I'm reminded of the last bit of advice Bismarck gave to a young Kaiser Wilhelm: "Stay on good terms with the British! Don't frighten them, don't anger them, and for the love of God don't ever go to war with them!" Kaiser Bill didn't listen. Neither did Adolf.
@@TheTarget1980 they made decisions that they knew would result in war with Britain. The Kaiser knew Britain had guaranteed Belgian neutrality and Hitler knew about Poland (although I think he expected us to go down the appeasement line again, so it is in fairness slightly different)
@@charliereader3462 I doubt in the case of Imperial Germany violating Belgian neutrality and running roughshod over them that was the triggering factor that led the UK to join the fight. Had Germany confined the attack on France to a version of the Franco-Prussian War, i.e, out of Alsace and Lorraine, I can't see Britain staying out of it, especially if the Kaiser's Army threatened Paris. Just as Hitler had done in WWII, the Kaiser gambled on a quick war with France and Russia, and once victory was secured against both, the Royal Navy blockade wouldn't matter. He got part of it right with the Battle of Tannenberg which the Russians never really recovered from; but the First Battle of the Marne ensured that the war would not be won in 1914. That gave time for the UK to assemble the BEF and draw upon its Commonwealth for reinforcements. The BEF proved effective...enough...to keep the Germans from turning the Allied left flank, even in Operation "Michael" in March 1918, which almost won enough of a victory that the Allies would have been compelled to a peace settlement far more favorable than what Germany got at Versailles. By then, Kaiser Wilhelm was but a figurehead, as Germany was, for all practical purposes, a military dictatorship under Lundendorff.
@@janbayart2250 No, I read it in a study of Bismarck. Even if I was there I wouldn't have understood a word they said! I doubt they would have spoken English to accomodate me.
@@billysmith7686 - 80 years later, Germany is the 3rd largest economy, an industrial power house, and the biggest influence on global matters outside of US, Russia and China. Where's Britain? Some third world country fighting over fish like a petty harlot does on a few pennies paid short.
That simple line totally sums up what it means to be British. . . . We are often portrayed as easy going and reserved. . . which we are . . .but when the shit hits the fan I would not want to be on the receiving end of our wrath !!
Our LUFTWAFFE WOULD LIKE TO CRUSH LONDON AS A PRELUDE TO INVASION ! 'Is it two lumps you take'? That certainly let the wind out of his sails ! So, A big black eye for Johnny Foreigner.
@@markhealey3831 The problem is the Hitlers...Stalins..Mao's...Bin Ladens of the world confuse politeness with weakness. In 2001 Victor Davis Hanson published a book called "Carnage & Culture". One of the points he made is, there is nothing more deadly than free men who know what they are fighting for.
We know how hard it is to move an army across the Channel. The last little corporal came up a cropper. So don't threaten or dictate us unless you're marching up Whitehall. And even than we won't listen!
Don't be silly. There was an awful to of war before the blitz and they knew they were in it until the finish. Some of the upper lasses might have wavered but the working class knew it was coming and just wanted to get on with it.
Ralph Richardson was absolutely superb in this scene. The insouciant offer of the cup of tea woudn't be so hard to pull off acting this out, but the barely-concealed emotion as he retorts to the threats is magnificently portrayed.
He's either aghast that his old friend, the Baron Von Ritcher (Curt Jurgens) actually buys into Hitler's worthless "guarantees" or is offended at the not-so-subtle strong-arming. What makes it ever the more galling is that he knows that Von Ritcher is right, time is running out for the UK, even though Goring and Hitler's bungling helped to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory for the Luftwaffe.
I remember reading how an Italian diplomat was so impressed when he delivered the declaration of war to the British ambassador. Apparently the British ambassador took it in his stride, showed no surprise or any emotion, just noting, "You know, we're not in the habit of losing wars." This is a great scene with Ralph Richardson. It captures the British composure so well. I also loved Trevor Howard's portrayal of Sir Keith Park, the New Zealander in this film. It was said of him, "He was the only man who could have lost the war in a day or even an afternoon"
Hundred years war and American Revolution exceptions. In the long term Britain has never been able to field sufficient ground troops to deal with a largely hostile local population. The only reason they held India for so long was there was no "India", just a collection of states in the subcontinent that were divided by religion, caste and politics. Playing off one against the other worked well there.
The reference is to Napoleon, he was nicknamed "The Little Corporal" He couldn't get his army across the Channel, and the combined French & Spanish fleets were annihilated by the Royal Navy at Trafalgar.
No, its simply a reference to the fact that he completely failed to defeat Britain. In Britain, to "come a cropper" means you fall down heavily. Napoleon failed in his task.
T T If the Germans wanted to flatten London, they should have just waited until the British import more Somalis. The Somalis would eventually burn London down.
I love this scene. Maybe the actual words are fictitious but when Richardson loses his temper, the emotion is real. Why? Because he was from the generation that lived it, that fought it. The emotion is totally real because he had lived it.
All they did was change their minds , and turned on Russia it seemed to be a bigger prize , but when your wearing the wrong type of gear, and its bloody freezing thats when things went wrong, the problem it would seem is the Germans own efficieny it was their biggest fault
Britain stood alone against unbelievable odds and never once blinked, and never considered blinking. The courage our awesome cousins across the pond showed should forever be a towering source of pride... on both sides of the Atlantic. And across the entire world. Greetings from North Carolina... _Rule Britannia!_
@@bcfc2947 As I don't play video games, I'll defer to your knowledge. But the fact is no, Britain wasn't alone and to say a country with a large empire is by itself is faintly ridiculous. Regardless of journey times, a lot of RAF aircrew were from the Commonwealth countries and the exploits of foreign-born squadrons like 303 are well documented. I know that the BoB is important in the national myth, but a lot of that myth is tatty old balls.
Yes I agree! that was one of the best bits when Richardson said its unforgivable ''I lost my temper'' absolutely classic shame its been missed out finishes the scene of perfectly
"I don't think I have to remind you that this war has been going on for almost 5 years. Over half of Europe has been overrun and occupied. We're comparative newcomers. England's gone through a blitz with a knife at her throat since 1940."--John Wayne, "The Longest Day"
But unknown to Fritz we had about 600 fighters half of them spitfires & hurricanes BUT with radar we could put them only where they were needed and no planes lined up on runways would be destroyed on the ground as in alot of European airforces had been and had invasion have happened Churchill would've simply have deployed The George Formby
@@Hilts931 yeah but they werent defeated were they, britain and its mindest to fight until the end was still undefeatable unlike the americans who would barely lift a finger until almost 3 years into the war where british and soviet victories were starting to happen throughout europe
E M Why would the Americans want to be drawn into it? They weren’t the ones fellating Hitler. Britain’s Chamberlain was doing that, with majority public support it seems.
The British character is to take the side of those persecuted and downtrodden. When the Nazis came knocking, we basically said, "Come on then, try it". Less than a year later, almost overwhelmed and starving our 'little' nation had stopped the most devastating fighting force of it's day in it's tracks, with a bit of help from the weather and The English Channel, and a few friends who had escaped to us and fancied a go themselves.
Wasn't a little nation back then, larges empire of all time with more military successes than anyone else in history. Different British mentality, a lot of pride and backbone with an ability to endure. When a calm Englishman said he was going to fight to defend his home and family, that meant you had one of the best and most disciplined armed forces on the planet, with the most refined weapons and tactics to contend with. A force that would not give in, not surrender and would keep fighting to the very end.
Yank here. Those of us who know history agree with you entirely. Your island nation stood up to the greatest threat of modern times, and you won. Absolutely brilliant. I think I speak for a lot of Americans when I say we are sorry we were two years too late.
@@mariacornwallis1602 Only after the JU87 Sturzkampflugzeug met the Royal Air Force. Losses were to bad that the Luftwaffe withdrew the JU87 from the Battle of Britain. I think there is a number of Stuka statistics given in the credits at the end of the film, 'The Battle of Britain' (1969). Flying at 210mph it was a 'Turkey' but highly dangerous airborne artillery and very effective for scaring the crap out of fleeing refugees. And it was as ugly as you could possibly make a machine that actually flies.
@@mariacornwallis1602 . Just a quick Post Script to my answer.... More like 'Crashing Coffin'. The Hienkel HE177 Grief was called 'The Widow Maker'. These names are universal to all airmen of any country who's air force gives them Crap aeroplanes. How about the Messerschmitt Gigant. The biggest glider in the world and for a long time held the title of being involved in the worlds word aircrash. It was also modified to be powered with 6 Rhone engines. They still crashed and burned though.
@@martinbrode7131 And the EU is your example! I wonder in years to come, will there be the same sentiments said about the EU. I mean look what is happening now on the continent. France, the threat of civil war. The EU facing an economic recession The EU as a whole in trouble with its vaccine roll out. The EU currently represents 15% of the world's economy and it’s forecast to go down to 12% by 2030. Divisions within the EU about how the monies for the economic rescue plan is to raised. Yeah there will many a word said about the EU and I don't think they will be flattering! 😖
@@theBaron0530 that's why the nations get together and plan it together. When one stubborn, parochial member who insists it has 4 countries within it abstains or gets in the way , the other members have to proceed without that one member. Still the bully that doesn't realize it is a bully. Shame.
Mat Wetton "It's unforgivable. I lost my temper. The maddening thing is he's right, We're on our own. We've been playing for time. And it's running out!"
@@odysseusrex5908 They didn't have enough troops transports to get the men to Merry Old, and didn't try to build them. The USSR had the oil they needed in Baku. The UK had nothing for them. So the army went east. They tried to get the UK to surrender with the U boats blocking the food supply. Alan Turing foiled that.
Like it did in Crete not one German soldier from the ships got ashore all sunk by the Royal Navy despite German air superiority. Battle was only lost due to the skills of German flying troops and British army incompetence.
With total sea superiority had the airfields been defended properly Crete. Luke have remained in allied hands. The army new the plan of attack due to ultra and outnumbered the Germans. To me has shades of Singapore and Tobruk in 1942. Sad fact is British armies performance in WW2 unlike is airforce and quite outstanding Navy did not have a good war. Probably only Slim and 14th Army in Burma performed at all impressively. The desert was only one by overwhelming numbers and supplies and the choking of the Axis supplies. 1940 was lamentable, Dieppe no better , both Italy and Normandy turned into huge defensive slogs won by superior numbers and equipment, D- Day itself was a combined arms triumph as was the supply system afterwards. However Arnhem was another total b*lls up. Throughout the war the only part of British army that could ever match the Germans on equal terms was the artillery. Tanks and infantry doctrine particularly command initiative was way behind. Contrast that with Narvik, River Plate, Taranto, Matapan or Barents Sea - although even the Navy got it wrong sometimes such as PQ17.
I wonder how Curd Jurgens felt about playing such roles? He was a very brave man, an opponent of the Nazis and ended the war as a concentration camp inmate because of his views.
Well, he also played General Blumentritt in "The Longest Day", and the U-Boot captain in "The Enemy Below". As far as playing other famous Germans goes, he turned in an excellent performance as Bismarck in the series, "Fall of Eagles." Additional trivia-one of his co-stars in "Battle of Britain" also starred in "Fall of Eagles"-Barry Foster, who played Kaiser Wilhelm.
I'm sure he saw the irony. Also, I'm sure he didn't mind making the Nazis look like pricks. What surprises me though is they didn't call his character von Ribbentrop, since that's who he's supposed to be. It's not like Ribbentrop was going to sue the filmakers for libel!
@@wayneantoniazzi2706 You make a good point, though I didn't see his character as von Ribbentrop, as much as I thought he represented the typical German noble who held high bureaucratic offices in the Imperial regime, such as in the Foreign Ministry, and who accommodated himself so easily to Nazism. Men like von Papen, for example-though I am not saying that I thought his character depicts von Papen.
@@theBaron0530 You make a good point yourself, although I remember reading (don't ask where, I've got a mind like a filing cabinet but there's no folders!) that it was Ribbentrop himself that made the trip to Switzerland to speak with the British ambassador. It doesn't matter though, it's a great sequence just the same! And if I remember correctly, von Papen had been shunted off by 1940 to the ambassadorship in Turkey. He started critisising the Nazi regime (even though he was a part of it) fairly early, but was too "high-profile" to get nasty with, so they just shipped him out of the country.
There's nothing better then a good bloody big moat around your country or residence bloody marvellous Britain 🇬🇧. Cheers from Australia. We love our big moat too
That man was the inspiration, Backbone and Spirit of Great Britain and it's Commonwealth. He also showed the rest of the World that fighting back was possible, even against the all odds. Most of all victory will be expected and achieved. The Battle of Britain was the first defeat that Germany had since the start of the war.
@@garyseeseverything8615 Hitler came to power in 1933 and Winston Churchill could see all to clearly what was happening. The Spanish civil war was the foundation blocks for WW2. To say that Winston Churchill was, no hero is not only insulting it's incorrect. Britain was the only country in Europe that said, No to Hitler. Whereas Neville Chamberlain and Lord Halifax wanted to negotiate with Hitler, which would have meant capitulation. Hitler never respected Holland declaring neutrality, or anyone elses for that matter! When Herman Goring was asked, At what point do you think Germany lost the war? Without hesitation his reply was, "The Battle of Britain". This would certainly not happened without Churchill. In the process he galvanised the British people to the point that they believed they would win. The freedoms that came at a horrendous cost. Oh yes. With out a doubt and historical facts dictate that Sir Winston Churchill is Britains greatest hero, as voted in the 90s or 2000s.
@@martinhambleton5076 what the heck? Britain went begging America for help and this isn’t the first time America save Britain in 2 world wars. If you haven’t a clue that America supplied raw materials in preparation for Battle of Britain no point of explaining to you. Go read and familiarize yourself first then get back to me. No Britain lost that air war when they had the world do most of the work and that includes the Polish pilots. Goering knew American resources exhausted Germany so Hitler sought to invade Russia for more raw materials to compete against America. America then bailed out Russia with lend lease but why we chatting here you haven’t a clue go read
This another of those moments in our history where it looked inevitable that we would fall and didn't stand a chance. Agincourt, the Armarda, Rhorkes Drift and the Battle of Britain, miraculously we survived and won.
Amazing act if moral courage which saved Western Europe. However, it was the Soviet Union which destroyed German army 78% in fact. We were baled out by the US as we were bankrupt by 1941. Milked dry. It was the end of the U.K. as a Great power.
Not really there’s a lot of myth surrounding the Battle of Britain that it was a losing battle for the British or that Britain was ever in danger. Throughout the Battle Germany consistently lost a higher amount of planes and men and never did any real damage to the RAF (even if they’d damaged the southern England bases they could always move inland to the Northern Bases and still contest the sky’s over South England. As for money it was really a issue a loans a loan it wouldn’t of lost us the war if we didn’t get the loan we’d just default. And finally with a bit of for sight a lot of theatres could of been won before the U.S or USSR joined the war for example if Churchill had kept pushing in Libya instead of moving forces to Greece they would of won the African campaign much earlier, similarly better placement of the Singapore defences and the Burma campaign probably wouldn’t of happened.
Today is my 47th birthday. This movie is a part of my DNA. I watched it as a child. Burst into tears in horror as the German gunner’s goggles we sprayed with blood. I watched it as a teenager and felt all sorts of funny feelings at Susannah York in her stockings and uniform shirt and tie. Watched documentaries on how Group captain Hamish mahaddie bought together all the aircraft.
@@SeattlePioneer It was a good scene for some great acting to. Remember Susannah York's character has been attacked on an airfield. She has seen death close up, known real fear of bombing and come through. Her husband has always been in the air, he is scared by the experience. I fantastic scene well acted. Also she did look so good in that uniform.
@@simoncampbell-smith6745 That story between Maggie and Colin Harvey was tragic. He spent the entire movie trying to get her to transfer to Scotland to be with him. She wouldn’t do it. Then she meets a real spitfire burn victim and is horrified by his injuries. Colin is shot down and she asks her CO if he is badly burned. he just nods slightly. And offers her a transfer to be near him. She just walks away. Tragic!
Hitler bombed Leicester (England) in 1940; "the target marker flares looked quite pretty floating down in the night sky" my mother told me. She was 18 at the time and she and her family survived without a scratch, but others weren't so lucky..
My late Mother was born 1926 in Hull ,Yorkshire, now Humberside ,and vividly remembered the Hull Blitz, but it was always referred to as ‘the bombing of a North East town,’ when , in fact, it was the most heavily bombed place outside of London. Mum passed away in April 2019, at 92 years old and never forgot. RIP 🇬🇧
In 1976, the Israelis launched a daring (and romantic) mission to rescue their people from Entebbe Airport, Uganda. The world marveled at the courage and ingenuity. And rightly so. People in THIS country at the time lamented: "That's just the sort of thing WE used to do !" Six years later, we recovered the Falkland Islands - "Impossible", said many of our American friends. For those naysayers who suggest that "we are not the people we were" - just two small points, therefore: First, that's been said DOZENS of times before. Second, we - as a PEOPLE - are EXACTLY what we always have been (FORGET the bloody Political Class): LIONS Albeit better-fed Lions than our Ancestors. We just need a mild kick in the backside now and then to REMIND us of the fact ! Yes ?
@Vlodec also that was a hostage rescue mission,NOT a fight to defend israel from external aggression...if he was going to compare entebbe with anything the British did (I'm irish) it would surely been the S.A.S. raid on the London Iranian embassy in 1980.
This American never doubted British Resolve during the Falkland's War. And I was only 15 at the time! I was already a keen student of History by that age.
@@testtest6169 "Now London is considered third world." Well, the great Tony Blair DID say we were "too British". Bless him....................................
I remember seeing Richard Dawson on a TV talk show 40 years ago. Dawson was a boy during the Blitz and remembered it quite well. When the subject of Churchill came up Dawson did an hilarious imitation of him, but when the laughter stopped he got quiet and said: "We did use to laugh at Winston from time to time, but let me tell you the British people really need someone like a Churchill to get the best out of us. Thank God he was there!" I've never forgotten that.
"Herr Hitler's guarantees, guarantee nothing"--"Besides we know how hard it is to cross the channel-last little corporal (Napoleon) who tried it came a cropper!" In a sea of British talent Sir Ralph almost steals the movie!! Great scene- thanks for posting!
I hear Ridley Scott is directing a new "Battle of Britain" film. Despite Ridley's formidable reputation, I doubt it will have the subtly, humour and authenticity of this scene. "Its two lumps you take, isn't it?"
@@JohnP538 - Hell, is that true? I'm not saying you're wrong, it's just that I have never read of it in any book or seen this mentioned on any documentary.
@@28pbtkh23 Research the name,Tyler Gateway Kent, he was a senior cypher clerk in the embassy, his girl friend was an NKVD spy. She funneled everything to Moscow at the time they were still allied with Germany.
MI5 recovered 1,929 official documents in his flat. He was sentenced to seven years in prison. The whole thing was covered up to preserve US-British relations.
Air minister - “so you are trusting in Radar and praying to God, is that right?” Air Marshal Dowding - “More the other way round, we are trusting in God and praying for radar”.
I know, you could also add the Falklands war to that. I'm not really a believer, but if there is such a thing as fate, it has smiled on us a number of times. I hope it continues to do so too.
The moral of the story is simply.........DO NOT EVER THREATEN THE BRITISH AND ESPECIALLY NEVER , EVER THREATEN TO INVADE THE ISLANDS. THEY ARE FAIRLY POLITE TO ALL BUT DO NOT MISTAKE THIS FOR COWARDICE. MAKING AN ENEMY OF THEM IS MOST DEFINITELY NOT RECOMMENDED.
Philip Davis Although I've never worn the uniform I spent all of my working career supporting the "Dark Blue" as a "backroom boffin." You must admit that the country's defences are too low for comfort and we are currently unable to provide credible forces for land,sea, or air ops. Taking the statements coming out of Corbyn's ultra left wing clique who don't see Putin as a threat is highly worrying - or have you swallowed their poison wholesale?
Morrigan Ravenchild I admire your constrained reply to my comment! No I have not swallowed the political pill! In fact I hold certain right wing views, more in the areas of self discipline than in anything else. I have also ran my own businesses for over thirty five years. I wanted to say this! So you can get some form of image as to where I am coming from. My assessment of Corbyn is he's nothing more than a stop gap leader, for an ailing Labour party that has lost all direction. The reasons are obvious for they no longer believe in Democracy as being the first principle of their party politics, to the point when one sees how the BREXIT referendum unfolded, as they used and were behind, every dirty trick that could be pulled to try and derail the Democratically arrived at decision. Corbyn is a lying, weak husk of a man! That politics would do well to remove from within its ranks. He is a blatant apologist to both Communism and the evil ideology of Islam. He has not one segment of back bone to see or to speak out against Islamic excesses and the world domination agenda. He has not once that I know of? Spoken out against the brutal spread of Islam in Africa, let alone the middle East except for being a mouth piece of support for the Satanic ideology. I do not trust any powerful country for I do not trust our own leadership, who are simply nothing more than Duke William the Conquerors, modern day Divide and Rule protégés of self interest and marginalization of society for their own wealth accumulation. The Avarice George Osborn being a classic example. As regards to Putin's Russia the world needs to be vigilant! However! There are some facts that need to be cleared up. Russia has in its past suffered from two major invasions from the West. Where as Britain and America thankfully have not. There is also certainly over land mass "Lebensraum" Let alone Raw materials, a European and American jealousy of Russia. Mostly because Europe is over populated, certainly Britain long before it let in all the sand devils. This is why there has been so much shit stirring over Russia for many decades. Not just from America but from the Muslim states who breed like rats and are f-ing useless at making the best of their own landmasses. There is also and has been for a long time now shit stirring from the Jews, all because the Communism that could have lead to a Jewish control of the whole of Russia, completely back fired during the Pogroms. Which laughingly were orchestrated by many hard line Communist Jews. Who said there is no irony in history? This largely lead to WW-2 by the way. To conclude the world is in a mess because of all the political gerrymandering in the middle east for self interests, Is a gross understatement because of Islamic world domination that has been watered down as a real threat by a weak and crooked political elite. Who through business deals have made Russia militarily very strong and Russia wont take any shit from Islam, or the Zionist Jews who wish to control the entire European land mass across to China, trapped in a form of slavery based upon Usury aided and abetted by the EU that is a bureaucratic Fourth Reich! The third world war is going to come its just simply a matter of time but those who start it wont be Russia it will be Islam or even America. I think that the majority of Jews don't want to see any involvement in starting a war. As they do know that they will very likely be swept to one side not through hatred of them but through necessity whilst dealing with Islam. Islam is a cancer and the knife that removes it is often undiscriminating. The very thing not many seem to be taking into account.
we're not easily frightened. timeless line from Sir Ralph.......thank God for the Channel..all the yanks cared about at the end was dismantling the British Empire shame they were not so robust about the Soviet Empire....pity the Poles
nigel harrison If your "Empire" would have listened to the USA after WW1 there would not have been a Hitler or Nazi Germany or Warsaw Pact. Blame your own people and the French.
@@keithrose6931 no actually the yank has a point. The Americans were the milder voice in ww1 who didn’t want to cripple Germany. The UK and France wanted and did cripple Germany
Surely the last time someone actually tried to invade England, he ended up as King William (the Conqueror), unless you include that other William, King William of Orange.
Whether or not David Kelly, the British Minister to Switzerland in 1940, ever actually spoke such words to his German counterpart we'll never know, but it's terrific movie dialogue! Kelly was not Ambassador to Switzerland, that post didn't exist at the time, although he later held that position three times elsewhere - Argentina, Turkey and the USSR. He was a decorated officer of the first war (Military Cross, pretty jolly good...), and was knighted in 1942. So whether or not he really spoke as his character does in this outstanding film doesn't matter, he was a proper bloke and a hero.
I wish they'd left in the next few seconds: The British Ambassador's wife comes into his office where he's morosely stirring his tea and he mutters, "It's unforgivable. I lost my temper!"
I would like to think we could show this scene to Merkel, Juncker, Tusk and co. when they issue their threats and demands, but I'm not sure our current crop of limp-wristed, politically correct apologists for leaders would be up to defending the sentiments expressed. My God how this great country has been wrecked over the past seventy plus years.
Wrecked by people who refused to work with their neighbors in vain and fading memories of their Empire. Give it up. Equating current Germans to Nazis is like equating English to the Vikings. Pointless conjecture.
Some would love to be European, even now we have decided to leave and they are STILL working with the their side to undermine their own countrymen acting on behalf of the British people who chose not to support those 'Remain' candidates.
The Battle of Britain was completely irrelevant as Hitler never intended to invade the UK. As soon as Stalin broke the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact on 28 June 1940 the OKW started preparing for Barbarossa.
Napolean called us a nation of shop keepers. Fair enough... but shop keepers who don't take shit of anyone.The largest empire the world has ever known. Damn the village I live in is older than some countries
19th Century Britain was a Royal Navy factory. The 'shop keepers,' had the best navy of all time to enforce, protect and expand its trade. Napolean's biggest mistake was the same as Hitlers mistake, taking on Britain.
Sir Ralph Richardson grew into a truly wonderful actor. I always rated him in this scene, and his portrayal of a seemingly emotionless industry magnate John Ridgefield in the film The Sound Barrier is superb.
If the Germans were confident that they could succeed then they wouldn't ask if you wanted to surrender.Just like in Bastogne, McAuliffe was sure that the Germans were afraid of losing or their tanks would have been coming.
Britain in the EU was always a counter balance to the Economic powerhouse of Europe, Germany, but now its high time France, Italy etc. Take a leading role instead for once.
"Adolf Hitler. My Part in his Downfall " and "Monty. His Part in My Victory" were the best two of his memoires. "Rommel? Gunner Who?" Had some funny moments, but was the more serious of the three, and sadly, I wasn't as keen on that one.
When informed that France had fallen and sued for peace, Sir Hugh Dowding, head of Fighter Command looked out of a window, and said, "Thank God. Now we are alone".
Absolutely. Even in the start of this clip it sets the tone (no pun intended). Great themes given to be the Lufwaffe and the RAF. Wonderful score by Ron Goodwin and then Battle in the Sky sequence by William Walton.
Two countries who had closer ties than pretty much anyone in Europe, which 100 years before fought together and defeated the one country we both dislike the most decided to fight eachother twice within 30 years. When Queen Victoria died, that changed everything.
@@danyalmemish6309 ridiculous isn’t it? It’s true that Queen Victoria kept Europe in check, after she died her grandchild/grandnephews, 3 cousins all played war as a result.
@@royalhero4608 it’s interesting, I always wonder if Germany didn’t invade Poland (always going to happen) what may have happened. It’s been argued the wrong enemy was defeated....
@@Jonesyb90 well I was thinking more along the lines of we actually sided with the ‘terrorist sympathizers’ in WW1 and one of our most historic enemies (The French)…
Only until the mind control apparatus of "soshal meeedya" completely stopped the masses from thinking for themselves. Now the dupes run screaming in panic from flu bugs.
"The last little corporal who tried [to cross the Channel for an invasion] came a cropper!" Such a very British insult. Especially at Hitler. Which I'm sure went completely over the head of the German emissary.
“...And even then we won’t listen!”
Awesome.
Lots of people not listening now with the corona virus advice.
"It's unforgivable. I lost my temper. Maddening thing is, he's right. We're on our own, we've been playing for time. And it's running Out!"
We need men like him now more then ever
@@weswolever7477 Western Civilization doesn't produce men like that anymore. It's abandoned the principles that produces them.
I'm reminded of the last bit of advice Bismarck gave to a young Kaiser Wilhelm:
"Stay on good terms with the British! Don't frighten them, don't anger them, and for the love of God don't ever go to war with them!"
Kaiser Bill didn't listen. Neither did Adolf.
Neither Bill nor Adolf declared War on them!
@@TheTarget1980 they made decisions that they knew would result in war with Britain. The Kaiser knew Britain had guaranteed Belgian neutrality and Hitler knew about Poland (although I think he expected us to go down the appeasement line again, so it is in fairness slightly different)
@@charliereader3462 I doubt in the case of Imperial Germany violating Belgian neutrality and running roughshod over them that was the triggering factor that led the UK to join the fight. Had Germany confined the attack on France to a version of the Franco-Prussian War, i.e, out of Alsace and Lorraine, I can't see Britain staying out of it, especially if the Kaiser's Army threatened Paris. Just as Hitler had done in WWII, the Kaiser gambled on a quick war with France and Russia, and once victory was secured against both, the Royal Navy blockade wouldn't matter. He got part of it right with the Battle of Tannenberg which the Russians never really recovered from; but the First Battle of the Marne ensured that the war would not be won in 1914. That gave time for the UK to assemble the BEF and draw upon its Commonwealth for reinforcements. The BEF proved effective...enough...to keep the Germans from turning the Allied left flank, even in Operation "Michael" in March 1918, which almost won enough of a victory that the Allies would have been compelled to a peace settlement far more favorable than what Germany got at Versailles. By then, Kaiser Wilhelm was but a figurehead, as Germany was, for all practical purposes, a military dictatorship under Lundendorff.
Were you there when Bismarck told him so?
@@janbayart2250 No, I read it in a study of Bismarck.
Even if I was there I wouldn't have understood a word they said! I doubt they would have spoken English to accomodate me.
The video cuts the best bit. When the ambassadors wife enters the room he says to her ‘it’s unforgivable........ I lost my temper!’
"The maddening thing is he's right. We have been playing for time... and it's running out!"
I totaly agree
But his stubbornness, that British spirit was proven true. Dramatically and in history, we never listened
@@billysmith7686 - 80 years later, Germany is the 3rd largest economy, an industrial power house, and the biggest influence on global matters outside of US, Russia and China. Where's Britain? Some third world country fighting over fish like a petty harlot does on a few pennies paid short.
@@sztypettto Fuck off you twat, how the fuck are they the 4th biggest influence on global matters?, outside of industry they have no say.
It’s the way Ralph Richardson’s voice doesn’t change volume much, but he’s shaking with fury with his last lines. THAT is acting!
Absolutely fantastic!
Brilliant acting you really felt the emotion in that scene👏👏👏👏👏
One of the best lines in the film: "It's two lumps you take, isn't it?"
That simple line totally sums up what it means to be British. . . . We are often portrayed as easy going and reserved. . . which we are . . .but when the shit hits the fan I would not want to be on the receiving end of our wrath !!
Our LUFTWAFFE WOULD LIKE TO CRUSH LONDON AS A PRELUDE TO INVASION !
'Is it two lumps you take'?
That certainly let the wind out of his sails !
So, A big black eye for Johnny Foreigner.
@@markhealey3831
The problem is the Hitlers...Stalins..Mao's...Bin Ladens of the world confuse politeness with weakness.
In 2001 Victor Davis Hanson published a book called "Carnage & Culture". One of the points he made is, there is nothing more deadly than free men who know what they are fighting for.
@@markhealey3831 Just like Argentina
The German attaché replies, 4 lumps actually and go easy on the milk.
Ralph Richardson and Curt Jurgensen were both first rate and superb actors with quite power in their roles. 😎
Jurgens. It's Jurgens.
@@Janus-fn2uz It's 'Curd Jurgens' [game, set and match]
Jurgens also played Gen Blumentritt in The Longest Day... great scenes there...
We know how hard it is to move an army across the Channel. The last little corporal came up a cropper. So don't threaten or dictate us unless you're marching up Whitehall. And even than we won't listen!
I love the last bow to the Ambassador's wife. Just barely there. Perfectly done.
most of the Brits were against war....until the Blitz
Don't be silly. There was an awful to of war before the blitz and they knew they were in it until the finish. Some of the upper lasses might have wavered but the working class knew it was coming and just wanted to get on with it.
Who is these “last little corporal“ the ambassador is talking about?
Slimer3112 Napoleon .
Ralph Richardson was absolutely superb in this scene. The insouciant offer of the cup of tea woudn't be so hard to pull off acting this out, but the barely-concealed emotion as he retorts to the threats is magnificently portrayed.
He's either aghast that his old friend, the Baron Von Ritcher (Curt Jurgens) actually buys into Hitler's worthless "guarantees" or is offended at the not-so-subtle strong-arming. What makes it ever the more galling is that he knows that Von Ritcher is right, time is running out for the UK, even though Goring and Hitler's bungling helped to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory for the Luftwaffe.
Very English
Yes
The true insult was not offering him a biscuit.
@@davesy6969 😄
I remember reading how an Italian diplomat was so impressed when he delivered the declaration of war to the British ambassador. Apparently the British ambassador took it in his stride, showed no surprise or any emotion, just noting, "You know, we're not in the habit of losing wars." This is a great scene with Ralph Richardson. It captures the British composure so well. I also loved Trevor Howard's portrayal of Sir Keith Park, the New Zealander in this film. It was said of him, "He was the only man who could have lost the war in a day or even an afternoon"
To this day the training British diplomats get is the best in the world.
Hundred years war and American Revolution exceptions. In the long term Britain has never been able to field sufficient ground troops to deal with a largely hostile local population. The only reason they held India for so long was there was no "India", just a collection of states in the subcontinent that were divided by religion, caste and politics. Playing off one against the other worked well there.
@@althesmith We did rather well for a country of
@@SantomPh Winston Churchill said, "Diplomacy is telling someone to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the journey".
@@althesmith U clearly ddid not read the history of the american revolution. You also assume all americans were against the British they were NOT.
"Last little corporal who tried came a cropper." I so love our flourishing history.
Hans Gruber I don’t understand that, can you help? I don’t get the historical reference
The reference is to Napoleon, he was nicknamed "The Little Corporal" He couldn't get his army across the Channel, and the combined French & Spanish fleets were annihilated by the Royal Navy at Trafalgar.
Norman Bates and is the cropper things a ref to his exile on Elba?
No, its simply a reference to the fact that he completely failed to defeat Britain. In Britain, to "come a cropper" means you fall down heavily. Napoleon failed in his task.
Norman Bates oh forgive me, I thought cropper was like a word for farmer, and he’d have to do that on Elba.
'We will flatten London!'
'Cup of tea old chap?'
Its two lumps I believe? brilliant
Yeah, he seemed really worried.......
T T
If the Germans wanted to flatten London, they should have just waited until the British import more Somalis. The Somalis would eventually burn London down.
@@lawrencewright2816 Stop taking out of your arse you racist prick......
There is always one.
I love this scene. Maybe the actual words are fictitious but when Richardson loses his temper, the emotion is real. Why? Because he was from the generation that lived it, that fought it. The emotion is totally real because he had lived it.
Spot on ! said with emotion n feeling , genuine 👍🙂
Curt Jurgens who played Baron von Richter opposed the Nazis, was imprisoned in a labour camp, escaped and went into hiding.
@@johnpirie4804 Only in 1944.
If it ran for another minute the ambassador said to his wife, 'I do believe I lost my temper.;
YOu can see him literally shaking with anger when he is talking.
"its unforgivable, i lost my temper!" love it
He's right, we are playing for time....and times running out!
@@mazzgoldie9149 It's already run out.
@@MOGGS1942 what dya mean by that mate?
"We can walk into Britain whenever we like"
"Yeah, TRY IT!"
Can do it in the back of a truck it seems form Calais............
@@dashcam26 True enough, but I was referring to the guys in the field grey uniforms. They never quite managed it......
Some say they're still waiting
Royal Navy "Hold my beer......"
All they did was change their minds , and turned on Russia it seemed to be a bigger prize , but when your wearing the wrong type of gear, and its bloody freezing thats when things went wrong, the problem it would seem is the Germans own efficieny it was their biggest fault
Quite possibly the single best scene in the entire movie. I think of it often. At this point Britain truly stood alone.
Britain stood alone against unbelievable odds and never once blinked, and never considered blinking.
The courage our awesome cousins across the pond showed should forever be a towering source of pride... on both sides of the Atlantic. And across the entire world.
Greetings from North Carolina... _Rule Britannia!_
Apart from an Empire of a few million people and some rather skilled pilots from Europe. Don't get carried away.
@@bcfc2947 Britain wasn't on its own, though, and don't say 'we' unless you were old enough to have fought.
@@bcfc2947 As I don't play video games, I'll defer to your knowledge. But the fact is no, Britain wasn't alone and to say a country with a large empire is by itself is faintly ridiculous. Regardless of journey times, a lot of RAF aircrew were from the Commonwealth countries and the exploits of foreign-born squadrons like 303 are well documented. I know that the BoB is important in the national myth, but a lot of that myth is tatty old balls.
The other key detail is the most powerful navy on the world at that time, which tends help if you are island.
Unfortunately this stops just short of Richardson's exclamation to his wife "it's UNFORGIVABLE!......, I Lost my temper"
Yes I agree! that was one of the best bits when Richardson said its unforgivable ''I lost my temper'' absolutely classic shame its been missed out finishes the scene of perfectly
@@SuperMarkbrewer I have to agree
He's right you know. I was on my own just enjoying my time till about 2:30 and then realised we where running out
"I don't think I have to remind you that this war has been going on for almost 5 years. Over half of Europe has been overrun and occupied. We're comparative newcomers. England's gone through a blitz with a knife at her throat since 1940."--John Wayne, "The Longest Day"
Brilliant line from the Duke!! " We're all itching to go"
@@mazzgoldie9149 Yes, he went, all right, but in the opposite direction.
@@mazzgoldie9149 He never wrote it. And Cornelius Ryan was Anglophobic
It's OK, if England had fallen, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would have held out until America freed Conquered Europe
Probably my favorite line from the whole film. A stiff backbone and the willingness to win was all the Brits had left.
Plus the world's largest navy.
But unknown to Fritz we had about 600 fighters half of them spitfires & hurricanes BUT with radar we could put them only where they were needed and no planes lined up on runways would be destroyed on the ground as in alot of European airforces had been and had invasion have happened Churchill would've simply have deployed The George Formby
Plus being the Worlds 2nd. Largest manufacturer, largest Empire, largest Navy and best air force, but yes that's all we had.
@@neil5307 Best Air Force - not really - just comparable with the LW. Best is a very relative term....
@@ThraxUK it wasn't comparable, that's the point ,it was smaller. Thus my comment holds.
What a wonderful speech. It summed up exactly the mindset of the British at that time...TRULY GREAT BRITAIN AT ITS UNBEATABLE BEST!!!!!!
Elizabeth Reign Castillo ;
It was indeed, their Finest Hour.
Unbeatable? Defeat was probably a lot closer than you seem to believe.
@@Hilts931 yeah but they werent defeated were they, britain and its mindest to fight until the end was still undefeatable unlike the americans who would barely lift a finger until almost 3 years into the war where british and soviet victories were starting to happen throughout europe
Its still our mindset, hence brexit!! Lol
E M
Why would the Americans want to be drawn into it? They weren’t the ones fellating Hitler. Britain’s Chamberlain was doing that, with majority public support it seems.
The British character is to take the side of those persecuted and downtrodden. When the Nazis came knocking, we basically said, "Come on then, try it". Less than a year later, almost overwhelmed and starving our 'little' nation had stopped the most devastating fighting force of it's day in it's tracks, with a bit of help from the weather and The English Channel, and a few friends who had escaped to us and fancied a go themselves.
Well put my friend - I agree entirely.
Wasn't a little nation back then, larges empire of all time with more military successes than anyone else in history. Different British mentality, a lot of pride and backbone with an ability to endure.
When a calm Englishman said he was going to fight to defend his home and family, that meant you had one of the best and most disciplined armed forces on the planet, with the most refined weapons and tactics to contend with. A force that would not give in, not surrender and would keep fighting to the very end.
Yank here. Those of us who know history agree with you entirely. Your island nation stood up to the greatest threat of modern times, and you won. Absolutely brilliant. I think I speak for a lot of Americans when I say we are sorry we were two years too late.
benrig89 Thanks for that response. Together forever !
This Yank completely agrees. Completely. Thank you for stopping the little corporal. We owe your nation a debt that cannot be repaid.
My favourite scene from the film. Two quality actors and a dialogue is all you need.
This is the correct response to Herr Junkers.
Junkers made the Stuka !
@@oldgitsknowstuff Also called by it's crew, "the flying coffin"
@@mariacornwallis1602
Only after the JU87 Sturzkampflugzeug met the Royal Air Force.
Losses were to bad that the Luftwaffe withdrew the JU87 from the Battle of Britain. I think there is a number of Stuka statistics given in the credits at the end of the film, 'The Battle of Britain' (1969).
Flying at 210mph it was a 'Turkey' but highly dangerous airborne artillery and very effective for scaring the crap out of fleeing refugees.
And it was as ugly as you could possibly make a machine that actually flies.
@@mariacornwallis1602 .
Just a quick Post Script to my answer....
More like 'Crashing Coffin'.
The Hienkel HE177 Grief was called 'The Widow Maker'.
These names are universal to all airmen of any country who's air force gives them Crap aeroplanes. How about the Messerschmitt Gigant.
The biggest glider in the world and for a long time held the title of being involved in the worlds word aircrash. It was also modified to be powered with 6 Rhone engines.
They still crashed and burned though.
“Let us hope that England (Great Britain), having saved herself by her energy, may save Europe by her example.”
―William Pitt the Younger
Brexit. That's the example.... ☹️
@@martinbrode7131
And the EU is your example!
I wonder in years to come, will there be the same sentiments said about the EU.
I mean look what is happening now on the continent.
France, the threat of civil war.
The EU facing an economic recession
The EU as a whole in trouble with its vaccine roll out.
The EU currently represents 15% of the world's economy and it’s forecast to go down to 12% by 2030.
Divisions within the EU about how the monies for the economic rescue plan is to raised.
Yeah there will many a word said about the EU and I don't think they will be flattering! 😖
Central planning, whether hard or soft, and to any degree, just doesn't work.
My father used to say son we had no where to go we had our backs against the wall
@@theBaron0530 that's why the nations get together and plan it together. When one stubborn, parochial member who insists it has 4 countries within it abstains or gets in the way , the other members have to proceed without that one member.
Still the bully that doesn't realize it is a bully. Shame.
its inexcusable. I appear to have have lost my temper.
+Mat Wetton What happened to that bit? It seems to be missing now.
I love that part of the story. It is rather missing the point without it.
Mat Wetton "It's unforgivable. I lost my temper. The maddening thing is he's right, We're on our own. We've been playing for time. And it's running out!"
"So what's stopping you?"
"uh...the Royal Navy. It's bigger than us, and that was before we lost a bunch of ships invading Norway"
@@Frisbieinstein Except a gun to their back. If the Luftwaffe could have dealt with the Royal Navy why didn't it?
@@odysseusrex5908 They didn't have enough troops transports to get the men to Merry Old, and didn't try to build them. The USSR had the oil they needed in Baku. The UK had nothing for them. So the army went east. They tried to get the UK to surrender with the U boats blocking the food supply. Alan Turing foiled that.
Like it did in Crete not one German soldier from the ships got ashore all sunk by the Royal Navy despite German air superiority. Battle was only lost due to the skills of German flying troops and British army incompetence.
@@johnholt9399 Incompetence? Or simply not having the resources, especially ammunition, to conduct a successful defense?
With total sea superiority had the airfields been defended properly Crete. Luke have remained in allied hands. The army new the plan of attack due to ultra and outnumbered the Germans. To me has shades of Singapore and Tobruk in 1942. Sad fact is British armies performance in WW2 unlike is airforce and quite outstanding Navy did not have a good war. Probably only Slim and 14th Army in Burma performed at all impressively. The desert was only one by overwhelming numbers and supplies and the choking of the Axis supplies. 1940 was lamentable, Dieppe no better , both Italy and Normandy turned into huge defensive slogs won by superior numbers and equipment, D- Day itself was a combined arms triumph as was the supply system afterwards. However Arnhem was another total b*lls up. Throughout the war the only part of British army that could ever match the Germans on equal terms was the artillery. Tanks and infantry doctrine particularly command initiative was way behind. Contrast that with Narvik, River Plate, Taranto, Matapan or Barents Sea - although even the Navy got it wrong sometimes such as PQ17.
‘ it’s unforgivable…..I lost my temper. ‘ pity we missed the best and last line of the scene.
I wonder how Curd Jurgens felt about playing such roles? He was a very brave man, an opponent of the Nazis and ended the war as a concentration camp inmate because of his views.
Well, he also played General Blumentritt in "The Longest Day", and the U-Boot captain in "The Enemy Below".
As far as playing other famous Germans goes, he turned in an excellent performance as Bismarck in the series, "Fall of Eagles."
Additional trivia-one of his co-stars in "Battle of Britain" also starred in "Fall of Eagles"-Barry Foster, who played Kaiser Wilhelm.
I'm sure he saw the irony. Also, I'm sure he didn't mind making the Nazis look like pricks.
What surprises me though is they didn't call his character von Ribbentrop, since that's who he's supposed to be. It's not like Ribbentrop was going to sue the filmakers for libel!
@@wayneantoniazzi2706 You make a good point, though I didn't see his character as von Ribbentrop, as much as I thought he represented the typical German noble who held high bureaucratic offices in the Imperial regime, such as in the Foreign Ministry, and who accommodated himself so easily to Nazism. Men like von Papen, for example-though I am not saying that I thought his character depicts von Papen.
@@theBaron0530 You make a good point yourself, although I remember reading (don't ask where, I've got a mind like a filing cabinet but there's no folders!) that it was Ribbentrop himself that made the trip to Switzerland to speak with the British ambassador. It doesn't matter though, it's a great sequence just the same!
And if I remember correctly, von Papen had been shunted off by 1940 to the ambassadorship in Turkey. He started critisising the Nazi regime (even though he was a part of it) fairly early, but was too "high-profile" to get nasty with, so they just shipped him out of the country.
@@theBaron0530 he also played Rasputin
There's nothing better then a good bloody big moat around your country or residence bloody marvellous Britain 🇬🇧. Cheers from Australia. We love our big moat too
The only problem now is the globalists handing out inflatables for the great unwashed to cross those moats.
Ralph is magnificently cold and yet belligerant here, good man
"Winston gets carried away sometimes..." Hilarious !
That man was the inspiration, Backbone and Spirit of Great Britain and it's Commonwealth.
He also showed the rest of the World that fighting back was possible, even against the all odds.
Most of all victory will be expected and
achieved.
The Battle of Britain was the first defeat that Germany had since the start of the war.
That ! Was ! Winston's ! Cuco !! Loopyness !! At Times !!
@@martinhambleton5076 Churchill was war mongering back in 1936 and was also a drunk he’s no hero.
@@garyseeseverything8615 Hitler came to power in 1933 and Winston Churchill could see all to clearly what was happening.
The Spanish civil war was the foundation blocks for WW2.
To say that Winston Churchill was, no hero is not only insulting it's incorrect.
Britain was the only country in Europe that said, No to Hitler. Whereas Neville Chamberlain and Lord Halifax wanted to negotiate with Hitler, which would have meant capitulation.
Hitler never respected Holland declaring neutrality, or anyone elses for that matter!
When Herman Goring was asked, At what point do you think Germany lost the war? Without hesitation his reply was, "The Battle of Britain".
This would certainly not happened without Churchill. In the process he galvanised the British people to the point that they believed they would win.
The freedoms that came at a horrendous cost.
Oh yes. With out a doubt and historical facts dictate that Sir Winston Churchill is Britains greatest hero, as voted in the 90s or 2000s.
@@martinhambleton5076 what the heck? Britain went begging America for help and this isn’t the first time America save Britain in 2 world wars. If you haven’t a clue that America supplied raw materials in preparation for Battle of Britain no point of explaining to you. Go read and familiarize yourself first then get back to me. No Britain lost that air war when they had the world do most of the work and that includes the Polish pilots. Goering knew American resources exhausted Germany so Hitler sought to invade Russia for more raw materials to compete against America. America then bailed out Russia with lend lease but why we chatting here you haven’t a clue go read
This another of those moments in our history where it looked inevitable that we would fall and didn't stand a chance. Agincourt, the Armarda, Rhorkes Drift and the Battle of Britain, miraculously we survived and won.
Testament to a great nation and a great people 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Amazing act if moral courage which saved Western Europe. However, it was the Soviet Union which destroyed German army 78% in fact. We were baled out by the US as we were bankrupt by 1941. Milked dry. It was the end of the U.K. as a Great power.
@@ItaloGallese Super Power. Britain was a Super Power. We're a Great Power now.
Not really there’s a lot of myth surrounding the Battle of Britain that it was a losing battle for the British or that Britain was ever in danger. Throughout the Battle Germany consistently lost a higher amount of planes and men and never did any real damage to the RAF (even if they’d damaged the southern England bases they could always move inland to the Northern Bases and still contest the sky’s over South England.
As for money it was really a issue a loans a loan it wouldn’t of lost us the war if we didn’t get the loan we’d just default.
And finally with a bit of for sight a lot of theatres could of been won before the U.S or USSR joined the war for example if Churchill had kept pushing in Libya instead of moving forces to Greece they would of won the African campaign much earlier, similarly better placement of the Singapore defences and the Burma campaign probably wouldn’t of happened.
@@ItaloGallese Still fucking won though didn't we whilst the Italians and Frogs were waiting for rescue.
"Whats stopping you" , Excellent response by the British ambassador
Today is my 47th birthday. This movie is a part of my DNA. I watched it as a child. Burst into tears in horror as the German gunner’s goggles we sprayed with blood. I watched it as a teenager and felt all sorts of funny feelings at Susannah York in her stockings and uniform shirt and tie. Watched documentaries on how Group captain Hamish mahaddie bought together all the aircraft.
I saw it in 1969 when I was 16. Loved the airplanes and fell in love with Susanna York as well.
At least until Jenny Agutter came along...
That WAS a good scene!
@@SeattlePioneer It was a good scene for some great acting to. Remember Susannah York's character has been attacked on an airfield. She has seen death close up, known real fear of bombing and come through. Her husband has always been in the air, he is scared by the experience. I fantastic scene well acted. Also she did look so good in that uniform.
"Verdammt Tommy's und seiner tomato ketchup kanonen!"
@@simoncampbell-smith6745 That story between Maggie and Colin Harvey was tragic. He spent the entire movie trying to get her to transfer to Scotland to be with him. She wouldn’t do it. Then she meets a real spitfire burn victim and is horrified by his injuries. Colin is shot down and she asks her CO if he is badly burned. he just nods slightly. And offers her a transfer to be near him. She just walks away. Tragic!
You will notice Sir David doesn't offer him a biscuit, thus demonstrating his contempt for Adolf Hitler.
Missed the best bit.....”it’s unforgivable, I lost my temper”
Hitler bombed Leicester (England) in 1940; "the target marker flares looked quite pretty floating down in the night sky" my mother told me.
She was 18 at the time and she and her family survived without a scratch, but others weren't so lucky..
My late Mother was born 1926 in Hull ,Yorkshire, now Humberside ,and vividly remembered the Hull Blitz, but it was always referred to as ‘the bombing of a North East town,’ when , in fact, it was the most heavily bombed place outside of London.
Mum passed away in April 2019, at 92 years old and never forgot. RIP 🇬🇧
"So what's stopping you?" Bluff called.
I would have Said ! The CHANNEL !
In 1976, the Israelis launched a daring (and romantic) mission to rescue their people from Entebbe Airport, Uganda.
The world marveled at the courage and ingenuity. And rightly so.
People in THIS country at the time lamented: "That's just the sort of thing WE used to do !"
Six years later, we recovered the Falkland Islands - "Impossible", said many of our American friends.
For those naysayers who suggest that "we are not the people we were" - just two small points, therefore:
First, that's been said DOZENS of times before.
Second, we - as a PEOPLE - are EXACTLY what we always have been (FORGET the bloody Political Class): LIONS
Albeit better-fed Lions than our Ancestors.
We just need a mild kick in the backside now and then to REMIND us of the fact !
Yes ?
@Vlodec also that was a hostage rescue mission,NOT a fight to defend israel from external aggression...if he was going to compare entebbe with anything the British did (I'm irish) it would surely been the S.A.S. raid on the London Iranian embassy in 1980.
This American never doubted British Resolve during the Falkland's War. And I was only 15 at the time! I was already a keen student of History by that age.
Remember when an invasion seemed impossible because crossing the english channel was difficult? Now London is considered third world.
@@testtest6169
"Now London is considered third world."
Well, the great Tony Blair DID say we were "too British". Bless him....................................
I remember seeing Richard Dawson on a TV talk show 40 years ago. Dawson was a boy during the Blitz and remembered it quite well. When the subject of Churchill came up Dawson did an hilarious imitation of him, but when the laughter stopped he got quiet and said:
"We did use to laugh at Winston from time to time, but let me tell you the British people really need someone like a Churchill to get the best out of us. Thank God he was there!"
I've never forgotten that.
Two great actors playing two very important parts. Showing the difference between the Brittanic and the Teutonic attitude to certain aspects of life.
"Herr Hitler's guarantees, guarantee nothing"--"Besides we know how hard it is to cross the channel-last little corporal (Napoleon) who tried it came a cropper!" In a sea of British talent Sir Ralph almost steals the movie!! Great scene- thanks for posting!
Love Richardson's reply to the German ambassador: 'It's two lumps you take?' i.e. b*ll*cks!
I hear Ridley Scott is directing a new "Battle of Britain" film. Despite Ridley's formidable reputation, I doubt it will have the subtly, humour and authenticity of this scene. "Its two lumps you take, isn't it?"
It should include the fact that a clerk in Ambassador Kennedy's office funneled everything to his contact in Berlin.
@@JohnP538 - Hell, is that true? I'm not saying you're wrong, it's just that I have never read of it in any book or seen this mentioned on any documentary.
@@28pbtkh23 Research the name,Tyler Gateway Kent, he was a senior cypher clerk in the embassy, his girl friend was an NKVD spy. She funneled everything to Moscow at the time they were still allied with Germany.
MI5 recovered 1,929 official documents in his flat. He was sentenced to seven years in prison. The whole thing was covered up to preserve US-British relations.
Air minister - “so you are trusting in Radar and praying to God, is that right?”
Air Marshal Dowding - “More the other way round, we are trusting in God and praying for radar”.
man, Stromberg had quite the WWII resume before he tried to blow up the world
Ralph Richardson at his best, he should have also told him that 'The lion has wings!.
I can't understand why people feel the need to quote the dialogue on videos. Do they think that having just watched it that we need reminding.
I know, you could also add the Falklands war to that. I'm not really a believer, but if there is such a thing as fate, it has smiled on us a number of times. I hope it continues to do so too.
Wonderful scene Sir Ralph at his best.
"We're on our own, we're playing for time and it's running out..."
Once is a miracle. When something happens repeatedly that's something else.
Its two lumps you take...
They got many more lumps than they bargained for.
The moral of the story is simply.........DO NOT EVER THREATEN THE BRITISH AND ESPECIALLY NEVER , EVER THREATEN TO INVADE THE ISLANDS. THEY ARE FAIRLY POLITE TO ALL BUT DO NOT MISTAKE THIS FOR COWARDICE. MAKING AN ENEMY OF THEM IS MOST DEFINITELY NOT RECOMMENDED.
Two such very fine actors.
You cut the best bit - when Ralph Richardson says “It’s unforgivable, I lost my temper.” 😊
Today's politicians would roll over and invite them in.
+codyw1 How right you are.
Corbyn's bunch would - then they woulf be the first against the wall!
I'm a Socialist....I've worn my country's uniform so screw you.
Philip Davis
Although I've never worn the uniform I spent all of my working career supporting the "Dark Blue" as a "backroom boffin." You must admit that the country's defences are too low for comfort and we are currently unable to provide credible forces for land,sea, or air ops. Taking the statements coming out of Corbyn's ultra left wing clique
who don't see Putin as a threat is highly worrying - or have you swallowed their poison wholesale?
Morrigan Ravenchild
I admire your constrained reply to my comment!
No I have not swallowed the political pill! In fact I hold certain right wing views, more in the areas of self discipline than in anything else.
I have also ran my own businesses for over thirty five years. I wanted to say this! So you can get some form of image as to where I am coming from.
My assessment of Corbyn is he's nothing more than a stop gap leader, for an ailing Labour party that has lost all direction. The reasons are obvious for they no longer believe in Democracy as being the first principle of their party politics, to the point when one sees how the BREXIT referendum unfolded, as they used and were behind, every dirty trick that could be pulled to try and derail the Democratically arrived at decision. Corbyn is a lying, weak husk of a man! That politics would do well to remove from within its ranks. He is a blatant apologist to both Communism and the evil ideology of Islam. He has not one segment of back bone to see or to speak out against Islamic excesses and the world domination agenda. He has not once that I know of? Spoken out against the brutal spread of Islam in Africa, let alone the middle East except for being a mouth piece of support for the Satanic ideology.
I do not trust any powerful country for I do not trust our own leadership, who are simply nothing more than Duke William the Conquerors, modern day Divide and Rule protégés of self interest and marginalization of society for their own wealth accumulation. The Avarice George Osborn being a classic example.
As regards to Putin's Russia the world needs to be vigilant! However! There are some facts that need to be cleared up. Russia has in its past suffered from two major invasions from the West. Where as Britain and America thankfully have not. There is also certainly over land mass "Lebensraum" Let alone Raw materials, a European and American jealousy of Russia. Mostly because Europe is over populated, certainly Britain long before it let in all the sand devils. This is why there has been so much shit stirring over Russia for many decades. Not just from America but from the Muslim states who breed like rats and are f-ing useless at making the best of their own landmasses. There is also and has been for a long time now shit stirring from the Jews, all because the Communism that could have lead to a Jewish control of the whole of Russia, completely back fired during the Pogroms. Which laughingly were orchestrated by many hard line Communist Jews. Who said there is no irony in history? This largely lead to WW-2 by the way.
To conclude the world is in a mess because of all the political gerrymandering in the middle east for self interests, Is a gross understatement because of Islamic world domination that has been watered down as a real threat by a weak and crooked political elite. Who through business deals have made Russia militarily very strong and Russia wont take any shit from Islam, or the Zionist Jews who wish to control the entire European land mass across to China, trapped in a form of slavery based upon Usury aided and abetted by the EU that is a bureaucratic Fourth Reich!
The third world war is going to come its just simply a matter of time but those who start it wont be Russia it will be Islam or even America. I think that the majority of Jews don't want to see any involvement in starting a war. As they do know that they will very likely be swept to one side not through hatred of them but through necessity whilst dealing with Islam. Islam is a cancer and the knife that removes it is often undiscriminating. The very thing not many seem to be taking into account.
British diplomacy at its very best !!
the brit is this scene NO FUCKS GIVEN this film makes me proud to be english
Just don't be a puppet of traitor trump and the Russians.
And me proud to be British.
Proud to be British? When Sharia Law is the Law of Britain and the Islamic Flag is flying over Whitehall then tell us of your pride......
@@mikemanners1069 Not going to happen.
@@WildMorgan hear hear mate....
Love how he threatens them with invasion and he replies asking how much sugar he wants in the cofee. That´s classy
Tea not coffee
“It’s unforgivable. I lost my temper.”
Yes pity they stopped the clip before that line... We know it so well......
we're not easily frightened. timeless line from Sir Ralph.......thank God for the Channel..all the yanks cared about at the end was dismantling the British Empire shame they were not so robust about the Soviet Empire....pity the Poles
nigel harrison If your "Empire" would have listened to the USA after WW1 there would not have been a Hitler or Nazi Germany or Warsaw Pact. Blame your own people and the French.
@@Smokeless1167 Spoken like a true idiot !
the US saw value in having a permanent enemy. the USSR was a willing participant. and yes, pity the Poles
"...all the yanks cared about at the end was dismantling the British Empire..."
Hardly.
@@keithrose6931 no actually the yank has a point. The Americans were the milder voice in ww1 who didn’t want to cripple Germany. The UK and France wanted and did cripple Germany
So what’s stopping you? Superb acting and dialogue.
One of the best scenes ever made the script and acting are perfect.
Even when his slagging off Britain, he still is offered a cup of tea as a good gesture.
"Two lumps you take isn't it"? Got to love that:-)
His reminder of what happened the last time someone tried to invade England is simply brilliant. He came a cropper! 😂 😂 😂
Surely the last time someone actually tried to invade England, he ended up as King William (the Conqueror), unless you include that other William, King William of Orange.
@@stevetaylor8698 The Spanish armada. 1588 and failed.
@@stevetaylor8698 He's talking about Napoleon Bonaparte in case you're horrendous at history.
How rude! He didn’t finish his tea!
Whether or not David Kelly, the British Minister to Switzerland in 1940, ever actually spoke such words to his German counterpart we'll never know, but it's terrific movie dialogue! Kelly was not Ambassador to Switzerland, that post didn't exist at the time, although he later held that position three times elsewhere - Argentina, Turkey and the USSR. He was a decorated officer of the first war (Military Cross, pretty jolly good...), and was knighted in 1942. So whether or not he really spoke as his character does in this outstanding film doesn't matter, he was a proper bloke and a hero.
Thanks Rasputin!
Ah, interesting... Could be good, a great director is Ridley Scott...
Curt Jurgens' character seems to be based on von Ribbentrop who was German ambassador to Britain in the 1930's.
I wish they'd left in the next few seconds: The British Ambassador's wife comes into his office where he's morosely stirring his tea and he mutters, "It's unforgivable. I lost my temper!"
Such a great film and covering everything where so much was given by so few.
I would like to think we could show this scene to Merkel, Juncker, Tusk and co. when they issue their threats and demands, but I'm not sure our current crop of limp-wristed, politically correct apologists for leaders would be up to defending the sentiments expressed. My God how this great country has been wrecked over the past seventy plus years.
Wrecked by people who refused to work with their neighbors in vain and fading memories of their Empire.
Give it up. Equating current Germans to Nazis is like equating English to the Vikings. Pointless conjecture.
Some would love to be European, even now we have decided to leave and they are STILL working with the their side to undermine their own countrymen acting on behalf of the British people who chose not to support those 'Remain' candidates.
@@SantomPh Hows the EU army progressing?
"There were giants in those days."
The Battle of Britain was completely irrelevant as Hitler never intended to invade the UK.
As soon as Stalin broke the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact on 28 June 1940 the OKW started preparing for Barbarossa.
Napolean called us a nation of shop keepers.
Fair enough... but shop keepers who don't take shit of anyone.The largest empire the world has ever known. Damn the village I live in is older than some countries
19th Century Britain was a Royal Navy factory. The 'shop keepers,' had the best navy of all time to enforce, protect and expand its trade. Napolean's biggest mistake was the same as Hitlers mistake, taking on Britain.
T The Russians might have something to say about that on both accounts.
Daniel Carter Please elaborate
How old is your village? I am an American and nothing is remotely old. I envy you.
The village I live in is older than the US by around 750 years, give or take a hundred years or so.
Love this movie....very good to have England as an ally.
I didn't realise Curt Jurgen opposed the Nazis and ended up in a prison camp!! How very brave! God bless him!! 👏👏👏👏❤❤❤
Possibly the most eloquent way to say Fuck Off, that has ever been said!
Sir Ralph Richardson grew into a truly wonderful actor. I always rated him in this scene, and his portrayal of a seemingly emotionless industry magnate John Ridgefield in the film The Sound Barrier is superb.
If the Germans were confident that they could succeed then they wouldn't ask if you wanted to surrender.Just like in Bastogne, McAuliffe was sure that the Germans were afraid of losing or their tanks would have been coming.
"After our last appeal, what do we hear? 'We will fight them on the beaches'"
"Europe is ours". Still is!
Britain in the EU was always a counter balance to the Economic powerhouse of Europe, Germany, but now its high time France, Italy etc. Take a leading role instead for once.
"I bet we could beat you at fucking football as well!"
-Spike Milligan (after Longstop)
Great Books, check out Spike here on YT reading the audio books of his series.
"Adolf Hitler. My Part in his Downfall " and "Monty. His Part in My Victory" were the best two of his memoires.
"Rommel? Gunner Who?" Had some funny moments, but was the more serious of the three, and sadly, I wasn't as keen on that one.
When informed that France had fallen and sued for peace, Sir Hugh Dowding, head of Fighter Command looked out of a window, and said, "Thank God. Now we are alone".
It was a nice quite but very inaccurate
A great scene in a superb film. The music is also excellent.
Absolutely. Even in the start of this clip it sets the tone (no pun intended). Great themes given to be the Lufwaffe and the RAF. Wonderful score by Ron Goodwin and then Battle in the Sky sequence by William Walton.
The scene has been cut a tad short. It needs the last line to make it whole. "Unforgivable! I lost my temper."
Two countries who had closer ties than pretty much anyone in Europe, which 100 years before fought together and defeated the one country we both dislike the most decided to fight eachother twice within 30 years. When Queen Victoria died, that changed everything.
I’ve often thought about how odd it was that we sided with our most historic enemy in WW1
@@danyalmemish6309 ridiculous isn’t it? It’s true that Queen Victoria kept Europe in check, after she died her grandchild/grandnephews, 3 cousins all played war as a result.
We should never have fought the Germans
@@royalhero4608 it’s interesting, I always wonder if Germany didn’t invade Poland (always going to happen) what may have happened. It’s been argued the wrong enemy was defeated....
@@Jonesyb90 well I was thinking more along the lines of we actually sided with the ‘terrorist sympathizers’ in WW1 and one of our most historic enemies (The French)…
"It was unconsciouable - I lost my temper!!" - Legend
My favourite scene in this film,the English guy was basically saying,up yours mate,we ain't scared of you!
What! you left out the best bit!
'Its unbelievable. I lost my temper"
Still are finest hour,(it's two lumps you take)CLASSIC.
And he lost his temper. It's unforgiveable.
He did not drink his tea .... With 2 lumps :)
Two World Wars, one World Cup - we'll take that.
philipm06 Germans had four world cups and one world Pope! Think that's better
Two World Cups - don't forget Sydney 2003
Keith Warner they’ve also got institutionalised racism in how badly they treat Turk-Germanic muslims such as Gundogan and Özil
@@Thecrazyvaclav Just two world wars then.
@@lawxxxx9853 3..... lords 2019...
The hairs are standing up on my arms, so proud to be British.
Winston gets carried away sometimes 😂😂
The British Bulldog spirit -- they'd rather risk being destroyed and occupied than surrender their heritage.
From a time when Britain actually had some balls!
Curt Jurgen's character was just as gentlemanly, composed and dignified as the Pom.
A impeccably polite, threatening bully is still a threatening bully. Best to tell em to "fuck off".
Missed out the bit on the end where he said "I think I lost my temper" to his wife.
Womnder wehat happened to my comment where I say you can see Ralph Richardson actually shaking with anger when he says the last part!
The British don't panic that often or badly but we do fight very well
Only until the mind control apparatus of "soshal meeedya" completely stopped the masses from thinking for themselves. Now the dupes run screaming in panic from flu bugs.
Kurd Jurgens was a fine actor and man, he was imprisoned by the Nazis during the war and probably narrowly escaped the death camp, a good man.
Only late in the war.
"The last little corporal who tried [to cross the Channel for an invasion] came a cropper!"
Such a very British insult. Especially at Hitler. Which I'm sure went completely over the head of the German emissary.
Actually referencing Napoleon.
@@trajan231 Who was also had been a corporal. And was nicknamed "the little corporal". It was intended as a jibe at Hitler, who was a corporal in WWI.