The World Moves On (1934) - full transcript
Richard Girard is part of a New Orleans family working closely with the English Warburtons. When Richard meets Mary Warburton she is engaged to Erik von Gerardt. He does wed Mary but their time in America is financially difficult.
In the name of our Lord, amen.
"I, Sebastian Girard,
declare my will as follows:
"An annuity of $5,000
to my widow, Agnes Girard,
during her life.
"My cotton mills,
plantations...
"And all my cash
and securities
I leave to my sons,
"Richard, Carlos and John,
as common property.
"And I direct them to enter
into a most solemn compact...
"To act together
for the advantage
of the family.
"I appoint my son Richard and
my friend Gabriel Warburton,
of Manchester, England,
"to be my executors...
"And direct that branches of our
business shall be established
in France and Prussia...
"By my sons, Carlos and John,
respectively.
"All interests of the firm
in the United States
of America...
"Shall be in the charge
of my son, Richard.
"And I direct that the
partnership already arranged...
"Between Gabriel Warburton
and myself is to be completed,
"thus establishing the firm
of Girard and Warburton...
"In the four principal
countries of the world.
"If my will is not carried out
in every particular,
"the whole inheritance
is forfeit.
"Fourth day of August, 1825.
Sebastian Girard."
Are the terms of the will
clear, Mr. Richard?
Almost pointedly clear.
Your father always
knew what he wanted.
I've done business with him
since before the war,
and I don't remember
when he didn't.
Sorry I am
to have missed him.
Let us get back to business.
This partnership--
I'm sure my brothers and I
welcome any association...
Which will bring us into closer
relationship with Mr. Warburton.
What's his idea,
tying everything up
in the family like this?
Security.
Cotton's a necessity
of life, thou knowest.
Why in all these
different countries?
Ah! Look at the situation
in Europe.
See how unstable it is.
And this mess-up
over that treaty of peace.
Might blow up any moment.
Why, surely people
aren't so foolish as to be
thinking of another war.
Trouble is,
wars come without thinking.
Well, they oughtn't to,
according to the Bible.
But there's a lot of money
to be made out of war.
A merchant's
got to be practical.
And what does the merchant's
wife say to that?
The merchant's wife
lost her father at Waterloo,
and her brother was crippled
for life in the fighting
outside New Orleans.
She hates war.
You had a brother
at the battle
of New Orleans, ma'am?
I was a corporal
in the New Orleans militia.
I counted the British dead
after the battle--
over a thousand of them.
I hate war too.
There is no challenge
to the terms of the will?
Are the executors prepared
to undertake their duties?
- Certainly.
- Yes.
The partnership is to proceed?
And the establishment
of the branches in France?
- And Prussia?
- Yes.
It is a solemn thing
you are all undertaking,
this family compact.
It has all the moral force
of an oath.
Ah, that part don't
affect Warburtons.
Oh, yes, Gabriel,
we're in this too.
We blend the two families
into one family.
We all solemnly swear...
To safeguard the family,
to deny ourselves
for the family...
And, in all circumstances,
to put the needs
of the family first.
And this shall be binding
on our children...
And on our
childrens' children.
The family.
The family.
♪
So it's all settled,
and you're off
for England tomorrow?
That's right.
And glad I'll be to get
back to business too.
Though it's been
a grand holiday at that,
thou knowest.
We shall be sorry
to lose you.
I'll be sorry to go, lad.
Hearts is trumps.
♪
Shall I be very brave,
madam?
If you must.
Your husband,
Mr., uh, Warburton,
has been boasting about you.
Oh, you mustn't believe
all he says.
Oh, I do not.
He says that you are the soul,
the-- the very pearl of virtue.
But I say, how can anyone
so lovely, so beautiful--
is this a joke?
May I tell you in my own--
where's my husband?
Allow me to act for him.
My dear Girard,
we can't both do that.
Charming.
Now I shall go and talk
with some friends...
And, uh, perhaps they
will talk with you.
We must find my husband.
Oh, the matter's finished.
And I'm so ashamed
it happened in my house.
Please say nothing to
your husband about it.
Let me take you
to my mother.
John. Carlo.
Let the Englishman
fight his own quarrel.
It's not his quarrel.
They're our guests.
She was insulted
here in our house.
It's our quarrel.
Gentlemen, I shall say,
"Take aim. Fire."
When I say "fire,"
you'll fire at once.
Ready.
Take aim.
Fire.
What's that?
You look almost
like a conspirator.
I thought I'd come back
and make sure
you were all right.
Of course I am.
Don't you think you might
find my husband?
He's playing whist.
Must we disturb him?
No, but--
I--
I was so anxious
he shouldn't be disturbed
about that little affair.
You're leaving
in the morning.
He needn't be told,
need he?
I suppose not.
I don't like mysteries,
but if you'd prefer--
It's very hard to tell you
how sorry I am you're going.
It been a great privilege
to know you, ma'am.
That sounds very formal...
And very final.
Aren't you coming
to visit us in England?
I don't think so.
But it was all arranged,
wasn't it?
All the same,
I think it's better not.
Don't you?
I can't imagine why.
My mistake, ma'am.
I beg your pardon.
♪ Should she desire me not
♪ And all my dreams be vain
♪ Gladly I take the part
♪ To hold her
♪ In my heart
- What is that song?
- It's something my brother Carlos made up.
He's very romantic.
Runs in the family,
doesn't it?
Perhaps.
♪ Since in my arms
♪ To lie
♪ She doth disdain
Is there any more
of this song?
Don't you like it?
Mr. Girard,
I really must go now.
You've been much, much
too kind to us both and--
What's the matter with your hand?
You're hurt.
- It's nothing.
- Those shots.
Richard.
Oh, my dear.
- It's nothing, Mary. Nothing at all.
- You-- you fought that man.
Let me fix your bandage
for you.
We all solemnly swear
to safeguard the family,
to deny ourselves
for the family.
Oh, Richard.
Why were we born
out of our time?
My dear. My dear.
That's good.
There's nothing left
but to say good-bye.
Shall we never meet again?
No one can foretell
the future.
Come, Mary, my lass.
Time you were abed.
You've all your packages to make up
for tomorrow, you know.
Good night, Richard,
my lad.
Come. Bustle, my dear.
Bustle.
We have to be aboard
by 6:00, thou knowest.
Good-bye.
I shall see you
in the morning.
Please don't.
It-- it's much too early.
Good-bye.
I am your humble,
obedient servant, ma'am.
Hey, turn tother way, lass.
That's direction to home.
Oh, come here.
Come here.
- What is it?
- Look, the Statue of Liberty.
Turn this way, Mary.
Turn this way and look at America.
- Why, daddy?
- Because I jolly well tell you to.
Oh, orders.
Columbus discovered America.
Did he?
Do you know any more?
Wunderbar.
They tell me the population
is mostly foreigners.
- Well, so are we, aren't we?
- Ja, papa.
Wait till you all
get to New Orleans.
Dad!
Where is everybody?
I beg your--
Who are you?
Mary Warburton.
Who are you?
Richard Girard.
Say, haven't we met
somewhere?
Well, I was wondering that.
Have you ever been
in England?
I've never been
anywhere but America.
And I've never been
out of England.
Well, I give it up.
I'd swear I've seen you
somewhere before.
This is fun,
because I feel the same.
Well, you're here for the great
family reunion of course.
Yes.
Say, tell me, what are they like--
the others-- the foreigners?
Don't you consider
English as foreigners?
No. Do you think
Americans are?
- No.
- Good.
Well, who's here, anyway?
I just got back from a vacation.
My train got in an hour ago.
I don't know a thing about them.
My father, for one.
I met him
when I was a kid.
He was over here
about 10 years ago, in 1904.
Oh, he's not a foreigner anyway.
Who else?
Um, Erik von Gerhardt.
He's one of your German cousins.
They changed their name
from Girard to von Gerhardt,
you know,
when they got their title.
And Erik's father,
the Herr Baron von Gerhardt.
And his mother, the Hochwohlgeboren
Baronin von Gerhardt.
Anybody else?
Uh, Henri Girard.
He's French. He's one of your other
cousins. The immortal Mr. Manning--
- Did they all come on the boat with you?
- Yes.
Just my luck.
They know you already.
You don't like them,
do you?
Do you usually ask
as many questions as this?
When I'm--
When I'm interested.
Well, never mind
about them anyway.
- What'll we talk about? Do you like this room?
- Mm-hmm.
They call it the family room. It's where the
firm was founded. You know, 90 years ago.
I've, uh--
I've appropriated it for mine.
Yes, it looks a little as if it
might have been appropriated.
- Except for the piano.
- Well, that's mine too.
Do you like music?
I do.
Mmm.
Go ahead, play something.
♪ This is the room
where the firm was founded ♪
♪ Over 90 years ago
Go on.
Have you ever heard
this tune before?
♪
Yes.
Now don't you say you wrote it,
because I have.
No, you haven't,
all the same.
It's an old tune.
I dug up the manuscript in this house.
I can't help that.
I have.
It's a song.
There are words.
What are the words?
I can't remember, but I think I'd
recognize them if I heard them.
No, I guess you wouldn't.
They've never been
published. Listen.
♪ Once on a summer's day
♪ a shepherd and--
Those aren't the words.
You're right, but how
the dickens did you know?
I don't know.
I must've heard it before.
♪
- Should she desire me not--
- Go on.
And all my dreams be vain,
gladly I'd take the part...
to hold her in my heart.
Go on.
Since in my arms to lie...
she doth disdain.
Since in my arms to lie...
she doth...
disdain.
♪
My son, Richard.
- You know Sir John Warburton.
- How are you, Sir John?
How are you, Richard?
Ooh, you've grown, my boy.
A fellow does grow
in 10 years, sir.
True, true.
I might have expected it.
The, uh-- The Baron
and Baroness von Gerhardt.
- Hello, Richard.
- How are you, sir?
Madame Girard.
- Your cousin, Henri Girard.
- Hello, Richard.
- Hello, Henri.
- And little Jacques.
- Bonjour, cousin.
- Bonjour, Jacques.
Mr. Manning.
Very delighted to make
your acquaintance, I'm sure.
You've met Mary, I see.
This is Erik.
- Hello, Richard.
- Hello, Erik.
More or less engaged,
you know.
Oh, nothing public, but of course,
in the family we--
This is
the family room.
Richard uses it
as a sort of den.
He'll have to move out
for the ceremony.
Quaint.
A very moving experience.
I remember,
40 years ago,
I was called on,
in this very room,
to pronounce the words
of our family compact.
It was the greatest moment
of my life... until now,
when I call upon
my son Richard...
to repeat our
time-honored pledge.
We all solemnly swear
to safeguard the family,
to deny ourselves
for the family...
And, in all circumstances, to put the
needs of the family first.
- The family.
- The family.
Last year, 1913,
was undoubtedly
the most prosperous...
this great family business
has ever known.
Whether here in New Orleans,
at our great factories
in Manchester,
at Lille, in France
or Düsseldorf, in Germany,
the story has been
the same--
undiluted prosperity.
At Manchester, in England, we've more
than trebled our output.
This has been largely
thanks to our Mr. Manning,
the general manager.
It's a great tribute
to the wisdom of our founder...
that this great
family enterprise...
should have withstood
all shocks and difficulties...
and lead, preeminent,
in the world.
Baron von Gerhardt.
Of the activities of our
business in Düsseldorf,
I say just this:
The German dyestuffs
and chemical industry...
stands acknowledged
at the vanguard of the world.
And the Fabrik von Gerhardt...
is just as far in the lead from
all other German industries.
Last year, 1913,
we captured the golden...
and both the copper medals...
Of the fine Arts Fabriks
Exhibition in Vienna.
I say,
with a father's pride,
that we owe something of this
to my son Erik...
For his brilliant
scientific researches.
I wish to pay tribute to our
allied family house in France,
because especially
of the lamented death...
of my dear friend Jean Girard,
Henri's father.
You must forgive this "sentimentalish"
old German to say,
the one thing
that consoles me...
is the coming marriage
of my other boy, Fritz,
with Jeanne,
the sister of Henri--
the marriage to which you will all come,
of course, this spring in Düsseldorf.
And I wish to say how welcome
you all shall be.
And I wish to say again--
Oh, ja.
I talk too long.
I say it not.
♪
♪
♪
The health of
my gallant sailor son,
Oberleutnant zur See
Baron Fritz von Gerhardt...
Of the Imperial German Navy
and his lovely bride, Jeanne.
Their marriage is, for me,
a profound symbolism...
of the future of Germany
and France.
So can the peace of Europe
be always secure.
- Uh, and-- and when I say this I forget not England.
- Ah.
So might by some, uh,
alliance in our family house
be symbolized...
the age-long ties
and affections...
between Germany
and England.
And I wish
to say again that--
Ach, ja.
I, uh-- I talk too long.
I say it not.
Very good.
I would--
Again. The health of the bride
and the bridegroom.
Oh, magnifique!
Bravo!
- Oberleutnant!
- Ja, Hans?
Au revoir, Jeanne.
Marie, c'est pour toi.
Omen!
- Omen! Ja!
- Yes, it is an omen.
If I am lucky, we shall all soon
be here together again.
Only, I shall be sitting where Fritz
has been sitting, and Mary--
- Erik, don't.
- Oh, I should not speak of it, huh?
Oh, now I have let the cat
out from the bag.
That's all right, my boy.
This is the most
wonderful thing. I, uh--
Mary, liebchen.
Liebchen.
It is a secret--
♪
Aren't you going
to dance, Richard?
I don't think so.
Thanks.
I like this place.
Don't you?
You'll like it better, I expect, when
you're married to Erik and settled down.
Yes, I-- I expect I shall.
When's the, uh,
happy event?
Oh, I don't know.
Sometime.
We're all going down
to Munich tomorrow,
and then we're going down
to the Austrian Tirol.
- Won't it be fun?
- Great fun.
What's the matter, Richard?
Nothing.
I said it'd be great fun.
I see you take
your pleasure seriously.
I don't intend to take
this pleasure at all.
Aren't you coming?
Haven't they asked you?
- Yes, they've asked me.
- Well?
I'm going to Paris
with Henri. Tonight.
But why?
Well, I'm going to take
my pleasures seriously.
I'm going to do
a little work.
Industrious apprentice.
Not on your life. He usually ends by
marrying the master's daughter.
Doesn't that depend a little
on the daughter?
I'm no good at this
epigrammatic stuff.
No, you prefer being
a bull in a China shop.
I'm not ashamed of that.
And I don't care two hoots
about the master's daughter.
Anyway, I--
I couldn't make her care
two hoots about me, could I?
Of course you couldn't.
So what in the dickens we're
talking about, I don't know.
Well, Erik,
congratulations.
Have you fixed
the happy day?
You thought of August,
didn't you?
I can't imagine
a better time.
Almost anything
might happen in August.
Well, what about
the first week in August?
Why not make it
the first day in August?
- Yes, why not?
- Why not?
All right then,
the first of August.
Richard, are you coming?
Yeah, sure, I'm coming.
Good-bye, Erik.
Thanks for a grand time.
I've said good-bye
to your father and mother.
Oh, my dear fellow, you're--
you're certainly not leaving us.
We'll never get our train if you go
into that. So long, old man.
- Good-bye.
- Good-bye.
- Oh, Erik, why did you do it?
- Do what?
Why did you make that silly speech
and spoil everything?
Oh, but I thought we--
Oh.
Oh, I've been a fool.
You are in love
with Richard.
Is that it?
I'm not in love...
with anyone.
We must have made
quite a night of it.
I'm darned if I know if it's tomorrow
morning or next week.
As a-- as a matter of fact,
I-- I think it's yesterday.
Well, something's wrong.
It's broad daylight.
Must be the hunting season,
I guess.
War?
♪
♪
♪ I'm goin' home
I'm goin' home ♪
♪ No more to--
- Man, where'd y'all get them--
- Bonjour monsieur.
Where you get
them suits from?
I-- lookit, I tell you, you know,
that's some lodge y'all belong--
I belong to a lodge too in New Orleans.
See, I'm a Noble--
Yeah, I'm the Noble
Sons of-- of the--
Yeah, New Orleans.
I'm goin' back tomorrow too.
Yeah, see, I'm over there
with Colonel Collier.
You know Colonel Collier,
the racehorse man?
Yeah, racehorse.
Yeah! Well, man, I tell you.
If I carried one of them suits back,
it'll be somethin'.
You know, imagine if I carried--
How'd y'all get in--
Why don't you figure
so I can join that,
and I can carry one of them
suits back with me?
You see?
Yeah. I'll buy you a drink of liquor.
I'll buy you some of this cognac over here.
You been over here so long,
you talk just like them.
Uh, look-- I tell-- why don't you fix it
so I can join that--
Look, man, get me
one of these hats.
- Bravo!
- Bravo!
Well, here's a pretty kettle of fish--
at war with one of our leading customers.
What are we going to do about it, eh?
What are we going to do about it?
I thought I might see about obtaining
a territorial commission.
My family's always been
associated with the army and--
Obtaining a territorial
grandmother.
Do you think they want potbellied old
gasbags in the army?
I beg your pardon, Sir John.
I beg yours, Manning. I beg yours.
But for heaven's sake, let's talk sense.
The government has
declared a moratorium.
We've got shipments of cotton
all over the world...
likely to be confiscated
or sunk at any moment.
Now don't you realize this war is liable
to bankrupt everybody?
- Sir John?
- What is it? What is it?
- I'm not to be disturbed, Clumber.
- A cable, sir.
Oh, thank you.
The stock exchange is closed.
Everything in the world is--
Manning, you'll have
to go to France.
Uh, see if the French family
want any money or help or any--
- Uh--
- Now listen, don't argue. Don't argue.
Mary, do you think you can
take this situation calmly?
- I hope so, daddy.
- So do I, my dear. So do I.
But can you? Can you?
That's the question.
I'm going to make you
a partner in the business.
Somebody must take some of this
routine off my shoulders.
Do you think that you can
face responsibility?
I'll try.
Daddy,
is there any news
about Richard?
If he's got any sense, he'll be on his
way back to the States.
Allez! Allez! Allez!
Vite! Vite! Vite! Vite!
- Boy, that was a close one.
- We shall have to abandon the factory.
The Germans are
closing in on the town.
Yes, I'll tell Sir John
what the position is.
He's arranged for a credit
at your banker's in Paris.
Well, uh,
good luck, gentlemen.
- Oh, Mr. Manning.
- Yes?
Uh, Miss Warburton,
is she all right?
Well, she's been suffering a little
from the hay fever lately.
Heredity, you know.
Unbecoming but quite harmless.
- I'll tell her you were asking.
- No, don't do that, please.
- Well, then I'll use my discretion.
- No, Mr. Manning, please.
- Monsieur Henri Girard?
- C'est moi. Merci.
From Uncle Charles
in the war office.
My class is called.
I must report at once.
Allez! Allez! Allez!
- Allons Jacques.
- Au revoir mon père.
Au revoir mon fils.
- Au revoir cousin.
- Au revoir Jacques.
- Au revoir.
- Hurry, mother.
The road may be closed
any moment now.
Allez! Allez!
What about you?
I think I'll sort of
stick around.
What? You don't understand, Richard.
This is war.
I have to go
into the army.
Just the same,
I think I'll stick around.
♪
♪
Why are you so quiet,
Richard?
- What are you thinking about?
- I'm thinking of my father.
He's all burned up because
I'm in on this.
Really, Charles, you mustn't be
so severe about Richard.
The boy only did
what he thought was right.
What he thought was right?
My son has no quarrel
with Germany.
Come and have a drink.
Don't be so intolerant.
A man with Richard's responsibilities has
no business running himself into danger.
It's all very unfortunate.
But now we're in it,
we've got to go through with it.
You'll realize that
when you get to England.
You talk, John, as though the
United States were in it.
We're not, and we're
going to keep out of it.
I hope you will, Charles. I hope you
will. Two scotch and sodas, please.
- Yes, Sir John.
- Here.
I think Europe is insane.
Six months ago, you were all
at a wedding in Germany.
Well, here's fun.
- What was that?
- Whoa!
The only thing is work, Miss Mary.
You mustn't give way.
You're head of the business
now, you know.
It was always your father's wish that
you should take over after his... death.
I'll help you,
if you'll let me.
Bless you, Miss Mary,
I'll help you any way I can.
I know you will.
Now there's another thing.
We have to try and see
Mr. Richard Girard.
Richard?
He's named in your father's will
as cotrustee and executor.
But I--
I thought he was in America.
- He's in the French army.
- What?
He joined up
in that Foreign Legion.
He's in it... too.
Wait here, will you?
- How are you, my dear Richard?
- How are you?
I'm delighted to see you.
You're looking splendid, splendid.
Now just a minute.
Wait. Just a minute.
Now, uh--
Now, whatever you say, don't mention
a word about her father.
She can't bear
to be reminded of it.
It not my favorite subject
either, Mr. Manning.
Well, then you'll-- you'll excuse me for
mentioning it, won't you?
- Of course.
- I have to think of Miss Mary, you know.
- How is she taking it?
- Oh, wonderfully, wonderfully.
She's taken quite
a grasp of the business.
- Yes, you'd be surprised.
- Um--
I couldn't have done
it better myself.
- You'll remember, won't you? Of course.
- Yes.
Richard.
I so glad to see you.
You're looking wonderfully well.
It's quite a sanitarium
where I'm living.
Come and sit down. I-- I've got just
millions of things to ask you.
- Do take off that funny hat.
- Well, I-I-I--
- Oh, Mr. Manning.
- Huh?
Uh, please don't go.
Oh, uh, well-- well, very well.
We, uh-- we have to
have a little talk, haven't we?
Well?
As you know, Richard, we have to
consult you about factory policy.
Of course, Miss Mary
has complete discretion.
Consult away.
What's it all about?
Well, it's about munitions.
The government wants us
to make high explosives.
Oh.
I can't make munitions, Richard.
I can't do it.
But you ought to, Mary.
After all, we've got to have them.
That's what I tell her.
I-it's a patriotic duty.
Incidentally, it's a-- it's a duty
to the stockholders.
You can leave the stockholders
out of it.
They can do without
their blood money.
Oh, now, Mary, dear, isn't that a
little bit far-fetched?
Is it, Richard?
Do you think I'm being unreasonable?
- I do, rather.
- But I'll do anything constructive.
- What, for example?
- Well, make bandages, surgical dressings, sheets.
Gun cotton isn't
the only cotton product.
Why not let her take over some of the
looms, make her surgical dressings?
Well, the trouble is,
the government may want
to take over the factory.
I can't help it
if they do.
Well, I think you ought to do what
your government wants you to.
I think I must decide for myself
between right and wrong.
Of course, but--
I will not
make munitions.
Well, that's that.
I think you better count me out as far
as that will's concerned.
I wish you understood,
Richard.
I wish I did too.
- I've gotta be getting back up the lines again.
- Not already?
My permission expires
in two hours.
But won't you--
won't you just stay
and have dinner with us?
I can't, really. I got to make the better
part of 20 kilometers jumping trucks.
Well, if-- if ever
you're in England,
will you come and--
and see us all?
You bet I will.
Sure.
Good-bye, Mary.
Good-bye, Richard.
Good-bye, Mr. Manning.
Oh, Richard,
why do we always quarrel?
You know, I can't understand
a word that man says.
Oh, that's what it is?
I can go make that now.
Hey, get back here.
Needs washin'.
Is this what he's talkin' about?
I didn't know he wanted
that razor down in there.
Can't you find no better place
than this to hide?
I--
I gonna find
a place of my own, man.
Miss Warburton, I'm sure you'll understand
that it's not my wish to disturb you...
In the fine work
you're doing.
Suppose we run over
to Chilton now, colonel?
Mmm, yes.
I-I'll do that.
I-I assure you,
Miss Warburton,
I only want to carry out the wishes of the
ministry with the least possible friction.
- Good-bye.
- Good-bye, Colonel Braithwaite.
- Yes, Clumber?
- Beg pardon, miss.
There's a sort of a Tommy out here.
You know, private soldier.
- Give him a pass to the canteen.
- He's not that sort of a Tommy, miss.
He's a sort of a, you know,
French soldier.
He's asking
to see you.
- Ask him to come up then.
- Very well, miss.
Richard! How on earth
did you get here?
How did you manage it?
I'm so glad to see you.
I can hardly believe
that you're here.
How did you get leave?
I'm convalescent.
Henri's mother worked it.
Convalescent?
You're wounded.
I've got some special
bandages here.
Some elastic bandages.
They're-they're simply wonderful.
Let me re-bandage
your arm for you.
Mary, please listen.
I'm in love with you.
I've always--
Darling, if I get
a special license,
will you marry me
right away before I go back?
With this ring,
I thee wed.
With this ring,
I thee wed.
And with all my worldly goods,
I thee endow.
With all my worldly goods,
I thee endow.
May I help
with your dress?
It belonged to
my great-great-grandmother.
Somehow
I seem to recognize it.
Yes, I feel
I've worn it before.
Did I do that that other time
you wore it?
It's a strange thing.
I don't believe you did.
Did you dream it all too?
Only, sometimes,
I couldn't believe it.
- And now--
- What?
Now I'm so afraid
I may lose you.
I have a queer feeling that...
we lost each other before.
Must you go back?
Be a sad ending to my convalescent leave
to be shot at dawn.
I have to report back to the regiment
in three days.
Of course you must.
Let's-- let's just remember that other
time when we met first.
Where did we meet
that time?
In the room at New Orleans,
where we met this time.
I thought that too.
I knew it as soon
as I went into it.
Did we love each other as much then
as we love each other now?
Nobody could love anyone
as much as I love you.
Richard,
can't I help you?
Darling, the woman just doesn't exist that
can fit all these gadgets into a musette bag.
I won't need that
over there.
Let me keep it.
Gosh, it's five to!
I'll miss that train.
- Come on. You ready?
- I've been ready for nearly an hour, darling.
You'll look after yourself,
won't you, darling?
And keep your feet dry and don't stand
about in wet clothes.
Sure. That's in regimental orders.
Our nurse is very strict.
You'll write me every day, won't you? And
sometimes twice and three times a day.
Sure. They're very particular
about the boys writing home.
Don't let the other soldiers
coax you to take whiskey.
And keep away
from the lassies.
You'll mind and say your prayers, son.
I'm sure you will, every night.
I'm glad we thought
of walking, aren't you?
By the way, something ought to be done
about notifying the French authorities...
That you're my next of kin.
You're entitled to a penny a day
separation allowance.
Don't spend it
all at once.
It'll have to be done through
the French consulate.
Or maybe you wouldn't want to be
bothered about your separation allowance.
I insist on my separation
allowance.
I shall keep it in a large money box
as an endowment fund...
For the Girards
of the future.
You let me know quick
if there's any chance of that.
- Do you want it to happen? Very much?
- Very, very much. Don't you?
Be sure to write to me.
Well, darling, time to say good-bye,
I guess.
Darned nuisance, this war, isn't it?
Good-bye.
I never told you. I think you were
dead right not to make munitions.
- Um, you speak English, I understand.
- Ja, Herr Oberst.
- Well, let me hear you, please.
- English is just the same as German to me, sir.
Very good. Well, you are attached
to my staff...
For special duties interrogating
prisoners of war.
Uh, uh, please.
Now, uh, we strike tomorrow at the
junction of the British and French armies.
Over here on the left is the English
Second Brigade of Guards.
On the right
is the French Foreign Legion,
holding that big cemetery.
Now this operation is being followed
very closely in Berlin.
It has a political, as well as a military,
significance.
You understand what
I've been talking about?
Only too well, sir. I have two cousins
in the Foreign Legion.
One of them is married to an English
cousin... who was to marry me.
Well, uh, we can't be sentimental
about things like that.
No, Herr Oberst. A family like ours has
no business to exist when there is a war.
We have to forget
about families.
We must at all times
put the fatherland first.
- But, Sergeant, ain't we in a graveyard?
- No, Dixie.
- Yes, but--
- Cemetery.
Cemetery?
Cemetery.
I sure ain't gonna try
to join no more lodges.
Initiating people like this,
they're liable to kill 'em.
Hey, Dixie!
Dixie! Dixie!
Are you all right?
Oh, Lord, Sarge,
my hand.
Looks like that's the end of the war
for you, Dixie.
- Sir?
- You can go on back.
- I can leave?
- Yes, Dixie. You'll never be able to use that hand again.
Oh, that's all right.
I ain't no piano player.
Oui.
- Here they come.
Hey--
Richard! Richard!
Richard!
Richard! Richard!
♪ Ave Maria ♪
♪ Gratia plena ♪
♪ Maria, gratia plena ♪
♪ Maria, gratia plena ♪
♪ Ave, ave Dominus ♪
♪ Dominus tecum ♪
♪ Benedicta tu in mulieribus ♪
♪ Et benedictus ♪
♪ Ave Maria ♪
Hail Mary,
full of grace.
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou
amongst women.
Blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Ri-Richard.
Richard.
Richard.
Richard! Richard!
Richard!
Come in.
I'm extremely sorry
to intrude.
But the fact is, the ministry have
turned down that Wilson Hume idea...
and insist upon taking over your premises
at once.
- So?
- I beg your pardon?
I'm afraid I've got to
ask you to hand over today.
- But surely, madam, it's plain enough.
- Colonel Braithwaite,
- I hardly think this is--
- I'm not accustomed to arguing with civilians, sir.
Now, my dear madam, I'm sure you aren't
going to make it difficult for me.
Is anything the matter?
I've just had a telegram
from the French War Office.
My husband is missing.
- Richard.
- Richard, my dear boy.
Would you like to come with us and
stay in our house?
You remember, dear, Erik's house,
where you came to the wedding.
And we have letters from Mary.
They came by way of Switzerland.
She's well and happy, and she says you
are to get strong quickly.
And she sends you her love. And she's
waiting for you to get well soon.
And I've got an order, so I may take
you on my parole to our house.
So you must get
very strong very quick.
And we are so glad
to see you, my dear boy.
And I wish to say again that--
These are Mary's letters.
Jawohl.
Well, you are down today.
That's better-- much better.
Still sort of rocky,
I guess.
I don't seem to
remember... things.
What happened to me?
You were blown up by a shell
in the big battle in the spring.
What-- what spring?
What year are we in?
I feel like Rip van Winkle.
It is October, 1918,
Richard.
And the war
is still going on.
Seems once you start a thing like that,
there's no way of stopping it.
Oh, God, it's terrible. Who wanted
such a thing except a few fools?
You, the Allies,
have been nearly smashed.
And now for Germany,
it's coming to the finish.
We are trying to
make you some soup,
but there is nothing--
no meat, no butter, no milk.
Only ersatz--
substitutes.
Straw for bread, acorns for coffee,
ja, and some turnips.
And every house
is like this house.
If we are lucky,
one egg a week.
Coffee? Nein.
Beer? Nein.
Fleisch? Nein.
Some potatoes, perhaps.
And look in this kitchen.
Everything of rubber,
commandeered.
Everything of copper,
commandeered.
My copper medals.
I tell you, Richard. Whoever wins
this war, we are all ruined.
There's no longer
any family.
There's no longer
any Europe.
- I know you, don't I?
- Why, your cousin!
You remember Jeanne,
who married Fritz.
Sure. Sure, I knew it.
What a long way back
that seems.
How's Fritz?
Fritz--
Fritz is dead.
He went down in his ship--
a submarine.
So it's over...
at last.
Yes, we've won the war.
We've won the war.
And between us all, we've torn down
everything that matters--
faith, freedom,
civilization.
Richard comes back to me
in a week.
Just now, nothing else
seems to matter to me.
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
So it's all over.
They look so sad.
So sad.
Armistice Day can't be much fun
for the losers.
It is terrible.
There is no longer
a Germany.
Erik!
♪
♪
♪
It is inspiring
to meet here tonight,
100 years to the minute...
Since the founding of our great
family business in 1825.
Some people thought
the war would break us.
But we're
stronger than ever.
And we're a happier family
than ever.
Henri today is taking up the life
of a priest.
And we all love and respect him
the more for that.
He's transferred all his rights and
interests to Jacques, his brother.
Jacques has done
a fine job...
In preparing himself to take over our
rebuilt premises in France.
In Germany, thanks to Erik,
we lead, as we've always led.
In England,
at Mary's wish,
I, myself, have taken over control
with the able help of Mr. Manning.
Manchester seems to be holding its own,
in its own peculiar way.
Aye, it is that.
In the United States, we've reached a
position of power and prosperity...
greater than ever before.
And that's all, I think,
except to have our time-honored pledge
repeated by our youngest.
We all solemnly swear
to safeguard the family,
to deny ourselves
for the family...
and in all circumstances, to put
the needs of the family first.
- The family.
- The family.
All right, now.
Let's get this straight.
In Germany, we buy up Blumenthals, Moyers,
and the Allgemeine Chemische Fabrik...
And amalgamate as the
All-German Dyestuff Combine.
- That sets us back how much?
- $48 million.
- Fifty million.
- Call it 50 million for a round figure.
Then in France, we acquire those seven
firms and form the Syndicate d'Initiative.
What's that figure, Jacques?
Twenty-four million?
- Twenty-five.
- Twenty-five million.
The New Orleans figure
is big.
$100 million.
But it puts us in absolute control
of American raw cotton,
and we're solid, because cotton's
a necessity of life.
Manchester is hanging back.
I'll fix them. I'll put in Warburton's.
The rest will follow.
Do you think you should put in Warburton's
without consulting Miss Mary?
Of course
I'll talk it over with her.
Say, don't be
such a killjoy, Manning.
We're in on the biggest and the safest
deal in the history of commerce.
Sometimes I've a feeling that the real
Richard isn't there at all.
It's nonsense, of course.
We don't believe that to be nonsense
in my faith.
I want it to be nonsense.
It frightens me.
For an outside expenditure of 250 million,
we control the world's cotton goods output.
We can write
our own prices!
The banks are with us.
We can get the money tomorrow.
Oh, Mary, I'd like to have
a word with you.
Listen, darling, everything's all
lined up for the world cotton combine.
It's the biggest thing ever.
We've got everybody important in
Germany, France and the United States.
And I'm taking in
Warburton's, of course.
- What for?
- What for?
We buy you out
with corporation stock,
and you sit back and look pretty
for the rest of your days.
- I don't like it.
- Mary, are you crazy?
The Warburtons can't compete with
the combine. It's not economic.
Mass production-- that's one of
the lessons of the war.
- There's no use arguing about it, darling.
- I'm not arguing, dear,
but,
I was just wondering.
Now, you're not going to pit your business
knowledge against mine, are you?
Warburton's is coming in
with us. And listen,
all this is only a beginning.
The Allied Industries Combine
is the next step.
Darling, it'll make you just about the
richest woman in the world.
You can buy up half of New York, and all you
have to do is sit back and draw dividends.
How's it strike you,
Henri?
It reminds me of
someone who said,
"All this is yours if you will fall down
and worship me."
You understand-- shell shock. I'll go
and talk to him.
Poor old Henri.
- He's right.
- Rubbish.
All that old-fashioned nonsense means
nothing in the modern machine age.
It means everything.
Oh, for heaven's sake, what's the matter
with being rich?
For us, I mean.
I never see you now.
That means a lot to me.
Darling, I'm so busy. I never look at
another woman.
No, you never look at anything
but your bankbook.
Well, I'm making money
for you.
No, Richard. You're making money
for the power that it gives you.
I suppose that's because
we haven't any children.
Nonsense, darling.
Children are such
a responsibility nowadays.
You once said you wanted them more than
anything else in the world.
Well, you get over that sort of
primitive stuff, I guess.
Does the wonderful romance of our
lives mean nothing to you anymore?
It means everything.
Just you let me get this deal
straightened out,
and we'll go away for a grand holiday
all by ourselves.
Away from all this madness?
Sure. We'll head
straight back home.
I tell you what we'll do.
We'll get the yacht, fill it up with
a good crowd of the boys--
Keep in touch with
the markets that way--
Richard! Richard!
We've got Berlin on the phone.
That's my call to the All-German Combine.
I'll tell them Warburton's are in, Mary.
What's it now?
Here it is. American Cotton Combine--
two and a half, two.
Two dollars a share!
I bought a block of 100,000
at 60 yesterday morning.
Paris on the wire
for Mr. Girard.
Hello. Yes.
Erik, Paris.
The banks
have called our loans.
- But they have our stock.
- $8 million in gold, or we're out.
- Erik, get Berlin on the phone. Tell the bankers to transfer--
- I'm sorry, Richard.
But, Erik, you've got to!
We must stand together.
That's the point of the will, to protect
the family when one branch fails.
But we've all failed.
The German banks are closed.
There's no money anywhere and no credit.
Well, I've still got credit--
the best in New York.
- I'll stem this tide.
- But you're $6 million in the red, Richard!
I've just come from the floor
of the exchange.
The richest men in the world were there, ready
with billions of dollars to stem the tide.
They saw what was happening
and walked out.
Well, they've got 'em scared.
They've got everybody scared.
What is it, darling?
What's the matter?
Something pretty bad.
What is it, Richard?
What's happened?
We're ruined, I'm afraid.
Bankrupt.
It's all my fault.
- Warburton's?
- Warburton's may just pull through.
Old Manning's moved
pretty fast.
The rest is... finished.
The French firm's
gone out on us.
The All-German Combine's
closing down.
And the banks have
taken over in New Orleans.
There isn't anything illegal about it,
is there?
I haven't forged or stolen anything,
if that's what you mean.
Don't talk like that,
darling.
I seem to have been such a prize
hellhound to you all the time.
That doesn't matter. Nothing matters
as long as we've got each other.
Try and get some sleep.
You look so tired
and wretched.
I can't.
I haven't slept in a week.
This crack-up,
it's terrifying.
It all seems to have happened
in a single night.
Where's the world
heading, Mary?
Somewhere beyond our wisdom,
darling.
Don't fret yourself.
Come in here.
And you're so
very sweet to me.
Do you really care
about me still?
You know I couldn't
care about anybody else.
Well, about the last time we'll
ever meet together as a family.
It's each one
for himself now.
This family idea's worked out,
old-fashioned.
- What is a family anyway?
- The basis of our present civilization.
Hmm. That's pretty well
finished too, isn't it?
Oh, come. There's life
in the old girl yet.
Is there anything further
before I close the meeting?
Has anyone anything
to propose?
Well, speaking for myself,
I'm going to have a holiday--
the first I've had
since 1914.
After that,
I'll-- I'll see.
Cheer up, Manning.
Things will come right again.
- What's to make them?
- Faith.
In what?
What is there to believe in?
Look at the situation in Europe,
in the east, everywhere.
There's hardly a country in the world
that isn't drunk with nationalism.
All building armaments, all attacking
each other's trade and destroying it.
Faith is not a matter
of argument.
It's whether you believe
or don't believe.
Hear, hear.
- Hello, darling.
- Mary.
All the same, it's nationalism
that's smashed us.
Why, we couldn't even
trade with each other...
between the very branches
of the same firm.
A lot of humbug,
I calls it.
I've had the furniture and the heavy
luggage taken over by the shipping agents.
They're sending it direct to New Orleans.
Is that all right?
Absolutely right,
darling. Yes.
The fact is, there's no way out
except another war.
It's beginning to look
like that.
- What did you say?
- I said we're heading for another war.
You must be mad, Jacques.
Everything our family has labored
to build for 100 years...
Has been crashed to bits
by the last war.
How can you even think
of another one?
Things sometimes get so knotted,
that we have to cut our way out.
War is nature's way of eliminating
surplus people.
Then what a pity to interfere with nature's
other ways of eliminating surplus people.
Why not shut the hospitals and
let disease have a free hand?
Why spend millions
on child welfare?
So that the guns shan't go hungry?
Is that the idea?
Oh, but disease has
nothing to do with it.
Disease has everything
to do with it.
War is a disease-- homicidal mania
on the grand scale...
Brought on by fear
and jealousy.
We know all that,
but can't you understand?
Has it ever occurred to you that there are
women in the world about to become mothers?
That's just sentiment.
Why generalize?
Because I happen
to be one of them.
And you dare to tell me that the
world is preparing for another war.
♪
♪
- Home.
- A bit dilapidated, but it belongs to us anyway.
Wait until
we get the furniture in.
Oh, isn't it thrilling
to be here?
I have a curious sense that-- that
we're beginning all over again,
as though we were
still boy and girl.
As though we just found out
we care about each other.
Y'all hurry up
and grow up around there,
so you can do
some of this heavy work.
Don't you think
I never get tired.
- Hiya, Mrs.-- - Welcome home, Mr. Girard.
- Hello, Dixie.
All the stuff done come.
The box stuff
and the furniture--
Course, I didn't have time
to do much.
You've done plenty.
Yes, sir.
I did the best I could.
Say, "Welcome home"
to Mr. Girard, y'all.
Welcome home, Mr. Girard.
Say,
"Welcome home, Mr. Girard."
- Welcome home.
- And smile.
That boy gonna be
just like me.
Say, "Welcome home."
We're going to be so happy
in this place, darling.
And here's where
we'll put the nursery.
How strange it looks.
Everything's gone.
Not everything.
Lighten our darkness,
we beseech thee, oh Lord.
And by thy great mercy defend us
from all perils and dangers of this night.
♪
♪