth

to wage a war, and maybe that's
why Jehovah has chosen you.

-Is that-- is that your opinion
or are you saying it because--

-It's my opinion.

It seems to me the
important thing

isn't just to win, but to
win with a handful of men.

And they must be led
by someone like you.

-Like me?

-That's the only way
the people of Israel

will realize they have been
saved, and saved by Jehovah.

-Uh, I don't know what to say.

I'm willing to do anything, cut
off my hair, grow a long beard.

Bring me some stone.

If you want, I'll
start eating the stone.

Eh?

Brothers, it seems that
there are too many of us.

And I'm afraid it would be
like when people of goodwill

have to work in the fields with
others who are lazy or tired.

Then, the work doesn't
go well at all.

The more people there are,
the less work gets done.

War is also a kind of work.

The most terrible kind of
work, the most unrewarding.

I know I'm asking a
great sacrifice of you,

but I'll say it just the same.

Whoever is afraid can go home.

-What?

You'll let anybody who's
afraid vanish into thin air?

-Anyone, except you.

Wait!

Wait a minute.

Where are you going?

-What do you mean where?

Home.

-Home?

Big and strong as
you are, you're

running away because
you're afraid.

-But didn't you say we
could go home if we wanted?

-I did, but I thought only old
men and boys would go home.

-So much the worse for you.

-Go!

Go you cowards!

This keeps up, there'll be
only 2,000 or 3,000 left.

-If you ask me,
that's still too many.

However, I--

-I wonder why we don't
charge the Midianites, just

the two of us.

[DRUMMING]

-Maybe you're right.

We're still too many.

It's better to outwit
the Midianites.

I have a-- a very clever plan.

-I see you're beginning
to talk sense.

-There is still one
problem I can't solve.

How can I send home all
these men we don't need?

There must be some way.

-It shouldn't be too difficult.

You could do it this way.

At the next spring, some
men will drink water calmly,

with their hands, those
you keep with you.

And you'll send home those who
throw themselves down and lap

up the water with their tongues.

-When you've finished, go
over to that palm tree.

-Yes, Gideon.

-Join the others under
that palm tree afterwards.

-Yes.

Yes.

-Go under the palm tree when
you're finished drinking.

Next group, go do it.

How many are there?

-Not many.

-How many?

-About 300.

-(ALARMED) Only 300?

Only 300.

I haven't the courage to tell
the others we don't need them.

You speak to them.

Tell them that lions
and wild beasts

are caught only by
cunning, with traps.

-You think it's a
good idea or not?

-Excellent.

-Have you taken your pitcher?

-I won't need it.

I'll stand aside and watch.

-What?

You'll stand aside?

-I didn't drink a drop
with my hands, did I?

-You've had your fun,
friend, but don't overdo it.

You're coming with us, or else,
I'm going home like the others.

What's become of him?

-Who?

-The fellow with the little
stick, that friend of mine.

Wasn't he here, near you?

-He's gone.

Come and see.

[WHISTLING]

-Fura's and Jeter's men
are already moving forward.

NARRATOR: And he divided the
300 men into three companies.

And he put into the
hands of all of them,

horns and empty pitchers.

And he said unto
them, look on me

and do likewise, and behold when
I come to the outermost part

of the camp, it shall be that
as I do, so shall yee do.

When I blow the horn, I
and all that are with me,

then blow yee the horn also
on every side of the camp

and say, for the
Lord and for Gideon.

So Gideon and the 100
men that were with him

came into the outermost
part of the camp,

in the beginning of the middle
watch, and they blew the horn

and broke in pieces the pitchers
that were in their hands.

And the three companies blew the
horns, and broke the pitchers,

and held the torches
in their left hands,

and the horns in their right
hands wherewith to blow,

and they cried, the sword
for the Lord and for Gideon.

And they stood every man in
his place roundabout the camp,

and all the hosts ran,
and they shouted and fled.

SOLDIER 1: There is Gideon!

Long live Gideon!

SOLDIER 2: Hurray for Gideon!

-Look at these, Gideon.

They're mine, all mine.

-Here.

Where were you hiding?

-Nowhere, I was with your men.

-No.

I never saw you.

You're a liar!

Besides, you left
your pitcher behind.

-I don't think I've lied to you.

After all, you've won.

-I know I have.

But it was due to
my courage after you

made me fight with
only a handful of men.

Why are you smiling?

-I'm smiling because
this too was foreseen.

-What was foreseen?

-That you'd lose your head.

Don't you see?

Now, you think you're
the one who defeated

the Midianites with
pitchers and torches.

-Well, who did it then?

-It was the fire.

In their fright, they
slaughtered each other.

Surely, you saw it happen.

-Yes, but if I'd stayed
behind like you--

-Your cowardice
was not foreseen.

-All right then, you who
know everything, tell me,

what do you foresee
I'll do next.

-You'll pursue the Midianites.

-Not a chance!

I may be a pleasant, but
I do know our men on foot

can never catch up
with camels in flight.

Come here!

Take them horses and rush
to the Mountain Israel.

Tell all the men
of Israel to occupy

the fords along the Jordan.

They must attack and
crush the Midianites

when they try to
cross the river.

-Come on!

Let's go!

-I see you don't
need me anymore.

Very handsome, but it seems
a little tight for you.

-On the contrary, it
fits me very well.

NARRATOR: And Gideon did
pursue the Kings of Midian

and their hosts with them.

And there fell 120,000
men that drew the sword.

And Gideon slew the
Midianites and captured

their King, Zebah and Salmunna.

GIDEON: Enough!

That'll teach a lesson
to anyone else who's

thinking of standing
up to Gideon.

[INAUDIBLE] I'll tear
their cursed flesh

with thorns and brier.

And now bring Zebah
and Salmunna here.

SOLDIER 3: Longlive Gideon!

SOLDIER 4: Gideon,
King of Israel!

SOLDIER 5: Gideon,
long live Gideon!

SOLDIER 6: Death
to his worst enemy!

Long live Gideon!

SOLDIER 7: Gideon,
long live Gideon!

SOLDIER 8: Gideon,
King of Israel!

SOLDIER 9: Longlive Gideon!

Gideon, King of Israel!

Hurray for Gideon!

-Give me the sword.

Come here Jeter.

For you, my son, the
honor of killing them.

-I can't do it, father.

-I said kill them.

-They're-- they're not rabbits.

-Spare us the shame of
being killed by a boy.

-Kings must be killed
by kings, Gideon.

[LAUGHTER]

-A fine king you'd make,
Gideon, a king who can't even

kill his enemies and has
to ask others to do it

for him, even on the battlefield

[LAUGHTER]

[CROWD CHEERING]

-Gideon, Israel thanks you.

You must reign over
us, and after you,

your son, and the
son of your son,

because you have
freed us from Midian.

-I am a peasant, a peasant.

I didn't free you.

I didn't free you from
the yoke of Midian.

Jehovah freed you, using me
and 300 other simple peasants.

We couldn't have destroyed
such a well-trained army

without the help of God.

No, my friends, I will not
rule over you, nor will my son.

Jehova will rule over you.

NARRATOR: Although Gideon
renounced the throne,

the people were
anxious to reward him.

They contributed to him
a part of their shares

of the spoils of war.

Gideon built a [INAUDIBLE]
with these gifts

and returned to his fields.

He lived on for 40 years.

And the country was at peace.

But the Israelites gratitude to
their God was soon forgotten.

And once again, they
turned to idolatry,

and the Lord sent new
judges to try to save them.

And there was a certain
man whose name was Manoah,

and his wife was barren.

And as Manoah worked in the
field, an angel of the Lord

spoke.

"You're wife will
conceive and bare a son.

He will be a Nazarite
chosen of the Lord,

and he will vow never to
cut a hair on his head.

It will be he who begins
the deliverance of Israel

from the hands of
the Philistines.

And the woman bore a son
and called his name Samson.

The Philistines came from
across the Mediterranean

and made themselves
masters of the Hebrew.

Cruel and ruthless warriors,
they showed no mercy.

When Samson grew to manhood,
he became the champion

of the Hebrews and the
scourge of the Philistines.

The Philistines captured
and enslaved multitudes

of Israelites, but the one
they wanted above all others

was Samson.

-It's true.

The Philistines fear you.

The mention of your
name terrifies them.

But you can see that
for yourself, Samson.

Now, you must make the decision.

-If I agree to this
exchange, do you

think the Philistines
will set the captives free

and leave you in peace?

-Samson!

-Samson!

-Set us free!

-Samson!

-Put them with the
other captives.

-OK.

Move!

Move along!

-Samson!

-Come and free us!

-Why haven't you kept the
promise you made to my people?

-Because some promises
are made to be broken.

-It was by your order that
I have been brought here.

-It is enough for me that
they have done their job

and done it well.

-Kill him!

Kill him!

NARRATOR: The news of
Samson's latest exploit

was carried far and wide.

In due time, it was
brought to the ruler

of the Philistines,
the Prince of Gaza.

-A thousand, a thousand
Philistines killed by one man.

And with what weapon?

A jawbone of an ass.

And this is the end of a
campaign planned for one

purpose only to destroy
one man who has beaten us

at every turn for
almost 20 years.

Ferim, I still hear
your reassuring words.

"I have a foolproof plan.

We won't even have
to make the effort

to tie him down ourselves."

-Don't blame me because your
soldiers let him escape.

-Ah, yes.

Nabur, you and your 1,000 men
at arms, much good they were.

-We were not
defeated by one man.

That sudden wind, that storm of
dust, perhaps the God of Israel

is--

-(ANGRILY) Lies!

Words!

Excuses!

There has been wind
and dust in the past,

and we have one
against greater odds

and a larger army than ours.

The wind?

The God of Israel?

I ask myself what have I
done that I have such fools--

see that the city gates
are closed at once.

-Wait a minute!

Wait!

Don't close it yet.

Come one you stupid
sheep, you fools!

Keep going, come on!

-Hurry up!

Get inside, you, Get inside.

-There are still some outside.

-Get out of our way!
-My sheep!

My sheep!

-Get out!

Close it.

-Come on fools.

NARRATOR: The sacred whisper
to the Prince of Gaza

was that Samson was close by.

It was no secret, however,
that the mighty Samson

had one weakness, his love for
the Philistine woman, Delila.

It was this fatal attraction
that drew him inside the gates.

-Huh?

-Where did they come from?

-Look.

Huh?

[SHEEP CRYING]

GUARD 1: Samson!

Samson's out there!

GUARD 2: There he is!

GUARD 1: Stop him!

GUARD 2: It's Samson!

[GONG CLANGING]

NARRATOR: Delila,
also, had a weakness,

love for jewels and finery.

-Move on.

What are you staring at?

-Are those the
gates Samson stole?

-Move on.

Get going.

Move along!

-Look at this.

-And you, what do you want?

-Me?

Nothing.

-Too little.

-Would you like a
jar of rare ointment?

A red rose?

-My necklace!

-What do you want?

-Please!

-Leave me alone!

-Give me back my necklace.

-No!

-She's a thief.

-Let me go!

-She's a thief!

Give me back my necklace.

-I didn't steal anything.

Leave me alone.

No!

-My necklace!

-Leave me alone!

I'm not a thief.

Let me go.

No!

-I knew it as soon as I saw
her that she was a thief.

[SCREAMING]

[SCREAMING]

-Are you sure the God
statue is strong enough

to support the
weight of the temple.

-Well, it had better be.

If the temple falls,
so will my head.

[DRUMMING]

-They told me that you
were very beautiful

and that you deserved
a better fate.

But perhaps you prefer the
quiet life of the country.

No, you are not that foolish.

Surely you know what it would
be like for a beautiful girl

to live here, buying clothes,
jewels, every luxury.

And you also know
that these things

are not come by for nothing.

You see Delila-- we know
that Delila is your name.

All we want to know is what
is the secret of his strength,

the man you are living
with, the man called Samson.

Don't be frightened.

You love him?

Very well, I promise you
I won't have him killed.

I could send my
soldiers to do that.

We have known for some time
that he is hiding in your house.

And so just this aid from
you, and you can have anything

you want.

-Guess what I found.

In a puddle, I was
looking for a stone.

Instead, I-- a merchant
must've lost it.

-I don't like it.

It must be false.

I've seen more beautiful ones.

-Where?

-Around the necks of women
more fortunate than I am.

-Delila.

-I've been thinking that you
don't love me, otherwise,

you would try to make me happy.

With your strength, you
could have everything.

-You don't know, Delila,
this strength of mine

is a burden on me, a heavy load.

You could waylay a caravan,
break the strongest lock.

-Do I have to be a thief, too?

-Oh no.

No, not a thief.

But it is a pity
that you don't use

the strength in
those great arms.

-It is in your arms, isn't it?

-Certainly, it's in my arms

-Yes, but it isn't just
a question of muscles.

There must be a secret about it.

I would think--

-Yes, there is a secret.

I could never escape.

If I were bound with seven
wet strips of animal tendons,

like those.

Then, a child could do
what he wanted with me,

and so could you.

-Hold still.

And now, have you
lost your strength?

-Yes.

-Samson, the Philistines!

[LAUGHTER]

-Liar.

Liar.

Liar.

You're a liar!

You're a liar!

There is no secret.

Samson is strong, that's all.

-Samson is deceiving
you, Delila.

-That's not true.

He loves me.

Anyway, it's none
of your business.

But if you want him,
you know where he is.

Why don't you go and get him?

Are you afraid of just one man.

A man who can kill 1,000
well-armed men and carry off

the gates of Gaza cannot
be conquered by force.

We don't want to go sacrificing
our lives for nothing.

You promised to find out
the secret of his strength.

-I've tried 3 times.

He just makes fun of me.

And besides, I don't want to.

-You know what is
happening to me?

I'm becoming fond of
this house and of you.

I've realized that perhaps--
what's the matter with you?

-It isn't true.

I know that you're
not happy here.

-You're thinking of your
people, and sooner or later,

you'll get bored
with me and leave.

So what do you expect?

That I should laugh
and joke and be happy.

-Delila, once, a long time ago,
I met a girl and fell in love.

She was the daughter of
a certain [INAUDIBLE].

She betrayed me on the
very day of our wedding.

On that day, Delila, I've
never trusted a woman.

But you Delila,
you are different.

You want to help me.

Your faithful to me.

Why are you crying?

I didn't mean to hurt you.

I only wanted to tell
you that I trust you.

Listen, I'm going to
give you the proof.

You've asked me many
times to give you

a proof, a real
proof of my love.

All right.

I'm going to give
you that proof now.

I'm going to tell the
secret of my strength.

-No, Samson.

No.

-You're afraid that I'm
going to lie to you again.

I made up those
stories because I

wasn't sure that
I could trust you.

But now-- now, I know that
you could never betray me.

-No.

-Delila.

-Don't say anymore.

-My hair, all my
strength is in my hair.

-Your hair.

-It's true Delila.

I'm a Nazarite,
one chosen by God.

I made a vow never to
cut a hair on my head.

If I broke my vow, all my
strength would leave me.

[GASP]

-Someone to see you.

NARRATOR: Forsaken
by his God, Samson

is deserted and
forgotten by his people.

Only one remains
faithful, his mother.

-No.

No, you musn't cry.

Try to talk to me.

Tell me, is the sun shining
outside or is it raining?

I can see you.

Do you know that?

Could you tell me that
it's raining outside

and the frost has
covered the fields.

And I can see you wrinkling
your forehead as you used to do.

And if you tell me the sky
is blue, and the sun is warm,

and my father is well,
then I can see you smile,

and I'll be happy too.

[CRYING]

I can feel it.

It grows again,
like it was before.

But my strength
doesn't come back.

My eyes don't matter.

Day by day, I felt it growing.

I kept touching it at night.

And now, it is as it was before.

But strength hasn't come back.

It hasn't come back.

I know I was wrong.

God chose me for our people's
leader, and I betrayed him.

Tomorrow, they'll take me
to the Temple of Dagon.

The princes of the five cities
are coming to see me in chains.

I shall pray to God to
make me the instrument

of his divine will again.

You must pray too.

-You're father sent this.

[CROWD JEERING]

MAN 1: Delila.

WOMAN 1: Delila?

MAN 2: It's Delila.

There is the judge of Israel,
the leader of the troops,

the one who burned our crops,
who destroyed our fields,

killed our soldiers.

The enemy of our people
is now under our foot,

under the foot of Dagon.

His great strength is gone,
destroyed forever by a woman,

Delila.

[CROWD CHEERING]

-My Lord, I would
like to go now.

-Am I to believe that you
regret what you have done.

You will stay.

[CROWD CHEERING]

-My God.

My God.

My God!

My God!

WOMAN 2: (Taunting)
Here I am Samson.

Over here.

Samson, I'm here.

Here I am Samson.

Here.

-Hear me, oh Lord, hear me.

Oh Lord!

[INAUDIBLE]

-Oh my Lord, forgive me, make
me once more the instrument

of your divine justice,
and let me die.

Samson dies, but so
do the Philistines.

"You will conceive
and bare a son.

He will be a Nazarite,
chosen of the Lord.

And he will vow never to
cut a hair on his head.

It will be he who begins
the deliverance of Israel

from the hands of
the Philistines.