Patton (1970)

1. Be seated.

2. Now, I want you to remember

3. that no bastard ever won a war

4. by dying for his country.

5. He won it

6. by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.

7. Men

8. all this stuff you've heard about America not wanting to fight

9. wanting to stay out of the war

10. is a lot of horse dung.

11. Americans

12. traditionally love to fight.

13. All real Americans love the sting of battle.

14. When you were kids

15. you all admired the champion marble shooter

16. the fastest runner, big-league ball players, the toughest boxers.

17. Americans love a winner

18. and will not tolerate a loser.

19. Americans play to win all the time.

20. I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed.

21. That's why Americans have never lost and will never lose a war

22. because the very thought of losing

23. is hateful to Americans.

24. Now

25. an army is a team.

26. It lives, eats, sleeps, fights as a team.

27. This individuality stuff is a bunch of crap.

28. The bilious bastards who wrote that stuff about individuality

29. for the Saturday Evening Post

30. don't know anything more about real battle than they do about fucking.

31. Now we have the finest food and equipment

32. the best spirit

33. and the best men in the world.

34. You know

35. by God, I actually pity those poor bastards we're going up against.

36. By God, I do.

37. We're not just going to shoot the bastards

38. we're going to cut out their living guts

39. and use them to grease the treads of our tanks.

40. We're going to murder those lousy Hun bastards by the bushel.

41. Now

42. some of you boys

43. I know are wondering

44. whether or not you'll chicken out under fire. Don't worry about it.

45. I can assure you

46. that you will all do your duty.

47. The Nazis

48. are the enemy.

49. Wade into them!

50. Spill their blood! Shoot them in the belly!

51. When you put your hand

52. into a bunch of goo

53. that a moment before was your best friend's face

54. you'll know what to do.

55. There's another thing I want you to remember.

56. I don't want to get any messages saying we are "holding our position."

57. We're not "holding" anything. Let the Hun do that.

58. We're advancing constantly. We're not interested in holding on to anything

59. except the enemy.

60. We're going to hold on to him by the balls and kick him in the ass.

61. We're going to kick the hell out of him all the time

62. and we're going to go through him like shit through a goose!

63. Now

64. there's one thing

65. that you men will be able to say when you get back home.

66. And you may thank God for it.

67. Thirty years from now when you're sitting around your fireside

68. with your grandson on your knee

69. and he asks you:

70. "What did you do in the great World War ll?"

71. You won't have to say:

72. "Well

73. I shovelled shit in Louisiana."

74. All right, now, you sons of bitches

75. you know how I feel.

76. I will be proud

77. to lead you wonderful guys into battle anytime

78. anywhere.

79. That's all.

80. The Arabs need food and clothing.

81. They strip our dead before we can even bury them.

82. Looks like the reports were pretty accurate.

83. Sixty-one armored vehicles, 45 tons of ammunition

84. twenty-five 40mm guns, three self-propelled 105s.

85. Not counting mortars, machine guns, rifles

86. pistols, telescopes, belt buckles, Gl socks.

87. One thousand, eight hundred men.

88. Our people salute you, general

89. for your brilliant amphibious landing on the continent of Africa

90. and for your enlightened administration of our country.

91. I've enjoyed being here, Excellency.

92. Naturally, I'd prefer to be in Tunisia fighting the Germans.

93. "The lions in their dens tremble at his approach."

94. I appreciate that, Excellency.

95. Magnificent!

96. I wish our troops looked that good.

97. Tell me, general, what do you think of Morocco?

98. I love it, Excellency.

99. It's a combination of the Bible and Hollywood.

100. These men fight at Kasserine? Yes, sir.

101. For the American Army to take a licking like that

102. the first time at bat against the Germans

103. Up against Rommel, what we need is the best tank man we've got.

104. Somebody tough enough to pull this outfit together.

105. - Patton? -Possibly.

106. God help us.

107. Lieutenant

108. where is the duty officer?

109. Sir

110. - He said he's caught at shaving. - Why isn't he here on duty?

111. Guess he needed a shave.

112. We got a new commanding general due today.

113. Who the hell is kicking me in the butt?

114. Oh, sorry, sir.

115. - What were you doing down there? - Trying to get some sleep, sir.

116. Well

117. Get back down there, son.

118. You're the only son of a bitch here who knows what he's trying to do.

119. Yes, sir.

120. - Brad, how the hell are you? - Fine, George. Good to see you.

121. We were all under the impression you wouldn't be here until 0900.

122. Yes, I gathered that.

123. - You know my boy, Dick Jenson. -Yes.

124. Brad, tell me.

125. - What are you doing here? - Ike wanted a report on Kasserine.

126. Meanwhile, I have to stay here as an observer

127. but I report directly to Ike.

128. You're spying.

129. Get me General Eisenhower's headquarters.

130. Tell me, Brad

131. what happened at Kasserine? I heard it was a shambles.

132. Apparently, everything went wrong.

133. We'd send over a 75mm shell, the krauts would return an 88.

134. Their tanks are diesels.

135. Even when we managed to hit one they kept on running. Our tanks

136. The men call them "Purple Heart boxes."

137. One hot piece of shrapnel and the gasoline explodes.

138. I warned them about the tank.

139. I talked to one of the soldiers about the half-tracks.

140. I asked them if the machine-gun bullets pierced the armor.

141. And he said, "No, sir.

142. They just come through one side and rattle around a bit."

143. I understand they had a little trouble coordinating the air cover.

144. The trouble was no air cover.

145. - General Smith on the line, sir. - Excuse me, Brad.

146. Bedell?

147. Listen, I'm calling about Bradley and his job here.

148. I need a good number-two man, I want to make Brad my deputy commander.

149. You clear it with Ike?

150. All right, thanks, Bedell.

151. Now you're not spying for Eisenhower anymore, you're working for me.

152. - Okay? -Fine, okay.

153. Dick. You got those stars?

154. - Yes, sir. -Let's get them on.

155. What's the matter, Brad? I've been nominated by the president.

156. I know, but it doesn't become official until it's approved by the Senate.

157. Well

158. they have their schedule and I have mine.

159. George

160. if you were named admiral of the Turkish Navy

161. I believe your aides could dip into their haversacks

162. and come up with the appropriate badge of rank.

163. Anyway, congratulations. Premature congratulations.

164. You know

165. I think those stars look better on a green shirt.

166. Did I ever tell you about the time I designed a uniform for tank crewmen?

167. It was green leather, it had red stripes

168. and sort of a row of brass buttons down across here.

169. And topped off by a gold football helmet.

170. The Army rejected it, of course.

171. Goddamn, it was beautiful.

172. Lloyd Fredendall is just leaving.

173. George, there's one other thing I put in my Kasserine report.

174. Some of our boys were just plain scared.

175. That's understandable.

176. Even the best foxhound is gun-shy the first time out.

177. I can remember

178. when nothing frightened me as much as the idea of

179. a bullet coming straight for my nose.

180. I don't know why, but the image of a bullet coming right for my nose

181. was more horrible than any other possibility.

182. Well, I can understand that, with such a handsome nose.

183. You want to know why this outfit got the hell kicked out of it?

184. Blind man could see it in a minute.

185. They don't look like soldiers. They don't act like soldiers.

186. Why should they fight like soldiers?

187. You're absolutely right. The discipline's pretty poor.

188. In about 15 minutes we're going to start turning these boys

189. into fanatics, razors.

190. They'll lose their fear of the Germans.

191. I hope to God they never lose their fear of me.

192. Up bright and early, general? Breakfast?

193. Have all my officers finished breakfast?

194. We're open from 6 till 8.

195. Most of the officers are just coming in, sir.

196. Please inform these officers the mess hall is closed.

197. But, sir! It's only a quarter to 8.

198. From now on, you will open at 6 and no one will be admitted after 6:15.

199. Where are your leggings?

200. Leggings? Well, hell, general, sir, I'm a cook.

201. You're a soldier.

202. $20 fine.

203. Gentlemen

204. from this moment any man

205. without leggings, without a helmet, without a tie

206. Any man with unshined shoes or soiled uniform

207. is going to be skinned.

208. This is a barracks. It's not a bordello.

209. - Good morning. -Good morning, sir.

210. Doctor.

211. Sir.

212. I understand you have two cases of self-inflicted wounds.

213. Yes, sir, we do.

214. Get them out of here.

215. One has developed a serious infection.

216. I don't care if he dies, just get him out of here.

217. Doesn't belong in the same room with men wounded in battle.

218. - I'll see that they're moved. - One more thing.

219. There'll be no "battle fatigue." That's an order.

220. Battle fatigue is a free ride to the hospital.

221. I'm not going to subsidize cowardice.

222. Yes, sir.

223. Doctor Where's your helmet?

224. I don't wear a helmet in the hospital.

225. Start.

226. I can't use my stethoscope when I'm wearing my helmet.

227. Well

228. then cut two holes in your helmet so that you can.

229. And get those yellow-bellies out of here, today.

230. Hold it.

231. Turn right, here.

232. The battlefield is ahead.

233. Don't argue. I can smell a battlefield.

234. He was out here yesterday.

235. It's over there. Turn right, damn it.

236. It was here.

237. The battlefield was here.

238. The Carthaginians defending the city

239. were attacked by three Roman legions.

240. They were brave, but they couldn't hold. They were massacred.

241. Arab women

242. stripped them of their tunics and their swords and lances.

243. The soldiers lay naked in the sun

244. 2000 years ago.

245. I was here.

246. You don't believe me.

247. You know what the poet said:

248. "Through the travail of ages

249. It's the pomp and toils of war

250. Have I fought and strove and perished

251. Countless times upon the star

252. As if through a glass and darkly

253. The age-old strife I see

254. Where I fought in many guises Many names

255. But always me."

256. You know who the poet was?

257. Me.

258. Sir, the interrogation reports on the American prisoners

259. captured in our victory at Kasserine.

260. They are not very good soldiers, these Americans.

261. I'm not so sure

262. after only one battle.

263. Their tanks were no match for our guns.

264. And neither was their leadership, sir.

265. At Kasserine they were not under American command.

266. They were under the British General Anderson.

267. British commanders and American troops the worst of everything!

268. I remind you that Montgomery is a British Commander.

269. And he has driven us half way across Africa.

270. Anyway, we have met the Americans for the first time and defeated them.

271. I'm optimistic.

272. You can afford to be an optimist, I can't.

273. There's an opportunity for us to mount an offensive.

274. We've concentrated on the flank

275. draw strength from the British.

276. It appears now that we could

277. split the African corridor.

278. Drive through Rommel to the sea.

279. I'm sorry, but that territory has been reserved

280. for General Bernard Law Montgomery.

281. We're supposed to let him win this one no matter what.

282. They're entitled to have their hero.

283. Montgomery did push Rommel clear across North Africa.

284. What about the Americans? Don't they need a hero too?

285. You have anybody in mind?

286. Air Vice-Marshal Coningham is here with General Buford.

287. Excuse me, gentlemen

288. while I ask our British friends what's happened to our air cover.

289. Harry.

290. How are you?

291. George. Good to see you.

292. - You know Arthur Coningham. -Sir Arthur.

293. Delighted to see you.

294. I've heard so much about you.

295. Gentlemen, it appears there's been a slight misunderstanding here

296. and Ike thought we should fix it.

297. No, no. No misunderstanding.

298. We're supposed to have Allied air cover and we don't.

299. German planes are strafing my troops.

300. If I may say so, general, I'm afraid your operation reports are inaccurate.

301. Report? Three days ago, the crowds took off after my command car

302. ran my ass into a ditch.

303. My staff has assured me, we have complete air supremacy

304. everywhere in the Mediterranean.

305. When I complained about air cover

306. you said our troops were not battleworthy.

307. You spoke of the discredited practice of using air force as an alibi

308. for lack of success on the ground.

309. I have to wet-nurse Montgomery, I don't have to stand for that.

310. I sincerely apologize for that remark, whoever made it.

311. And I promise you one thing, general:

312. You will see no more German planes.

313. We were discussing air supremacy, Sir Arthur.

314. Damn door won't open!

315. By God, that's enough!

316. Get that thing out of here!

317. Come on, you bastards, take a shot at me on the nose!

318. Get back in here, George! We need a corps commander, not a casualty.

319. How'd you manage to stage that?

320. I don't know

321. but if I could find the Nazis flying those things

322. I'd give them each a medal.

323. Can't get over how cold it gets in the desert.

324. Awfully cold, sir.

325. Rommel's out there somewhere, waiting for me.

326. Yes, sir.

327. You know

328. if I had my way, I'd send that genius son of a bitch

329. an engraved invitation in iambic pentameter:

330. A challenge in two stanzas to meet me alone in the desert.

331. I'll deliver it.

332. Rommel in his tank and me in mine.

333. We'd stop about 20 paces. We'd get out, we'd shake hands

334. then we'd button up and do battle, just the two of us.

335. That battle would decide the outcome of the war.

336. It's too bad jousting's gone out of style.

337. It's like your poetry, general.

338. It isn't part of the 20th century.

339. You're right, Dick.

340. The world grew up.

341. Hell of a shame.

342. Dick, I want a 24-hour guard put around this area.

343. If we don't, the Arabs will dig them up for their clothes.

344. Yes, sir.

345. Our graves aren't gonna disappear like everybody else's who fought here.

346. The Greeks, Romans, Carthaginians.

347. God, how I hate the 20th century.

348. Captain Steiger reporting, General.

349. Come with me, Steiger.

350. Field Marshal Rommel I hope you are feeling better

351. Captain Steiger has been assigned to research General Patton.

352. Very well. What do you have for me?

353. General Patton comes from a military family.

354. His grandfather was a hero of the American Civil War.

355. He was educated at the Virginia Military Institute and West Point.

356. You're not telling me anything about the man.

357. He writes poetry and believes in reincarnation.

358. He's one of the richest officers in the American Army.

359. He prays on his knees, but curses like a stable boy.

360. He has one standing order. "Always take the offensive, never dig in".

361. In 15 minutes we meet with the F¨¹hrer.

362. He will want to know how you plan to deal with Patton's forces.

363. I will attack and annihilate him!

364. Before he does the same to me.

365. General.

366. General?

367. We intercepted a German radio message.

368. Rommel's 10th Panzer is going to hit us near El Guettar.

369. Rommel, huh?

370. All my life

371. I've wanted to lead a lot of men in a desperate battle.

372. Now I'm going to do it.

373. Look.

374. Battalion strength at least.

375. They haven't spotted our positions yet.

376. They'll get an education in about 10 seconds.

377. Wait till they get a dose of that artillery fire.

378. Commence firing. Fire at will.

379. Commence firing. Fire at will. Commence firing. Fire at will.

380. What a hell of a waste of fine infantry.

381. - Get General Bradley on the radio. - Yes, sir.

382. Sir, I can't raise him.

383. Go tell him to hit them hard. Here's where we hold them by the nose

384. and kick them in the ass. Go on.

385. Put him in my car.

386. Rommel

387. you magnificent bastard. I read your book!

388. Captain Richard N. Jenson was a fine boy.

389. Loyal, unselfish and efficient.

390. I am terribly sorry.

391. There are no coffins here since there is no wood.

392. We will have a trumpeter and an honor guard

393. but we will not fire the volleys as people would think an air raid was on.

394. I enclosed a lock of Dick's hair in a letter to his mother.

395. He was a fine man

396. and a fine officer.

397. And he had no vices.

398. I shall miss him a lot.

399. I can't see the reason such fine young men get killed.

400. There are so many battles yet to fight.

401. Battle-weary, but victorious, American Gls and Tommies

402. of the British 8th Army meet in an Allied victory celebration

403. at Wadi Akarit in North Africa.

404. For the first time in this war, Broadway and Piccadillyjoin hands.

405. Meanwhile, General Montgomery, hero of El Alamein

406. continues to lead his victorious British 8th Army

407. in a relentless drive against Rommel's vaunted Africa corps.

408. It is obvious that North Africa will soon be lost.

409. We must now anticipate the enemy's next move.

410. I shall expect a staff report within 24 hours. That will be all.

411. Steiger, you have said nothing.

412. I wasn't asked anything.

413. I'm asking you now. You think Patton will attack Sardinia?

414. And why not?

415. Patton, sir is a military historian.

416. He knows that Sicily, not Sardinia, has always been the key to Italy.

417. If Patton has his way he will attack Sicily at Syracuse, as the Athenians did.

418. Steiger, this is the twentieth century!

419. But you must understand, sir Patton is a sixteenth-century man.

420. May I read an example?

421. "On a dark street in New York 1922, wearing white tie and tails

422. "Patton saw three men pushing a young girl into the back of a truck.

423. "He leaped out of his car, produced a revolver

424. "and forced the men at gunpoint to release the girl".

425. It turned out that the girl was the fianc¨¦e of one of the men.

426. They were merely helping her into the truck.

427. What could be more revealing?

428. I don't know what you¡¯re talking about.

429. Don Quixote encounters six merchants of Toledo and saves Dulcinea's virtue!

430. Who the devil is Dulcinea?

431. Don't you see, sir?

432. Patton is a romantic warrior lost in contemporary times.

433. The secret of Patton is the past.

434. He'll urge an attack on Sicily because that's what the Athenians did!

435. General Bradley's done a tremendous job with 2nd Corps.

436. He's moved into Bizerte and taken over 41,000 prisoners.

437. Good. Very good.

438. You're not surprised, are you? After all, you trained that outfit.

439. - Excuse me, general. -Hm?

440. This is interesting. We've discovered Rommel wasn't present at El Guettar.

441. - Who says so? -G2, sir.

442. When we took 10th Panzer, Rommel was in Berlin with an earache?

443. Severe nasal diphtheria, sir.

444. Also, Hitler probably retained Rommel in Berlin

445. because things were going badly for the Africa Corps.

446. He didn't want his favorite general to lose face.

447. I'm my favorite general, and I don't like to be told

448. that some second-stringer is up against me. Then I lose face.

449. Who the hell are you, anyway?

450. General, this is Lieutenant Colonel Codman. Your new aide.

451. Codman. I pulled your name off the list because I know your family.

452. I'm glad you did, sir.

453. Rommel is the best the krauts have, and I kicked the hell out of him.

454. Now my own G2 section is telling me he wasn't even there.

455. But, general, he undoubtedly planned the German battle.

456. If you defeat Rommel's plan, you've defeated Rommel. Isn't that true?

457. Codman

458. - Have a drink with me tonight. -Yes, sir.

459. I have a plan for the invasion of Sicily.

460. I want to make sure I get it approved. You can help me.

461. I want to give a dinner for General Alexander.

462. Get to him before Montgomery does.

463. This will be strictly a formal affair, Codman, but purely social.

464. By that I mean

465. - purely political. -Yes, sir.

466. I want the finest food, the best wine available. Everything, comme il faut.

467. Thank you.

468. George, this is really splendid wine.

469. Thank you, Arthur.

470. Thank you.

471. Sir Harold, I think it was Alcibiades in the Peloponnesian War

472. 415 B.C.

473. He said, "if Syracuse falls, all Sicily falls, and then ltaly."

474. He knew that Syracuse was the jugular of the island.

475. Old Alcibiades always went for the throat.

476. I propose to take Sicily in the same way.

477. - How's it going? - The old man has them in his pocket.

478. Now, according to my plan

479. General Montgomery will land here.

480. I'll hit the beaches here, take Palermo.

481. Monty will drive north on the coast, I'll come due east

482. take Messina and cut off the German escape route.

483. Yes

484. It looks like an interesting plan.

485. Well, gentlemen, to the conquest of Sicily.

486. To the conquest of Sicily.

487. To Sicily!

488. George, you'd have made a great marshal for Napoleon

489. if you'd lived in the 18th century.

490. But I did, sir. I did.

491. Morning. Is General Smith in?

492. - I believe he's in the lavatory. - Thank you.

493. - Ah, there you are, Bedell. -Monty.

494. Bedell, I've been giving a good bit of thought to the Sicily operation.

495. Yes?

496. I assume we're alone.

497. Georgie Patton has already discussed his plan with Alexander.

498. I realize that

499. but I have an idea that his plan may lead to an absolute disaster.

500. Oh?

501. Bedell, look.

502. This is Sicily.

503. Now then, according to Patton's plan

504. I will attack Syracuse here.

505. And he would attack Palermo up here.

506. Now, obviously our forces would be divided.

507. And obviously, they could be chopped up piecemeal.

508. Now then, what I propose, and what I shall insist on, by the way

509. is this.

510. I will land at Syracuse as planned.

511. But the Americans The Americans will land here, at Gela.

512. I will advance north to Messina, the Americans protecting my flank.

513. After all, Messina is the key.

514. It's the reason for invading Sicily.

515. I'll discuss your plan with Ike.

516. I'm sure he'll give it serious consideration.

517. - Amusing, isn't it? -What?

518. That the plans for the invasion of Sicily

519. should have been put forward in an Algerian lavatory.

520. George, I have bad news for you about your Sicily plan.

521. Ike has turned it down.

522. Since the Italians will be defending their native soil for the first time

523. and the German resistance is stiffening, we shouldn't be divided.

524. - Well, where do my people land then? - In the Gulf of Gela.

525. There's nothing there but a beach.

526. Yes, but it puts you in a good position to support Montgomery.

527. Where does Montgomery land?

528. He'll land in Syracuse and drive north to Catania. Possibly even Messina.

529. And you'll be alongside, protecting his left.

530. I see.

531. In other words, we get the burden again while good old Monty gets the glory.

532. Ike had to consider all points of view.

533. He made his decision not as an American, but as an Ally.

534. Had it been the other way around, I assure you, Monty would protest.

535. No

536. I've been in the Army 30 years.

537. When I get an order, I say, "Yes, sir." And I do my best to carry it out.

538. This is what happens when your commander stops being an American

539. and starts being an Ally.

540. Here's the gangster Patton, landing at Gela with his Seventh Army.

541. This film was captured after the landing.

542. I didn't realize he was so tall.

543. Over six feet.

544. He's constantly giving personal commands.

545. Obviously they now have two prima donnas in Sicily Montgomery and Patton!

546. There's another three-star general.

547. General Bradley Commander of the American II Corps.

548. He looks like a common soldier.

549. He is most capable, yet unpretentious.

550. Unusual for a general.

551. Sorry

552. I don't think I've made myself clear, sir.

553. It's true, Montgomery met the toughest resistance there at Catania.

554. However, if we're

555. Perfectly clear.

556. Old Monty is as stuck as a bug on flypaper.

557. But this order from General Alexander

558. directing you to turn over the Vizzini-Caltagirone road to Montgomery.

559. Well, then, old Bradley will have to slug slug, mind you

560. his way up center of the island over those tough mountain roads, won't he?

561. Yes, sir.

562. Messina, Bell.

563. Messina

564. is the heart of it. If they'd followed my plan, I'd be there by now.

565. I'd cut off the retreat of every German on this island!

566. Now, you know what I'm gonna do?

567. I'm gonna go to Palermo.

568. I'm gonna beat that limey at Messina if it's the last thing I ever do!

569. Hey, what's all this talk about taking the Vizzini road away from 2nd Corps?

570. General Alexander's orders. Road goes to Montgomery.

571. Now, that road was assigned to me.

572. How can I get north without it? You know the terrain there.

573. I'm sorry, Brad. But Monty's run into tough opposition. Very tough.

574. You wouldn't be taking advantage of this situation, would you?

575. I don't know what you're talking about.

576. Without that road, your army, except for my 2nd Corps

577. would be out of a job.

578. Free for you to go into Palermo.

579. Who said anything about Palermo?

580. I can read a map.

581. Does Alexander know you've pushed out this far?

582. That's a reconnaissance in force.

583. George

584. are you saying I've got to slug it out in those mountains

585. with heavy resistance?

586. Just so you can make a bigger splash than Monty?

587. General

588. I just follow my orders.

589. Like the simple old soldier I am.

590. General Bradley.

591. Sir, General Alexander has heard we're moving west.

592. He says here, "Stop immediately. Go no farther than Agrigento.

593. Repeat. Stop, immediately."

594. That's what you think it says.

595. I think it was garbled in transmission.

596. Ask them to re-transmit the message.

597. That'll take half a day at least.

598. Yes, sir.

599. Now, Brad.

600. Where were we?

601. We were talking about a simple

602. old soldier.

603. Look at that, gentlemen.

604. Compared to war

605. all other forms of human endeavor shrink to insignificance.

606. Let's go, sergeant. Move out!

607. Give me that helmet.

608. Come on, let's get out of here!

609. What silly son of a bitch is in charge of this operation?

610. I don't know, but they ought to hang him.

611. Afternoon, Padre.

612. These men are here from the States, looking over our program

613. for the spiritual welfare of the men.

614. We'll take you right into Palermo.

615. Col. David toured us around your quarters

616. and I saw a Bible by your bed. Do you actually find time to read it?

617. I sure do.

618. Every goddamn day.

619. Sir, the Americans have taken Palermo!

620. Damn!

621. Sir, Patton's taken Palermo!

622. Damn!

623. Palermo's the most conquered city in history.

624. First the Phoenicians

625. the Romans, Carthaginians, Byzantines.

626. Then came the Arabs

627. Spaniards, Neapolitans.

628. Now comes

629. the American Army.

630. This is from General Alexander, sir

631. reminding you that you are not to take Palermo.

632. Send him a message, Cod.

633. Ask him if he wants me to give it back.

634. Let me ask you a question for a change.

635. You've just come from Washington.

636. How do they feel about our boys taking Palermo?

637. The general impression is, your army barreled through token resistance

638. while Montgomery faced the brunt of the fighting.

639. Don't they know we took on the Hermann Göring division?

640. Toughest outfit in the German Army.

641. The people at home are interested in you.

642. They're curious about your pearl-handle revolvers.

643. They're ivory. Only a pimp from a New Orleans whorehouse

644. would carry a pearl handle.

645. What about your language?

646. When I want it to stick, I give it to them loud and dirty.

647. What do your troops feel about that?

648. I don't want these men to love me. I want them to fight for me.

649. Ernie Pyle says you have a secret weapon here: General Bradley.

650. Ernie calls him "The GI General."

651. Omar Bradley is no secret. He's a damn fine commander.

652. What's your feeling about Montgomery?

653. He's the best general the English have.

654. He seems more concerned with not losing than he does about winning.

655. He's not aggressive enough, is that correct?

656. Look, I've been getting into a lot of trouble lately.

657. Yesterday, the office told me that my Italian prisoners

658. didn't have enough latrine.

659. They didn't know what a latrine was till I showed them.

660. If I've said anything too critical of my British colleague

661. let's forget about it.

662. I will tell you one thing, though. Off the record.

663. I'm gonna beat that

664. gentleman to Messina.

665. Ah, Freddie. Do you realize what this madman Patton is saying?

666. He's going to save our skins by taking Messina.

667. This report might interest you.

668. Here I am in these bloody marshes, fighting malaria and Germans

669. while he's taking Palermo and getting all the glory.

670. Well!

671. Now he's up against three good German divisions and he's stuck.

672. He's not going to get Messina.

673. That's reserved for the British 8th Army and me.

674. It's time for a move, Lucian. Terry Allen's 1st Division is bogged down.

675. You're bogged down too.

676. What we need is another end run just to break things loose.

677. - Lucian. How's my fighter? -Fine, George.

678. Come in, come in. We need another one of your amphibious specialties.

679. Lucian, I want you to send a reinforced battalion by sea

680. to make a landing up here at Brolo behind the kraut lines.

681. You want me to do a land-based attack.

682. Right. I want a coordinated attack the morning of the 11 th.

683. I don't think we can make it by the 11 th.

684. - Hell, it's only 1 5, 20 miles. - My boys have been dying for yards.

685. Hm.

686. Maybe you better kick a few butts if you have to.

687. I recommended you for your DSM in your last promotion.

688. I know what you can do when you put your mind to it.

689. Excuse me, sir.

690. I'm sorry, but I can't do the impossible.

691. You're too old an athlete to think you can postpone a scheduled match.

692. You're an old athlete yourself. You know matches are postponed.

693. If we can't back Lucian up by land, our end run could be a disaster.

694. Those men might get caught on the beach and cut to pieces.

695. - What's the matter? - All we're saying is

696. not to rush in until we're ready.

697. Give him an extra day.

698. Just one more day.

699. The landing is on.

700. We're going to Messina.

701. We're going to get there before Montgomery does.

702. - What's so important about that? - General Truscott

703. if your conscience won't permit you to conduct this operation

704. I'll find somebody who can.

705. General, it's your privilege to relieve me anytime you want to.

706. This match will not be postponed.

707. Any questions?

708. No, sir.

709. You're a very good man, Lucian.

710. You want to guard against being too conservative.

711. Remember what Frederick the Great said:

712. "L 'audace, I'audace! Toujours I'audace!"

713. Go on, have a drink.

714. Excuse me, sir, I won't be drinking for the next couple of days.

715. If anything happens to those men, I'd like to be there with them.

716. You're not going, so forget about it.

717. You believe Truscott's right?

718. No.

719. But you're gambling with those boys' lives

720. just to beat Montgomery into Messina.

721. If you pull it off, you're a hero, but if you don't

722. What happens to them? The ordinary combat soldier.

723. He doesn't share in your dreams of glory, he's stuck here.

724. He's living out every day, day-to-day, with death tugging at his elbow.

725. There's one big difference between you and me, George.

726. I do this job because I've been trained to do it.

727. You do it because

728. you love it.

729. The men on the beach are catching hell, general.

730. The men are doing their best. We have no replacements.

731. I can't break through to the coast.

732. I'm going down there myself.

733. Colonel!

734. How did he get over there?

735. What the hell are you waiting for?

736. Looking for a place to ford, general.

737. I sent a patrol to reconnoiter.

738. I've done that. Down there this sewer's no more than 3 feet deep.

739. Get that outfit cranked up or you'll be out of a job!

740. - And put that helmet on. -Yes, sir.

741. Move it! Let's go!

742. - What's holding up this column? - I don't know, sir.

743. Planes!

744. Come on, move it!

745. Pull up over there.

746. - Come on. -What's going on here?

747. Sir, these mules

748. Jackasses!

749. You let a column get stalled and strafed on account of two jackasses?

750. No. No.

751. Now, dump them over the side and clear this bridge!

752. We're pinned down because we can't get air support!

753. Nobody's getting any air support!

754. Put fire into this battalion, or I'll get somebody who can.

755. Major!

756. - You the executive officer here? -Yes, sir.

757. - Your name? -Walker.

758. You're now commanding officer.

759. You've got 4 hours to break through that beachhead.

760. If you don't make it, I'll fire you.

761. 50,000 men on this island would like to shoot that son of a bitch.

762. Please take me home. Take me home.

763. Please take me home. Take me home.

764. - There he goes, "Old Blood and Guts." - Yeah, our blood. His guts.

765. Hi, how are you, son?

766. Where are you from, Gomez?

767. California, sir.

768. Me too.

769. - Where were you hit? -In the chest, sir.

770. Well

771. this might be interesting to you. The last German I saw had no chest.

772. Didn't have any head either.

773. You get well quickly, son.

774. What's the matter with you?

775. I guess I just can't take it, sir.

776. What did you say?

777. It's my nerves, sir.

778. I just can't stand the shelling anymore.

779. Your nerves?

780. Hell, you're just a goddamn coward.

781. Shut up!

782. I won't have a yellow bastard crying

783. in front of these brave, wounded men.

784. Shut up!

785. Don't admit this yellow bastard. Nothing wrong with him.

786. I won't have sons of bitches afraid to fight stink up this place of honor.

787. You're going back to the front, my friend.

788. You may get shot, you may get killed, but you're going up to the fighting.

789. Either that or I'll stand you up in front of a firing squad.

790. I should shoot you myself, you bastard! Get him out of here!

791. Send him up to the front!

792. You hear me? You goddamn coward!

793. I won't have cowards in my army.

794. I had to kick a few butts

795. but Truscott finally broke through to those people on the beach.

796. Have you seen the casualty lists?

797. Yes, I've seen them.

798. What's the word from the coast road?

799. The 3rd Division's east of Brolo, heading toward Messina.

800. Let's get over there. I want to go in with the troops.

801. You go ahead, George. I'm not very good at that.

802. General Bradley

803. it's time to consider how many casualties we'd have

804. if we were still crawling on that goddamn road.

805. Forward, march!

806. Don't smirk, Patton. I shan't kiss you.

807. Pity. I shaved close this morning to prepare for getting smacked by you.

808. Forward, march!

809. You wanted to see me, George?

810. Got a letter here from Ike.

811. I was rereading Caesar's Commentaries last night.

812. In battle, Caesar wore a red robe to distinguish him from his men.

813. I was struck by that fact because

814. "Despicable." First time anybody's ever applied that word to me.

815. Well, at least it's a personal reprimand, it's not official.

816. The man was yellow. He should've been tried for cowardice and shot.

817. People have taken a lot worse than a little kick in the pants.

818. I ruffled his pride a bit. What's that compared to war?

819. Two weeks ago at Palermo they said I was the greatest general

820. - since Stonewall Jackson. - Now they draw cartoons about you.

821. Dirty bastard!

822. They got me holding a little Gl and kicking him with an iron boot.

823. You see that, what's on my boot? A swastika.

824. On my boot. An iron boot with a swastika!

825. "You will apologize to the soldier you slapped

826. to all doctors and nurses present in the tent at the time

827. to every patient in the tent who can be reached

828. and last but not least to the 7th Army as a whole

829. through individual units, one at a time."

830. God, I

831. feel low.

832. Oh, God

833. Thou art my God.

834. Early will I seek Thee.

835. My soul thirsteth for Thee.

836. My flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land.

837. So as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary.

838. My soul followeth hard after Thee.

839. But those that seek my soul to destroy it

840. shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

841. They shall fall by the sword.

842. They shall be apportioned for foxes.

843. But the king shall rejoice in God.

844. Everyone that sweareth by him shall glory.

845. But the mouth of them that speak lies

846. shall be stopped.

847. Ten-hut!

848. At ease.

849. I thought I'd stand up here and let you people see

850. if I am as big a son of a bitch as some of you think I am.

851. I assure you I had no intention

852. of being either harsh or cruel in my treatment of the

853. soldier in question.

854. My sole purpose was to try to restore in him

855. some appreciation of his obligations as a man

856. and as a soldier.

857. If one can shame a coward

858. I felt one might help him to regain his self-respect.

859. This was on my mind.

860. Now, I freely admit

861. that my method was wrong

862. but I hope you understand my motive

863. and will accept this

864. explanation

865. and this

866. apology.

867. - Dismissed. -Ten-hut!

868. Good evening, general. I want to report on a private poll I'm taking.

869. What poll?

870. The fan mail.

871. Eleven percent con, 89 percent pro.

872. And that 11 % of protest, in most cases, is both obscene and anonymous.

873. But the pro letters are mostly from relatives and servicemen.

874. "I want you to know we're proud our son is serving in your army.

875. From the newspaper, we're not clear exactly what you did and why

876. but we want you to know we're for you.

877. Keep going, and God bless you."

878. Keep going, huh?

879. Where?

880. I thought you might like a sip of wine, general. It's New Year's.

881. You didn't celebrate at all last night.