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The Heroes of Telemark (1965)
Major Frick!
Major Frick! Tell the town commandant of Rjukan that an attempt has been made on the Reichskommissar's life! He'll arrange for 15 civilian hostages from the district of Telemark to be shot in reprisal. Like the look of it, gentlemen? Most interesting. We are well-informed of what you do here, Herr Nilssen. A little experimentation with heavy water, that's all. With deuterium oxide. Yes, yes, we know. Nilssen. I must tell you, the time has come to make a decisive transition from theory to practice. You've done enough experimentation, my dear fellow. This room has more significance for us than you can possibly realize. Oh, well, one day perhaps he will realize. Don't you think, gentlemen? Forget about fertilizers. This factory is required by the Reich to increase its production of heavy water by 400%. We want 10,000 pounds of heavy water by Easter next year. That's impossible. It's not at all impossible, Herr Nilssen. What is necessary will always be accomplished. All the more so when the whole future of the Reich is at stake. All the technical details have been worked out in Berlin. Here, take a look. And notice also our modification of the deuterium formula. But what is the reason? I don't understand. That was a firing squad, my dear Nilssen. Let it be a warning. Major Frick here will be in charge of security. And it will be the maximum. Halt! Stupid fool! Dr. Pedersen. No, I'm sorry, he's busy. He's working in the darkroom. Hey, you can't go barging in on Professor Pedersen, you know. How long is he likely to be there? Could be there all afternoon. I'll wait for him. Shut that door! What the hell do you think you're doing? Can't you see the red light's on? I'm sorry. I'd like to speak to you. Don't you know the damage you can do barging into a darkroom when the signal light's on? I've got to give you a message. All right, I'll be in touch. Now, what do you want? I come from Telemark, near the Norsk Hydro factory. I didn't ask where you were born. I come from Chief Engineer Nilssen. He wants your opinion on something. He says only you would understand it. - Understand what? - The message. It's in here. What's this, some sort of student joke? It's not a joke. And I'm no student. It contains an undeveloped photographic negative. Open it. Who are you? Knut Straud. I used to work on the sawmills, but now I fight Nazis. One of those. Get back to your sawmill. I'm not interested in your messages. My work is here. You understand? I've just seen you at your work. I'd rather embrace one Norwegian than kill a dozen a day, friend. Look at this. Every time you people play boy scouts and blow up a few Nazi trucks, 12 hostages are shot. That's your great work? Keep it. Get out of here and take your toothpaste with you. A lot of boy scouts risked their lives to get this to you. I must get to England. We've contacted London. They're expecting us. How are we for fuel? I'm sorry. My wife is a little clumsy. No, no, it's my fault. How far you going? Kristiansand? Further up? As far up as she'll go. How far will she go? We'll make it. I've counted 12 in the crew and eight passengers, plus the Quisling. All we need now is a little fog and the trolls on our side. Don't tell me a big boy like you believes in trolls. You all know what to do? Well, Doctor, press this little thing here and the bullets come out there. Get off the bridge! We're taking over this ship in the name of the Royal Norwegian Government. This ship's going to England. Like hell it is! You've got a choice. Sail under the King as free men or be prisoners for the rest of the war. Good evening. Stay where you are. We're taking over this ship in the name of the King. Look out! - Quisling bastard! - Serves him right. What can we do for you? Give us a hand. - Ladies and gentlemen. - What's going on? There's nothing to be alarmed about. There's just been a slight change in our itinerary. Change! What? Now, instead of going up the coast to Kristiansand, we'll be going to England. England? Now, don't be alarmed. Now or never, Captain. Fools. You'll never get across the North Sea alive. Enemy planes will spot you. That's the chance we're going to take. There are mines, thousands of them. And neither the British nor the Germans happen to have given us a map. - You believe in the trolls? - Oh, yes, he does. Well, so do I, providing we've a sharp lookout. England, Captain? South, southwest. South, southwest, sir. Thank you, Captain. Mines! Mines! - Full astern. - Full astern, sir. Hard aport. What's going on? What's all the commotion about? - Something about mines. - They said mines. - Stop engines. - Stop engines, sir. - Slow ahead both. - Slow ahead both. It's too close. You trying to blow us up? Get that pole. - Full astern. - Full astern, sir. Hang on this line. The next time you want to play billiards with a mine, remember my job is to get you safely to London. Your passes, sir. What the devil is heavy water? It's a liquid with a heavier hydrogen structure than ordinary water. It also possesses properties useful in the study of atomic energy. Yes, but what's the significance of the Germans ordering this vast increase of the stuff? In the formula that Nilssen sent me, the Germans have added a new component to the accepted equation. Look, I'd rather wait till that formula's been examined by Professor Einstein and Dr. Oppenheimer in New York. But, Professor, surely it's something more than just a doubt that brought you all the way to England? It is. It's a very great fear. And if it's justified, we'll know about it soon enough. Thank you. - I'll lead the way, shall I? - Thank you. Good morning, George, Charlie. I wonder, gentlemen, would you mind? Thank you so much. This is Professor Sir Roderick Logan, gentlemen. Gentlemen, perhaps I should tell you or perhaps I should not tell you that we have just come from a very brief and equally a very painful session with the Prime Minister on this. Ah! Aye, well, at any rate, here is the report that came from Washington this morning. Following their initial reading of the data brought by Dr. Pedersen from Norway, um, plus certain other indicators, incidentally, Professors Einstein, Fermi and Oppenheimer concurring, the scientific and military consensus in America is that the Germans may be ahead of us in the race to achieve controlled atomic fission. If they are ahead and they get their atomic bomb, they've won the war. Ah, there you are, Knut. How are you? Fine, thank you. Come in. Come on in, Mr. Straud. Thank you. - Come on in. Take a chair. - Thank you. We've examined the situation very carefully, and it's been agreed in London and Washington that the factory making heavy water must be destroyed without delay. Personally, I agree with you, Bill, that bombing is, in this instance, the most obvious method. Right. At the same time, we wish, if we can, to avoid large-scale civilian death. This is also clearly the wish of the Norwegian government. I suggest, gentlemen, that Dr. Pedersen, who knows what's at stake, and Mr. Straud, who knows his country backwards, be asked to return immediately to Telemark, in order to resolve this question. That is, to determine, with objectivity, whether a ground attack by commandos is practical or not. Agreed? Agreed. How do we get back to Norway? The simplest way, by parachute. We're miles off course, but I know where we are. It's beautiful, isn't it? Yes, if you're a reindeer. Where do we go from here? I'm taking you to one of my radio operators. He's our contact with London. Now what? Over that mountain. A farmhouse. Another one of my operators. I know this place. Oh, Knut Straud. Come in. - How are you? - Fine. Wonderful to see you. Hello, Anna. Good God, what are you doing here? Well, just dropped in for a cup of coffee. Uncle. - Uncle. - What is it? Rolf is here. Oh, damn! Hello, Uncle. Hello, Rolf. What on earth are you doing here? Oh, Mr. Straud. It's always good to see you. - You know each other, too? - Yes, we've met. What a surprise. I had no idea you were all such good friends. Hadn't you? Listen, I think you'd better know that we've put you in some danger by coming here. What? Well, we're working for the resistance. You? You're not serious? Well, he got me into it. Was that wise, Knut? You seem to know each other quite well. Oh! Everybody knows everybody here. Let me introduce you to my ex-wife. Can we have some coffee now, Anna? I've no time for coffee. I'm working for the resistance. Well, we both can't be working for the resistance. - It's ridiculous. - You look terrible. He's been dragging me around the Vidda for two days. There's some pajamas and hot water upstairs. You two had better go along up to the bedroom. I... I take it you know the way. Yeah, I know the way. - Follow me. - Thank you. It's odd, isn't it, to have him in the house again? What's odd about it? You and he shared the same bed for two years, and as far as I remember, you damn seldom got out of it. You should be asleep. Oh, I just thought I'd drop in, all in the line of duty, to discuss resistance tactics with a fellow fighter. By the way, how's your resistance these days, hmm? Fine. How's yours? Mine? Well, I was great until I met that boy scout Knut Straud. Well, I was content. I had a good life, and now look where I am. Yes, it's exhausting to commit yourself to others. You still commit yourself beautifully, like you always did. I'm not your wife now, Rolf. I know. You're not anybody's wife. Are you? Go to bed. Sure. Yes, you would like that, wouldn't you? Do you mean you would? You know what you were born for. No. Yes, you know what you were born for. Tell me. Say those things to me. Your voice, never out of my head. You're the same, you're my life. Yes, you are. You've got the words wrong, Rolf. You see, it's not so easy seducing your ex-wife. Students are much easier, aren't they? I just don't believe in you anymore. - Anna. - Will you please go? Please. Sleep well. We'll make this our main transmitter hut. Can't risk the farm. It's getting too dangerous. I'll make sure that Nilssen is at the church this morning. Good. Uncle, be careful. The town is full of Germans. Merry Christmas, Uncle. See you in church. Merry Christmas. It's Sigrid. Oh, that's Arne's wife? I've got a message for you from Arne. He's in England. He's fine. Will you see him again? Tell him I've a message for him, too. He'll be a father in the spring. They'll have their 10,000 pounds of heavy water by Easter. The marker, microfilm of the factory, exact details. Ammonia and hydrogen pipes. You see how close it is to the village. Look how near the factory is to their homes. Look at the rabbit! Land mines. Come on. Oh, excuse me. I don't think I've seen you in Rjukan before. Who are you? Well, I've come to visit my fiancee for Christmas. I see. Your fiancee. How very charming indeed. And what is his name? - Well, my name... - I'm asking her. Jan Kristansen. Mmm-hmm. Let me see your identity card, please. Certainly. Excuse me. Here it is. Oh. A-ha. Your text, I believe? Yes, sir. - Thank you. - Thank you. And the compliments of the season to both of you. How did you like our town, Rolf? Oh, I liked it. You should have seen the torchlight parades we used to have. Yes, every November. It was wonderful. Flaming torches, you could see it from miles away up in the mountains. The snow was whiter then. Yes. It was all the lights on the snow. Then we made snowballs and threw them at the torches. Remember, Knut? This is a detailed layout of the factory. Well, they've got 3,000 pounds of heavy water in there right now ready to be shipped to Germany. Well, let's decide on what message we send to London. There's only one message. "Examined area. "Consider ground attack totally impractical. "Recommend alternate method." You mean, to bomb it! Yes. That would destroy Rjukan and everybody in it! Possibly. Bombing is impossible. The factory is deeply imbedded in a gorge. The only way across that gorge is a narrow bridge, 75-feet long. Two men with machine guns could hold off a battalion. I can get inside that factory with ten men, Ten men, and blow it sky-high. They've got millimeter guns on every hill. And without destroying an entire village in the process. Barbed wire. Land mines. Six thousand lives. Do you realize what... Anna, keep out of this. We're talking about something that affects the world. Look, I don't give a damn about the world. I'm talking about my town, her town, his town. Now we live there! I'm talking about people. Do you understand that? People! You weren't so squeamish when hostages were being shot. They're people. This is a hell of a lot more important than blowing up a few Nazi trucks. I was fighting a war, Doctor, and I was doing my job. And I'm doing mine. I don't like it. And I didn't ask for it. Anna, you live here. It's natural you want to save your own people's lives, but this is something that has to be done. It's important. Important enough to kill 6,000 people? Yes. Look, I want to know what's so important about heavy water. I don't make the rules. I can't tell you. I want to know, Doctor, and you're going to tell me. I'm telling you nothing. Do you think that I'm going to sacrifice the lives of 6,000 people on the opinion of a playboy scientist? And for what? I want to know, Doctor, and you're going to tell me. You want to know what it's all about? All right. I'll tell you. That's what it's all about. You understand? - Of course you don't. Stupid... - Why you... Stop it! Stop it! I thought you boys were here to fight the Nazis. Why don't you both send in reports and let London decide? - All right. - Fine. See, Anna? Knut and I fight, but we still manage to live with each other. I know you fellows are anxious to get back to Norway. Knut Straud and Rolf Pedersen are on the mountains of Telemark waiting for you. The main assault group, the Royal Engineers Commando, will come in two or three days, weather permitting. We are counting on you to get a glider landing strip on the lake ready for them. Well, happy landings. Best of luck. For God's sake, where have you been? We've been looking for you halfway around the Arctic Circle. What are you talking about? We've been waiting for your message for the past five weeks and it hasn't come. I'm starving. We're expecting more company tomorrow. Yeah, 50 British commandos. From the Royal Engineers, they land tomorrow night. I've got a message for you from Sigrid. You're going to have a baby in the spring. Well, how is she? She's pregnant. Rolf! Who are you? My name is Jensen. - What do you want? - I'm on a hunting trip. Hunting for what? You'd better come with us. I won't say a word. Ever. On my honor. Look, my village is Haukeland. Anyone there will tell you who I am. Listen, I hate the Nazis, believe me. My wife is in a Gestapo prison. Listen. Listen, her father's name is Jon Trendt. - That's why she's in prison. - Trendt? The resistance leader? Yes. It fits. Shoot him. No, we'll keep him. We can't risk the whole organization because of one man. - I'm with Knut. - And me. I think Rolf is right. So do I. We'll have a show of hands. Those against shooting him? We'll have your skis. Take them off. Listen. I still can't believe it. They weren't even Norwegian. 50 British commandos. In a flash, the whole operation's over. A waste. That's what I can't get out of my head. They're not going to be wasted. We're going ahead, tonight, now. As if they were with us. It's the same plan. We all know it. What are you talking about? We're going to get into that factory and complete the mission ourselves. Knut, I'm sorry, but you're mad! - There's only nine of us left. - We'd better wait. We can't wait. It'll be months before they can mount an assault of the same scale. - But, Knut, if we... - It's our only chance. If we win, those men won't have died for nothing tonight. There were 50 of them and only nine of us. - You won't even be nine. - What do you mean? I'm sorry, but I'm not going on such an impossible mission. Oh, yes, you are, Rolf. You're coming with us. You're the only one who knows exactly where that dynamite must be placed. Look, Knut, after what happened tonight, that factory's going to be jumping with guards. - He's right. - Now, listen. Now, listen to me. They have completely wiped out our entire assault force. Right? Now they'll be feeling completely safe. You don't have a chance in the world. Look, 50 men died tonight. They came here to help us. They weren't even Norwegian. Now, who's coming with me tonight? It's 11:50. This is a military operation launched by the British. We'll have British uniforms so the Germans won't shoot Norwegian hostages afterwards. The attack will take place at 3:15. Arne, you and Henrik will be our cover party. You'll move forward and cut a hole in the fence. The actual demolition party will consist of... The demolition party will consist of Knut, Oli and myself. Jensen, inside. Hello? Hello? Be careful with those wires. You'll blow the whole place up. - Ready? - Yeah. Let's get out of here. My glasses! My glasses! I lost my glasses! They're on top of your head. Come on! Come on! Well, gentlemen, your next mission is to find out how neutral Sweden is. Especially the girls. Where's Arne? Down in the gorge. Let's get going. The Vidda'll be swarming with Germans in half an hour. Excellent. Excellent work, is it not, my dear Nilssen? An extraordinaryjob, one might say, of sabotage. Oh, naturally you had no knowledge of this. Destruction. Sabotage. Waste. All of this is against your thrifty, scientific nature, is it not, Nilssen? In that case, answer me this. How long will it take before production gets back into high gear again? A year, at least. First, new containers have to be built, a new store of heavy water accumulated, before production flows at full speed. A year, he says. What do you think we Germans have been doing? Sleeping? What do you think your two friends from the Berlin Institute have been doing since they went home? Playing golf? Oh, the British fancy themselves very much after what they've done here. Winston Churchill is puffing an extra-big cigar today. And we laugh at him. Why? Because all these containers, which the British did so much to destroy, have already been pre-fabricated in Berlin. They are already on their way here and will be installed by tomorrow. That is, I must say, that is fantastic efficiency. Don't you ever make the mistake of underrating the Germans, my dear Nilssen. By Easter, we will have not merely 10,000 pounds of heavy water, but 12,000 pounds of heavy water. Because from now on, no one leaves this building, not you or anybody, unless it's to go to Grini concentration camp, where all suspect employees are being sent. But I absolutely protest against this. Protest as much as you wish. But get used to the idea. You built this place. Well, you will now work in it, eat in it and sleep in it until our victory. Heil Hitler. Major Frick, this is one of the most disastrous security breakdowns of the entire war, and you are responsible for it. I leave you in charge of the only factory in Europe making heavy water, and a dozen men in British uniforms calmly walk in and blow it up right in front of your eyes. So, get up into those mountains and get back every one of those men. Dead or alive. And if it turns out they're Norwegians, I want 100 hostages rounded up and shot. I don't want even a rat left alive up there. Go on, get out! You say you can take us to them? You'd better be telling the truth. You keep your part of the bargain, I'll keep mine. You were right. We should have shot that Quisling bastard. Forget it. Knut, go down that side. Why? Why? My wife. Your wife. What the hell do you mean, your wife? I made a bargain with the Nazis. Who are you? I was helping track down the saboteurs. I got hurt in the foot. Then you'd better come with us. Saboteurs going to Grini concentration camp. I think I'd better go see my doctor. Thanks for your help. Hey, wait a minute. We have a doctor right here now. Come and see him. I think I'd rather see my own, if it's all the same to you. Oh, nonsense! Our doctor will look after you for nothing. Why pay a civilian? Who is this fellow? One of the men helping our patrols. - If he's helping us, we must help him. - Thank you. That's only fair, isn't it? Nasty. We'd better have that seen to. I think we've got another passenger for your bus. Doctor? Do you remember me? No, I don't. We met at the university, Dr. Pedersen. Afraid you're mistaken, ma'am. You know this man? No. I thought I did, but I don't. No. You know him. What did you say his name was? No, please, I don't know him. His papers say his name is Kristansen. What was it you said his name was? His name! My name is Dr. Rolf Pedersen, University of Oslo, as Gestapo headquarters no doubt will be delighted to confirm. Doctor. I'm so sorry. Pederson. Pedersen, not Pederson. I'm very proud of my name. Here, let me help you. Here, oh, here it is. Pedersen, Rolf. Doctor of physics, believed escaped to England. England! Well, even the Gestapo can be wrong sometimes. How long will it be, Doctor? I've got to leave here. Do you hear me, Doctor? I can't stay here long. I don't know who you are, and I don't want to know. But if you leave here, you'll be arrested. And so will I and my staff. You will, therefore, please stay here until I make the arrangements. Anna, I told you I don't want you using that transmitter set. I'm trying to contact London. They must know where Rolf is. I can't risk it. Why don't you go out and try to find him, then? Because I'm not a member of the Missing Persons Bureau. I can't jeopardize the whole operation. I'm a bad ex-wife, Knut. Why, because you love him? Yes. You haven't much use for that, have you? Not in this sort of war. It softens you up. But sex, now that's something different. It seems Rolf makes the same distinction. But you don't, do you, Anna? I'll get some wood. They're in this area somewhere. Leave that alone! It's not for anyone, do you understand? That transmitter remains silent until I give the order. Now, you see, Anna, that's what I was talking about. Morning. Hello, Doctor. A friend of yours is here. Room 7, down the corridor. Sigrid! Hello, Dr. Pedersen. I thought you were locked up in the factory. We are, unless we're very ill or having a baby. There's something that I've got to tell you... Nilssen found out you were here. Listen to me. - I've got to tell you about Arne. - I know. The Germans have installed new containers, so heavy water production is at full level again. Sigrid. When can you deliver the message? Right now. We've got to contact London. Why? What's the matter? The Nazis have completely restored heavy water production. What? Instead of two years, it's taken them two weeks. We're right back where we started. Then we'll have to bomb. I'm afraid we'll have to take his appendix out. In that case, one of our security officers must remain with him, day and night, until he leaves. Then I shan't be lonely. By the way, Doctor, how are Sigrid and her baby coming along? Oh, excellent. As a matter of fact, she's bringing him here this afternoon for a checkup. I'd love to see her. No one is allowed to communicate with Nilssen, Doctor. "67 civilians killed. "Factory virtually untouched. "The Nazis..." Well, the Third Reich is going to last for a thousand years. Well, let's all go down into Rjukan, have a good Nazi dinner - and see a nice Nazi film. - Rolf. Let's start getting used to it. "The Nazis are shipping their entire stock "of heavy water to Germany "by rail and ferry "under the guard of 1,000 picked troops. "The railway tank cars "will leave the factory Saturday evening, "be placed on the Hydro ferry "Sunday morning." And Nilssen had to lose a perfectly good appendix to deliver that message. Wait a minute, wait a minute. Maybe now, at the very moment we've all dreaded, when they take the stuff to Germany, by ferry, this is where we finally get them. But, Rolf, 1,000 picked troops. But there's one place you can't use 1,000 picked troops. Knut, do you want to do a little dying with me? I've just thought up a nice way to go. It left at 9:00. Yes, and it's got to be the deepest point, at least 300, 400 meters. Now. 9:45. You know what we're talking about? Yes, we're talking about murder. Why two clocks? If one doesn't go off, the other will. It'll sink the ferry in less than a minute. It has to be done, Anna. It's all been calculated, hasn't it, Rolf? Nothing left to chance. Not even the hope that one of the children on that boat isn't going to drown. Now, look, Anna, try and get it into your head, what counts is not who is going to die on the ferry, but how many millions will be saved if the ferry's sunk. A nice equation, Rolf. Put it on the blackboard and sign it. It's not a nice equation. And I didn't invent it. It exists. So do people, Rolf. People exist, too. What the hell are we doing here if it isn't for people? You don't do things for people, Rolf. You never have. Look, Anna, this work is tough enough even without you. One day, after the war, a woman is going to come and ask why her child had to be drowned. I won't know the answer. It's as simple as this, we have no choice. What are you going to say to that woman, Rolf? We'll radio the Norwegian government in London, tell them the plan, all its risks, the Prime Minister, the King, the whole lot. Then, if they approve, at least we've shared the responsibility. It works. Let's contact London. Number one truck reports a contact on 2-4-7 degrees. Contact 73 degrees. West, southwest. Not more than six kilometers from here. All right. Heini! Shut that door, will you? That's better. I'm glad you think so. Stand up! If we're not back in two hours, don't wait for us. If you hear any shots, leave immediately. How many do you want? Come on. There's nine minutes left. You'd better go on to the boathouse with Knut. Where are you going? I've got to see that the ferry leaves on time. Then I'll cut across the point and join you. Be careful. I will. The explosion time is 9:45. We won't make a move until then. - Tickets. - I'll have to pay. Tickets. Sigrid. There you are. Hello, Doctor. What a nice surprise. I want you to understand... I don't think you've met little Arne. There we are. There we are. Sigrid, listen to me. Sigrid. So, you've met a friend, eh? Yes. Oh, this is Mr. Sandersen and his wife and their little boy. Sigrid, I've got to talk to you at once. Why don't you come and join us over here? - Alone. - I can't. - We've brought some sandwiches. - Would you excuse us, please? I'm sorry, Mrs. Sandersen. What on earth's the matter? Sigrid, I want you to start a children's game at the back of the boat. - Game? - Now, as far back as you can. What sort of game? Well, let's call it life jackets. Everybody puts one on when I say go. The winner gets a bar of chocolate. Now what... Hello, there. Excuse me. Doctor, if you're in some kind of trouble... Sigrid, do as I tell you. There's not much time. Let's organize the children now. Come on, children. Where is Rolf? It's only a couple of minutes. If he doesn't come in time, we'll have to go out and do what we can without him. I don't want to play. Oh, sure you do, you want to play, sure you do. Don't forget, the winner gets a bar of chocolate. Now, you ready? Oh, your doll's cold. Ready. Set. Go. Sigrid's onboard the ship. And Rolf. Rolf's there, as well. But I don't want to play. Look, you're gonna play if it's the last thing you ever do. Get it. I've won! I've won! Mummy! Mummy! Mummy! |
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