Two Colonels (1963) - full transcript
In WWII Greece, two enemy Colonels, one Italian and the other English, develop a grudging friendship which the war will test.
At the moment in which our story
begins, the small town of Montegreco
had been occupied by the English
for the thirtieth time.
And for the thirtieth time,
the Italians had to retreat
in their trenches,
situated at the edge of the valley.
We all knew the colonel
was overbearing,
and he never let anyone
step on his feet.
When the English attacked us,
he again conquered the town
within a week.
We've been out 20 days
and no sign of attacking.
Of course. We're short of balls!
We've always been short
of everything.
It's the colonel's fault.
He has no sense of economy.
When the ammunition arrived,
he began shooting as if it were
the feast of the town's patron saint!
If we don't attack, I'll disguise
myself and go alone to town.
How will you disguise yourself?
With a fig leaf like Adam?
It's the signal!
- Are we attacking?
- Here we go again!
They gave me the labor pain signal.
- What?
- My Tea is about to give birth.
Well, well. He went and silently
had an Italian-Greek child.
I am a serious person
and when it all ends here
I will marry and settle down.
He's crazy!
With three mouths to feed...
At least he is serene!
We've been gone 20 days.
His Tea has labor pains, so...
I have a fiery woman. How will I know
what she's been doing all this time?
If we don't attack,
I'm going with Fantin.
Calm down, boys.
The less we go with women,
the more energy we save.
We must be thrifty.
Scrooge, I've 3 women in Montegreco
waiting for me with open arms
because I am generous!
Blossoming flower,
don't be stingy with love.
Don't put a meter on your heart.
Damn you!
A lovely boy was born
with a big flask in his hand.
A lovely boy was born...
Attention!
Oh, really?
We're having fun here!
You're singing!
You doing the Cafe Chantant!
Look at that!
Shall we do this war or not?
If you don't want to, tell me. I'll
write to Mussolini and we'll go home.
- I wish!
- You'd like that, huh?
You are a bunch of lazy bums!
Look at that!
Get it in your heads
that I must win this war.
It's a personal matter.
I have victory in my blood.
At ease! At ease!
Do you realize that we've
already clobbered the Greeks?
If we can clobber them again,
we'll take the Piraeus home!
Sergeant Major! Sergeant Major!
Here I am, Colonel.
- Present.
- No, you're always absent.
Where do you hide?
I went to take a look at the grub.
- The grub? We're eating today?
- Yes, sir!
- What are we eating?
- Broth.
- Chicken broth?
- Where would we find a chicken?
Vegetable broth.
- Vegetable?
- Of course!
I smell the odor of feathers.
- Feathers?
- Feather stink.
- What are these?
- Feathers, Colonel.
- A chicken was plucked.
- Yes, sir.
Who has that bird? Tell me!
The boys do what they can.
They do what they can?
Sergeant Major Quaglia!
- Look into my eyes.
- They are hungry.
It's obvious they do what they can,
that stealing a chicken is human.
- And so?
- But I say...
Couldn't they have put aside
a drumstick for the colonel?
- They must have been distracted.
- The colonel eats, too!
The colonel has a stomach, too!
- Damn them!
- Excuse me.
Ungrateful men!
We'll discuss it after the war.
- The battle. I'm attacking today.
- What?
I'm attacking! I've decided.
I'm attacking!
- Alright.
- Sergeant Major Quaglia!
- I need 34 volunteers.
- Only 23 are left.
- Four will remain home.
- Alright.
- Excuse me, Colonel.
- Very good!
I'll propose you for praise.
Here's a volunteer.
I came to tell you
that we can't attack.
- What? What? What?
- He is a loafer.
- Who forbids it?
- Someone stole my shoe.
- Did you hear, Sergeant Major?
- Yes, sir.
- The soldiers get their shoes stolen.
- It happens.
How will I win the war
with barefoot soldier?
- Go take a foot bath! Go on!
- Yes, sir.
Stop! Stop!
Everyone stop!
Everyone stop!
My motto is "order and discipline".
I expect it, I demand it.
Go on, get in a single line!
If the English saw you,
they'd think you are hungry.
- We are hungry!
- What's that got to do with it?
We are hungry. We haven't received
food or ammunition for a year.
The enemy must not know.
Internal problems are solved
in the home.
Come on! I will distribute
the grub today.
Leave it. Come! Who's first?
Slowly! Slowly!
- The smell is good. Sergeant...
- I told you.
Excellent. Bravo. Next!
Next!
- What is your shoe size?
- 44.
Look. Is this the shoe
someone swiped?
What is it?
You've been back in town for
20 days, and only said 10 words.
- Say something!
- I am thinking.
Oh, thinking! You know what?
Italians are great!
They talk, laugh, joke around.
What do you know about Italians?
Nothing.
I see them with the other girls
in town.
When you come,
you stick a pipe in your mouth,
and only take it out to eat
and go to bed.
- The pipe is my faithful companion.
- Alright!
What about me?
What?
I don't mean anything to you?
You are my sweet companion.
- Here's your tea.
- Thanks, Mom.
Many thanks!
- If I wasn't in this house...
- Really! If Mom wasn't here...
The Italians aren't nice.
They always surprise us at tea time.
What surprise?
They conquered the town 30 times
and always attack at 5 on the dot.
Behind us! Who is it?
Go! Attack!
Attack! They're hiding.
- No. They are finding shelter.
- Is it raining?
- They are shooting!
- It's true! While we...
We, nothing! Can we have a war
without artillery, tanks, aviation?
Without ammunitions?
I am using the last 150 bullets,
shooting one at a time.
- Like at the shooting range.
Right! If we hit the bull's eye,
the stall lady will come
and give us a teddy bear.
- What teddy bear?
- Your Aunt's!
- I don't have aunts.
- Be quiet! The enemy is listening.
- They care if I've no aunts?
They'll make do with your sister!
Resist, dear.
Don't leave us again
in the hands of that terrible
Italian colonel.
You know we are few, my dear.
They are few, too.
But they've lots of ammunition
for resisting.
Attack! Attack, Savoy!
Attack! Attack! Go! Go!
Go! Go...
- Colonel, what are you doing?
- Excuse me
- I am camouflaged.
- You looked like a tree.
With all the trees around,
you picked this one?
- Did you have to be a tree here?
- Alright.
- Where are you going?
- Attacking.
- Leave me the tree!
- Here it is.
Alright! Forget it!
They removed the flag!
I have victory in my hands.
I've defeated the British army.
Bravo.
Once again, we're leaving.
Bye.
- Come back soon.
- Yes, soon.
- The Italians are coming!
- Romoletto!
- Run!
- You should be ashamed!
- What a scandal!
- Look how they're running!
That bastard Italian colonel
is coming back.
Don't worry. This time
I'll slit his throat if I can.
He won't have his beard shaved
in your place.
Don't worry. I will fix him up,
one way or the other!
The war will end
and all the women will return to us!
- To you too?
- You can't even stand up.
Yes, to me too!
Go upstairs, hurry!
Clere! My beauty!
How many times must I tell you
that my name is Clara?
What did I say? Clere!
It's always Clere!
- Mariuzza! My Mariuzza!
- Love!
- Were you innocent with the English?
- Yes, Rocco.
- Did you save my honor?
- How can you doubt me?
I doubt everyone.
As an old proverb says,
"Wives and oxen
must come from your country."
You are Greek
and I don't want to become an ox!
- Romoletto!
- My chubby girl!
I've been waiting so long for you!
What's up?
Nobody is at home?
Let's go. I'll tell you all about it.
- Dad!
- Luciano!
- He's born?
- Yes, it's a boy.
I'll name him Antonio
like my colonel.
- Yes.
- How is my Tea?
One, two! One, two! One, two!
Battalion, halt!
At ease!
- Sergeant Major Quaglia.
- Yes, sir!
- Where did you put the battalion?
- It scattered along the road.
- What do you mean?
- They are young men and...
During our occupation
they found welcoming women
and are now in their homes.
- How is it possible
that all Italians
must be like that?
Homebodies wearing slippers!
As soon as they see a welcoming
woman, they settle in at home.
Good for you. You're the only one
who followed his colonel.
- I'm settled in farther down.
- "Tu quoque"?
You too?
I can do longer do a triumphant
entrance in the occupied town.
This is not an occupation army,
but an unemployment army!
Shall we do this war or not?
If you don't, tell me, I'll write
to Mussolini and we'll go home!
- Alright? Sergeant Quaglia!
- Yes, sir.
Gather your men
and make them work.
Make out a list of those
who collaborated with the English.
Identify the traitors,
arrest the instigators,
the newsmonger, the saboteurs.
I want to give an example,
show them who
Colonel Antonio Di Maggio is!
Be hard on them!
Be hard on them!
Tough!
- Sergeant!
- Yes, sir?
- Snap to it!
- Yes, sir.
- Snap to it! Go!
- I am snapping, sir.
- Damn it!
- Lapadula! Calascione!
Mazzetta! Parodi! Where are
the soldiers? Where were you hiding?
- Antonio, dear. Finally.
- What a fright!
- Dear Antonio, how are you?
- Terrible. Awful.
I am famished.
What's there to eat?
- Actually...
- What? What?
I told you a thousand times!
When you see us occupying the town,
you must prepare food for us.
After 30 days in the trench fasting,
I come here and don't even find
a slice of ham.
- No more ham.
- We have the usual beet soup.
You'll eat the beets, ugly witch!
Please, next time
I occupy the town,
don't have me find your mother.
- What should I do?
Kill her! Push her off a cliff,
whatever you want.
- What are you saying?
- What am I saying?
What am I saying?
Darn! I smell a pipe.
Someone smoked here. Penelope!
Someone smoked here!
You took in the English again.
Dear Antonio, you know that
when the colonel returns to town,
he always confiscates the tavern.
- He sets up his command here.
- I didn't even look at his face.
- You shouldn't!
That lanky British guy!
- You must believe her.
- Don't touch me!
Do you have a disinfectant?
Boric acid?
Look at what aspiring mother-in-law
I get stuck with. Why do I do it?
To have a companion like you.
Maybe! It's obvious.
No food for me.
In this home we don't eat.
Having a home, having a roof...
What need is there?
I am the commander
of the occupying army troops.
So I have a right to confiscate.
Penelope, I am confiscating!
- What do you expect from us?
- To collaborate for victory.
You have the pleasure of
having the English colonel, my enemy,
and you don't sabotage him?
You don't attempt an assault?
- We are two women, alone!
- Don't be blasphemous.
One woman, alone, your daughter.
She is young, beautiful, fresh.
But not you. You're a scarecrow,
a cursed witch.
Die! To death!
Hey! Die!
Enough!
What could we do?
- We couldn't poison him.
- Yes.
You could've done it with the tea,
or clobbered him with a hammer.
Strangled him in his sleep,
put a bomb in the bathroom flusher.
So in flushing, he'd explode!
But no collaboration.
How can I win the war?
Majesty, I am alone
against all of Great Britain.
- Who am I?
- Who are you? You are...
- You're my chubby girl.
- Yes, but what is my name?
I'll tell you, but take away
your hands. They're bothering me.
- You'll keep your eyes closed?
- I promise.
Alright. Turn around.
Embrace me and give me a kiss.
You think I don't recognize you?
You always want to joke around.
I recognize you.
Where are you?
Romoletto's chubby girl!
Mazzetta! How dare you
kiss your colonel?
- And in what way!
- Sir, I care for you.
Oh, come on! You are disgusting!
Is this the way to kiss?
Mazzetta! Get out of here!
I don't want to see you again!
- Yes, sir.
- Go! Sergeant Major Quaglia!
Boric acid!
This is an abuse!
It is my pharmacy.
- Who gave you the order?
- Shut up! Don't move!
Colonel, the confiscation
has been carried out.
We found these crates
in the basement.
- What is it?
- Nothing. Some firecrackers
and pinwheels.
- They are fireworks.
Fireworks?
You know what they are made of?
Gunpowder.
- For the patron saint's feast.
- Feast, my foot!
Such a quantity is enough
to have an entire
railway station blow up.
- There isn't a railway station here!
What if there had been one?
Blaster! Saboteur!
- Take them away.
- No!
- I am a family father!
- You remember now that you are?
The first time I occupied the town,
who made that noise with his mouth?
You weren't
a family father then, huh?
- We paid for that.
- You purged me 12 times.
- Too little! Too little!
- I can't stand it anymore.
You made me eat tons of soap!
- Too few. Take them away!
- Colonel...
- Go!
- What'll we do with them?
Shoot them for the time being.
Then we'll discuss it.
I am inflexible! I am...
Gunpowder! Got that?
What a torment!
Thanks heavens. Instead
of shooting us he has us run.
He's having us do 20 rounds
of the town. I'll die anyway.
- Run! Run!
- We're running! We're running.
What're you doing? Sitting? Get up!
Run! It's your punishment!
- Please, Colonel, enough.
- I can't stand it anymore!
I have a weak heart.
It's not true. Just an excuse.
Go! Run! It's your punishment.
Go on! Run!
Go! Go!
Kalispera.
Kalispera.
We are alone in the evening
and your mouth tastes like spring.
- Keep calm, Rocco.
- I can't.
Don't you feel how I'm suffering?
Why did I have to get
a toothache tonight?
My Mariuzza!
Dear, when the war ends,
will you take me to Beri?
Not "Beri"! It's called "Beri"!
With an A.
On your hair
I will place my lips,
and will say to you
"S'agapò", love.
A beautiful song!
Our love
will stop the night,
the sky and the earth
for the eternity.
- My love, I love you so much!
- You like me, huh?
Did you know they call me
"lovable"? Give me a kiss.
When I'm with you,
I feel like a general.
- Why?
- Because of the Greek symbol.
Romoletto's lovely chubby girl!
Finally you're here! You were
to take over a half hour ago.
Leave me alone! I spent
the whole night with a toothache.
It's gone now,
but my head still feels heavy.
- I understand.
- What are you getting at?
Well... good night.
Yeah, good night,
with such a heavy head?
Iride!
Iride!
Timothy!
- What're you doing? Are you mad?
- I forgot the pipe.
For a pipe you risk becoming
a prisoner?
It's not a pipe... it's my pipe!
- Wait.
- Yes.
Hurry! Hurry!
Here.
You'd forgotten it on the table.
I can't move.
Put the pipe in my mouth.
- Thank you.
- Hurry. Go! Go!
Let me in. I'll leave at dawn.
Heavens, no! The colonel
could come any minute.
The colonel goes into your room?
What are you thinking? To bid me
good night. He's in the bathroom.
What a day!
I need to rest.
- You're here!
- You aren't sleepy, are you?
- Just a bit tired.
- Tired?
What should I say?
I'm at war every day!
My Mariuzza! What a migraine!
My head feels so heavy!
Darn it!
It's an English migraine!
Excuse me!
Every time I see you,
you're prettier. More lovely.
- Turn off the light.
- Why is it that we must
turn off the light every time?
- Please, go on.
- Alright. I'll turn it off.
Promise me as usual
that you won't turn it on?
- I won't turn it on.
- Your colonel's word?
I am a military!
- Excuse me a moment, dear.
- Where are you going?
I have to ask Mom something.
Why?
Your mother didn't explain...
- Silly!
- These Greek women!
Colonel! Colonel Di Maggio!
This time I deserve a medal.
- What is it?
- I captured the English colonel.
Really? The English colonel?
Finally!
He is in my hands now!
Keep him warm. I'm coming
and want to eat him alive!
Colonel!
My patience has a limit.
With your obstinate silence
you are reducing it to shreds.
Don't speak that language!
Speak Italian. Answer my questions.
I want to know where
the main part of your forces are.
Colonel Timothy Henderson,
rifleman of His British Majesty.
Number 874051.
You're trying to make a fool of me!
I didn't ask for the phone number.
I want to know where and when you'll
receive arms, backup, provisions.
- Especially provisions!
- Colonel Timothy Henderson.
Rifleman of His British Majesty.
Number...
Put down that pipe
and don't try fooling me!
Otherwise, you'll oblige me
to use coercive measures,
and that will be too bad for you!
Darn it!
According to the Geneva Convention,
a prisoner is not obliged
to give information to the enemy.
My friend! My friend!
I don't give a darn about the Geneva
Convention. Put the pipe down!
- You are torturing a prisoner.
- Really?
I torture prisoners?
Don't say it again!
Don't say it around,
or I'll break a chair over your head!
Put that pipe down! Obey!
- You see? Torture.
- What? I am torturing you?
Yes. You're denying a prisoner
the comfort of his pipe.
According
to the Geneva Convention...
I am getting sick of
this Geneva Convention.
It doesn't not talk about
pipes belonging to colonels.
With that disgusting pipe in your
mouth, you're making me nervous.
I ask the questions, and you must
answer! What is your answer?
What? Right away? Is it urgent?
Answer before the question.
If it is urgent...
"V" stands for victory.
It's Churchill's sign.
Really? I don't give a darn!
Okay, Colonel.
The only information I can give you
is that we will win the war.
Laugh! You laugh because
you don't know the password.
There is only one password.
Categorical and committing
for everyone.
It is travelling from the Alps to the
Indian Ocean, lighting up hearts.
Win! We will win!
We will transform...
We'll transform
your small island of fishermen
into a marine colony
for the Fascist children.
We'll loiter around Piccadilly!
And we'll substitute the guards at
Buckingham Palace with circus midgets.
- Colonel! Take that!
- Enough!
You've gone beyond the limit.
I'm going to sleep. Accompany me
to my accommodation.
This is your accommodation.
Don't joke with me!
The Geneva Convention says
I have a right for an accommodation
that is on my level.
Really? You even want
a respectful accommodation?
With all comforts included?
3 bathrooms and an elevator?
Shall I bring you coffee in bed
tomorrow morning?
Thank you, but I prefer tea
with a big English breakfast.
You've got rocks in your head.
You think prison life is a holiday?
That war is a picnic?
I'll have you eat bread and water!
- Bread and water?
- And if you irritate me,
only water! Rinse yourself with it.
He crossed the Channel!
He wants to loiter around Piccadilly!
Go! Go!
This must serve as a warning for
who collaborates with the English.
This is how we punish
the vile collaborators!
Hey, you! Do something
so that vile head
be shaven completely.
- It already is!
Silence! I think it's too long.
Cut it below zero.
Understand?
Alright!
With what heart
do you have us run like this?
- Run! Run!
- My heart!
- Carry out your punishment!
- Colonel! We have ended
the roundup of collaborators.
- Good.
- There's been a complication.
- Not good.
- We can't punish that man.
- Is he favored by someone?
- No. Calascione, come! Here he is.
- What is it?
- He doesn't have hair.
- Cut his beard.
- Alright.
- Go!
- Colonel...
- What is it?
Even who doesn't have a beard?
Mazzetta, we just cut hair!
Remember that!
- Understand?
- Yes, sir!
- Lapadula!
- Yes, sir?
- Where is Sergeant Quaglia?
- In the attic preparing the tub
for the prisoner.
- What? The tub?
Yes, sir. He brought all he needs
for shaving his "bead".
What is "bead"?
You mean "beard"? Speak Italian!
The prisoner is appealing
to the Geneva Convention.
Really? He's appealing
to the Geneva Convention?
I'll show you what he can appeal to!
Go away!
What a lovely voice, Colonel!
- Thank you.
- A lovely voice!
- Not too warm.
- Okay, don't worry.
The right temperature.
- What?
- Right temperature.
Neither too hot nor too cold.
Halfway.
That voice...
is a baritone one, huh?
- Very well.
- Bravo.
What a lovely voice!
Sergeant Quaglia!
You think I'm a mosquito or horsefly?
- What language are you speaking?
- English.
It's forbidden to speak English!
Am I speaking it?
- You don't know English!
- Silence!
- Darn it!
- The sergeant is doing his duty.
- What is he saying?
- He'll hatch an egg now.
Article one
of the Geneva Convention
establishes a fundamental principle.
The prisoner's life is sacred.
This place is full of cockroaches
and I saw some scorpions too.
Scorpions are poisonous.
If I die,
you will be a war criminal.
- Me? I could bust my head!
- Easy!
Quaglia, did you hear?
The colonel is slandering me.
No, he said to stick
to the Geneva pacts.
Really? We have transformed
this prison into a hotel!
Soap, baths, beard, sprays!
Did you put talcum on the kid?
- Not yet.
- What does "talcum" mean?
He wanted to know
if you'd put powder on.
- What did he say?
- Comb.
He crossed the Channel
for a comb?
Sergeant Quaglia,
you're acting as a butler
to this lanky guy.
- It's our duty. The Convention...
- Stop with this Convention!
We know how you respect it
and how you treat prisoners.
Really? Excellently.
Sergeant Quaglia! Attention!
Tell him how this gentleman
treated you
when you were made a prisoner.
Tell him!
- Well...
- Well, what? My foot!
I know how you mistreated him.
At ease.
It's not true.
It's not true?
And the torture to get him to talk?
Salt in his mouth?
Water with a dropper?
Tickling his stomach? Your finger
in his eye? Hammering his feet?
This poor, miserable man,
not in good health,
who was disgusting
even before the war,
had to be sent to the back ways
to cure him and nurture him
because when he managed
to reach us,
he was swaying and couldn't stand.
His legs folded underneath him.
And if you will notice,
they still do!
- Am I a horse?
- Attention! Understand?
He couldn't stand up
because the night he ran away
he drank all of our whisky.
Sergeant Quaglia!
What're you doing? Beating it?
- I have something important to do.
- You don't want to force the lies
of the enemy down his throat?
- Let's forget it...
No, we need to talk.
He who is silent, agrees.
- Exactly. Sergeant Quaglia.
- Yes, Colonel?
On your honor as a soldier,
honestly,
did I mistreat you?
He'll lay another egg now!
It's the truth!
I was treated very well.
I ate what they ate.
They gave me everything. Wine,
liqueurs, whisky, tea, cigarettes.
- Packs?
- Yes!
Sergeant Quaglia, you lied to me,
knowing you were lying.
It's the truth. I did it to have
a license after a long time.
If I hadn't done it, I'd never
have been given a leave of absence.
Silence!
Colleague... You got that, colleague?
He lied. He acted like a hero,
he acted like a victim.
But he spent 2 months as a prisoner
with "tarallucci" and whisky.
- And you believed him?
- Of course. He was staggering.
- What?
- His legs folded backwards.
Who is it?
- Soldier Parodi reporting, sir.
- Come in.
- What is it?
- This old lady says
she has an important communication.
- Did you search her? Is she armed?
- She's clean. Go ahead, speak up.
Just a moment!
The enemy is listening. Come here.
What is it?
Is it possible they dared
hide them in this home?
Parodi! Take this being away.
- Sergeant Quaglia!
- Yes, sir?
Send backup right away.
Surround the house.
Close the door, open your eyes.
Nobody out!
- Run! Penelope! Penelope!
- Here I am.
- Speak up! Where are you hiding him?
- I know nothing. Who do you mean?
- He's in your room!
- It's not true!
- Parodi! Knock down the door!
- Your mother-in-law is in there.
Knock her down too! Go on!
No! Let me go! Let me go!
Antonio, please! I care for you.
I don't give a darn.
Here it is!
You got it!
In the kitchen with pots and pans.
Scoundrel! While my soldiers
were starving to death,
you were hiding this pig!
- What is it?
- You didn't know?
You gave me vegetable soup
while your mother was hiding
that pork of a pig!
She'll get the lesson she deserves.
Soldier Parodi!
- Beard and hair.
- No! Not my hair.
- Beard, hair and superfluous hairs.
- Not my hair!
Shave her! Shave her!
As retaliation,
I'll shave the whole town.
I swear to that, or I'm not
Colonel Antonio Di Maggio!
Present.
- Look for the wave.
- It's here.
- The sync?
- That, too. I hear perfectly.
What are you doing? Don't put
the listening on the headphones.
I must hear.
I am the colonel, right?
Your attention! Your attention!
The headquarters
of the armed forces communicates:
Rome July 25, 1943.
His Majesty the King Emperor
accepted resignation
of the head of the government,
by His Excellency
Cavaliere Benito Mussolini.
Crazy things are going on!
As head of the government
he nominated
Marshal of Italy Pietro Badoglio.
The war is over!
Guys, we're going home!
- To your place. Don't get friendly!
- The war is over.
- Who said the war is over?
- The radio.
- It didn't say it.
- Then I'm saying it.
Who are you? Quaglia?
Silence!
- Silly Quaglia!
- How can it go on?
This is a Fascist war.
If Mussolini resigned,
the war has no reason to exist.
- He will be substituted
by the Marshal of Italy
Pietro Badoglio.
I don't believe
the war will continue.
That's bad. We must believe,
obey and fight. Go on!
He accepted resignation
and nominated
as head of the government
Marshal of Italy Pietro Badoglio.
I am happy for him.
Dear Pietro!
They're repeating the communication.
Now they'll say the war is over.
The war continues
next to the German allies.
I'm happy! The war continue
next to the German allies.
There you go!
You are somewhat of a jinx.
- What did you say?
- Excuse me. It slipped.
I heard you. I'm not a jinx.
- It slipped.
- It must not slip!
Jinx to me?
I don't mean to boast,
but I had an uncle
with a nice hunchback
that everyone touched.
- You didn't inherit it!
- What are you saying?
- That the radio doesn't work.
- Repair the radio!
Why should I bother now?
- Excuse me! Did you hurt yourself?
- Of course!
- My finger!
- Let's soak it.
Sergeant Quaglia!
This is a historical moment.
- We can't worry about soaking it.
- Yes, sir.
Look here. What matters
is that the war continues.
I have war in my blood.
For me it's an open invitation.
- I am a warmonger!
- It's continuing?
- How will we fight?
- It's broken.
The situation is nosediving
and you joke around.
Without ammunition or provisions,
how will we continue?
- Sergeant Quaglia!
- If the English attack us,
will we answer with a sling?
- Sergeant Quaglia!
I am surprised at you. You know
that Italian soldiers make do.
Punches, slaps, kicks,
pinches, bites, head blows.
What matters is that the English
leave us alone for a while.
Yeah, sure,
they'll leave us in peace!
They heard the communication
and will attack us immediately.
Did you hear? What do you say?
- I say that you are the jinx!
- Me?
- Me, the jinx?
- Go jump in the lake!
Sir, the English have occupied
the first houses of the town.
- Join your companions.
Yes, sir.
- What'll we do now?
- Resist!
Resist, how?
The soldiers have 50 bullets in all!
- Sergeant Major Quaglia.
- Yes, sir?
I order you to order immediately
a strategic retreat.
Don't waste time trying
to save on ammunition.
- Yes, sir.
- Go!
What are you doing?
Not coming with us?
- You want to leave everything?
- I don't understand.
We have the English colonel
prisoner upstairs.
I can't leave the town
with him inside. Remember...
- No, you remember! The other finger.
- Right, this one!
Remember that I care about
my war prey. Very much!
- But I will do to him what I decide.
- Yes, sir.
I'll take the prisoner
and join you. March!
Go!
Right at the best moment.
Darn the war, the English, retreats!
- Goodbye, Romoletto.
- Goodbye? We'll meet again.
Come on, boys!
The English are in town. Let's go!
Take care of Tea and the baby.
I can't stand it anymore!
Up and down. I lost 10 kilos!
Colonel, follow me.
Don't protest.
Whether you like it or not,
you must follow me. Understand?
Even if I have to carry you.
You are very kind, Colonel,
but it's better
if you carry me piggy-back.
Don't be funny, and remember
that this is a historical moment.
Who is he? Hey!
Well, my dear Colonel.
This is really a historical moment!
Our positions have been inverted.
Therefore...
Now you are my prisoner.
Dear Colonel, one must be patient.
These are the phases of history.
Once to me, once to you.
One time each doesn't hurt anyone.
Patience! What can we do?
Get moving! Raise those heels!
Come on, loafers!
When we retreat, we run.
Yes, and when we attack,
we go slowly.
What are you insinuating?
Leave me alone.
I'm in a bad mood today.
You Roman, don't joke.
Joke? The English are here
right at the culminating moment!
It's always the culminating moment
for you. Go on!
Get moving!
Don't save on steps, too.
- I'm saving energy.
- Move!
- What are you mumbling?
- Patience, sir.
- I have my reasons.
- Is the radio heavy?
No, but 4 nights with a toothache,
three nights as a sentinel.
Last night we had to run away
and I couldn't say goodbye to her.
- Well?
- She'll open her arms
to the first Englishman she meets.
- You should be thankful.
You got rid of her.
Get moving! Go on!
Sergeant, aren't we waiting
for the colonel?
We're not waiting for him.
Colonel, goodbye!
Colonel, how are the forces
of the Axis set up in Greece?
Colonel Antonio Di Maggio
of the XXVII infantry regiment.
- I can't remember the number.
- Then I'll talk.
- You have my number?
- This is the situation.
The Germans are concentrating
the heavy artillery on the coast.
- Well, well!
- They've transported the cannons
to Peloponnese.
- Are you sure?
- Very sure.
I'll tell you even more.
The Italian army in Greece
will be commanded by Germans.
- How do you know?
- We have good informers.
Nobody informs me!
How will I win the war?
I don't know.
The enemy receives secret news
before I do.
- Why do you get angry?
- It gets on my nerves!
The blood goes to my head.
I am Latin, volcanic.
- We have efficient informers.
- Ours are idiots!
See what impression I make? You know
everything, and I know nothing.
And yet I am the colonel!
I should know these things!
What sort of colonel am I?
I will get undressed!
- I agree.
- Thanks God!
See? This is a man to man talk,
with loyalty and sincerity.
Tell me something, Colonel.
Is your command planning
to take action on the Balkans.
The Balkans intrigue me very much!
Why are you moving away?
Do I have scabies?
The allies aren't interested
in the Balkans.
- What if the Germans arrive?
- Ready reserves.
- Where?
- I don't know.
Come on, colleague!
Don't keep me guessing.
Tell me.
You are keeping me on hot coals.
Let's not behave like children.
We are colonels.
And you are so tall!
Where are they? Tell me.
Dear Colonel,
we are not in your club here.
Don't forget that you're my prisoner.
So I ask the questions!
If you use that tone,
you know what I'll do?
A prisoner is not obliged
to answer.
I'll close myself in silence
and retire in the attic.
Not in the attic.
You have a bedroom.
What? I had you sleep...
- I respect the Convention.
- I see.
You want to humiliate me.
Well, I accept
and turn the other cheek.
- Go ahead.
- I don't understand.
Dear colleague...
I am ashamed to say it.
I've a sentimental situation
that is a bit morganatic.
If you don't mind,
I'd like to sleep with my wife.
With my woman.
- Impossible. You can't go out.
- Who wants to go out?
My morganatic situation is here.
Your woman is here?
Colonel,
what's there to laugh about?
The fact is,
my woman is here too.
Really? Yours here too!
Colonel, I'm sorry to say it,
but you are a good military,
and look good in a uniform,
But have good tastes!
Yes, my woman is very nice!
- Really?
- Dear...
Who would ever imagine
that you are my father-in-law!
I don't understand.
Father-in-law.
- Me? Father-in-law?
- Yes!
Just a moment, Colonel.
Let's not confuse things.
We have to make things clear.
You're the husband
of Penelope's mother.
Me? Are you kidding?
Me, with Penelope?
He's an idiot!
Then who is your woman?
It's clear, isn't it? Iride!
- Iride is my woman!
- No!
- Yes!
- Darn!
Colonel, I am beginning to think
you and I formed
a nice couple of cuckolds.
You think?
Darn!
- No! No!
- Yes!
- No!
- Yes!
Listen to a friend.
In fact, an enemy. That's how it is.
Understand?
- Did they find everything out?
- Yes, I heard them.
They're coming!
- Explain yourself.
- Yes, we want an explanation.
You two must explain to me.
What does this intrusion mean?
There's a reason!
Did you betray both of us?
Tell the truth!
Betray? You're the betrayers!
You come as allies
and take the women.
You come as enemies
and take the pigs.
Be quiet, Radames!
Who can deny a favor without
expecting the worst to happen?
What can a poor woman who loves her
husband and can't say no to you, do?
Husband?
- You are married?
- Yes.
Colonel!
Then there are three cuckolds!
- Yes.
- Ruffian!
Amazing!
Now stop it!
I know what we went through.
I had to hide him to avoid
that you hurt him.
You want to see him? Here he is.
Here's my husband.
A cuckold with a beard!
My daughter never betrayed
her husband.
Then who was betrayed?
I don't understand.
- Maybe he doesn't know anything.
- It's not true!
I've always known everything.
Iride remained faithful to me.
Yeah! Iride told us jokes at night!
It wasn't her. I came at night
to tell you jokes!
- What?
- Right! Were we blind?
- You were in the dark.
- Darn!
Yes! Yes! Yes!
That's why you always wanted
to turn the candles out
when we were embracing!
- She turned off the light with you?
- Every time.
Now I know why
as soon as the light went out
with an excuse
she went to her mother.
And her mother, who is a shrewd one,
came to us
and told us
the so-called jokes.
That's right! I sacrificed myself
to save my daughter's honor.
Really? No.
I think the colonel and I
made the biggest sacrifice.
Colonel, if this should be known,
they'll give us a medal
for how brave we've been.
- Look...
- Well, Penelope, my compliments!
- You made it!
- No! It won't end here!
Remember! Next time
that I conquer the town again,
I won't limit myself
to cutting hair. I'll do other cuts.
You understand, darn witch?
As for you,
remember, you scoundrel,
that I don't want to see you again!
- I agree!
Enough, Colonel.
We don't want to see you.
Really? It's becoming hard
to breathe in this house.
- Mephitic air!
- Mephitic...
Colonel, I've decided.
This house is disgusting.
I've decided. I'm leaving
and won't set foot
in this house again.
- Goodbye!
- I don't blame you.
Hey! Colonel, where are you going?
- Come here!
- Please, let me go.
- I've decided.
- Where do you want to go?
Please don't insist.
I have to go.
Are you kidding? You're forgetting
that you're my prisoner.
If you keep me in this house...
I know myself.
I've an ugly character.
I'll cause a commotion,
a massacre!
Silence! Private affairs are
one thing, the war law is another.
When facing laws,
the rest doesn't matter.
- Even when cheating is involved?
- Enough!
- You put war before cheating?
- Enough! Enough!
- Now come with me.
- Okay.
Doctor! We heard that
that scoundrel Colonel Di Maggio
didn't escape in time.
- Really?
Yes! He was late in taking
Colonel Henderson with him.
And the English took him
as a prisoner.
Great! Finally he's in our hands!
No, unfortunately,
he's in the hands of the English.
They'll send him to a prison camp
and we can't do anything.
- It would be too convenient!
- He must pay!
- Right!
- For the running he made us do!
- What can we do?
- Advise the others
and have him delivered to us.
- I am with you! Let's go!
- Let's go!
- We'll have fun now.
Enough whisky!
To forget Iride!
- To forget Iride! Cheers!
- Cheers.
Who do we want to forget now?
Margareth? Who is she?
Cheers to Margareth!
I loved Margareth very much.
She left me for the bishop.
- During the procession?
- No.
- She loved her.
- No!
- Yes.
- Oh! Wow!
The bishop gave in to her?
They got married.
What? A shepherd of the souls
steals a girlfriend from a colonel
and marries her illegally?
No. In England the clergy
can marry.
Priests and bishops are Protestant.
Really? That's a good one!
I didn't know. If they found out
in Italy, everyone would protest!
- To Mussolini!
- Yes.
- To forget Mussolini!
- No! No! I don't agree!
- I do! Look!
- I won't look. I won't look.
To forget Churchill!
I will gulp it down.
Believe me, colleague. It's a pleasure
to spend a half hour with you!
I'll tell you something
that may seem absurd.
I thank this war that
gave me the chance to meet you.
Otherwise, how would I
have met you?
Maybe we would have met
just the same.
A long time ago I came to Italy
to study singing.
- Really?
- Yes! Baritone.
- Beautiful voice.
- Baritone.
Barber!
We'll have him delivered
and will hang him.
- I will beat him first.
- Good!
Boys, they are making fools of us.
Let's call the colonel!
- Give us the colonel!
- They want you.
- Give us that bastard!
- Oh, they want me!
- Let us by or you'll regret it!
- We want justice!
- What do you want?
- Give us the prisoner.
- The colonel is my prisoner.
- He is our prisoner!
- It's up to us to punish him!
- What are we waiting for?
Let's go inside and take him away.
Let's hang him!
- Stop! You are all crazy!
- If you don't give him to us,
we'll come get him!
- Yes! Yes!
Try it and you'll regret it!
I want to see if you have the
courage to shoot on the population.
Listen. I will first question
the prisoner, and then we'll see.
Colonel Henderson, we'll give you
until tomorrow morning.
Then we'll take action our way.
- Bravo!
- We'll wait until tomorrow.
What'll we do?
We must take action!
- Please!
- "Please" my foot!
You're crazy! We're dealing with
my hide, and you speak English?
Enough! Sit down, please. I always
get in trouble because of you.
Why do they hate you so much?
What did you do?
Yes! I shaved beards and hair
to some men,
I gave the pharmacist cod liver oil,
and other little things.
Why, for heaven's sake?
They made the fart noise
and I am touchy.
What can I do in so little time?
They'll be back tomorrow.
I only have a few men and can't
shoot at those good people.
Those people?
They're scoundrels! Those miserable
people need a good lesson!
Sergeant! Close the doors
and open fire!
Silence! I give the orders here!
And I won't shoot anyone!
- Let's use our head.
- Alright.
You obliged me.
You asked for it.
I've decided. I'll hang.
The neck is yours.
Hang yourself if you want.
What did you understand?
I'll hang on to
the Geneva Convention.
You should remember it
because you hang on to it, too.
Now you brush it off,
and don't give it any importance,
but in the Geneva Convention
article one says,
"The life of the prisoner is sacred."
Sacred.
Who is it?
Take your jacket off.
- Why?
- Take your jacket off!
Now take off your pants.
- No!
- Go on. Don't worry.
I am worrying.
Colonel!
I said to take off your pants.
- Sergeant, the English!
- Calm down! Calm down!
We'll welcome them as is fit.
Don't worry.
How?
We have at the most 30 bullets!
If need be, we'll know
how to defend ourselves with rocks.
Sergeant Quaglia won't surrender.
How many are they?
- I only saw the colonel.
- Got that?
They want to attack me with
forces. They want to defeat me.
Go to your place! They know
the commander isn't here and said,
"Sergeant Quaglia is beating it."
But they are wrong!
Boys, charge the rifles. Let's go!
Let's charge the rifles!
Go slowly. Nobody is chasing you.
- Where was the English colonel?
- He was coming down from that rock.
Wait before shooting.
Don't waste ammunition.
Only shoot when
you're sure of hitting.
Sergeant, who are we shooting at?
I don't see anyone.
He says he saw him.
Unless he's blind.
- Are you blind?
- No.
Did you hear? He saw him.
Go back to your place.
You, Lapadula, come here.
Here he is! He was right. It's him.
It's Colonel Henderson.
I can tell from the cap and pipe.
- Sergeant, I don't see the soldiers.
- Must be hiding behind the rocks.
I am never wrong.
If we get rid of the English colonel,
they will retreat. You'll see!
Let him get closer.
When I give the order, shoot.
San Gennaro, you take care of it!
Be ready. Fire!
Don't shoot! It's me!
- It's our colonel!
- San Gennaro, well?
- Sergeant, now it's your tough luck!
- How could I know? He's disguised!
- Sergeant Quaglia!
- Yes sir! I'm coming.
Let's dig a grave for the sergeant.
The colonel will massacre him!
Scoundrel, miserable rogue!
Shooting at your colonel!
Sir, I saw you coming
dressed as an Englishman.
Quaglia, remember that I'm a warrior.
For war needs, I can be dressed
in any way, even as a priest!
I would never shoot a priest.
All we need is to declare war
on the Vatican!
Look here!
You risked killing me.
- It's nothing.
- A hole in the pants.
Lie on the bed, stomach down,
and take off your pants.
Sure! Now you're looking at
the colonel's rear end!
I'm doing it so you won't worry.
I assure you that nothing happened.
It's just a hole in the pants.
The bullet nicked you.
- You're dogged.
- Dogged? In what way?
- You've been dodged!
- I heard. You said, "dogged".
- Dodged!
- Remember...
I'm the one who dodges bullets!
Not them!
- Soldier Quaglia!
- Soldier? I'm Sergeant Major.
- I degraded you.
- Why?
For having ordered fire
without saying "Who goes there?"
- I didn't do it on purpose.
- Silence!
You almost killed me.
On the contrary,
the English colonel saved my life.
- Henderson saved your life?
- Yes.
Because those dear townspeople
wanted to lynch me.
The English colonel gave me
his uniform to let me escape.
This is just between you and me,
but he gave me his pipe!
Quaglia!
- This is a pipe, not an eel!
- I saw that.
I removed the spots
and ironed it personally.
You want something else?
Our surveillance aircraft established
that on Montegreco
the English flag is still waving.
- Is it possible? Who's in Montegreco?
- The 27th infantry regiment
commanded by Colonel Di Maggio.
- Di Maggio...
I want to remember the name of this
colonel who after many months
hasn't yet been able to defeat
the last enemy resistance.
General Von Kiplinz, I remind you
that on the Greek front
the Italian troops never had
efficient means to fight the enemy.
The usual complaint.
We'll take care of this Montegreco.
If I may, General,
I will personally take care
of this operation.
Bravo, Herr Kruger.
You have carte blanche.
- It's around here.
- Is it English?
- The sound seems German.
- Sergeant!
- What is it?
- A German plane launched parachutes.
- Men?
- One man and big cases.
- I think it's provisions.
- Finally we'll eat!
- Where is it?
- On the clearing behind the cave.
Good! Let's go see. Advise
the colonel. Let's hope for the best!
- Heil Hitler! Major Kruger.
- Colonel Di Maggio.
As always, the German forces
come to your rescue.
Thank you.
Did you bring provisions?
They brought enormous cases
full of provisions.
Thank you.
Finally my men can eat!
No food!
There are weapons in the cases.
They were parachuted with powerful
mortars to find the English.
Order the men to get assemble them.
Sergeant!
- Follow the colonel's orders!
- I didn't say anything.
- I said it! I've carte blanche.
- Quaglia, did you understand?
- The major has carte blanche.
- He has carte blanche.
- Tomorrow Montegreco will disappear.
- Jawhol!
We'll totally destroy the town
before The English backup
arrives tomorrow.
Now I must check
assembling of the mortars.
Your mortar.
Did you understand, Quaglia?
- Their mortars!
- German mortars!
Your family's mortars.
German family.
Our mortars!
At dawn they will be ready.
At 6 o'clock, fire!
Montegreco kaput!
English kaput! Greeks kaput!
That way we'll end this matter!
Hurry! There isn't much time!
These pieces are the stands!
- Have you finished?
- Sergeant, what'll we do?
- I don't know.
- Why the townspeople?
What do you want from me?
Orders are order.
Perk up, Fantin! I understand.
Don't worry.
Maybe everything will work out.
What’re you doing? "Schnell"!
This goes on the ground. "Schnell"!
- They're always in a hurry.
- What did you say?
- Nothing. I translated "schnell".
- If you understand "schnell", hurry!
Quaglia! What're you doing?
Observing a moment of silence?
Don't look at me
with those sad dog eyes!
- What do you want? Speak up!
- Know what I'd like to say, sir?
If it's about the rank matter,
don't worry.
I'll re-integrate you.
You're again Sergeant Major Quaglia.
- I wasn't thinking of that.
- Of what, then?
You seem evil
but deep down you are kind.
No. This misunderstanding
must be cleared. I am totally evil.
What is it?
Colonel, may I ask you something?
- Go ahead.
- At 6...
- What'll the mortars?
- What they should. What else?
- Will they shoot?
- Of course they'll shoot!
You want them to do
the mortar dance?
Aren't you thinking
about the Montegreco people?
I am! They wanted to lynch me.
It's true, but...
there are women and children too.
And don't forget
that the English saved your life.
Right! I'll get them
a bouquet of flowers,
a best wishes telegram,
some sweets. Quaglia!
Remember that in war there are
situations in which an officer
must behave as
the English colonel did with me.
And situations in which an Italian
colonel must do what he is ordered...
- The Germans!
- The Germans are our allies!
- Did you hear the radio?
- But they are Germans!
Quaglia! You want to break the Axis?
- What will I tell those boys?
- That at 6 we're shooting.
- Alright.
- Sergeant Major, to your position.
Yes, sir!
The mortars are ready. Only
a few minutes. Are you ready?
- Very ready.
- Let's go.
Company, attention!
30 men plus one.
- At ease.
- At ease.
Stop looking at me like that!
You're bothering me!
You're making me nervous!
I know what you want to tell me
with those eyes.
- Only three minutes.
- Jawhol!
Did you hear the major?
You must look at him, not me.
He has carte blanche.
I didn't even have carte blanche
for writing home.
Only 2 minutes and 30 seconds left.
Darn! I know that up there
there are women,
children, old people,
et cetera, et cetera.
But I'm a soldier!
I am not a charity lady.
I'm ordered to shoot, and I shoot.
- Be ready!
- Major Kruger!
- I give orders to my soldiers!
- Then do so!
Whenever I decide!
I am your superior.
I came with full powers!
- Two minutes left.
- How much longer?
- One minute and 55 seconds.
- Who gives a darn!
Yes! I won't shoot
against a helpless town.
Evacuate it and then
I'll have the mortars sing.
That is nonsense!
- The action depends on the surprise.
- I don't do such surprises!
I am a soldier!
I am not a murderer.
What's the life of 200 people matter
compared to the Reich's victory?
- They are like flies.
- I won't even kill a fly!
I won't give the order
to shoot now or never!
Watch out, Colonel.
I have carte blanche.
You can clean your ass with it!
So, Kruger,
make out your deposition.
At dawn as was established
all the mortars were aimed
at Montegreco.
When I told him that firing
was one minute away,
he answered, "Who gives a darn!"
Di Maggio, what can
you say for yourself?
- Nothing.
- What?
If you want to hear what I said
to the major, I can repeat it.
I suggest you change attitude
when facing this court.
I don't acknowledge it! I have a right
to be judged by an Italian court.
Germany is allied with Italy.
So this is a competent court.
Competent in judging a man
who didn't want to carry out
a useless massacre?
We were to conquer the town
with cannons.
We conquered it with white arms.
Isn't it the same?
The order was to totally
destroy the town.
You didn't obey.
On the contrary,
you had Herr Kruger arrested
when he was following my orders.
Do you deny that?
No. I had him arrested
because I dislike him as a man.
As a German, even more!
You hate Germans!
Say it that you hate Germans!
It's not true. I love them.
An example.
At home in Naples on my nightstand
I've a photo of Hitler.
Every evening before going to bed,
I tell him lots of nice words.
You tell him things?
Sometimes even bad words!
The accused is making fun
of our Fuhrer!
General, we can't accept it!
And I can't afford this clown trial.
Let's end it! I was given the order
to have Montegreco explode.
I didn't do it. So what?
I'll personally pay.
Without a burden on my conscience.
I would now have on my conscience
Fantin's son,
Calascione's wife, the Mazzetta
girls and all of my soldiers,
Henderson, the English colonel
who saved the life of an enemy.
While you, as allies,
want to take it away from me.
Take this disgusting life,
if you care so much. Jackals!
Colonel!
You are going beyond the limit.
As you know, this court,
based on the laws of the war,
gives me the right to judge you
and carry out the sentence at once.
The stand to the prosecution.
The defense?
In the name of the Fuhrer,
this court sentences
Colonel Antonio Di Maggio
to immediate degradation
and the death penalty
by firing squad.
The sentence will be carried out
tomorrow at dawn.
They condemned him to death.
Tomorrow they'll shoot him.
- He disobeyed orders.
- Was he to kill all of us?
It was his duty.
Emotions are a wonderful thing,
but you pay for them in war.
- What would you have done?
- Would you have shot?
Without second thoughts.
I'm a soldier, not a philanthropist.
You're not a philanthropist but as
a soldier you can attack tonight.
It's not possible.
We are waiting for backup.
But the German soldiers
are very few.
It's not a matter of numbers,
but of orders.
You've conquered the town
many times without orders.
I only take initiatives
when there are no orders.
The order now
is to wait for backup.
In the end, he saved your life.
But I saved his, too.
Think it over carefully
before saying no.
I did think it over carefully.
The Germans are enemies.
The Italians are enemies.
Therefore...
If you want to kill one another,
what can I do?
Nothing. You are right.
Maybe I am wrong.
I'm very sorry. Believe me.
Sergeant! Put your men
in front of the condemned man.
- But...
- In front of the condemned man.
Attention!
Left flank!
Forward! Step!
One, two. One, two. One, two.
Halt!
Right flank. Right!
Sergeant, you will command
the firing squad.
- We must shoot him?
- Yes.
You Italians will shoot
your colonel.
Give the order.
Sergeant, give the order!
If you don't shoot,
you will be shot!
Major!
I ask for the privilege of commanding
the firing squad for me execution.
Go ahead, Colonel.
Firing squad, attention!
Charge!
First row, on your knees.
Aim!
Long live Italy!
Long live the King! Fire!
I said fire! Fire!
What are you doing?
You asked for it!
Scoundrels! What did you do?
You didn't understand a thing.
I did it to save you!
If you'd followed my order,
only I would have died.
One colonel more or one
colonel less makes no difference.
In Rome there are many colonels!
So what have you done now?
They'll shoot all of us!
Are you happy? Here we are!
Company, attention! Forward!
This time I'll command
the firing squad.
Major! Only one bullet
is enough for me.
Two for them,
because they are idiots!
Silence!
Major!
I'd warned you
not to give this order.
The village is in our hands.
You're surrounded by English troops.
This time you got
a big fright, huh?
How can I thank you?
You've saved my life twice.
No, no. I only did my duty.
It's a military operation.
- I just happened to save you.
- No, no, no! You're saying this
because you don’t' want to admit
being fond of your enemy.
- We are no longer enemies.
- I know. We respect each other.
Those scoundrels who wanted
to kill me, are my allies.
The Germans are no longer
your allies.
- No? I don't understand.
- He doesn't understand.
Today, September 8,
Marshal Badoglio
signed the armistice
with the English, French, Americans.
- So the war is over?
- The war is over!
Together we'll fight a war
against those pigs, as you call them!
Sergeant Major Quaglia,
did you hear?
Order the men
to take up arms again.
- Colonel Di Maggio.
- Here I am!
Colonel, you know what?
At your side, I'll gladly fight.
I'm glad to fight with you, too.
- I know you care so much about it.
- Thank you.
What? I kept it as a relic,
and you throw it like that?
I promised that if I'd arrive
in time to save you,
I wouldn't have smoked
a pipe anymore.
And then you say
you happened to save my life!
We can't waste time now.
You and I must unite forces
and take over the entire area
before the Germans do.
Okay! We will conquer it!
Bravo! You have learned
the sign of victory.
I wanted to ask you.
Before beginning to march, may I...
After a half hour
in front of the firing squad,
anyone in my place,
in my shoes...
Is it urgent? Please.
- Sergeant Major Quaglia!
- Yes, Colonel?
- Do you know where...
- Yes. At the end on the left.
Thank you.