KEEP FAITH

Year Published: 1959

Format: 16mm

Description: One of a series of films made by the U.S. Army to educate recruits about the Code of Conduct, this film discusses the duty of soldiers to keep faith with fellow prisoners, follow orders from superiors, and share no information with the enemy, or take part in any action which might harm fellow prisoners. The film also reminds prisoners of the succession of leadership: "if I am senior, I will take command". Produced in 1959 during the Cold War, the film seems to show an Eastern European prison camp complete with a Colonel Klink like commandant. Main titles :(06-1:01). American prisoners are shown in a prison camp. A clock ticks loudly . A sergeant calls over his men and explains that two Americans have escaped and need 48 hours to make it to the border. Enemy soldiers knock and then open the door. Enemy commander dresses them down and prepares them to be interrogated. Interrogation room. The commandant angrily address a soldier. (1:02-3:22). The clock ticks as an interrogator tries to get another soldier to break. He feigns sleepiness and is yelled at. Another soldier is interrogated and offered privileges. He doesn't say a word (3:23-5:00). American prisoners talk about what's going on over candlelight in their quarters at night. The interrogator tries to reason with the Sergeant. The clock ticks and ticks. The Sergeant is offered a deal and told to be reasonable (5:01-7:04). The Sergeant stands and is inside of a small circle, if he moves one of his feet outside of the circle, the guard will put a bayonet through it. He either speaks or stands until he is bayoneted. The clock keeps ticking, time marches on. The Sergeant doesn't say a word. He knows the ones who escaped still need more time to make it to the border so he must keep the enemy occupied with him. The Sergeant is shown back in the quarters with the other men, he is injured, he fell out of the circle and had the bayonet thrust in his foot. The Sergeant tells his men to keep the faith, this will work out, the men will make it to the border. The clock keeps moving. "If we stick together we'll come through with our bodies and our consciences in one piece." .

Complete Record:

Transcription

[Music] [Applause] if I become a prisoner-of-war I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners I will give no information nor take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades if I am senior I will take command if not I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way [Music] for those who were involved it's always the ticking of a certain clock that comes to mind when they think about the prison camp even though the whole thing started when sergeant Martin called them over from here on in we're really gonna get the business because if they don't know already they soon will that Johnson and Whitaker have escaped they knew of course have they not helped they also knew the greater challenge lay ahead the two who had escaped needed 48 hours to make the border their job to give their two buddies that 48 hours they mean find out they're sure gonna give it a try okay folks now this isn't remember what I said [Music] two men from this barracks are missing do not think that it will get far however you have accomplished nothing but to make trouble for yourselves the enemy's campaign was started they had 48 hours to go to hold out we will find out how this was done and who organized first man up PFC Brown ordered served up on a platter the members of the escape organization sure you don't want a cigarette get American the recipe sweetness and light then if nothing starts to rise bring to a boil you experienced solitary confinement I promise you will not forget it [Music] 40 hours to go the men here that Brown has been placed in the hole how long will they keep until they're satisfied they're wasting their time which they are Novak any word yet no surely we must 31 hours to go now once again Oh the members of the SK organization keep your eyes on me who are the men no lack of you not to answer someone will why not you 21 hours to go how would you like to move into better quarter's hmm with time racing past the Inquisitor pulls out all stops on corporal Blake did you know that the village speedo posts many attractive young girls menu progressive reason has strengthened bless the evening the village [Music] you are an intelligent man more intelligent than most of Europe can't you see that you will have no one by telling us something that we will find out anyway [Music] all right you see I'm not angry return to your barracks hole yes well you wouldn't like it stinks no plumbing you know no room for plumbing that interrogate is no dope he trained for the job but you fellas played it smart by not trying to play it smart just sit there like a dope with your mouth shut that's the best bet I I think they're saving me for dessert 17 hours to go we come to understand prisoner Martin that every man of us on the People's Army is a friend of the American worker we are not against Americans [Music] you do much more to help your fellow prisoners to better living conditions here in the camp you know if you help to disband such groups fast escape organization gets groups to no good and only create trouble for the camp population as a whole you could do much good for everyone here they look at it in that way I can promise that neither you nor anyone else will be punished for any past activities in such an organization it is disbanded and we can be sure that it will operate no longer what do you say [Music] look down market but your feet you will stand at attention until you answer my questions that is one of your feet moves outside my little doctor I will have the gunner for the town 8.08 no Marty you are a member of the organization for escape where is that not true [Music] [Applause] and still my team [Music] [Applause] [Music] Thank You say mister can't doubt but not before that goon of his gave me a couple of souvenirs with this bayonet is there anything yet on Johnson Whitaker no no word yet say that time to make it to the border by now we're gonna be okay we just keep on sticking together because if we do we'll come through this with a body and a conscience in one piece and later on when they thought about it they thought of the clock in that airless tension-filled room where the questions had come again and again they would keep silent and keep faith the unquenchable heartbeat of their will to live keep faith keep faith with my fellow prisoners I will give no information nor take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades if I am senior I will take command if not I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and back them up in every way [Music]


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