Name: Kelly's Heroes
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, War
Released: 1970-06-23
Duration: 144 min
Rating: 7.4
Cast: Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Donald Sutherland, Don Rickles, Carroll O'Connor

Kelly's Heroes

Negotiating a Deal Amidst Challenges

Crapgame How are things going with the bank?

Big Joe Nothin'. The Sherman's broken down and nobody's gonna get that Tiger out of the square.

[''A distant explosion is heard as the Tiger fires; Big Joe shakes his head.'']

Crapgame Make a deal with im.

Big Joe What kind of a deal?

Crapgame A deal deal! Maybe the guy's a Republican! Business is business, right?

Big Joe Okay, big mouth.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Kelly's Heroes

Navigating Obstacles in Strategic Planning

Big Joe Yeah, just a few little things, Kelly. According to this map, we got a river to cross before we get into this town of yours.

Kelly Well, there's a bridge right here, six miles out.

Big Joe There was a bridge. The Air Corps knocked every bridge out of that river months ago.

Kelly Uh-uh, intelligence reports the Air Corps knocking em out by day and the Germans rebuilding em at night. Now, all we have to do is be there tomorrow morning at dawn and we got ourselves a bridge.

Big Joe Oh! Well, how about the German Army? Do you think they'd mind us crossing their bridge there, eh, Kelly?

Kelly Probably.

Big Joe You know something, Kelly? I think you're crazy. Better yet, I think I'm crazy! How the hell I ever let you talk the guys into this?! Push 30 miles behind enemy lines, take a bridge held by the Germans and then go into a town we don't know how many German soldiers are guarding!

Kelly Well, I figure there's between 30 and 40 troops in that town.

Big Joe All right, how'd you figure that?

Kelly Well, it's of no military importance, it's not big enough for a garrison-

Big Joe You still didn't answer the question! How'd you figure 30 or 40 men?

Kelly Because that's the normal amount of support for three Tiger tanks.

Big Joe Tigers? Where'd the hell the Tigers come from?!

[''Aghast'']

Kelly Well, that's why we have Oddball and his Shermans.

Big Joe Does he know about the Tigers?

Kelly Not yet, no.

Big Joe You bet your sweet ass he doesn't, or he'd be still on that funny-farm of his! He may be nuts, but he's not crazy enough to put Shermans up against Tigers! You know once those things get rolling, they'll blow that whole town to pieces, including us, Kelly!

Kelly Oh, you're too smart to let that happen, Joe.

Big Joe Oh, wow...

Kelly You'll figure us a way in and out of that town, and I know you've got a good head for tactics.

Big Joe Yeah? And I intend to keep it right here on my shoulders, Kelly! With these Tigers, this operation goes above and beyond the call of duty!

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Kelly's Heroes

Defensive Strategy Amidst Heroism and Conflict

Sergeant "Oddball We see our role as essentially defensive in nature. While our armies are advancing so fast and everyone's knocking themselves out to be heroes, we are holding ourselves in reserve in case the Krauts mount a counteroffensive which threatens Paris... or maybe even New York. Then we can move in and stop them. But for 1.6 million dollars, we could become heroes for three days.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Kelly's Heroes

Discussion Between Kelly and Crapgame

Kelly Crapgame?

Staff Sergeant "Crapgame Whaddya want?

Kelly I want to talk to you for a few minutes.

Crapgame What about?

Kelly I have this deal I've been working on. I thought you might be interested in helping me out.

Crapgame What kind of deal?

Kelly A private deal.

Crapgame Hey, Harry, go get yourself a haircut. I hear Maitland's got himself a yacht and taking it to Paris. There's money in yachts. What does he want a yacht for?

[Harry leaves]

Kelly Who cares, as long as it keeps him out of our hair for a few days?

Crapgame Okay, Kelly. What is it? What is it you want?

Kelly Well, I want 15 Thompsons, two .30-caliber machine guns, two bazookas, two field radios and enough supplies and ammunition to last a platoon of men in the field for three days.

Crapgame Oh. Is that all?

[sarcastic]

Kelly Nope! I want this Intelligence report for this whole sector and I need it in the next two hours.

Crapgame That's nice. What's in it for me?

Kelly A piece of the action.

Crapgame What kind of action?

Kelly This kind of action.

[takes out a gold bar]

Crapgame Oh, wow! Hello, Izzy? Yeah, it's me, it's me. Listen, get me a quotation for gold on the Paris market. Yeah, now and hurry it up! How much more where this came from?

Kelly Fourteen thousand bars.

Crapgame Fourteen thousand bars! Fourteen thousand bars! Fourteen thousand! Oh, wow, wow! Hey, sweetheart, have yourself a bottle of booze, you're beautiful! That's beautiful! Where is it?

Kelly In a bank.

Crapgame In a bank? You're getting pretty ambitious, aren't you? You think you could blow a bank and get away with it?

Kelly It's behind enemy lines.

Crapgame Behind enemy lines. That could be the perfect crime.

[realizes]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Kelly's Heroes

Troubleshooting a Damaged Vehicle Fuel System

Moriarty It's shot, Kelly.

Kelly Maybe we can use the fuel pump from that tank.

[referring to a destroyed Tiger tank nearby]

Moriarty No, no, it won't work on this motor.

Oddball Mechanical genius.

Moriarty Oh, man- look, Oddball, I can't make it work without the parts no matter how positive I think!

Big Joe Hey, this guy in the Tiger? Least we can do is get on the radio and talk to im.

Oddball Are you crazy? That guy's gotta be a full fanatic freak! Otherwise he would a split outta this town twenty minutes ago!

Big Joe Hey, look, all he's doing is guarding the bank like he was told.

Kelly Maybe. But I wonder if he even knows what's in it.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Kelly's Heroes

Evaluating the Yacht's Worth for Departure

Big Joe What are you doing in there, sir?

[''looking around inside a yacht where '''Captain Maitland''' is standing'']

Capt. Maitland I'm checking out the motor.

Big Joe The motor? What for?

Capt. Maitland We're pulling out and I want to see if this yacht is worth taking back to base.

Big Joe What about ]!?

[[w:Nancy, France|Nancy]

Capt. Maitland Third Army's taking over. We’re going into reserve. Once they take Nancy, we go back into the line.

Big Joe Aw, Captain, I don't think you have the welfare of your men at heart here! This is a big, big town, with a lot of with a lot of passionate broads... great restaurants, feather beds in rooms with hot water... Look, Captain, we've been rained on, pushed on, bombed on... mortared on by Mulligan all the way from the Normandy beachhead!

Capt. Maitland I'm aware of that problem, Sergeant.

Big Joe “I’m aware of that problem...” You've been aware of that problem ever since we got out of the water at Omaha! Look, why is it that every time we get to a town like Nancy, it’s these clowns with the clean uniforms and ties that get to ride the trucks into town and make their pitch?

Capt. Maitland The General says we pull out, so we pull out.

Big Joe Look, Captain! You can't let them do this! I gotta get my men some broads before they start freaking-out with each other!

Capt. Maitland I'm aware that that situation might be developing... Think I could get this into the hold of a B-17?

[''looks around'']

Big Joe We're point section to the whole damn Army! Nancy's our town, Captain!

Big Joe What is it!?

Big Joe I'll be with you in a minute!

[''turns to '''Capt. Maitland''' '']

Big Joe Look, Captain! We got it all figured out. We even got a guide! All we have to do is get in there!

Capt. Maitland There’s a couple of German divisions who say you can't.

Big Joe OK! So we need a little help!

Capt. Maitland All I need is to figure out how to get this yacht out of here. You get back to the barn. I'll get the Engineers and do it myself.

[''pause'']

Big Joe You're supposed to be in charge of this outfit!

Capt. Maitland You're doing such a good job, Sergeant- why should I get in your way?

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Kelly's Heroes

A Heist That Changed the Course of War

Taglines They set out to rob a bank... and damn near won a war instead!

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Kelly's Heroes

Tensions Rise Amongst Soldiers in Conversation

Big Joe If I hear any more threats against Captain Maitland's life, if I hear anymore wild talk about going down to Headquarters and killing the General and raping the nurses at the field hospital, I'll strangle the guy with my bare hands! You understand that? Now all good things come to those who wait! We're gonna have a lot of fun here! Aren't we, Cowboy?

Private Cowboy You can bet your boots on that, partner.

Big Joe Sergeant, partner!

Private Willard Right, Sarge.

Big Joe All right!

Private Willard I think I've got the crabs.

Big Joe We'll boil our laundry! We'll set up a little shower area so we can wash our cute little bodies. Right, Barbara?

[''slight pause'']

Private Babra Babra!

Big Joe Shut up! Shave! A little wine, women and song. A little chiquita for you, Petuko. It'll take a little time to get organized, but I want that farmhouse to look like a nightclub! Little Joe! I want you to set up a bar!

Little Joe We ain't got no booze.

Big Joe We ain't got no booze." Well, we're gonna get some booze! I'm gonna go down to the Battalion, see if I can lay my hands on some dirty movies and when I come back, I want that farmhouse not only clean, but completely decorated! Do you understand that? All right, Corporal, fall them out! Let's get moving.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Kelly's Heroes

Assessing the Enemy's Strength and Weaknesses

General Colt This man is the man I have my mind on today and I'll tell you who he is: this is my opposite number, General Bogle, commanding the 2nd German Armor Division. Now I look at that face, I can read that character... this guy's a loser. Here I am sitting in his headquarters, I'm drinking his scotch... hell, I even got one of his broads hanging around here somewheres. The guy's a born loser... but you gentleman have not buried him yet. Now you call yourselves leaders of men?

Major Roach They're putting up strong resistance, General.

General Colt Aw, c'mon, Roach, I flew over the battlefield this morning; why, I could march a divisional dress parade with band music right through the middle of their lines!

Major Roach Well, what about our flanks, sir?

General Colt Aw, the hell with your flanks, Roach, how many times have I gotta tell ya forget about your flanks, willya?

Major Sir, there's still half a panzer division between here and Nancy...

General Colt Without gas. Without gas, gentlemen.

Colonel Booker Oh, they're getting gas, sir, it's coming up at night.

General Colt How?

Colonel Booker By truck.

General Colt The Air Force has got my orders to blow every bridge in this sector out of existence.

Colonel Booker Yes, sir, and they're doing it. And the Germans, they're rebuilding the bridges every night.

General Colt Well, we're supposed to be blowing em up again in the daytime. Captain, get me those aerial photographs.

Captain Jablonski Right, sir.

Major Roach General, last night someone gave orders to redirect our mortar fire against some damn crossroads.

General Colt Listen, Roach, I don't want any excuses outta you, ya hear me? All I want is to know why this loser of a general is keeping me the hell out of Nancy.

Major Roach Sir, we haven't got the supplies - it's just a matter of logistics.

General Colt Logistics?

Major Roach Yes, sir.

General Colt We got logistics comin out of our ears! What we need is fighting spirit. The will to win! Where are those aerial photographs?

Captain Jablonski I'm sorry, sir, they don't seem to be here.

[Rummaging around for the photos]

General Colt They don't what?

Captain Jablonski I can't locate them, Sir.

[Still looking for the pictures]

General Colt Hey. Did you lose my aerial photographs?

[CPT Jablonski looks at Colt]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Kelly's Heroes

Defiance in a tense moment

Under Kilroy Up yours, baby.

[Written on the wall of the bank, after it's been cleaned out]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Kelly's Heroes

Desperation in the Face of Confusion

First Sergeant Mulligan Wait, Kelly, wait. Will you listen to me a second? Will ya listen to me! It's not me, I tell ya, it's not me! I - I can't tell one shell from another, they all look alike! They all look alike. If was me, if I could tell, would I be here? WOULD I BE HERE?! I wouldn't be here, Kelly!

[''Upon seeing Kelly, assuming Kelly is there to yell at him for shelling Kelly's unit by accident the previous night'']

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Kelly's Heroes

Tigers and Strategy in Uncertain Times

Kelly Well, what do you think, Oddball?

Oddball It's a wasted trip, baby. Nobody said nothing about locking horns with no Tigers.

Big Joe Hey look, you just keep them Tigers busy and we'll take care of the rest.

Oddball The only way I got to keep them Tigers busy is to let them shoot holes in me!

Kelly We just want you to keep them interested for a while, that's all.

PFC Moriarty Oh, man! You guys are crazy! When we was in the bocage country, we was assaulted by them Tigers! You know what I mean by "assaulted"? Well, I mean assaulted!

Oddball Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves?! Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?

PFC Moriarty Crap!

Kelly All right, so it's a beautiful day. Now, let's get down to business. The Tiger is an open-country tank. We happen to have these and a small town with narrow streets. And we do have the element of surprise.

Oddball Look, Kelly, a Tiger has only one weak point. That's its ass. You've got to hit it point blank and you've got to hit it from behind. Now we do not have the element of surprise. They will hear our Detroit motors long before we ever even get inside that town.

Kelly What if I can show you a way to get into that town so they don't hear you?

Crapgame Hey, Oddball, this is your hour of glory. And you're chickening out!

Oddball To a New Yorker like you, a hero is some type of weird sandwich! Not some nut who takes on three Tigers.

Kelly Nobody's asking you to be a hero.

Oddball No? Then you sit up in that turret, baby.

Kelly No, because you're gonna be up there, baby, and I'll be right outside showing you which way to go.

Oddball Yeah?

Kelly Yeah.

Oddball Crazy... I mean like, so many positive waves... maybe we can't lose, you're on!

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Kelly's Heroes

Discussion of a Yacht's Destination

Captain Maitland Okay, Sergeant, everything's secure up here. I'm coming down now.

Big Joe Hey, Captain.

Captain Maitland Sergeant, do you think I could get this yacht to Paris by Sunday?

Big Joe You didn't bring me to this lousy farmhouse to talk about this lousy boat again, did you, Captain?

Captain Maitland Oh, now, Sergeant, I worked on a deal with Headquarters. I just want to make sure they have a good time. I must get this yacht to Paris and pick up one and two things for the General.

Big Joe And where do we spend this vacation?

Captain Maitland Right here, Sergeant.

Big Joe Are you kidding?

Captain Maitland No, I'm not kidding. With a little imagination, you can fix this place up. Lay out a baseball diamond. Run the water into the back of the house. Special service is coming by with some magazines and paperbacks.

Big Joe We're 10 miles from the nearest town! There's no action!

Captain Maitland Well, that's the beautiful thing about this location, Sergeant. It's quiet. Get yourself a little suntan, a little rest. In three days we're back in the line.

Truck Driver Hey, Captain! We're all ready to move out!

Captain Maitland Yeah, go ahead.

Big Joe Captain, there's no broads, there's no booze, there's no action!

Captain Maitland That's another thing. Don't fool around with the women; their husbands carry guns. And don't forget, the penalty for looting is death!

Big Joe LOOT WHAT?! THERE'S NOTHIN HERE TO LOOT!

Captain Maitland I'll be back in three days!

[hurrying after the truck hauling his yacht]

Big Joe Get yourself a suntan and get some rest. He's got to be out of his mind!

Private Fisher But how does he get away with it? That's what I wanna know.

Big Joe Very simple. The General's his uncle, that's how.

Kelly's Heroes

The Impact of Few on Many

Taglines Never have so few taken so many for so much.

Kelly's Heroes

Recognition for Valor in Battle

Major General Colt I'm gonna decorate every man in this penetration unit, whoever they are. They saved the reputation of this entire army. You're the ones supposed to be fightin this battle, and you don't even know where the hell it is! Well, I'll tell you where it is. It's thirty miles beyond where you thought it was. Booker! Come on, now, let's get this army of mine back in the war!

[''To his officers'']

Kelly's Heroes

The Story Behind Kelly's Military Misfortune

Staff Sergeant "Crapgame Oh, him? Name's Kelly. Used to be a lieutenant. Pretty good one, too. Till they gave orders to attack the wrong hill. Wiped out half a company of GI's. Somebody had to take the blame and he got picked.

Kelly's Heroes

The Futility of War Conversations

Big Joe Cigarette?

German Tank Commander No smoke. The fuel system is rotten. We have gasoline all over the place.

Big Joe S'all right. Hey, look, Max, you and us we're just soldiers, right? We don't even know what this war's all about. All we do is we fight and we die and for what? We don't get anything out of it. Now, in about half an hour, the whole American Army's gonna be coming down that road. So why don't you do yourself a big fat favor, huh? And get the hell outta here?

German Tank Commander I have orders. This bank isn't to fall into the hands of the American Army.

Lieutenant Kelly Sergeant, this bank's not gonna fall into the hands of the American Army. It's gonna fall into our hands. You see, we're just a private enterprise operation.

German Tank Commander You- the American Army.

Oddball No, baby, we ain't. You know what's inside that bank, man? There's 16 million dollars worth of gold in that bank, sweetheart.

[''German Tank Commander's eyes widen after hearing the value of the bank's contents.'']

Big Joe That's about 65 million Marks.

Kelly And Sergeant, all you have to do to have an equal share of this money, is to crank this turret around and blow a hole in that door.

Kelly's Heroes

Miscommunication Amidst Chaos and Tension

First Sergeant Mulligan Wait, Kelly, wait. Will you listen to me a second? Will ya listen to me! It's not me, I tell ya, it's not me! I - I can't tell one shell from another, they all look alike! They all look alike. If was me, if I could tell, would I be here? WOULD I BE HERE?! I wouldn't be here, Kelly! I'd be back in the States! I'd be out with all those broads! I'd be working in a factory!

[''Upon seeing Kelly, assuming Kelly is there to yell at him for shelling Kelly's unit by accident the previous night'']

Kelly Relax.

First Sergeant Mulligan Wait a minute. Will ya just listen to me? We gotta have a little understanding around here. Why the hell can't we ever have any understanding around here?!

Kelly Relax. Mulligan, I just want to make a proposition to you.

First Sergeant Mulligan A prop-proposition? Well, is it dirty or just illegal?

Kelly Well, I want you to set up a barrage for me. I want you to lay down a barrage for me, Mulligan. Grid section 7, right here at these crossroads.

First Sergeant Mulligan I got to have a signed operations order from the C.O.

Kelly You see, that's just the problem, Mulligan. We don't have an authorization.

First Sergeant Mulligan You don't have a... Gee, well, Kelly, without an authorization... I can't help you.

Kelly I told you I had a proposition, Mulligan. That's just what I meant. A proposition.

[takes out a gold bar]

First Sergeant Mulligan Well... why?

Kelly Why what?

First Sergeant Mulligan Why... Why not?

Kelly You won't forget me now, will you?

First Sergeant Mulligan No. No, I won't forget, Kelly.

[staring at the gold bar]

Kelly You're a good man, Mulligan.

Kelly's Heroes

Frustration and Miscommunication in Military Strategy

Big Joe We've been waiting here for two hours...

[''speaking into radio mic'']

Big Joe No, that's map section three, not four...

Big Joe I don't give a damn what command says about anything!

Big Joe Listen, Mulligan, I don't think I'm getting through to you. You're dropping your damn barrage on our position!

Kelly Sitten Sie.

Big Joe You can't hear me? The reason you can't hear me is because you're firing your mortars on your end, and they're landing here, at our end!

Big Joe No, the Krauts aren't here! We're here!

Big Joe Mulligan, your bombs are coming down on our heads! I don't know where the Krauts are. Just lift your goddamned barrage! Over!

Kelly's Heroes

Emphasizing Fighting Spirit in Leadership

Major General Colt Attack, attack, attack! Listen to this guy! That's the kinda fighting spirit I was talkin about! If he's a major he's a colonel now!

[''Listening to Kelly on the radio'']

Kelly's Heroes Quotes